University

I got an offer for Computer Science with placement year in Uni of Essex without accommodation, so i’d have to commute 4 hours everyday. I also got an offer for a foundation year for computer science with guaranteed accommodation in University of East Anglia. I’m not sure with university to pick as UEA are higher ranked but their offer is with a foundation year.

Reply 1

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by koko1244

Have you checked on the availability of private accomodation near whichever University of Essex campus you'll be at? If it were available, at a reasonable cost, would that make Essex more appealing?

Reply 2

koko1244

Original post by DataVenia

Have you checked on the availability of private accomodation near whichever University of Essex campus you'll be at? If it were available, at a reasonable cost, would that make Essex more appealing?

I don’t think it would make Essex more appealing, both unis seem good for computer science

Reply 3

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by koko1244

I don’t think it would make Essex more appealing, both unis seem good for computer science

Strange. If availability of accommodation makes no difference to you, then why mention "without accommodation, so i’d have to commute 4 hours everyday" and "with guaranteed accommodation"?

Anyway, if we exclude accommodation from your comparison we have:
• Essex: "with placement year"
• UEA: "higher ranked" but "with a foundation year"

So you'll be at each uni for four years. If it were me, I'd rather than extra year was as constructive as possible, and so would opt for Essex and its placement year. The experience you can gain on a placement year is likely to be very much of interest to employers once you've graduated. They won't care about the ranking of the uni.

Reply 4

koko1244

Original post by DataVenia

Strange. If availability of accommodation makes no difference to you, then why mention "without accommodation, so i’d have to commute 4 hours everyday" and "with guaranteed accommodation"?
Anyway, if we exclude accommodation from your comparison we have:
• Essex: "with placement year"
• UEA: "higher ranked" but "with a foundation year"
So you'll be at each uni for four years. If it were me, I'd rather than extra year was as constructive as possible, and so would opt for Essex and its placement year. The experience you can gain on a placement year is likely to be very much of interest to employers once you've graduated. They won't care about the ranking of the uni.

sorry i forgot to mention UEA are also offering a placement year, does that make any difference?

Reply 5

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by koko1244

sorry i forgot to mention UEA are also offering a placement year, does that make any difference?

So UEA is a five year course? Personally, I'd pick the shorter course (i.e. Essex), but I wouldn't be keen on the four hours of commuting each day (which doesn't seem to bother you).

Reply 6

koko1244

Original post by DataVenia

So UEA is a five year course? Personally, I'd pick the shorter course (i.e. Essex), but I wouldn't be keen on the four hours of commuting each day (which doesn't seem to bother you).

yes it would be a five year course, thank you for the advice!!

Reply 7

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by koko1244

yes it would be a five year course, thank you for the advice!!

You're welcome. :smile:

Reply 8

EssexOfficialRep

Official Rep

Original post by koko1244

Hiya @koko1244 !
Congratulations on your offers.

As long as you apply by Friday 13 September, you are guaranteed accommodation for your first year.
Student Accommodation at Essex | University of Essex

-We are ranked 9th in the UK for research impact in computer Science (Grade Point Average REF 2021);
- TOP 25 in the UK for Computer Science in THE World University Rankings by Subject 2024.

Our special facilities
-We have six laboratories that are exclusively for computer science and electronic engineering students. Three are open 24/7, and you have free access to the labs except when there is a scheduled practical class in progress;

-All computers are dual boot Windows 10 and Linux. Apple Mac Computers are dual boot MacOS and Windows 10;

-Software includes Java, Prolog, C++, Perl, Mysql, Matlab, DB2, Microsoft Office, Visual Studio, and Project;

-Students have access to CAD tools and simulators for chip design (Xilinx) and computer networks (OMNet++);

-We also have specialist facilities for research into areas including non-invasive brain-computer interfaces, intelligent environments, robotics, optoelectronics, video, RF and MW, printed circuit milling, and semiconductors.

Employability

Past Essex graduates in computer science have found employment as systems analysts, software engineers, programmers and systems engineers, while a number go on to postgraduate study or research.

Our department has a large pool of external contacts, ranging from companies providing robots for the media industry, through vehicle diagnostics, to the transforming of unstructured data to cloud-based multidimensional data cubes, who work with us and our students to provide advice, placements and eventually graduate opportunities. Read more about computer science and electronic engineering career destinations here.
Our recent graduates have gone on to work for a wide range of high-profile companies including:

•

Formula One

•

Light Speed IT Solutions

•

IBM

•

Royal Bank of Scotland

•

Accenture

•

Google

We also work with our University's Student Development Team to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

I hope this helps and if you have any more questions don't hesitate in messaging me.

Cat-Essex Official Rep🌷

Reply 9

UEA Rep Lucy

Official Rep

Original post by koko1244

Hi @koko1244

Congratulations on your offers for Computer Science. 🙂

Here is some more information about Computer Science at UEA and the modules we offer, https://www.uea.ac.uk/course/undergraduate/bsc-computing-science

I see that the course is ranked 4th for Graduate Outcomes (The Complete University Guide 2024). I have friends that have done Computer Science at UEA and have been very successful, getting jobs as Data Scientists and Computer Scientists. There is a great Computer Science area on campus, with a shared study space and kitchen and there would likely be a mixture of computer lab sessions and lectures.

I think the most useful thing to do would be to talk to a Computer Science student at the University of East Anglia, who would be able to talk to you about the modules on offer and the course itself.

You can talk to a Computer Science Student through this link:
https://www.uea.ac.uk/ask-us?utm_source=salesforce&utm_term=&utm_content=383751&utm_id=207d7ca9-4dfb-4b65-91df-1211aba4c059&sfmc_activityid=b65cbe3c-0948-48f7-8365-9ef9b768a519&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pgt_transition_24&sfmc_journey_id=207d7ca9-4dfb-4b65-91df-1211aba4c059&sfmc_journey_name=RTNAISITNO-%20P%20TGA%20PP2%2020%204%20-MEIA%20L%203%20-EHPLT%20%20ORPPERAE&sfmc_activity_id=b65cbe3c-0948-48f7-8365-9ef9b768a519&sfmc_activity_name=eHplt%20%20orppera%20e%20-mEia%20l%203%20-YDANIM%20C%20-GP%20TPA%20P0242&sfmc_asset_id=383751&sfmc_channel=email

That is also great that you have guaranteed accomodation. Also, if you would like more details on your foundation year in your offer then please contact admissions at [email protected].

If you have any questions about Norwich or UEA please let me know 🙂

UEA Rep Lucy
4th Year Economics Student with a Year Abroad