MComp vs MSc vs BSc (Computer Science)

Trojan Horse

Trojan Horse

Trojan Horse

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I would like some help in knowing the differences between an MComp, MSc ( is an MSci different) and a BSc.

I've been told by uni that the MComp is taught at masters level but it isn't as much as the masters. MComp's 120 credits and a MSci is 180. Doing the MComp puts me at a financial advantage as its paid on student loan - but do employers discriminate MSc and MComp, for example would I be denied if job required MSci and I had MComp?

Also are avg starting salaries higher at Masters level?

I've got my offers from all my universities
Now and have opted for the BSc wth a year in industry but can also add MComp (extra year) at any time. I think I will probably make this decision after my Industy year or second year as there is room for flexibility but I want to understand the differences now.

Thank you, any useful advice is appreciated!
 
Do you have an existing degree?

Masters degrees are normally post graduate education ie after your 1st degee (bsc)
 
I expect the MComp is an undergrad masters similar to MEng for engineering. Not sure what benefits it offers though.

For context, I did a BSc in Comp Sci then an MSc part time 3 years later (Tech Management)
 
Trojan Horse said:
I would like some help in knowing the differences between an MComp, MSc ( is an MSci different) and a BSc.

I've been told by uni that the MComp is taught at masters level but it isn't as much as the masters. MComp's 120 credits and a MSci is 180. Doing the MComp puts me at a financial advantage as its paid on student loan - but do employers discriminate MSc and MComp, for example would I be denied if job required MSci and I had MComp?

Also are avg starting salaries higher at Masters level?

I've got my offers from all my universities
Now and have opted for the BSc wth a year in industry but can also add MComp (extra year) at any time. I think I will probably make this decision after my Industy year or second year as there is room for flexibility but I want to understand the differences now.

Thank you, any useful advice is appreciated!
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MSc ( is an MSci different)
Yes a MSci is a 4 year course where as an MSc is a 1 year course which is added onto a BSc. I would think most employers would just see a Masters level degree and judge it at that.
Source: I have a MSci
 
I think it would be industry specific about how bothered employers are by the difference between undergrad or postgrad masters. I've not observed much difference in Engineering and an undergrad masters is sufficient for professional registration etc.

What a postgrad masters will give you though, is opportunity for specialisation. So in a specific sub set of Engineering, the guy with BEng Mech Engineering and an MSc in Suspension Systems, would probably stand better chance at getting the Suspension Engineer job compared to the guy with MEng Mech Engineering.

Nothing to say you can't do both an undergrad and postgrad masters though.

Personally, having graduated with a Bachelors, the only thing I would change if I could do my time at uni again, would have been to do the undergrad masters instead.
 
Kenai said:
I think it would be industry specific about how bothered employers are by the difference between undergrad or postgrad masters. I've not observed much difference in Engineering and an undergrad masters is sufficient for professional registration etc.

What a postgrad masters will give you though, is opportunity for specialisation. So in a specific sub set of Engineering, the guy with BEng Mech Engineering and an MSc in Suspension Systems, would probably stand better chance at getting the Suspension Engineer job compared to the guy with MEng Mech Engineering.

Nothing to say you can't do both an undergrad and postgrad masters though.

Personally, having graduated with a Bachelors, the only thing I would change if I could do my time at uni again, would have been to do the undergrad masters instead.
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Thanks for this, it confirms what I thought so that's all good ;D

Do you mind if I ask why you would do an undergrad masters? The only thing putting me off is that I would be at uni for 5 years (4 for MComp, 1 for Industry Work Placement). Is it because you'd rather spend another year in Uni and get a better degree, over work? What's your reasoning behind this? It is also an additional 9K of debt that would go out of my wage, forever.

I'm someone who has just received uni offers and so even far from getting into uni, just wanting to know about the steps ahead beforehand.
 
Because for me personally, not having a masters has stunted my professional progression compared to my peers, due to everything being such a box ticking exercise and me being unable to tick that box. For me to reach the next stage, that all my peers are able to do with ease now, I will have to spend several years in part time study around work, sacrifice my social life for a while and either fork out £15k of my money to fund it, or sell my soul to an employer for 5 years to have it funded.

Without making that next jump professionally, I subsequently severely limit my future employment opportunities and earning potential. Making the first step resulted in nearly doubling my income, as an example of how much difference it seems to make.

Whether the same would apply for CompSci, assuming that's what you're doing, I don't know.
 
Trojan Horse said:
I don't but the MComp is an undergrad Masters and I just want to know whether employers care or not about the distinction between MComp and MSc.
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they'd probably care about the content, if they're specifically after masters grads... if they're not and you're just competing with grads in general then I don't think it matters too much - tis more the reputation of the university that counts then

some undergrad masters courses could essentially just mean you pick another lot of 3rd year modules and/or do another project/dissertation too

like you've pointed out they also tend to be 120 credits rather than 180

on the other hand if you're actually picking modules that that perhaps people who didn't attend that university for undergrad are also studying within an MSc then you'll perhaps want to highlight that


I think more importantly is to do what interests you rather than worrying about debt at this stage - an extra 10 or 20 grand is nothing in the grand scheme of things over your lifetime. If you find you're interested in certain areas and an MSc course at another institution would be a better place to study those areas then pursue that - don't just take a 4th year in your current place simply because its cheaper. Also if your current university is average and you've done well academically then it might be worthwhile applying to a top university for a post grad course... BSc at normal red brick then MSc at Oxbridge/London would usually be a much better option than 4 year undergrad masters at a normal red brick.

It is a good idea regardless to apply for the 4 year course initially as you can almost always switch to the 3 year bachelors if you chose to later.
 
Trojan Horse said:
The only thing putting me off is that I would be at uni for 5 years (4 for MComp, 1 for Industry Work Placement).
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That is putting you off? Seriously, university is fun! Or at least it is for most people, make the most of it - I wouldn't see spending an extra year there as a negative, you'll likely look back on it fondly and frankly some of your mates who've joined grad schemes already will be slightly jealous that you've got another year of it.
 
jsmoke said:
If your get good enough exam results(assume your at school) some unis will admit you to second year initially.
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This is only for Scottish unis because they all do 4 Years as their first year is always a foundation (BSc), so effectively entry into 2nd year of Scottish uni is the same as first year of British unis anyway
 
dowie said:
That is putting you off? Seriously, university is fun! Or at least it is for most people, make the most of it - I wouldn't see spending an extra year there as a negative, you'll likely look back on it fondly and frankly some of your mates who've joined grad schemes already will be slightly jealous that you've got another year of it.
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Well, I've never actually started yet - just worried I won't like higher ed but chances are I love it. Only reason I dislike school is that the people are ****** people and subjects are uninteresting, but they are unrelated to Comp Sci anyway.

I think the route of Oxbridge or London MSc would probably be perfect (rather Oxbridge because it's not in London!). My first choice is Newcastle and I suppose that's what most consider to be a decent red brick. I don't think it's worthwhile looking much into master courses right now as in 4 years most of it will be updated anyway - but what are the things I should be doing in Uni to increases chances of getting into an MSc course at the top institutions?
 
Trojan Horse said:
but what are the things I should be doing in Uni to increases chances of getting into an MSc course at the top institutions?
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Your third year dissertation should be **** hot and display advanced research techniques. Also, try to align your BSc dissertation topic to the same field as the Masters you are considering. Think of the extra year for your Masters as finishing your dissertation properly ;-)
 
you'll apply for MSc courses before you've even started your third year dissertation - the things you should be doing are 1) getting good grades on your exams in 1st and 2nd year 2) making sure you've got at least two (in some cases three) lecturers/tutors who have a good impression of you and are willing to write a good reference for you.
 
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dowie said:
you'll apply for MSc courses before you've even started your third year dissertation - the things you should be doing are 1) getting good grades on your exams in 1st and 2nd year 2) making sure you've got at least two (in some cases three) lecturers/tutors who have a good impression of you and are willing to write a good reference for you.
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Thank you for that, the lecturers so far I've seen, for about 5 hours (like nothing), are real down to earth people so I don't think I'll ever have problems with them.

Also are there any other additional things that would support me, I'm thinking of perhaps taking some MCP exams or the CCNA, find out what interests me and self-study on the side, would this be something that they'd look favourably towards, or are they more interested in experience and uni grades?
 
Trojan Horse said:
Also are there any other additional things that would support me, I'm thinking of perhaps taking some MCP exams or the CCNA, find out what interests me and self-study on the side, would this be something that they'd look favourably towards, or are they more interested in experience and uni grades?
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Uni grades and interesting projects you've taken on / written about. They want someone who can demonstrate understanding of any topic to a sufficiently deep level.

Don't bother with industry certifications until you're in the field.
 
I doubt they'd care too much about vocational qualifications - your grades, personal statement and references from tutors are the most important things

if you're going to do stuff in your spare time then things like: www.kaggle.com might look good depending on your interests. As can any personal projects/side projects. Doing an internship during the summer holidays is very useful employment wise and if relevant then could be mentioned in an MSc application letter.

For additional self study you could look at coursera, stanford online, MIT open courseware, EDX, udacity etc... but don't do this in lieu of time spent on your actual degree - that is the most important thing to concentrate on.
 
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