Computer science vs Architecture

Hi there, I'm currently in Year 12 and very soon applying to universities, or at least I'll need to have my PS done during summer. I'm now feeling indecisive as I'm split between CS and Architecture. I do A-level maths, chemistry, and CTEC information technology. I do extremely well in IT as I practice it both in and outside of school, I also think it is fun and not too difficult, but I have loads of work exp. in architecture and the built environment as well. I have more contacts and a bigger network. I feel like I'm waiting for my predicted grades to decide what I will apply to, but I would love some advice on both courses and how to choose correctly. Thanks so much!

It might be worth looking at courses that are 'like' Architecture / CS to see if these are a better fit :
Architectural Technology BSc(Hons) (brighton.ac.uk)
BSc (Hons) Architectural Engineering | University of Salford
Product Design Engineering BSc | Brunel University London
Product Design and Technology BSc | Undergraduate study | Loughborough University (lboro.ac.uk)
Urban Planning BSc | Undergraduate study | Loughborough University (lboro.ac.uk)

Do you do anything creative in your spare time? The majority of architecture courses require a portfolio of creative work as part of the application process.

there are roles within the built environment sector that you can do with a CS degree, eg digital engineer or software dev at a construction consultancy
example
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Hi I too am going to apply for computer science and am doing A-levels maths, CS and Chemistry. Don't get confused with IT and Computer Science because they are completely different. Have a look into what modules the course has and see if they interest you. Another thing about CS is, there would be a lot of maths such as some vectors stuff. As long as you like maths, you probably will enjoy CS. CS also sounds like there is a ton of programming but their is also a lot of theory too. Surely for Architecture wouldn't you need either art or graphics A-level?

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Lastly, not really. It’s favourable to have A-level art or graphics or DT at times but for the architecture courses I’ve seen they’ve not had any requirements except possibly maths. And if they have no requirements, they say they need a portfolio but that is about it. Hope that answers your questions but also thanks for your insight!

There is a list of the RIBA-accredited architecture courses and their entry requirements here:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7361710

Hi there, I'm currently in Year 12 and very soon applying to universities, or at least I'll need to have my PS done during summer. I'm now feeling indecisive as I'm split between CS and Architecture. I do A-level maths, chemistry, and CTEC information technology. I do extremely well in IT as I practice it both in and outside of school, I also think it is fun and not too difficult, but I have loads of work exp. in architecture and the built environment as well. I have more contacts and a bigger network. I feel like I'm waiting for my predicted grades to decide what I will apply to, but I would love some advice on both courses and how to choose correctly. Thanks so much!

Hi @veva2pp3 !
I'm a student representative for Uni of Southampton, and I'm currently in my 2nd year of Computer Science. I've really enjoyed my time doing Computer Science so far, if you have any questions feel free to ask me! Here is the computer science course at Southampton, and the Civil Engineering and Architecture course too.
One piece of advice I have is that during either course you will likely be able to incorporate pieces of both courses into your studies or project. For instance, in Architecture you will use a lot of CAD and technical programs, and in Computer Science in your 3rd year project, you could build a program that could be aimed to be used by architects.
If you have any questions I'll do my best to answer them!
Joshua
2nd Year Student Rep

Hey, Coventry University Student Ambassador here! 👋
Both are absolutely great choices, and your selection of A-Levels opens doors to both courses! It's a good sign that you enjoy doing IT outside of school, which shows a streak of passion - one of the heaviest deciding factors for choosing a course.
However, I will mention that computer science is quite different from information technology. Computer Science BSc delves into computational theory, advanced algorithms, data science, integrated programming modules, and much more. Computing branches into many courses, and you might even be interested in Software Engineering BSc, Information Technology Management BSc, Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security MSci/BSc, or Data Science MSci/BSc. I highly suggest looking into the modules studied in these courses to see if they pique your interest!
It's amazing that you already have networking grounds in architecture industries, which can definitely help you with getting placements and graduate roles. Besides that, you should also look into the modules studied in Architecture BSc. Your maths and digital skills could benefit you a lot in this course, but you should be prepared for the unfamiliar territory of art and design!
To narrow down your decision, go to open days and speak to lecturers and ambassadors like us to get a feel for the course, the learning environment, and if you can envision yourself going down this career path in the future. Both options are great, but I do recommend looking at all branching courses of computer science, as IT is quite different from core computer science.
Best of luck!
Dorna | Coventry University Student Ambassador