computing at university

[Marvin]

I'm also doing Computer Science, at Sussex Uni, and any of the Computing courses (including the Computer Systems Engineering, Media Computing and Games Development courses) will include programming and maths.

Any computing degree that doesn't have programming and (at least limited) maths is pretty much worthless as a computing degree.

Just do a degree in ICT or something.

 

[Tikkabhuna]

From that job title I can probably guess which bank that is (Swiss?)
If so, it's a great place to be a developer - I was contracting there last year and they're doing a lot of good stuff at the minute.

It's not actually, but they do share a lobby with Credit Suisse in one of their London buildings.

 

[Haircut]

It's not actually, but they do share a lobby with Credit Suisse in one of their London buildings.

Ah, just that all the placement students/grads were called technical analysts at CS.
Assuming it's BoA then, know a few people who have worked for them as well, supposed to be a nice place.

 

[UK-AL05]

You could probably find a computing course with easy math(The majority are), by easy math I mean graph theory, matrices, vectors but without programming it's completely worthless.

Graph theory, Big O, matrices and vectors are very easy pick up, a decent GCSEs math c grade student could do it.

I used to have big problems with calculus, but I'm very competent with that now, although you probably will never use it. The majority of math in computer science is discrete math, and nothing like the math most people think math is. The hardest math I ever had to do was Fourier transforms, but you don't have to go nowhere near that level if you choose the right modules and projects.

 

[RomanNose]

You could probably find a computing course with easy math(The majority are), by easy math I mean graph theory, matrices, vectors but without programming it's completely worthless.

Graph theory, Big O, matrices and vectors are very easy pick up, a decent GCSEs math c grade student could do it.

I used to have big problems with calculus, but I'm very competent with that now, although you probably will never use it. The majority of math in computer science is discrete math, and nothing like the math most people think math is.

So what is a better advantage, a physics a level or physics as+ Further maths?
I am just considering my options for next year and wondering what would be best for this kind of profession.

 

[UK-AL05]

So what is a better advantage, a physics a level or physics as+ Further maths?
I am just considering my options for next year and wondering what would be best for this kind of profession.

To get onto a computer science course, I'd say further math although majority of red brick universities say math is recommended, but not a requirement, I.E You would most likely get in with a good physics a-level but people who do well at math tend have a easier time.

In the actual professions, you are likely to get after computer science I.e Software Engineer, Technical Consultant, Most people I know never use any advanced math what so ever, its just software development mostly.

You have to remember academic computer science, is most likely completely different to what you are going to do within industry, there job is to train academics albeit finance or video games( A lot of matrices, vectors, graph theory in games dev) jobs usually like high level math.

I got on with Btec Electronics & Computer Engineering, which had quite bit math content such as calculus and complex numbers although at the time, i wasn't that good. I'm expecting a first when I graduate(This year) and i'm most likely carry on the MSc Level doing compiler and programming language research which has graph theory in it, for optimisation of the abstract syntax tree and call graphs although it's very very easy math for me. I could probably not do some of the math in further math a-level without some serious study.

I find the way they split math between math and further math a bit weird. For example matrix math is in further math last time i checked, yet it's easy.

 

[dowie]

computer science looks good but boring....too much maths and programming lool

Do some vocational IT course at a former poly and get a job as a techie then tbh....

I'm not trolling btw.. but if you're not into either maths or programming but you want to work within the IT industry then its going to have to be vocational courses/vendor certificates.

 

[Tikkabhuna]

Ah, just that all the placement students/grads were called technical analysts at CS.
Assuming it's BoA then, know a few people who have worked for them as well, supposed to be a nice place.

That's good to know. The guy who interviewed me was awesome. Some of the others I met seemed very nice too. Going to be interesting living in London. The buildings are amazing. I'm just wondering how I'm going to justify how much I'm getting paid.

 

[osc89er]

That's good to know. The guy who interviewed me was awesome. Some of the others I met seemed very nice too. Going to be interesting living in London. The buildings are amazing. I'm just wondering how I'm going to justify how much I'm getting paid.

Don't worry about it. The software you write will make your traders very rich.

 

[Tweaker]

Sounds like you want an Information Science degree, Loughborough offer a number of good course, our Computer Science dept does use maths B at GCSE as a requirement for entry.

 

[Westyfield2]

ICT and Computer science are two completely different things.

This!

I'm also doing Computer Science, at Sussex Uni, and any of the Computing courses (including the Computer Systems Engineering, Media Computing and Games Development courses) will include programming and maths..

Me and my mates burst out laughing when someone told us they were doing a Games Development degree.... We genuinely just thought it was a module, but nope there's a whole degree in it!

 

[ak22]

I am studying BSC Hons Multimedia production, almost finished I was doing computer science before, which had a lot of programming, Binary, networking etc,

I found it rather boring so I changed to Multimedia production in my seconds year ,
which has great mix subjects bit of programming, Web Design, Music Tech, Animation, CAD, Networking, Video Production etc.
With a lot of university degrees these days don't just look at the subject and get put off, as there are many modules to choose from sure there are compulsory ones but can you pick your owns modules and shape the degree the way you want it yo be.

 

[Vanquish-Storm]

This!




Me and my mates burst out laughing when someone told us they were doing a Games Development degree.... We genuinely just thought it was a module, but nope there's a whole degree in it!

From what i can see a "games development" degree is made up of mostly the same modules as a "computer science" degree.

The slight differerances being that on the games one you do games programming and not general programming.

 

[JonJ678]

There are an awful lot of degrees out there which lead neatly into working at the same part time job you were doing before you went to uni. That potentially makes uni a very expensive three year party. If this is what you have in mind, congratulations on being a leech on society, but for your own sanity don't read computer science.

computer science looks good but boring....too much maths and programming lool

If you don't like maths, and you don't like programming, don't try to read a degree involving computers. Particularly avoid ones which require a B in GCSE maths, as the odds of the degree having any value are pretty slim. You just can't do an easy degree and end up employable, the whole point to a degree is that it's meant to be bloody difficult.

 

[Hitman_Leon]

so any recommendations?

Im doing computing BSc then on to a PGCE for ICT 14-19yo, you cant get away from maths or programming with computing based degree's, just take the 'boring' core modules in your stride and choose your option modules for things closer to what you like.

 

[PeterNem]

How about something broader like Computing and Management. This is the route I took (my degree course was 50% taught by the Comp Sci department and 50% by the business school). I got a good amount of object orientated programming, computer architecture, OS and Networking fundamentals coupled with modules on Finance, mathematics for business, business change etc.

 

[osc89er]

How about something broader like Computing and Management. This is the route I took (my degree course was 50% taught by the Comp Sci department and 50% by the business school). I got a good amount of object orientated programming, computer architecture, OS and Networking fundamentals coupled with modules on Finance, mathematics for business, business change etc.

This is an interesting one as it could qualify you for the business studies class as well (I think they still have that in Scotland).

 

[UK-AL05]

There are an awful lot of degrees out there which lead neatly into working at the same part time job you were doing before you went to uni. That potentially makes uni a very expensive three year party. If this is what you have in mind, congratulations on being a leech on society, but for your own sanity don't read computer science.



If you don't like maths, and you don't like programming, don't try to read a degree involving computers. Particularly avoid ones which require a B in GCSE maths, as the odds of the degree having any value are pretty slim. You just can't do an easy degree and end up employable, the whole point to a degree is that it's meant to be bloody difficult.

Any computer science course, from any uni will involve some type of math higher than gcse.... Its guaranteed to be Matrix math & vectors, if your doing any type of graphics.

 

[JonJ678]

Hopefully so, but if a poor gcse maths grade is sufficient to be allowed in it bodes poorly for the content of the degree.

Semi-related to the OP, did you work in matlab or in c? The electrical guys I know are working in c, but your emphasis on matrices suggests matlab.

 

[aln]

I wouldn't bother getting a degree unless its networking/cs/programming. If all you want is a level of knowledge akin to desktop support, you're better off with a professional cert.