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Which university to choose to study Computer Science, Warwick or Bath?

I've received 2 conditional offers, both are from Bath and Warwick. Their conditions for my A Level grades are very similar, which makes it a very difficult choice. I really like both unis and I am very unsure which is the best for my career prospects. Could you please help me with some insights of what it's like to study at both of these unis?

Reply 1

Original post
by gusslik
I've received 2 conditional offers, both are from Bath and Warwick. Their conditions for my A Level grades are very similar, which makes it a very difficult choice. I really like both unis and I am very unsure which is the best for my career prospects. Could you please help me with some insights of what it's like to study at both of these unis?
Warwick is more prestigious and offers a more theoretical and research based course, while Bath is much more practical. Even though Warwick is more prestigious, for tech jobs Bath might actually be a bit better because of its industry connections and placement year. Warwick is a campus uni vs Bath is a city so that might also impact your decision (Warwick is much bigger than Bath). Ultimately for graduate prospects Bath is probably slightly better for software dev/tech while Warwick is better for research/quants/finance. They are both great unis though, congrats on your offer!

Reply 2

Original post
by isaac123444566
Warwick is more prestigious and offers a more theoretical and research based course, while Bath is much more practical. Even though Warwick is more prestigious, for tech jobs Bath might actually be a bit better because of its industry connections and placement year. Warwick is a campus uni vs Bath is a city so that might also impact your decision (Warwick is much bigger than Bath). Ultimately for graduate prospects Bath is probably slightly better for software dev/tech while Warwick is better for research/quants/finance. They are both great unis though, congrats on your offer!

Thank you for you insightful reply! I've spoken before with a person who has graduated from Warwick a while ago and he told me that at Warwick they have a special "union" to connect students with big tech companies called WMG. Is there anything like that at Bath?

Reply 3

Bath has an excellent reputation for its industry connections and has one of the best industrial year set ups.

Reply 4

Original post
by gusslik
Thank you for you insightful reply! I've spoken before with a person who has graduated from Warwick a while ago and he told me that at Warwick they have a special "union" to connect students with big tech companies called WMG. Is there anything like that at Bath?

I'm not sure but Bath has excellent industry connections with the placement year

Reply 5

Warwick has better quality research for this subject but graduate prospects for Computer Science are just as good or better at Bath. Possibly partly because Bath has considerably more private school students as a percentage of overall students, which might imbue more confidence in them and give them better connections.

Why these 2, by the way, instead of, say, Bristol or Birmingham?

Reply 6

Original post
by Picnicl
Warwick has better quality research for this subject but graduate prospects for Computer Science are just as good or better at Bath. Possibly partly because Bath has considerably more private school students as a percentage of overall students, which might imbue more confidence in them and give them better connections.
Why these 2, by the way, instead of, say, Bristol or Birmingham?

Well bristol and birmingham aren't as good as bath and warwick for academics, research and graduate prospects. Also maybe they want a campus/small city vibe instead of big cities

Reply 7

Original post
by isaac123444566
Well bristol and birmingham aren't as good as bath and warwick for academics, research and graduate prospects. Also maybe they want a campus/small city vibe instead of big cities

Birmingham has 94% research quality for Computer Science, the same as Warwick, and Birmingham has higher graduate prospects than Bath and Warwick for this subject, according to TCUG.
Bristol has 92% research quality for this subject, Bath 84%.

Even overall, as universities, Bristol is on 88%, Birmingham is joint with Warwick on 86%, and Bath is on 83%, for research quality.

Reply 8

Original post
by Picnicl
Birmingham has 94% research quality for Computer Science, the same as Warwick, and Birmingham has higher graduate prospects than Bath and Warwick for this subject, according to TCUG.
Bristol has 92% research quality for this subject, Bath 84%.

Yeah I really wouldn't trust the stats on complete uni guide, pretty innaccurate. The fact that city st georges is ranked higher than imperial and oxford for grad prospects, and bristol having better research quality than oxford is BS. At the end of the day what matters for top jobs is prestigious unis, which birmingham (and bristol to a lesser extent) just arent. Also, Bath's industry connections are far superior to bristol and birmingham and grad prospects are just better at warwick and bath.

Reply 9

Original post
by isaac123444566
Yeah I really wouldn't trust the stats on complete uni guide, pretty innaccurate. The fact that city st georges is ranked higher than imperial and oxford for grad prospects, and bristol having better research quality than oxford is BS. At the end of the day what matters for top jobs is prestigious unis, which birmingham (and bristol to a lesser extent) just arent. Also, Bath's industry connections are far superior to bristol and birmingham and grad prospects are just better at warwick and bath.

Edurank puts Bristol, then Birmingham, above Warwick and Bath for Computer Science too. Entry standards are higher at Warwick and Bath. But why are their researchers worse for this?
(edited 9 months ago)

Reply 10

Original post
by Picnicl
Edurank puts Bristol, then Birmingham, above Warwick and Bath for Computer Science too. Entry standards are higher at Warwick and Bath. But why are their researchers worse for this?
Tbf bristol is very good, but warwick and bath are certainly better than birmingham.

Reply 11

Original post
by Picnicl
Warwick has better quality research for this subject but graduate prospects for Computer Science are just as good or better at Bath. Possibly partly because Bath has considerably more private school students as a percentage of overall students, which might imbue more confidence in them and give them better connections.
Why these 2, by the way, instead of, say, Bristol or Birmingham?

I was looking for a campus-based university that ranks highly overall as well as in the subject I chose. It was also important for me to feel comfortable in the city itself, and I felt that Bath and Warwick were the best options among the ones I could get into.

Reply 12

Original post
by gusslik
I was looking for a campus-based university that ranks highly overall as well as in the subject I chose. It was also important for me to feel comfortable in the city itself, and I felt that Bath and Warwick were the best options among the ones I could get into.

Wariwck is a campus uni, but isn't very near a city, while Bath is a small city

Reply 13

Any comments on how Durham compares with Warwick and Bath when it comes to Computer Science? Really having a difficult time choosing between these three universities.

Reply 14

Original post
by djghk
Any comments on how Durham compares with Warwick and Bath when it comes to Computer Science? Really having a difficult time choosing between these three universities.

I think Bath is best for employment due to its placement year, however Warwick/Durham carry slightly more prestige. At the end of the day all 3 unis are very good and competitive, and whichever you go to I'm sure will be a good pick! Basically just go to the one which you like the most. Bath is a bigger city than durham, and warwick is a campus uni.

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