[Daryl_Barker]

Forensic Computing
Computer Security

Does anyone know if UWE is any good for the above courses?

If so what information can you provide? and is it a good university to go to?

Hows the social life?

Daryl

[Michaela Newell]

I hope so because its my firm choice, and i've heard lots of reviews and if your into that sort of course UWE is apparently one of the best places to do it!

[s100onn]

I want to go to UWE to do Forensic Computing. Going to the open day on saturday. Are you enrolling in 2010?

[Insanesabre]

UWE is great for Forensic Computer and Computer Security, BIT (the Bristol Institute of Tech) is one of the fastest areas in the University in terms of expansion.

They also assist with placements in between your second and final years into industry with some of the larger companies, Intel, Microsoft, Blackberry and even into some of the High Tec crime squads.

Lecturers know what they are talking about, the software and hardware available for use both on University Machines as well as on an "Educational License" for your own use on home computers/laptops.

In fact there is an open day at UWE tomorrow (Saturday 10th October), with lots of us Ambassadors on hand in the BIT department for any other questions. Just look out for people with red t-shirts, as well as tours and small group sessions with the tutors themselves.

On the non academic side the social life is really well organised by the UWESU, regular events or evenings at some of the bigger clubs in Bristol, Syndicate, Oceana, etc and on the Frenchay campus we also have a number of bars which host their own events, sports based and general. Just jump in at the deep end and see what happens, but got both staff and student ambassadors, and advisor's, on hand all year round to help.

[Spice_Weasel]

Coming from someone at UWE doing Forensic Computing, all I can say is that the university is tantamount to USELESS. P & Q block is where you will be studying, which is just a giant prefab shack. The majority of the computers are dated, slow, bloated with heaps of software you won't be using on your course and the university itself is just fit to burst with students. They're obviously desperate to get as many students as they can so it's just not really a comfortable environment anymore.

I hear De Montfort are really good for FC now. I friend of mine knows some students there that love it. Bristol is an amazing city, but UWE, FC lecturers and the facilities at UWE leave a LOT to be desired.

As for being assisted with getting a placement, good luck, 2 people in my year got placements (none of which were forensics related), and the general consensus at the end of year 2 is that the placement team at UWE is SHOCKING.

Yes there are edu licenses for Encase, FTK, etc, but for any institution teaching FC that's pretty much obligatory! I don't know why the toot thier horn so much about it.

Social life is pretty cool, Bristol is such a student friendly city, and while the SU is cheapish it's pretty crap for a night out, definitely time to hit town when it gets dark.

UWE like to say they are the "best" for FC, but anyone can claim that, they never back up thier statements with any sort of proof or figures. Look around the different unis as much as you can, I really liked the campus feel of Bournemouth when I went to look at FC there.

[mikejpb]

Originally Posted by Spice_Weasel

Coming from someone at UWE doing Forensic Computing, all I can say is that the university is tantamount to USELESS. P & Q block is where you will be studying, which is just a giant prefab shack. The majority of the computers are dated, slow, bloated with heaps of software you won't be using on your course and the university itself is just fit to burst with students. They're obviously desperate to get as many students as they can so it's just not really a comfortable environment anymore.

Thank God you had the guts to say it, because it's all true. One other thing the university fails to mention is the lack of lecture halls, meaning you'll be spending at least half of your modules in "lectorials" being directed around a Word document on Blackboard. Also, good luck getting a PC during normal hours.

Originally Posted by Spice_Weasel

As for being assisted with getting a placement, good luck, 2 people in my year got placements (none of which were forensics related), and the general consensus at the end of year 2 is that the placement team at UWE is SHOCKING.

The UWE Jobshop is fantastic for part-time work, but the placement team is awful. Every one I know that landed a good placement took advice from their lecturers and applied themselves rather than letting the university handle it.

Originally Posted by Spice_Weasel

UWE like to say they are the "best" for FC, but anyone can claim that, they never back up thier statements with any sort of proof or figures. Look around the different unis as much as you can, I really liked the campus feel of Bournemouth when I went to look at FC there.

I've spoke to a number of BCS (British Computer Society) members and there have been several complaints regarding the content of UWE's accredited courses, especially as the university are cutting costs by scrapping courses and options. The only field that UWE are great at is Artificial Intelligence, some of the research churned out at UWE is top-notch and rivals that of the top five.