Hey, good choice picking Glasgow uni, it's great. The course is very practical. I'm on the Software Development course, just finished exams some weeks ago and working on my summer project. So you from Glasgow?
1. Firstly, what exactly is the difference between the Information Technology course and Software Development? The only differences I can see is that there are more core modules on SD than IT, but ultimately, they are all the same modules.
Just a couple of modules that are mandatory for SD and not IT in semester 2, including Advanced Programming, Algorithms and Data Structures and Software Engineering. You can switch from IT to SD (or vice versa) later on in Semester 1 if you wish.
2. Do you recommend any books for summer reading? I have contacted the uni and asked for a list, but again, no response. It has been 7 years since I last programmed (Higher Computing at school), and I'm pretty rusty! Also, any reading recommendations for the other non-programming modules?
There is a course called Systems and Networks that deals with really low level computer architecture stuff, for which I highly recommend Paul Petzold's book Code, an excellent primer on the subject as it's a fairly complex course. Otherwise all the subjects assume you've come from no prior computing knowledge. Learn to start using git and Github, as it's excellent for organising your code and transferring it between machines. You will use it on the course.
3. What is the timetable like? I appreciate that timetables change every year, but I'd like a kind of rough idea of what I should expect, as I currently work back shift in a supermarket, and would like to continue working throughout my studies, but I start at 4pm, so may have to speak to my manager about changing shifts or, ultimately, quit :/
It's a busy timetable. For me, I was able to work hard during the week and take most of the weekends off to spend time with the gf. If everything is new, buckle down hard at the beginning so you don't get left behind, and you'll be fine.
4. How heavy is the work load? I am sure the course will be exceptionally intensive, and I will be dedicating the next twelve months to it, but is the possibility of a social life, and a full 8 hours of sleep at night a far fetched dream?
Social life and sleeping well is no problem. The coursework is fairly well spread out. The 20 credit introduction to programming class is worth its weight in gold in terms of grades, Enterprise Cyber Security is gonna be a slog though, brace yourself for that
5. What are your own career prospects? Are you looking for a job in programming/software engineering etc.? Wanting to combine your undergraduate degree with computing in a job? PhD research? I personally have a psychology bachelors, and one option at the very bottom of my list is combining these for PhD research. Do you think this could be a possibility with regards to the topics covered, or is it very basic and generalised?
PhD, job, etc all open to you. Start applying for internships/graduate jobs by November while you still have time, as all exams will be in May and you won't have time to do it then what with studying for 10 subjects. I had my internship and graduate job offers before exams even finished. The internship interviewed in December and the graduate job in February.
6. If you have any advice at all, regarding anything at all, it would be greatly, greatly appreciated!
Enjoy the course, it's excellent fun and you learn so much from it! Avoid Cyber Security Fundamentals elective subject in semester 2, it may sound exciting but is actually pants. I cannot recommend Internet Technology enough, it really rounds off the degree in giving you a solid foundation in Web app development using Django. There's a lot of practical work involved, but it's well worth it.
Any other questions just give me a shout