Help with university courses

Hi! I've posted before on TSR asking about course recs, but now that a while has gone I've managed to send off my UCAS application and I've received all 5 offers, they're as follows:

MEng Comp Sci with Yr in Industry - University of Liverpool
MEng Comp Sci with Cybersecurity - University of Aberdeen (5 year course)
BSc Comp Sci with Industrial Placement - Newcastle University
BSc Comp Sci with Yr in Industry - Cardiff University
MChem Medicinal Chemistry w/ Pharmacology - University of Liverpool

As you can see a variety and I wouldn't mind any since I have researched the courses, modules, contents, etc and they all appeal to me. The medicinal chemistry one was to keep my options open, in case I change my mind last minute. Obviously the integrated masters are very attractive, but in terms of picking a firm and insurance what should I consider? Would the cybersecurity course limit me? Would comp sci in general pay off in the future? What should I research? Thank you in advance!

(I'm based in Liverpool but wouldn't mind relocating, not even to Aberdeen!)

Reply 1

MindMax2000

Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by veva2pp3

Hi! I've posted before on TSR asking about course recs, but now that a while has gone I've managed to send off my UCAS application and I've received all 5 offers, they're as follows:
MEng Comp Sci with Yr in Industry - University of Liverpool
MEng Comp Sci with Cybersecurity - University of Aberdeen (5 year course)
BSc Comp Sci with Industrial Placement - Newcastle University
BSc Comp Sci with Yr in Industry - Cardiff University
MChem Medicinal Chemistry w/ Pharmacology - University of Liverpool
As you can see a variety and I wouldn't mind any since I have researched the courses, modules, contents, etc and they all appeal to me. The medicinal chemistry one was to keep my options open, in case I change my mind last minute. Obviously the integrated masters are very attractive, but in terms of picking a firm and insurance what should I consider? Would the cybersecurity course limit me? Would comp sci in general pay off in the future? What should I research? Thank you in advance!
(I'm based in Liverpool but wouldn't mind relocating, not even to Aberdeen!)

in terms of picking a firm and insurance what should I consider?

•

Which uni do you really want to go to? Think: if I had unlimited choice and I can pick any one I wanted, which one would I pick

•

Quality of course material

•

Whether you like the uni and the lecturers

•

Whether you think you can do well in the course

•

People's reviews of the course (recent graduates ideally)

Personally, I prefer the MEng/MChem degrees as opposed to the BScs. MEng and MChem are integrated masters' and they're typically cheaper than doing a BSc + MSc separately.
Also, if you want to obtain the chartered status from the Institute of Engineering for engineering roles, you're typically required to have a master's with at least a year's of training, otherwise a bachelor's with several years of training. So for me, it's a quicker way to get chartered status - doesn't necessarily mean you will get the job or would get the senior level pay though, just you're more qualified.

Would the cybersecurity course limit me?
Huh? Limit you in what way? It's still a computer science course.
If on the other hand you are referring to the fact there's no year in industry, then maybe. For whatever degree you pick, relevant work experience is always more valuable to employers than whatever degree you picked up. Of course it needs to be relevant e.g. your chances of getting into say architecture with work experience in tech is about as relevant as an economist with work experience in civil service trying to get into medicine

Would comp sci in general pay off in the future?
This question is irrelevant and thoughtless. It's like asking a crystal ball whether you would meet the love of your life by walking into a random field.
Firstly, noone would be able to tell you what the future will be. No fortune teller would have the guts to tell you exactly what your next hour of your life would be like, let alone anyone forecasting future employment trends (if they even try).
Second, your degree never guarantees you a job; that's not what universities offer and that isn't what your degree represents. Your degree will mean that you have passed 3 years of higher education in a specific subject. If you think it will definitely get you a job, then I wish you luck fumbling about several years after graduation.
Third, you don't get paid for having a degree. If that was the case, all PhD holders would be millionaires. You get paid based on what value you bring to the table. Having letters after your name mean squat to employers.
Fourth, it shows that you haven't researched the industry properly. For one, a degree is not necessary to get into tech. Employers judge you based on your relevant experience and level of skill. Your degree doesn't guarantee that. If you're not proficient enough in your job interview, it doesn't matter how many letters you have after your name you will be booted out. In fact, an IT whizz munchkin who just left school can be more qualified for an IT job than someone who just left a top uni with degree in computer science, if the munchkin has better skills.
Fifth, it suggest you haven't looked into professional IT certifications either. I suggest you look into these and possibly getting them if they are relevant to the specific role that you want to apply for.

What should I research?
Degrees are primarily for people who want to go into research. If academic research is something you want to get into, then the reputation of the uni and its department can be of relevance. I would suggest you research this well.

If you're just in it for the uni experience and don't care what job you end up with so long it's high paying, then with reluctance that I would recommend you look at their alumni network as well as the graduate employers who attend the unis to recruit their graduates.

If at the spur of the moment and you discovered that you might not want to attend uni or decide to change course, then you would need to notify the unis concerned as quick as possible. You would also need to do a lot of research into the courses that you want to do, if you want to do one at all.

Reply 2

CardiffUni Rep 4

Official Rep

Original post

by veva2pp3

Hi! I've posted before on TSR asking about course recs, but now that a while has gone I've managed to send off my UCAS application and I've received all 5 offers, they're as follows:
MEng Comp Sci with Yr in Industry - University of Liverpool
MEng Comp Sci with Cybersecurity - University of Aberdeen (5 year course)
BSc Comp Sci with Industrial Placement - Newcastle University
BSc Comp Sci with Yr in Industry - Cardiff University
MChem Medicinal Chemistry w/ Pharmacology - University of Liverpool
As you can see a variety and I wouldn't mind any since I have researched the courses, modules, contents, etc and they all appeal to me. The medicinal chemistry one was to keep my options open, in case I change my mind last minute. Obviously the integrated masters are very attractive, but in terms of picking a firm and insurance what should I consider? Would the cybersecurity course limit me? Would comp sci in general pay off in the future? What should I research? Thank you in advance!
(I'm based in Liverpool but wouldn't mind relocating, not even to Aberdeen!)

Hi there,

Congratulations on your offers! I'm a student here at Cardiff in my fourth year and I love it.
It's great that you have so many options and have given yourself course options too.
I don't do computer science myself, but what I would recommend is looking at futures in computer science to see if you need a masters to begin with, or if it very common. You could also try reaching out to people on LinkedIn for example to see if they would chat, or if not you can see their educational background and see what people in fields you could be interested in have done. As you have done research into each of the courses and are happy with all of them, my biggest recommendation for you now is to look at the uni's and cities themselves, would you be happy there, and what else is there to offer beyond the classroom.
I know im bias but I genuinely love Cardiff as a city, especially for being a student, and as a uni, there are countless extra opportunities they offer, which I'd love to tell you more about if your interested?
I also think a year in industry is so valuable, for life after uni, you've got experience and a degree, you've met people in the industry, get to understand better what you are interested in or not interested in. I am doing a masters now, but if you are torn between an integrated masters or placement year, I personally would recommend a placement year, for those reasons.

Hope this is helpful, and any other questions let me know.
Grace - Cardiff Uni Student Rep :smile:

Reply 3

Babababababa

As an Aberdeen uni student here are my pros and cons.

Pros-
-Accommodation outside halls is pretty cheap and widely available
-Free bus and coach travel in Scotland until I think 21
-Accom is near the beach, and beach bonfires are fun
-Free gym and sports centre if ur in Accom
-Accom has a film room, crafts/game room, pool tables, badminton, pickleball, table tennis, and music room plus other stuff
-Accom is all close together and the uni is nearby
-Walk to uni is through the park which is so pretty
-Campus looks very nice
-Being a Scottish uni means u get more freedom to try other courses
-There are great societies and sports teams, often with free meals
-Lots of black tie events you can go to
-Good transport

Cons-
-Repetitive nightlife, I wish we had a few more clubs
-A good amount of Americans study here and they're loud
-Quite strict on attendance
-I can't think of anything else that's bad that's unique to Aberdeen uni