How good is Reading's Computer Science course?

I've had a look about online at Reading's Computer Science course. While it's no replacement for first-hand experience, both Unistats and Which? University have fairly good reviews of it, with Which?'s here: http://university.which.co.uk/university-of-reading-r12/computer-science-4-years-9000-g401-62764 and Unistats here: https://unistats.direct.gov.uk/subjects/satisfaction/10007802FT-UFCSWIYB/ReturnTo/Search

The course compares favourably, or on par with, equivalent courses at universities of a similar calibre (in terms of UCAS points / entry grades and league rankings). So it looks pretty promising! Employment prospects seem good, as well as student satisfaction and facilities/resources.

Note: This is for the 4 year "sandwich" course with a year in industry. Don't know if you two are doing that or a straight 3 year degree?

Any thoughts / experience is welcome!

It's the sandwich course.

I've already seen the stats and stuff. I really want to know more about the course itself, what the content is like from a first hand point of view.

The prospects are great but I fear the course isn't as mathsy/theoretical as I'd like.

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This is starting to worry me a little, I also had a conditional offer to study computer science at Reading and then received an email notifying me that I now had an unconditional offer.
Is anyone else finding this a little weird? Or is this normal?

Yep, I was really surprised by it to be honest! I still don't know if I should insure them or not. What are your thoughts?

It might be because their course is under-subscribed and they are trying to entice more people with this offer.

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I was initially worried that they sent me the offer by mistake, but I emailed them back about it and it seems to be genuine. I think I'll make it my first choice as my A levels aren't going great (I only got CBB last year) due to me being completely uninterested in my other subjects apart from computing!
I'm a little worried that their course is under-subscribed, I'm assuming it's just because of not many people taking an interest in computer science apart from people not thinking Reading has a good computer science course. That's what I'm hoping anyways! I haven't managed to visit the university yet so I'm not sure.

I originally applied for the AI program and they switched my offer to the Comp Sci one. I've sent them an email about whether it'd be possible to switch over when I'm there, if they say yes it'll be my insurance for sure.

Ah right, I got ABBCC (Scottish Highers) last year so we're fairly similar - albeit I had extenuating circumstances. This year I'm on track for AABa (3 Advanced Highers and a Higher) so my firm is Nottingham.

Where else did you apply to? I'm yet to visit Lancaster or Reading - but I feel Lancaster has the better facilities.

I had extenuating circumstances of my own last year but I can't pretend that's the reasons for my grades slipping this year - I'm just finding it hard to keep doing maths and music along with comp sci when I'm just not interested anymore :/

I applied to Cardiff, Swansea, Exeter, and Aberystwyth (as a safety net). Out of those my firm choice up until now has been Swansea since it's close to home (I'm an anxious person and have been worried about moving far away) had a reasonable offer and I liked the feel of it more than the others.

This has thrown me completely but for me it's looking like I'll be accepting Reading's unconditional offer, it seems like a nicer place than Swansea and it means I can relax a little and stop stressing myself until I'm ill!

I'm finding Computing really dull at the moment, mostly because I know all the course already and the people in my class aren't really making an effort to understand the theory. That said, still managed 96% in the prelim - so I'm not worried.

I understand you, to an extent. I've developed a new found love for Maths and Physics and am on track for As in them vs the Cs last year. The killer is French. I can't deal with all these essays, vocabulary tests, and speaking assessments - I used to be really good but now I've slipped majorly.

Those are all decent unis! Reading sounds like a nice place to live and the connections to London are great. I'm sure you'll have a good time there if you decide to go! Hell, It's about 600 miles away for me, so I know the feeling.

How come you aren't enjoying maths as much? I thought Comp Sci was quite a mathdy degree?

I'm enjoying computing, mostly because I just love programming and coding!

I guess I should have elaborated more - I took physics at the start of my AS year and so was put into the Maths-Mechanics class which meant doing a mechanics module that I never got around to changing. Through some combination of awful teachers and a disinterest in physics, I've come to really hate the subject! Core maths is fine, I just have such a workload with music already that finding the time needed to do well in maths is pretty hard.

The connections are a huge plus! I guess the major con of going to Reading is being 2 and a half hours away from my long term girlfriend, although we started long distance so we have a big chance of pulling through. I'm also not keen on the idea of making such a big life choice based on my girlfriend, we both agree that'd be silly at this age!

Sorry, I lost track of this thread for a few days!

I'm going to the computer science applicant day on the 21st March to have a look around the computer science facilities (hopefully!) and learn a bit more about the course. I'm also finding it odd that there are so many unconditional offers... Here's hoping the facilities & course live up to expectations! So how many of you guys are thinking of putting Reading as your firm place?

Princepieman, I also do French so I might be able to help you a little with French maybe if you're stressing?

Hey this might be a lot to ask, but do you think you could sort of report back to this thread about how it went and what the course and facilities were like? I'd be so grateful if you could!

I will definitely report back, and also try and snap a few pictures if it's allowed. See my ninja edit on the original post for a bit of a numbers comparison with a university I've visited.

I've visited the university itself before, just not the computer science facilities, so I can talk a bit about those from what I saw if you like? Which accommodation halls were you thinking of staying in if you did go to Reading?