University - I want to go

Morthoseth · 5 Nov 2008 at 17:30

Good afternoon fellow OCUKers!

Now, i left college with sub-par grades at A level, and went straight into work - now i've been working as an administrative officer for the government since, and have spent about 3 years away from education - now i have the motivation, i want to get back into education again, but never really paid a huge amount of attention with regards to Universities!

Now, as for what i want to study - I'd like to study something which involves computer programming, or computer networking - looking at different university websites, there seems to be a few seperate names coming up and all have grade requirements i certainly do not meet!

All computer science courses state requirements of AAB or the like including maths at A level, which i didnt even take!

Do i have to take these subjects before applying, or what similar courses can you suggest?

Buckey · 5 Nov 2008 at 17:34

Look at Bournemouth uni. My course here does all aspects of IT in the first year then you can choose to specialize in the second or third year. It does have a compulsary placement year though so it depends whether you would be interested in that.

I did need AAB to get in but i know other people on my course that got less than that and still got their place.

Morthoseth · 5 Nov 2008 at 17:41

That is actually pretty good to know, i had no idea they would see me differently as a mature student, you are correct i am indeed 21, and will be 22 come the time to apply.

And yes, i've been financially independant although living with my parents (I hope i havent contradicted myself)

I really would not like going back to do A Levels, and thus do not plan to - I feel completely different now, before i spent almost no time studying and so on, yet now i have realised how much i want to further myself - i'll look into it indeed.

You have put me at ease, as i instantly thought i just wasn't clever enough!

kinobestew123 · 5 Nov 2008 at 17:42

Take a look at the metropolitan universities such as Manchester Met and Leeds Met and see what they have. Failing that I am almost certain Bolton University will take you.

If you go to Bolton let me know, I live only a few miles from there. :cool:

loltim · 5 Nov 2008 at 17:46

I'm interested in going back to uni, and i'm 25.

Do tuition fees work the same whatever your age?

crunchman · 5 Nov 2008 at 17:47

Moses99p said:
He doesn't have to apply to metropolitan universities just because he failed before (or not failed, just did quite badly)...

Quite, can just have a foundation year or something to get your maths or whatever to the required level for a computer science degree.

And yes maths is very important in good computer science courses.

Shimmy · 5 Nov 2008 at 17:50

Afaik tution fees and loans are the same, as long as it's your first course I think. I've got a few friends on my course that are 25+ and we're all in the same boat for eveything really.

If your grades aren't up to scratch, a lot of courses offer a foundation year to get you up to date. I know some students who have done this, majority of which mature.

tony888 · 5 Nov 2008 at 17:54

well you can do a course like mine. im doing a HND computing course in portsmouth which involves java, python programming, web design, system architecture and system analysis which is pretty interesting. its a 2 year course but you can do a extra year to get the full degree btw i didn't have the required grades to get in the course i just phoned up and spoke to the course leader and he sent me a application form.

try ucas if this doesn't interest you

Doonhamer · 5 Nov 2008 at 18:01

The biggest tip I could give anybody wanting to go back into education. Is if you see something you want to do or have a an idea, pick up the phone and talk to somebody. Their is always courses with empty spots and if you make the effort to chase things up, then even if your grades are not what they should be they will give most likely give you a shot.

Morthoseth · 5 Nov 2008 at 18:03

Pretty good advice, is that!

I'm still employed at the moment but am definitely going to look into it some more!

What kind of maths is required as far as computer science goes anyway? I've always been curious, i never followed maths on from GCSE - so have no idea how hard it gets!

w11tho · 5 Nov 2008 at 18:11

I think you need to spend a good while considering whether or not the University route is worth your while. It is an incredibly expensive venture, and you'll be paying off the loans and overdrafts for a long time. Is it likely that a degree from a Uni/course that are available to you, will further your career prospects considerably? You should weigh up the lost earnings and the cost before you take the plunge.

Whatever route you choose to do though, good luck!

Morthoseth · 5 Nov 2008 at 18:13

I dont really understand how i could build a career based on computer science or the like following my current occupation, it is not a career it is actually pretty much a dead end job - it pays fairly well, and has decent perks but you only live once, and i want to further myself.

I mean, there arent exactly a vast amount of alternatives i would imagine?

By the time i would actually go to university, i would have quite a bit of savings - not enough to cover the whole venture, but more than half perhaps.

J.B · 5 Nov 2008 at 19:07

To the OP, try Hertfordshire, I really messed up at A Level but they gave me the benefit of the doubt and let me onto a BSc in computer and network technology.

So glad they did as now Im heading for a first/high 2:1

InvaderGIR · 5 Nov 2008 at 19:13

Buckey said:
Look at Bournemouth uni. My course here does all aspects of IT in the first year then you can choose to specialize in the second or third year. It does have a compulsary placement year though so it depends whether you would be interested in that.

I did need AAB to get in but i know other people on my course that got less than that and still got their place.

Unfortunately Bournemouth is going down the pan, especially when it comes to the BSc Hons Computing course.

I'm on my placement from there and all the good lecturers left when I finished my 2nd year, and we'll get a lot less contact time with them all when I come back next Oct...shame as I liked being able to chat to the lecturers before/after lectures and also in their offices or the corridors.

They are also making the course very generic (should be ok for me as I've gone through the first two years which is where some of the worst changes are happening) and they are removing a lot of the technicality from the course. For example, the first years last year didn't do subneting because one lecturer left and another couldn't be bothered to teach it, so when the exams came around they had to ignore the question.

I got in with C, D, D, which I'm not proud of, but I'm working my way towards a 1st (if I really work myself hard) or 2i.

J.B · 5 Nov 2008 at 19:17

InvaderGIR said:
For example, the first years last year didn't do subneting because one lecturer left and another couldn't be bothered to teach it, so when the exams came around they had to ignore the question.

Dude, thats bad man. I heard they were in trouble but to miss out core bits of the syllabus...

InvaderGIR · 5 Nov 2008 at 19:22

J.B said:
Dude, thats bad man. I heard they were in trouble but to miss out core bits of the syllabus...

Yeah, it's very bad, especially as it's really quite easy. I'm guessing it'll be fine for this year's first years, although knowing what they are like they'll have removed it along with other things. It almost makes me want to change uni for my final year, but it's just not worth the hassle. I could change to where I'm currently working (Surrey Uni) but their Comp Dept is worse by the sounds of things so I'm going to stick with it and once done hope my degree is worth the paper it's written on (Bournemouth Comp/IT degrees used to be a good thing to have).

Energize · 5 Nov 2008 at 19:30

Aberystwyth only require BBC for computer science.

loltim · 5 Nov 2008 at 19:35

Shimmy said:
Afaik tution fees and loans are the same, as long as it's your first course I think. I've got a few friends on my course that are 25+ and we're all in the same boat for eveything really.

If your grades aren't up to scratch, a lot of courses offer a foundation year to get you up to date. I know some students who have done this, majority of which mature.

It would be 2nd time round. i went into uni straight after college, quit after a couple of months. I expect they'd be less willing to let me onto a course now?

When do you apply for courses for next September?

InvaderGIR · 5 Nov 2008 at 19:41

Tim said:
It would be 2nd time round. i went into uni straight after college, quit after a couple of months. I expect they'd be less willing to let me onto a course now?

Shouldn't really make much of a difference.

Tim said:
When do you apply for courses for next September?

As soon as possible really, I looked for ages then applied about Jan-Feb 05 I think, then when I was offered a place at Bournemouth (must have been mid August) I postponed it for a year and was offered an unconditional place in March 06. I took the offer up straight away and haven't regretted it.

loltim · 5 Nov 2008 at 19:41

Moses99p said:
Why did you drop out? There's no shame in messing up, or going to uni when you're not ready and dropping out, the fact is you're more mature now and are motivated to try again . They might well ask about it at interview, but just say why it went wrong before.

People are applying NOW for 2009 entry...

Hated being skint and wasn't enjoying the course (Network engineering), just wanted a break from education I guess.

Definitely ready to get back into it (ive been working 4 years). Could possibly get away without a student loan too if I downgraded my car. hmm, better get looking at courses then.