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Should i study software engineering or computer science at uni?

Considering i want to 100% do software engineering when i leave uni should i do a software engineering degree or should i do a CS degree. As some jobs say they want a CS degree or degree related in that engineering field. So i'm scared that them asking for a CS degree first indicated that i should do a CS degree?
Reply 1
Avatar for UWS
UWS
21
Original post by Ryanthom100
Considering i want to 100% do software engineering when i leave uni should i do a software engineering degree or should i do a CS degree. As some jobs say they want a CS degree or degree related in that engineering field. So i'm scared that them asking for a CS degree first indicated that i should do a CS degree?


CS should cover most if not all SE type jobs. You could consider doing both as a combined course or one where you specialise in SE? Some universities like Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Brunel and Royal Holloway offer this.
https://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/courses/undergraduate/next-year/computer-science-and-software-engineering
http://www.brunel.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/computer-science-software-engineering-bsc
http://www.herts.ac.uk/courses/computer-science-software-engineering3
https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/computer-science/computer-science-software-engineering.aspx
Thanks for the info, but i thought tho whole point of CS was to not specialise yet and learn a variety of different modules in computing?
Reply 3
Avatar for UWS
UWS
21
Original post by Ryanthom100
Thanks for the info, but i thought tho whole point of CS was to not specialise yet and learn a variety of different modules in computing?


If you specialise, your final year will consist mainly of SE modules. That's what usually happens, you'll still do CS related things in your first two years. I was initially planning on specialising my CS course with Artificial Intelligence but I swapped after year 1 due to a career change. It's really up to you.

I can ask @AngryJellyfish to move this to Computer Science and IT :smile:
Original post by UWS
If you specialise, your final year will consist mainly of SE modules. That's what usually happens, you'll still do CS related things in your first two years. I was initially planning on specialising my CS course with Artificial Intelligence but I swapped after year 1 due to a career change. It's really up to you.

I can ask @AngryJellyfish to move this to Computer Science and IT :smile:


hmm ok thanks, this is quite interesting. But my first choice which is Lancaster doesn't do this unfortunately, and it's the highest ranked uni for CS i can go to.
Reply 5
Avatar for UWS
UWS
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Original post by Ryanthom100
hmm ok thanks, this is quite interesting. But my first choice which is Lancaster doesn't do this unfortunately, and it's the highest ranked uni for CS i can go to.


Meh, I wouldn't get caught up by rankings alone. If a uni has the course you want to do, you should consider picking it.
Original post by UWS
Meh, I wouldn't get caught up by rankings alone. If a uni has the course you want to do, you should consider picking it.


yeah I see ur point but some jobs actually ask for a degree from a reputable university, and I think Lancaster is the closest I'm gonna get tbh.
Reply 7
Avatar for UWS
UWS
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Original post by Ryanthom100
yeah I see ur point but some jobs actually ask for a degree from a reputable university, and I think Lancaster is the closest I'm gonna get tbh.


Not many employers care about that to be honest.
Original post by UWS
Not many employers care about that to be honest.


yeah I know but what if more do start to care
Reply 9
Avatar for UWS
UWS
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Original post by Ryanthom100
yeah I know but what if more do start to care


I can't predict that. Look, it's up to you but you're really limiting yourself if you're just going by the rankings.
Original post by UWS
I can't predict that. Look, it's up to you but you're really limiting yourself if you're just going by the rankings.


but can't I still be a software engineer by doing a normal CS course. Also ngl, uni of Lancaster looks really good
Reply 11
Avatar for UWS
UWS
21
Original post by Ryanthom100
but can't I still be a software engineer by doing a normal CS course. Also ngl, uni of Lancaster looks really good


Yes... Here's one example out of many.
https://www.gradcracker.com/hub/166/airbus/graduate-job/22218/graduate-software-engineer
Original post by UWS


yeah I mean, I'm still yet to see a job that doesn't allow CS degrees for a software engineering role so I think I will stick with Lancaster for now.
Reply 13
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ANM775
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Original post by Ryanthom100
Considering i want to 100% do software engineering when i leave uni should i do a software engineering degree or should i do a CS degree. As some jobs say they want a CS degree or degree related in that engineering field. So i'm scared that them asking for a CS degree first indicated that i should do a CS degree?




I was googling computer science related stuff yesterday and apparently it's not so easy for graduates to get a job in that field with most of the jobs in demand being for experienced people

i then saw most people were advising against taking it, or expressing caution

i do myself know one individual who studied computer science who has never worked in this field, and years have passed since university. I do not know whether it is because they couldn't find a job ...or they just changed their mind. The profession they are in now though still needs a degree, but it is completely unrelated to computer science
Original post by ANM775
I was googling computer science related stuff yesterday and apparently it's not so easy for graduates to get a job in that field with most of the jobs in demand being for experienced people

i then saw most people were advising against taking it, or expressing caution

i do myself know one individual who studied computer science who has never worked in this field, and years have passed since university. I do not know whether it is because they couldn't find a job ...or they just changed their mind. The profession they are in now though still needs a degree, but it is completely unrelated to computer science


hmm that's a good point. But I get the vibe that u need CS more for being a software engineer. I know it sounds dumb and doesn't make sense as a SE is more specialised to that job role. But companies give me this strange vibe lol

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