Which unis are good for comp sci?

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Are your lecturers good?

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Do they seem passionate about what they do?

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Do you feel that the quality of the education you're getting is good?

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What are the labs like?

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Does the uni seem to care about its students?

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If/when you need to go to office hours, do the lectures genuinely try to help?

1.

Are the lecturers good?
I have to be honest: they vary. The lecturers are very different and come from diverse backgrounds. I've had a couple of lecturers who have delivered the content as required but in a fairly dry manner. However, most lecturers have been very engaging and passionate about the subject. For example, my lecturer for the Databases module made the effort to send out weekly student feedback forms and went through them every week, clarifying anything the students found difficult, responding to positive/negative feedback and requests. He also provided video recordings of himself going through some of the lab solutions, which were incredibly helpful. Overall, the lecturers are also very approachable: I like being able to contact and reach my lecturers very easily, and being on a first-name basis with them.

2.

Yes, all lecturers seem passionate about what they do, regardless of how good they are at teaching and lecturing. (Being incredibly well-renowned, intelligent or passionate is not what makes you the best lecturer, although those are all positives). Most are very happy to be approached with questions about their research and to chat to the students.

3.

Do you feel that the quality of the education you're getting is good?
Yes, overall I am happy with the level and quality of education I am receiving. The quality varies across the modules - some are fantastic, while with others I feel like there could be more engagement provided. However, that often also depends on personal preference. When I felt like I wasn't getting enough support for a module within the timetabled hours, I went to additional lab sessions (which is absolutely allowed). The Computing and Communications department (SCC) also has a 'Support Hub' - a room with an academic inside it, where students can drop in for any questions or to get help with learning/coursework, usually from 9 am to 5 pm. So if you seek out the additional readily-available resources, put in the effort to do the work assigned and take on the offered opportunities - the value for money is great, in my opinion. I feel like what I am learning is relevant to me in most cases, and I found some of the courseworks to be interesting and enjoyable - I was genuinely involved and derived some pleasure from completing them.

4.

What are the labs like?
Facilities-wise: comfortable and modern, as half of our labs have just been built in the 2023-2024 academic year, and other half have been recently refurbished. (Big shout-out to my best friends the standing desks, since they help me with my back issues).
Labs can have up to 40 people, but realistically it is usually around 20. The attendance does vary greatly on the module and the closeness of the deadline 😉. Within the lab, there are usually anywhere from 1-4 TAs (teaching assistants - older or PhD students, who have been selected and trained to help out the students during labs) and an academic (usually your lecturer). No new material is usually covered in the labs - they are practical and involve hands-on practice and aplication. Sometimes you have a set of tasks to complete within the lab, or sometimes you work on the coursework with the help of the TAs and academics.

5.

Does the uni seem to care about its students?
"The uni" is quite generalised, but I would say so? Because Lancaster is a campus-based and collegiate university, there is a lovely community feeling. The campus is almost always bustling with various events throughout the week, and because you end up meeting and getting to know a lot of people, it feels fun and dynamic yet...homely and cozy? Thanks to the student representative system, the teaching office working full hours and being accessible to students, the informal atmosphere of just being able to pop into your lecturer's office or send them a Teams message, and the college wellbeing and management teams - you have a lot of points of contact to go to for support.

6.

If/when you need to go to office hours, do the lectures genuinely try to help?
I think I answered this in my previous points, but yes. If you have a focused question or are genuinely stuck - they will provide detailed explanations, if you go to an additional drop-in support session or come to their "office hours" slot. However, if you have not demonstrated a proper attempt at solving the problem on your own, they are likely to suggest you some resources to look at - university tends to encourage the independent problem-solving and learning approach rather than asking for help at the first inconvenience.

•

Are your lecturers good?

•

Do they seem passionate about what they do?

•

Do you feel that the quality of the education you're getting is good?

•

What are the labs like?

•

Does the uni seem to care about its students?

•

If/when you need to go to office hours, do the lectures genuinely try to help?