Computer Systems Engineering or Computer Science?
I have a choice of studying computer systems engineering or computer science at Royal Holloway. If anyone could give their opinions that would be helpful!
Reply 1
Congratulations on being one of the very few people who have learnt of the existence of Computer Engineering. (I'm also particularly interested in this specific subject field.)
Either way you're most likely going to go into software engineering (albeit with additional flexibility if you enrol in CSE in fields such as firmware/embedded development, digital circuits, etc), so job opportunities if you're just interested in software engineering will not differ much from what I understand.
The question is what do you want to study?
Royal Holloway's CS is more concerned with software development and the theory of computer science as a whole, you're not really going to be touching hardware. The first year looks into some mathematics as well. The third year is basically just optional modules so you're able to pick between cyber security, machine learning and AI modules alongside some other more-different theoretical concepts such as compilers.
CSE, however, is an engineering discipline and thus the first year is exactly the same as Royal Holloway's Electrical Engineering course. You can switch between these in the first year. The second and third years start introducing software concepts, however at least with Royal Holloway, this is more-or-less just the basic concepts of Computer Science that allow you to follow up on any additional self-study of your own. You can still just as easily learn the rest in your spare time anyway, but this requires dedication towards software development. There is still machine learning and deep learning between the two courses, so if you're interested in AI in particular, you can still learn that in CSE. Otherwise, the rest of the modules are loaned from Electrical Engineering. It's not going to be as dedicated as Royal Holloway's EE, but the whole point is that Computer Engineering is supposed to be a hybrid subject.
I will note that you're going to have to conduct a lot of your own research on this, and I strongly recommend attending open days in order to follow up with actual CSE students. The first sentence is a half-joke, but I honestly think a lot of people only do CSE to begin with because they didn't get the grades for CS.
Either way you're most likely going to go into software engineering (albeit with additional flexibility if you enrol in CSE in fields such as firmware/embedded development, digital circuits, etc), so job opportunities if you're just interested in software engineering will not differ much from what I understand.
The question is what do you want to study?
Royal Holloway's CS is more concerned with software development and the theory of computer science as a whole, you're not really going to be touching hardware. The first year looks into some mathematics as well. The third year is basically just optional modules so you're able to pick between cyber security, machine learning and AI modules alongside some other more-different theoretical concepts such as compilers.
CSE, however, is an engineering discipline and thus the first year is exactly the same as Royal Holloway's Electrical Engineering course. You can switch between these in the first year. The second and third years start introducing software concepts, however at least with Royal Holloway, this is more-or-less just the basic concepts of Computer Science that allow you to follow up on any additional self-study of your own. You can still just as easily learn the rest in your spare time anyway, but this requires dedication towards software development. There is still machine learning and deep learning between the two courses, so if you're interested in AI in particular, you can still learn that in CSE. Otherwise, the rest of the modules are loaned from Electrical Engineering. It's not going to be as dedicated as Royal Holloway's EE, but the whole point is that Computer Engineering is supposed to be a hybrid subject.
I will note that you're going to have to conduct a lot of your own research on this, and I strongly recommend attending open days in order to follow up with actual CSE students. The first sentence is a half-joke, but I honestly think a lot of people only do CSE to begin with because they didn't get the grades for CS.
(edited 1 month ago)
CSE is more hardware based than CS, but I found that many of the CSE courses are quite largely electrical engineering, which I wasn't that interested in.
Original post
by User27829291I have a choice of studying computer systems engineering or computer science at Royal Holloway. If anyone could give their opinions that would be helpful!
Reply 3
Original post
by mesubCSE is more hardware based than CS, but I found that many of the CSE courses are quite largely electrical engineering, which I wasn't that interested in.
There's a few that are more of a proper hybrid.
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Advice on Computer Science courses at these Universities
- What is the best computing related degree?
- Software Engineering subject career prospect
- Which should I learn next? Python or Javascript?
- BSc or BEng in Software Engineering?
- Looking for Top UK Universities for AI/ML and Computer Science
- difference between computer engineering and computer science
- Seeking Advice on Choosing the Right University Course
- computing conversion msc courses
- Advice should I study maths or computer science???? (Y12)
- what courses/unis are good for hands on robotics?
- Is is possible to get into engineering with my a levels
- Which course for programming?
- Do engineering degree courses expect any prior knowledge in computing/coding?
- comp sci, maths, physics, further maths?
- Should I withdraw from Northumbria CS to accept Birmingham Computer Engineering offer
- I don't think I want to do computer science at uni but I don't know what to instead
- Seeking advice cybersecurity or cs degree?
- [Updated for 2025] Universities that don't need Maths A'level for CS
- Can I switch courses from CS?
Latest
Trending
Last reply 3 months ago
Is it normal not to know where to even start with a final year project?Last reply 3 months ago
Can I still get into cs in UCL Warwick or imperial without a cs alevel?Last reply 3 months ago
What would the average CS or Network Engineering day look like?Posted 4 months ago
Queen Mary University of London for the MSc Computer Science (Conversion)Last reply 4 months ago
[Updated for 2025] Universities that don't need Maths A'level for CS
How The Student Room is moderated
To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.
