Ask an Abertay University Student

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Hi everyone, I'm currently a first year student studying Ethical Hacking at the University of Abertay Dundee.

If you're thinking about applying, are currently an applicant or have any other questions about what life is like at Abertay then post below and I'll try my to answer!

Reply 1

CheeseIsVeg

Volunteer Team

22

Original post

by Paddylonglegs10

Hi everyone, I'm currently a first year student studying Ethical Hacking at the University of Abertay Dundee.

If you're thinking about applying, are currently an applicant or have any other questions about what life is like at Abertay then post below and I'll try my to answer!

Hi there

I have to know, what is studying Ethical Hacking like?
Why did you pick this degree?
What is your favourite thing about you University?
Cheese :woo:

Reply 2

Paddylonglegs10

OP

12

Original post

by CheeseIsVeg

Hi there

I have to know, what is studying Ethical Hacking like?
Why did you pick this degree?
What is your favourite thing about you University?
Cheese :woo:

Hi! Thanks for reply. Studying Ethical Hacking is really interesting. I've been exposed to the infosec world and since going on my course went to security conferences :biggrin:

. Also you'd be surprised of how much hackers like to drink 🍻, mad haha. One thing I didn't expect.

It's great to learn about all the ways to hack/how hackers actually do it. The only downside is, for the ethical hackers like me it's very easy to do something illegal/against university guidelines if I'm not careful/tell the university beforehand haha. (They gave examples of people getting expelled for doing such haha)

I picked this Degree mainly because I've always been interested in hacking from a young age and computers in general. (Should've seen me just open CMD in school and run ipconfig, classmates thought I was top hackerman haha) I want to help people and stop bad from happening too, a big motivator was the NHS Wannacry hack, /attack. I chose this course over other computer science/ cyber security Uni courses because Abertay's Ethical hacking course brings me done the path of pen testing(penetration testing). Basically hacking companies and getting paid for it :biggrin:

!

Don't know if this counts but my favourite thing would be the societies I'm in at my uni haha. Such as film society and Hacksoc. Have great fun at them.

But so far I've had a decent first year at my uni and looking forward to the next years :smile:

Thanks,
Paddy :smile:

.

Reply 3

k1r5tyyy

1

hi there, I will be applying for uni’s later this year and abertay and dundee are the ones with the most intresting courses for me. Im justing wondering about what its like to live in dundee as i know in the past its not always had the most popular reputation, do you feel safe walking around? what are the people like? is there a lot of activities for students/ a good social life? is the student accommodation nice?thanku

Reply 4

Paddylonglegs10

OP

12

Original post

by k1r5tyyy

hi there, I will be applying for uni’s later this year and abertay and dundee are the ones with the most intresting courses for me. Im justing wondering about what its like to live in dundee as i know in the past its not always had the most popular reputation, do you feel safe walking around? what are the people like? is there a lot of activities for students/ a good social life? is the student accommodation nice?thanku

Hi

sry it's a bit long.

I love Dundee. It's a great city, and it has good weather too. The people are nice and helpful. There is a great atmosphere when you're there. I come from a big city so living in a wee place like Dundee is calm and a great experience. The bad reputation could come from a few dodgy people on drugs(I think?) you see about, druggies. They don't bother ya, but you will start to notice them in your time there. But for me personally I love Dundee :0.

I always feel safe walking around, even at night. (Gotta get that 1am Mcdonalds ya know)

The activities is what you'll find issues with. Me personally I think there isn't much on offer activity wise in Dundee, I've tried to do a lot. Trying to go places in my time there but there just isn't a lot. I went to cinema a few times and went to V

Reply 5

Paddylonglegs10

OP

12

Uh why it cut off my message haha noo

Reply 6

Paddylonglegs10

OP

12

(Can't delete)

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 7

Paddylonglegs10

OP

12

Yo what is goin on sry ill delete and start again

Reply 8

Paddylonglegs10

OP

12

Original post

by k1r5tyyy

hi there, I will be applying for uni’s later this year and abertay and dundee are the ones with the most intresting courses for me. Im justing wondering about what its like to live in dundee as i know in the past its not always had the most popular reputation, do you feel safe walking around? what are the people like? is there a lot of activities for students/ a good social life? is the student accommodation nice?thanku

Hi

sry it's a bit long.

I love Dundee. It's a great city, and it has good weather too. The people are nice and helpful. There is a great atmosphere when you're there. I come from a big city so living in a wee place like Dundee is calm and a great experience. The bad reputation could come from a few dodgy people on drugs(I think?) you see about, druggies. They don't bother ya, but you will start to notice them in your time there. But for me personally I love Dundee :0.

I always feel safe walking around, even at night. (Gotta get that 1am Mcdonalds ya know)

The activities is what you'll find issues with. Me personally I think there isn't much on offer activity wise in Dundee, I've tried to do a lot. Trying to go places in my time there but there just isn't a lot. I went to cinema a few times and went to V&A museum for one of their exhibitions. V&A is a shout if you see an exhibition you're interested in, very cool place. I wish there was like a complex, with bowling alley and stuff like that. There is a couple places I planned on going until corona hit, like Ryze(trampoline park) ScotKart(Go karting), Avertical world(Rock climbing), Escape Room(but they're expensive, F). There is options to do cool activities but there isn't enough I think. My social life there was going to societies at my uni, the odd cinema adventure and planning/trying to find what to do. I don't drink/go to clubs so that side I'm not sure. But nightlife be poppin if you're into that, what majority of students and my mates do.

Dundee and Abertay students can mix in Parker House as I'm sure ya know :smile:

so either uni you go to you could live in this accommodation. I don't stay in Parker House but from the few times I've been there it seems like a real high quality accommodation, with good staff and security and a nice reception there(you get free sweets there too :biggrin:

). The only bad thing people tell me about Parker House is the colour scheme, like green carpet and blue curtains or something(Which I'd love haha). If that's all the bad they say about it then it must be pretty good. I applied for Parker but abertay offered me Meadowside instead.

Meadowside is decent accommodation. It's not the quality of Parker, but it's cosy too. It's close to the uni, and has on-site cleaners which clean your bathroom if you wish and clean the kitchen. I've enjoyed my stay in Meadowside, having my own room and mixing with flatmates. Student halls is a good experience.

Hope this helps
Paddy.

This better work

Reply 9

Anonymous #1

I've applied for computing at abertay. When looking at online reviews of abertay on sites like studentcrowd and whatuni they seem mixed though.
I've a few questions, don't know if you will be able to answer them all though.
How does the computing course compare to computing courses offered at other unis ?
How did you find the computing modules and if you know any computing students how are they finding the course ?
What is the teaching like ? Do you find you learn a lot from classes or are you selfteaching a lot of content ?
What is the pace of learning at abertay like ? Do you feel it moves too slowly or is it the right sort of pace ?
What are class sizes like ?
Abertay has a reputation for being specialist in the area of tech, how accurate would you say this is ?
Are you aware of what the job prospects are like for abertay graduates and if so how do they fare ?
Final question, I know this is a lot, where do students typically stay after 1st year ?

Thanks for creating this thread, it is very helpful.

Reply 10

Paddylonglegs10

OP

12

Original post

by Anonymous

I've applied for computing at abertay. When looking at online reviews of abertay on sites like studentcrowd and whatuni they seem mixed though.
I've a few questions, don't know if you will be able to answer them all though.
How does the computing course compare to computing courses offered at other unis ?
How did you find the computing modules and if you know any computing students how are they finding the course ?
What is the teaching like ? Do you find you learn a lot from classes or are you selfteaching a lot of content ?
What is the pace of learning at abertay like ? Do you feel it moves too slowly or is it the right sort of pace ?
What are class sizes like ?
Abertay has a reputation for being specialist in the area of tech, how accurate would you say this is ?
Are you aware of what the job prospects are like for abertay graduates and if so how do they fare ?
Final question, I know this is a lot, where do students typically stay after 1st year ?

Thanks for creating this thread, it is very helpful.

Hi.

Computing, games design and ethical hacking share some modules. In term one we had module on c++ and in term 2 we're doing software design. I've never coded before going on this course, so I'm finding it very tough. Although, I'm learning coding a lot very quickly and best practices with it. Other students say they find it easy haha. I'm enjoying the tasks for the modules, very fun and interesting. The final assignments aren't too bad also, interesting and fun to code/solve.

I'm my experience the teaching at abertay depends on the lecturers. The lectures/classes for my other modules were great, and I understood a lot from them. I just find the computing modules like C++ and software design very hard to grasp, in lectures and in the labs. This could be due to me not coding before and finding it tough.

Pace of learning is actually very good. It moves at the right sort of pace, giving enough time to take in what was taught that week and to do the quizzes/tasks. However, when it gets to assignment week the pace of learning picks up rapidly I find.

Class/lab sizes are around 30 people or so. Abertay spaces labs out really well and no overcrowding.

Abertay being specialist in area of tech would be pretty accurate. They invest a lot of money in this area, and for the year I've been here they've constantly been upgrading sectors (like the games design area) and they plan to upgrade hacking spaces. I don't really here about other sectors getting this type of funding/attention so I guess they do focus a lot on area of tech.

Yes Abertay mention and make aware of job prospects. I'm only first year, but I've already heard so much about how to get a job before/after I graduate. Of course I'll be going for hacking jobs and computing wil be different job, but if Abertay are like this for all courses you shouldn't worry. (Sometimes your division head will email you opportunities, that happens later years like 3rd and 4th)

Students typically try and get their own accommodation after first year staying in student accommodation. Like their own flat with a landlord. Some move in with the friends they make in their first year and others just get their own flat. However, if you want you can reapply to student accommodation, like Parker House, and can stay there for another year.

Hope this helps you and I answered your questions right :smile:

. Sry couldn't answer all.

Reply 11

Anonymous #1

Thanks for all your answers.

How does the elective/optional module work? Can you take anything you want for it?

What did you take for it if you do not mind me asking?

If I was to be studying computing, could I pick up the optional module in say computer security?

Reply 12

Paddylonglegs10

OP

12

Original post

by Anonymous

Thanks for all your answers.

How does the elective/optional module work? Can you take anything you want for it?

What did you take for it if you do not mind me asking?

If I was to be studying computing, could I pick up the optional module in say computer security?

You're welcome :smile:

You select an elective when you're given access to Oasis, setting things up like accommodation(well with what's goin on today maybe not at the moment) etc. I can't remember exactly how it works, but I think you get an email telling you to select your elective and give directions how. You'll be given a list of electives, like maybe around 10-15(maybe more). Choose one you like, but quick because they get booked really fast.

I chose Forensic Investigation, which is a high sought after one. I found it very interesting. Chose it because digital forensics comes up sometimes in my course/career so thought it would be good.

Yes you can do computer security elective. Like a mini ethical hacking course for a term. They call it "defense against the dark arts". My friend who's on it found it very interesting, he's doing Games Development. So even though we're all kind of in the same area, we're able to do other areas if we like.

Might go for games development next year.

(Just quick tip, most electives aren't the best. So when you get that email, select the one you like ASAP before it's gone the next hour)

Reply 13

Johnwilkinson3

4

Hi, I was just wondering if you needed a guarantor for your meadowside halls? I'm thinking of applying there if I meet my conditional offers but dont have anyone I can use as a guarantor. Thanks :smile:

Reply 14

Paddylonglegs10

OP

12

Original post

by Johnwilkinson3

Hi, I was just wondering if you needed a guarantor for your meadowside halls? I'm thinking of applying there if I meet my conditional offers but dont have anyone I can use as a guarantor. Thanks :smile:

Hi John,

As far as I know, you don't need a guarantor to stay at Meadowside. It was never mentioned to me during the accommodation process. I chose the recurring payment from a credit/debit card. I found it quite affordable on a student budget. (Even though for a student halls that's a steep monthly rent in my opinion)

Paddy

Reply 15

Johnwilkinson3

4

Original post

by Paddylonglegs10

Hi John,

As far as I know, you don't need a guarantor to stay at Meadowside. It was never mentioned to me during the accommodation process. I chose the recurring payment from a credit/debit card. I found it quite affordable on a student budget. (Even though for a student halls that's a steep monthly rent in my opinion)

Paddy

Thanks very much :smile:

Reply 16

Mr Moose

3

I'm applying for accommodation in Lyon Street, is it a good place to live? I've read a few reviews and they worry me a little. Also I was wondering how good the internet is and if theres internet per room or is it for all of the building. Finally haha if you wanted to get your own internet would it be possible?

Reply 17

Paddylonglegs10

OP

12

Original post

by Mr Moose

I'm applying for accommodation in Lyon Street, is it a good place to live? I've read a few reviews and they worry me a little. Also I was wondering how good the internet is and if theres internet per room or is it for all of the building. Finally haha if you wanted to get your own internet would it be possible?

Not too sure about lyon Street, I was just at Meadowside. I didn't chose lyon as it was too far from university. I went to visit the 1 bed flat type accommodations couple times. It seemed decent enough. Had own kitchen. You'd probably be visiting the big Lidl around the corner for most of your shopping. But I can't give good review of it sorry :smile:

.

The Internet in all Abertay owned accommodations is Eduroam. It's...decent. It drops connection a lot and disconnects, but reconnects very quickly. Especially on phones, I found it drops a lot. The Internet is all for the building. They have a lot of WiFi spots to improve signal across the accommodation, in Meadowside at the flat door entrance. There is only one ethernet socket per room. (This may be different for lyon Street I'm not sure)

I don't think it would be possible to get own internet. I thought about getting it myself. They'd need to have the wee box installed to get the router connected by cable. Ya know what I mean :0?

I didn't see these anywhere and doubt abertay would allow holes to be drilled in their accommodation to install these. I gave up because of this but you could chance your luck and maybe ask abertay?

Paddy :smile:

Reply 18

Paddylonglegs10

OP

12