Will the Uni I go to effect my chances in a career in software engineerin/development
I'm currently studying a T level in digital production design and development, if I don't achieve top grades which is likely, I wont get into my university of choice (Southampton university), would going to a different university, for example an option I may have (Bolton university) for software engineering specifically, will it matter in the long run and effect my job opportunities if I want to apply to big companies like Microsoft, google, Spotify etc
Reply 1
I don't think so. I think your CV will matter more so it depends which University course will offer more opportunities to develop links witn industry. It will also matter the quality of grade you end up with at the end of the degree.
CS is very popular at the moment and the market is flooded with graduates. A year in industry is a really important option to develop those links
CS is very popular at the moment and the market is flooded with graduates. A year in industry is a really important option to develop those links
Original post by totallyfine
I don't think so. I think your CV will matter more so it depends which University course will offer more opportunities to develop links witn industry. It will also matter the quality of grade you end up with at the end of the degree.
CS is very popular at the moment and the market is flooded with graduates. A year in industry is a really important option to develop those links
CS is very popular at the moment and the market is flooded with graduates. A year in industry is a really important option to develop those links
i get some industry work experience with my college course and sometimes they hire you at the end so that should look good then, thanks
Original post by Bigsnake
I'm currently studying a T level in digital production design and development, if I don't achieve top grades which is likely, I wont get into my university of choice (Southampton university), would going to a different university, for example an option I may have (Bolton university) for software engineering specifically, will it matter in the long run and effect my job opportunities if I want to apply to big companies like Microsoft, google, Spotify etc
Well, I’m going to be blunt, if your goal is to work at companies like Microsoft, Google, or Spotify, you're going to need to be performing at the absolute top level. That means mastering LeetCode, system design, and technical interviews.
Thousands of people apply for those roles, many from top universities with years of side projects, internships, and elite performance. If you're not aiming to be among the best, you're not going to make the cut. That's the hard truth.
Realistically, most graduates, even good ones, end up at average companies earning average salaries. That’s not a bad thing, but if you’re only chasing the dream of a big-name company or a high paycheck, and you don’t have genuine passion for software, this field will burn you out fast. The competition is brutal, and by the time you graduate, the market will be even more saturated than it is now.
University does matter, not just the name, but the opportunities it gives you: networking, placement years, internships. A strong CV paired with a weaker uni isn’t impossible to work with, but it means you need to compensate massively with experience, open source work, side projects, and proof of your skills.
If you do have the passion for this, if you actually enjoy coding, solving problems, building stuff, then go for it. But understand that it’s going to take a lot more than just showing up to uni to succeed in this industry, and even after all that the field is evolving quite rapidly right now.
Original post by Shaan101r
Well, I’m going to be blunt, if your goal is to work at companies like Microsoft, Google, or Spotify, you're going to need to be performing at the absolute top level. That means mastering LeetCode, system design, and technical interviews.
Thousands of people apply for those roles, many from top universities with years of side projects, internships, and elite performance. If you're not aiming to be among the best, you're not going to make the cut. That's the hard truth.
Realistically, most graduates, even good ones, end up at average companies earning average salaries. That’s not a bad thing, but if you’re only chasing the dream of a big-name company or a high paycheck, and you don’t have genuine passion for software, this field will burn you out fast. The competition is brutal, and by the time you graduate, the market will be even more saturated than it is now.
University does matter, not just the name, but the opportunities it gives you: networking, placement years, internships. A strong CV paired with a weaker uni isn’t impossible to work with, but it means you need to compensate massively with experience, open source work, side projects, and proof of your skills.
If you do have the passion for this, if you actually enjoy coding, solving problems, building stuff, then go for it. But understand that it’s going to take a lot more than just showing up to uni to succeed in this industry, and even after all that the field is evolving quite rapidly right now.
Thousands of people apply for those roles, many from top universities with years of side projects, internships, and elite performance. If you're not aiming to be among the best, you're not going to make the cut. That's the hard truth.
Realistically, most graduates, even good ones, end up at average companies earning average salaries. That’s not a bad thing, but if you’re only chasing the dream of a big-name company or a high paycheck, and you don’t have genuine passion for software, this field will burn you out fast. The competition is brutal, and by the time you graduate, the market will be even more saturated than it is now.
University does matter, not just the name, but the opportunities it gives you: networking, placement years, internships. A strong CV paired with a weaker uni isn’t impossible to work with, but it means you need to compensate massively with experience, open source work, side projects, and proof of your skills.
If you do have the passion for this, if you actually enjoy coding, solving problems, building stuff, then go for it. But understand that it’s going to take a lot more than just showing up to uni to succeed in this industry, and even after all that the field is evolving quite rapidly right now.
I'm really just unsure on it all, i enjoy programming but in all honesty i cant see my self working for other people
Original post by Bigsnake
I'm really just unsure on it all, i enjoy programming but in all honesty i cant see my self working for other people
If you genuinely can’t see yourself working for other people, I wouldn’t pursue this path lightly.
Being a developer means more than just programming, you’ll need to listen, interpret, and implement requirements from stakeholders, both internal and external. Those requirements will often change. Sometimes, your work will be made redundant, even scrapped altogether. That’s the reality, whether you work for a company or run your own. And early on, building connections is critical, also freelancing will be insanely competitive and difficult.
If you do go into this field, understand that getting your first job is just the beginning. You’ll know very little compared to what you’ll need on the job, university mostly teaches theory. You likely won’t have control over your tech stack, and it’s rarely solo work. This is a team-based role, and communication is key, you will need to deal with your code potentially being graded as horrible and having to rewrite it best standards, you also need to unit test thoroughly.
You’ll also need to be okay with pivoting, what you’re working on can shift at any moment based on business needs, regardless of how much you enjoy the current project.
And yes, there are days you might find yourself working till midnight or later. I do that because I’m passionate, but don’t expect the pay to always reflect the effort.
Reply 6
Original post by Bigsnake
I'm currently studying a T level in digital production design and development, if I don't achieve top grades which is likely, I wont get into my university of choice (Southampton university), would going to a different university, for example an option I may have (Bolton university) for software engineering specifically, will it matter in the long run and effect my job opportunities if I want to apply to big companies like Microsoft, google, Spotify etc
Hi @Bigsnake!🌟
As far as I am concerned, companies are rarely looking at which university you have graduated but rather what experience you have. It is more about tailoring your CV for every single company highlighting the main skills they are looking for. Placement year could be one of the shortcuts to a job market after graduation since many companies take the students on placement year back to their team after graduation. Also, taking some additional courses may boost your employability since they show eagerness to learn and the level of expertise you have.
If you're still not sure about your grades and getting into your preferred course, you can always apply through clearing if the course still has places left. If so, University of Essex is offering BEng Computer Systems Engineering course which will equip you with fundamental skills necessary for a career in software engineering.
If you have any more questions please do not hesitate to get in touch - I'd be happy to help!
Best,
Essex Student Rep - Renaldas✌️
Original post by Bigsnake
I'm currently studying a T level in digital production design and development, if I don't achieve top grades which is likely, I wont get into my university of choice (Southampton university), would going to a different university, for example an option I may have (Bolton university) for software engineering specifically, will it matter in the long run and effect my job opportunities if I want to apply to big companies like Microsoft, google, Spotify etc
Hey,
First of all, it’s amazing that you’ve already got an offer from Southampton — that in itself shows you’re doing really well!
I think one of the reasons big companies like Microsoft, Google, and Spotify really value students from the University of Southampton is because of the teaching quality, strong research reputation, and the university’s overall ranking. Southampton has built a great name for itself.
For now, I would suggest focusing fully on your work and trying to get the best results you can — you’re already so close! Even if things don’t go exactly as planned, please don’t worry too much. You can still apply through Clearing, and there’s a good chance you could come to Southampton in a slightly different but related subject if needed. It could still be really close to what you’re passionate about.
You’re already putting in the effort, and that’s what truly matters.
I’m really hoping to hear some great news from you soon — you’ve got this!
Best wishes
Junfan
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- BSc or BEng in Software Engineering?
- comp sci, maths, physics, further maths?
- Anyone else done something completely different in university to a levels ??
- Systems engineer grad scheme or computer science masters
- Is a game development degree worth it, or am I better off doing an apprenticeship?
- ICE Cambridge Data Science career accelerator
- Rate my uni application choices
- Unsure of how to go on
- Russel group degree apprenticeships
- Having doubts about my course
- I'm a year 13 student at LSA (London Screen Academy) AMA
- MPharm with Foundation @ Reading
- How would the University of Leicester be looked on by employers?
- How to choose between BSc or MSc in Computer Science?
- Computing & IT (Maths) vs. CompSci
- I've just graduated with a 2:2 in computer science, and am struggling to get a job.
- super worried about my future after graduating
- how hard is it to get engineering job
- Software Engineering Degree Apprenticeship | Digital & Technology Solutions Level 6
- What is the best computing related degree?
Latest
Trending
Last reply 2 days ago
How would you rank these Universities, purely based off prestige (computer science)Last reply 1 week ago
Anyone else not regretting uni in general but only their degree they chooseLast reply 3 weeks ago
Struggling to Choose: Business Computing vs Computer Science vs IT for Business?Last reply 3 weeks ago
Computer Science undergrad accepted into Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, and Nottingham
