The Student Room Group
Students on campus at the University of Warwick
University of Warwick
Coventry

Bristol vs Warwick for CS

I have unconditional offers for both unis and I'm struggling to decide what to pick.

Warwick - Better satisfaction for the meng (84% vs 62%), option for a placement year, slightly higher entry requirements and ranking, campus uni is nice and accomodation is also better from what I have heard. Also at Warwick you can actually pick modules for all years.

Bristol - Better area (only heard bad about Coventry and Leamington Spa but I never got a chance to visit myself. That said, after parking on the open day there was human feces on the staircase in Bristol), shorter commute than warwick after first year, more projects intergrated into the course (including one for a real client). My gut is telling me Bristol, but the fact you cant choose modules for the first 2 years seems really stupid to me.

I would appreciate anyones advice! Cheers.
(edited 1 year ago)
Warwick is probably a tad stronger for that subject, but they're pretty close I think. Bear in mind Warwick will also be a lot cheaper than Bristol, as the latter is among the most expensive cities in the UK as I recall...

In terms of not having many optional modules at Bristol, this doesn't really mean much. There's a fair bit of core material you have to cover, and they most likely focus on packing that into the degree earlier to give you more choice later. I expect you'll cover largely the same material in both courses honestly.
Students on campus at the University of Warwick
University of Warwick
Coventry
Reply 2
Thanks, I have never thought about pricing, although I am meant to get a large student loan.

Looking at each year, the core stuff for bristol is core at warwick. Then, bristol has additional core modules that are optional at warwick, and warwick has modules bristol doesnt have or when they do have it (year 3 only) it would mean I wouldnt be able to study everything I am interested + HAVE to study things I am uninterested in. To me that seems like a pretty signifcant difference, mainly in terms of enjoying the content of the course and being able to choose which areas I am interested into focusing for a career.
(edited 1 year ago)
Reply 3
bump
Hi,

I'm a current MSc Computer Science student at Warwick, it's my 4th year here as I decided to stay after doing my BSc in maths. Whilst it's not exactly the same course, the department has been great this year, great range of modules and well taught.

With regards to the university in general, I've had an amazing time here. The campus is great, I haven't spent much time in Cov but I've lived in Leamington for 3 years now, it's such a nice place to live, v pretty area and lots of stuff going on. The commute into campus can be annoying some times with the buses, but I've always found it was worth it to live in such a nice place.

My biggest piece of advice would be (if you haven't already) visit both universities and get a feel for the areas.

If you have any more specific questions about student life or the department, please let me know, I'd be happy to answer!

Davina
Original post by Warwick PG Rep
Hi,

I'm a current MSc Computer Science student at Warwick, it's my 4th year here as I decided to stay after doing my BSc in maths. Whilst it's not exactly the same course, the department has been great this year, great range of modules and well taught.

With regards to the university in general, I've had an amazing time here. The campus is great, I haven't spent much time in Cov but I've lived in Leamington for 3 years now, it's such a nice place to live, v pretty area and lots of stuff going on. The commute into campus can be annoying some times with the buses, but I've always found it was worth it to live in such a nice place.

My biggest piece of advice would be (if you haven't already) visit both universities and get a feel for the areas.

If you have any more specific questions about student life or the department, please let me know, I'd be happy to answer!

Davina

Hi Davina,
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
How many undergraduates are in the CS department (and how many Year 1 students)? I missed the Open Day and was trying to find some details.
Feeling very undecided about going to Warwick but I haven't visited yet. Thanks for the advice on Leamington.
Cheers,
Chris
Do you want a campus or do you want a city based Uni? Warwick really is it’s own bubble. I’d go with your gut ( although this may be based in the fact Bristol is a “known” because you visited).
Warwick has lots and lots of industry links and students are very enthusiastic about their subject. I thought the computer set up looked dated but they assured me that just plonked on tables was better than posh fold into desk types because you can fiddle around with the cables etc.
Could you not visit so you can compare? There’s an open day in June I think. I can’t see there will be much difference in standard of the course but it’s no good going if you’d be thinking you’d be having more fun and freedom running round the streets of Bristol. Or you might like the exclusive student atmosphere at Warwick.
Reply 7
Original post by Anonymous
Do you want a campus or do you want a city based Uni? Warwick really is it’s own bubble. I’d go with your gut ( although this may be based in the fact Bristol is a “known” because you visited).
Warwick has lots and lots of industry links and students arIe very enthusiastic about their subject. I thought the computer set up looked dated but they assured me that just plonked on tables was better than posh fold into desk types because you can fiddle around with the cables etc.
Could you not visit so you can compare? There’s an open day in June I think. I can’t see there will be much difference in standard of the course but it’s no good going if you’d be thinking you’d be having more fun and freedom running round the streets of Bristol. Or you might like the exclusive student atmosphere at Warwick.

I did actually visit Warwick too, I just dont really have anything to say about the campus. It was just normal buildings, nothing special. I have given it more thought however, and the placement year at Warwick makes me want to go there over Bristol. Shame Bristol does not offer one. Thanks for the advice however.

Im assuming you also went to the offer day? Other than about the setups, what did you think? Also by dated, are you also talking about the hardware? I did not stay for the hands on bit because my stomach was killing me.
(edited 1 year ago)
Reply 8
Original post by Anonymous
Hi Davina,
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
How many undergraduates are in the CS department (and how many Year 1 students)? I missed the Open Day and was trying to find some details.
Feeling very undecided about going to Warwick but I haven't visited yet. Thanks for the advice on Leamington.
Cheers,
Chris

I cant help you with your question but which other universities are you looking at?
Original post by Alexokay
I did actually visit Warwick too, I just dont really have anything to say about the campus. It was just normal buildings, nothing special. I have given it more thought however, and the placement year at Warwick makes me want to go there over Bristol. Shame Bristol does not offer one. Thanks for the advice however.

Im assuming you also went to the offer day? Other than about the setups, what did you think? Also by dated, are you also talking about the hardware? I did not stay for the hands on bit because my stomach was killing me.


I thought the College looked tired but not compared it to Bristol.

I also wanted to say that placement years are not always the great idea they sound. They can really disrupt your degree and it can be quite hard to go back to studying. I think both Unis offer opportunities for internships during the ( very long) holidays. You can get industry experience but keep the continuity. I think both Uni’s are highly respected and getting a job afterwards wouldn’t be a problem.
Reply 10
Original post by Anonymous
I thought the College looked tired but not compared it to Bristol.

How things look dont bother me that much regardless, inside both looked extremely comparable to me. Outside is obviously a different story with the Bristol being far older.

About placement years, for my plans currently (idealy going onto a masters elsewhere specialising in either CV, AI, ML, or CG) - Aside from all the obvious benefits (seeing how you like a job in the long term, graduating with a whole year of experience + internships, experience another area for a year) I will need the money, some stuff to write about in my application, and am okay refreshing my brain on the content of the course once in a while I'm sure of it. I am currently on a gap year, so have taken a year out anyway so I will be used to "getting back to studying".

Funnily enough my gut still says Bristol, but I think I have to go with my brain on this one :smile:
Well good luck with your choice both are good offers. Personally I would follow whatever your instinct tells you.

I would also consider the length of time you are out of the workplace. Gap year plus four year course plus a masters is a long time not actually working. You’ll be up against students who have already had two years to prove themselves.
Reply 12
Original post by Anonymous
I would also consider the length of time you are out of the workplace. Gap year plus four year course plus a masters is a long time not actually working. You’ll be up against students who have already had two years to prove themselves.

You think so? People with 2 yoe surely wont be competing for graduate / entry level jobs. At that point you become mid level (at least in software dev type stuff) Also the areas I want to work in require masters degrees a lot of the time. That was the impression I got looking at job listings anyway.
(edited 1 year ago)
I meant people will be out of Uni 2 years ahead of you. That’s 2 years of a proper graduate role so ready for the next level. They’ll also have a much clearer idea of what masters would be useful to where ever they end up.
But to each they’re own path! I’m sure you’ll end up where you want to be. CS is the future.
Reply 14
Original post by Anonymous
But to each they’re own path! I’m sure you’ll end up where you want to be. CS is the future.

I hope so! Cheers.
Original post by Anonymous
Hi Davina,
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
How many undergraduates are in the CS department (and how many Year 1 students)? I missed the Open Day and was trying to find some details.
Feeling very undecided about going to Warwick but I haven't visited yet. Thanks for the advice on Leamington.
Cheers,
Chris

Hi Chris,

Apologies for the delayed response, it's exam season at uni at the moment.

I don't know the exact figure but I believe it's quite a lot. There's 80 MSc students (my course). I think the number of first years is around 300. It has varied a lot in recent years due to covid, but overall, it's a fairly large course.

Davina
Original post by Warwick PG Rep
Hi Chris,

Apologies for the delayed response, it's exam season at uni at the moment.

I don't know the exact figure but I believe it's quite a lot. There's 80 MSc students (my course). I think the number of first years is around 300. It has varied a lot in recent years due to covid, but overall, it's a fairly large course.

Davina


Thanks a lot for replying and good luck on your exams!

Quick Reply

Latest