MSc Computer Science: Imperial or Oxford?

hi. i received offers for MSc CS (taught coursework) at both imperial and oxford for school year 2008/2009. being an overseas student, i can't quite decide on which one to accept (i've never been to the uk). i'd simply like to ask your opinions on which one i should take, maybe based on:

*respective CS departments (better in rankings; i'm more inclined to computer programming, developing applications)
*school prestige (edge upon employment, a certain je-ne-sais-quoi?)
*social life/travel/leisure (well, being international, i need something to do)
*value for money (i have a full scholarship from an external organization so i wanted to take advantage - tuition, fees, living expenses)

thanks.

Reply 1

Speedbird2008

3

Oxford.

(Even though ICL is better, just don't be silly, and go to Oxford!)

Reply 2

Psyk

16

I think when it comes to CS, both are probably considered as high as each other. I would have thought Imperial would be a better choice if you are interested in the practical side of it, actually developing applications. If you're getting paid for it, then Imperial would be making the most of it because it's in London and therefore very expensive to live there.

Reply 3

whitelighter

OP

1

Speedbird2008

Oxford.

(Even though ICL is better, just don't be silly, and go to Oxford!)

seems like you're saying it's a no-brainer, haha.

Reply 4

Creative

10

Speedbird2008

Oxford.

(Even though ICL is better, just don't be silly, and go to Oxford!)

What an objective answer.... :rolleyes:

With regards to CS departments, both are perceived very highly but ICL's CS courses tend to be more practical (like Psyk said) which may be better for you.

School prestige.. erm, both are very well respected and you can't go wrong with either.

Social life.. Imperial's full of internationals (mostly Asian) and a great portion of them tend to stick together and not fraternise with the enemy (non-internationals!), but then again, it's London and there are plenty of people and plenty of things to do, much more so than Oxford. Besides, you're international, so perhaps it might be easier for you to fit in.

Value for money.. well if somebody else is paying everything for you, then London. If somebody's gonna pay everything + a £180/week rent for a top room in central London, then I wouldn't pass that opportunity up.. Oxford is much cheaper, obviously.

Also depends which location you prefer, Oxford's smaller, more gloomy (aka strange buildings with domes and spires and medieval church like structures, I think the technical term they use to describe this is architecture :p:

). Imperial is basically a block of buildings in South Kensington, with a massive erection in the middle (Queen's tower, altho the queen's not a man :s-smilie:

).

Anyway, you'll be fine whichever one you go to. Just decide where you'd like to live for the next year or two.

Reply 5

whitelighter

OP

1

Psyk

in London and therefore very expensive to live there.

well, from my point of view, everything there is expensive. when i was in france, i can't help but convert everything into our local currency. but is it significantly higher in London than in other parts of the UK? i'll be screwed if i can't budget my living allowance well. :no:

Reply 6

Creative

10

whitelighter

well, from my point of view, everything there is expensive. when i was in france, i can't help but convert everything into our local currency. but is it significantly higher in London than in other parts of the UK? i'll be screwed if i can't budget my living allowance well. :no:

It all depends what kind of room/flat you want. Check http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/accommodation/prospectivepgstudents for further info, if you haven't done so already.

Reply 7

Greatleysteg

19

Speedbird2008

Oxford.

(Even though ICL is better, just don't be silly, and go to Oxford!)

Hey

Slighly off-topic, but what happened to the link to your blog, which used to be in your sig?

I see you changed degree again, to Dentistry! :biggrin:

OP: Much has been said about the high qualify of Imperial's CS students. They tend to get a lot of summer internships, too.

Reply 8

Peel

10

Don't make your decision just yet whitelighter; not till you receive a few more opinions on the matter. I've heard from a few people that Imperial is very much on par with Cambridge for Computer Science, and apparently better than Oxford.

Reply 9

sunspoon

14

Well, you say you prefer the programming/practical side of things so Imperial is probably more suited to you in that respect.

I don't know much about Oxford's CS course but I would guess it depends a bit on what your college is like in terms of tutorials. If you have a tutor who is more keen on the practical side of things you'll get more exposure to that, whereas if they are more passionate about the theory, you'll learn more of the theory.

Reply 10

trance addict

18

Greatleysteg

Hey

Slighly off-topic, but what happened to the link to your blog, which used to be in your sig?

I see you changed degree again, to Dentistry! :biggrin:

OP: Much has been said about the high qualify of Imperial's CS students. They tend to get a lot of summer internships, too.

Goldman sachs like to take Imperial grads before anyone else because of how good the comp sci graduates are.

Reply 11

Speedbird2008

3

Greatleysteg

Hey

Slighly off-topic, but what happened to the link to your blog, which used to be in your sig?

I see you changed degree again, to Dentistry! :biggrin:

I stopped it, as it was ****e!! :biggrin:

And Dentistry, Dentistry indeed. Long story;

1 - Want to be a professional
2 - Heart didn't lie in Biology, it lies in Healthcare
3 - Medicine is too ****ed up these days, due to NHS incompitence etc
4 - EVERY Doctor I ever spoke to said they hate Medicine, wouldn't do it if they knew what they now know etc. Every Dentist I have spoken to said they love their job etc.

(Mustn't say money. :ninja:

)

Reply 12

whitelighter

OP

1

Creative

Oxford's smaller, more gloomy (aka strange buildings with domes and spires and medieval church like structures, I think the technical term they use to describe this is architecture :p:

).

you're depressing me. :p:

now, i can't get it out of my head those creepy statues staring at you. (if there are any)

Reply 13

whitelighter

OP

1

count me in as a layman. :smile:

have only heard of imperial when i was looking for prospective unis. though i always had the impression that oxford deals more with the humanities, social sciences, arts...

i'm a bit skeptical looking at league tables. my uni back home is considered only as #2 but i think otherwise. :biggrin:

i'm still confused about the idea of colleges. aren't they like dorms? seems complicated to me. shows how much i did not research about my prospective schools. :confused:

Reply 14

whitelighter

OP

1

Peel

Don't make your decision just yet whitelighter; not till you receive a few more opinions on the matter. I've heard from a few people that Imperial is very much on par with Cambridge for Computer Science, and apparently better than Oxford.

you're assuming that i've already chosen oxford? :p:

i'm nowhere near to deciding. :no:

Reply 15

kat2pult

18

Oxford - all the people I know at Imperial don't like it much. I have spent a lot of time there and dislike it. It's one of the more unfriendly unis. There's a LOT of chinese kids and you don't get to meet people who aren't business or science minded. Also, Imperial has no on sight accomodation and finding accomodation may prove to be difficult.

The people I know at Oxford love it.

Personally I think how good the university is more important than how good the course at the uni is.

Reply 16

whitelighter

OP

1

sunspoon

I don't know much about Oxford's CS course but I would guess it depends a bit on what your college is like in terms of tutorials.

colleges?? tutorials?? is everyone given a tutor? it's just that i think i have a different understanding of being tutored.

Reply 17

fat_hobbit

2

Creative

What an objective answer.... :rolleyes:

With regards to CS departments, both are perceived very highly but ICL's CS courses tend to be more practical (like Psyk said) which may be better for you.

School prestige.. erm, both are very well respected and you can't go wrong with either.

Social life.. Imperial's full of internationals (mostly Asian) and a great portion of them tend to stick together and not fraternise with the enemy (non-internationals!), but then again, it's London and there are plenty of people and plenty of things to do, much more so than Oxford. Besides, you're international, so perhaps it might be easier for you to fit in.

Value for money.. well if somebody else is paying everything for you, then London. If somebody's gonna pay everything + a £180/week rent for a top room in central London, then I wouldn't pass that opportunity up.. Oxford is much cheaper, obviously.

Also depends which location you prefer, Oxford's smaller, more gloomy (aka strange buildings with domes and spires and medieval church like structures, I think the technical term they use to describe this is architecture :p:

). Imperial is basically a block of buildings in South Kensington, with a massive erection in the middle (Queen's tower, altho the queen's not a man :s-smilie:

).

Anyway, you'll be fine whichever one you go to. Just decide where you'd like to live for the next year or two.

Do you really have 9 million posts? ****ing hell.

Reply 18

nuodai

17

Oxford. If you go to Imperial you'll be a victim of arsen, stabbing and murder :wink:

Plus, the Oxford CS Department is creamworthy, and the place is really nice. And if you get bored, London isn't too far away either! Best of both worlds, really.

Reply 19

RyanT

15

CS is the only subject I'd pick Imperial for over Oxford. But its a very close call. I would personally suggest Imperial due to its international nature but if money is a problem just go to oxford.

MSc Computer Science: Imperial or Oxford?

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