Those doing Computer Science at Uni of Aberdeen?
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Re: Those doing Computer Science at Uni of Aberdeen?I graduated from Aberdeen in Computer Science 2 years ago. I will say that the department is fantastic; the CS department staff make an active effort to help students succeed. There were many guys on our course, who came from Edinburgh, who complained about student neglect for example.(Original post by Artur R2)
I got an offer but I still need to go up there and see what the uni is like, no idea where I will end up.
As for the syllabus, it is quite vocational and hands on, I know other universities focus more on theory; at aberdeen there are a couple of module that are very theoretical such as formal modules of computation/and discrete methods - but for the most part, many of the modules were code intensive. -
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Re: Those doing Computer Science at Uni of Aberdeen?Hey! Any chance you could give a very quick overview of the main topics, or if you know where I could find it, from the course.(Original post by fat_hobbit)
I graduated from Aberdeen in Computer Science 2 years ago. I will say that the department is fantastic; the CS department staff make an active effort to help students succeed. There were many guys on our course, who came from Edinburgh, who complained about student neglect for example.
As for the syllabus, it is quite vocational and hands on, I know other universities focus more on theory; at aberdeen there are a couple of module that are very theoretical such as formal modules of computation/and discrete methods - but for the most part, many of the modules were code intensive.
If you don't mind me asking also, what do you do now? Cheers -
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Re: Those doing Computer Science at Uni of Aberdeen?They have changed the third year syllabus, so can't help you with that, but in my 4th year, the modules were:(Original post by KCoyote)
Hey! Any chance you could give a very quick overview of the main topics, or if you know where I could find it, from the course.
If you don't mind me asking also, what do you do now? Cheers
mobile computing - J2ME
data mining - a bit mathy, but I don't think I did hardcore coding in this, rather I had to analyse data, which was interesting. So it's worth doing.
peer to peer agent systems - (think napster and how applications communicate with one another), we used Jess and java.
escience, well cant remember its name...but it involves using computing with biology. Never did this module.
other modules they do is knowledge technology (which is web based), NLG (natural language generation)
modules you have to take - is formal modules of computation. Which is built on top of the discrete mathematics that you will learn in 3rd year. Expect to program in Haskell in this course.
Professional topics of computing is the final course, which is essentially essay based. Very easy.
1st and 2nd (which do not count towards your final mark) year is all java, so get your fundamentals sorted out before you start the CS course, makes life sooooooooooooo easy. Hardest module you will have in first and second year is algotihmatic problem solving. I know in first year they use blue J as the IDE, which basically is confusing as hell, if you don't go in with a programming background - I found that it's easier to go from say eclipse, with strong foundations to starting from scratch in blueJ.
the way the CS course works in Aberdeen, 4th year courses are built on top of 3rd year courses. So as you have probably gathered, they are geared towards, AI, Data mining, and the web. Areas where the department researches in.
The jump from second to third year is huge; by the end of 4th year, the numbers on my degree course were around 30; maybe less. Many got 2.2s or lower. It is a tough course; and I think the regulation is that if you fail one module, you cannot get a 2.1 or over.
Expect to have no life if you do CS, in my final 2 years, I was working hardcore, for my dissertation I wrote a 30k document, and had to write a software app to go with it in one semester, which is about 8 weeks. In other subjects, such as sociology, students have 2 semesters for their dissertation.
If you do CS at Aberdeen, the one thing I will advise, is to secure the best possible marks in 3rd year. That way, when you get to 4th year, it puts less pressure on you for getting a 2.1+ overall. Also work with others on your course, it helps big time during revision and assignments.
I'm currently working as a full time software engineer in London at the moment/specialising in PHP and the web.Last edited by fat_hobbit; 22-02-2012 at 02:04. -
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Re: Those doing Computer Science at Uni of Aberdeen?Thanks for the post fat_hobbit, that was a quite useful!
Im going to do Computing Science in Aberdeen next semester with Erasmus. My home university requires me to do level 4 courses. Anyone some inputs what courses are interesting and how much work is required for them during the semester? I still wanna have time to do some other stuff besides studying=)
So what are your thoughts about the fallowing courses:
Graphics
Natural Language Processing
Semantic Web Engineering
Data Mining and Visualization
Mobile Computing
Bio-Computing
Thanks a lot!
Cheers -
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Re: Those doing Computer Science at Uni of Aberdeen?Just don't leave assignments to the last moment.(Original post by xomg)
Thanks for the post fat_hobbit, that was a quite useful!
Im going to do Computing Science in Aberdeen next semester with Erasmus. My home university requires me to do level 4 courses. Anyone some inputs what courses are interesting and how much work is required for them during the semester? I still wanna have time to do some other stuff besides studying=)
So what are your thoughts about the fallowing courses:
Graphics
Natural Language Processing
Semantic Web Engineering
Data Mining and Visualization
Mobile Computing
Bio-Computing
Thanks a lot!
Cheers
Out if the courses there, I would avoid graphics (surprised they are teaching that again!...it is most likely going to be C based).
Do - data mining (analysing data, doing a bit of statistics as opposed to hardcore coding) mobile computing (assignments should be group based) and semantic web engineering, managed to get 2.1s in both data mining and mobile computing...never did web engineering, but my peers got good marks in it.
When it comes to the exams don't try and learn the whole module - you can't. Instead, practice past papers....and work with your peers.Last edited by fat_hobbit; 30-05-2012 at 01:04. -
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Re: Those doing Computer Science at Uni of Aberdeen?A few 100.(Original post by soph-fraser)
I'll find out on Thursday whether i'll get in but I am planning to start in September. Does anyone know how many people are usually on the course for 1st year?
By the final year, there will be 15 -20 people max.
Most of the hot girls drop out, I assume you are hot sophie - hope you stick at it!
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Re: Those doing Computer Science at Uni of Aberdeen?Say bye bye to your social life(Original post by Mitch55)
Hey, I'm joining 3rd yr CS at Aberdeen this year
after doing HND Software Development, no idea what to expect for the workload...
after doing HND Software Development, no idea what to expect for the workload...
