Universities - What do you study?

RandomTom · 14 Mar 2006 at 20:31

Well, I'm currently only doing my AS levels, but tutors are advising us to look on the UCAS website more frequently now, and I found a good course for me "computer science and media studies" at Chester University, so I googled it, and then went onto google images and noticed:

In the bottom right under a search for "chester uni" and thought - I recognise that link - and funnily enough it linked me back to OcUK - There's no escaping you see!

Anyways, back on topic - What university to do you go to? Is it good? and what do you study? and do you like the subject?

Thanks.

Psyk · 14 Mar 2006 at 20:42

University of Bristol. It's bloody brilliant. Computer Science. See answer to second question.

RandomTom · 14 Mar 2006 at 20:45

Psyk said:
University of Bristol. It's bloody brilliant. Computer Science. See answer to second question.

I'm not trying to get you to reel off numerous different things, but how is computer science? what are the main focuses? I've found that some university specifications are a bit vague.

Psyk · 14 Mar 2006 at 20:50

RandomTom said:
I'm not trying to get you to reel off numerous different things, but how is computer science? what are the main focuses? I've found that some university specifications are a bit vague.

I think that's because the definition of computer science is a bit vague. Here at Bristol I think the general idea is to make you a good, efficient programmer and have awareness of issues that will affect your programs. That's why there are only a few modules that focus on the hardware side of things. Also I think they try to teach things in a way that allows you to apply them to many different areas rather than teaching you how to do a specific task.

DaveyD · 14 Mar 2006 at 20:51

At University of Birmingham, Studying Mechanical Engineering with Automotive [MEng] in 2nd year.

Overall I think it's a great subject, with some great career paths ahead of me. It's pretty difficult, as it's applied Maths / Physics / Mechanics etc, but the social life makes it all the better.

Formula Student also is a nice thing to be involved in too

Kreeeee · 14 Mar 2006 at 20:53

What university to do you go to?
Bristol

Is it good?
The University and Uni life is fantastic

and what do you study?
Computer Systems Engineering

do you like the subject?
It's very hard work but I think it's worth it.

jezsoup · 14 Mar 2006 at 20:54

Currently at Manchester studying Biomedical Material Science. But as of today I have quit and been accepted to Bradford Uni to study Biomedical Sciences in September!

zenith10 · 14 Mar 2006 at 20:57

kreeeee said:
What university to do you go to?
Bristol

Is it good?
The University and Uni life is fantastic

and what do you study?
Computer Systems Engineering

do you like the subject?
It's very hard work but I think it's worth it.

kree i am thinking of progressing ontp a course like that is it any good what sort of things so they teach you?

NicktheNorse · 14 Mar 2006 at 20:58

Not trying to crap on the thread but it seems like there is a thread just like this one every week...

I'm in my fourth and final year of Aero Eng at Imperial College. Its been tough, but hopefully it will be worth it once job-seeking starts (should really have started a few months ago - i'm lazy).

Pine · 14 Mar 2006 at 21:00

Psyk said:
I think that's because the definition of computer science is a bit vague. Here at Bristol I think the general idea is to make you a good, efficient programmer and have awareness of issues that will affect your programs. That's why there are only a few modules that focus on the hardware side of things. Also I think they try to teach things in a way that allows you to apply them to many different areas rather than teaching you how to do a specific task.

Going to take this off topic for a moment, but I've got offers from Bristol and although I'm planning on putting Imperial or York (probably York) as my firm choice I'm still considering my insurance offer. I'm a bit concerned that CS at Bristol has an excessive focus on 3D modelling and stuff, is that a reasonable assumption?

KaHn · 14 Mar 2006 at 21:01

NicktheNorse said:
Not trying to crap on the thread but it seems like there is a thread just like this one every week...

I'm in my fourth and final year of Aero Eng at Imperial College. Its been tough, but hopefully it will be worth it once job-seeking starts (should really have started a few months ago - i'm lazy).

Are you lookin at just Aero Eng Nick or are you lookin at broader engineering traights, I ask because since graduating I really dont want to spend my life with aircraft and decided to do a MSc in Mechanical (my course was very similiar to mechnical) to broaden my fields, just wondering what you are looking at really.

KaHn

Kreeeee · 14 Mar 2006 at 21:04

zenith10 said:
kree i am thinking of progressing ontp a course like that is it any good what sort of things so they teach you?

A lot on the interaction of hardware and software. We look at things liek how to code effeciently for given hardware and how to develop hardware that will be easy to program for.

Psyk · 14 Mar 2006 at 21:12

Pine said:
Going to take this off topic for a moment, but I've got offers from Bristol and although I'm planning on putting Imperial or York (probably York) as my firm choice I'm still considering my insurance offer. I'm a bit concerned that CS at Bristol has an excessive focus on 3D modelling and stuff, is that a reasonable assumption?

No it's not. There are only two units I think about computer graphics and they are both optional. If you do the 4 year course there is a big group project you have to do (it's normal to do a game) that usually involves 3D graphics. But I think you are marked more on the quality of your code than any artistic ability. I think Bristol does focus more on the practical side of things than theoretical stuff like Imperial. That's the impression I got from their open day anyway. I actually chose Bristol over Imperial even though I could (and did) get the grades for Imperial.

Psyk · 14 Mar 2006 at 21:13

kreeeee said:
A lot on the interaction of hardware and software. We look at things liek how to code effeciently for given hardware and how to develop hardware that will be easy to program for.

Computer science and electrical engineering joint honours you mean

Pine · 14 Mar 2006 at 21:17

Psyk said:
No it's not. There are only two units I think about computer graphics and they are both optional. If you do the 4 year course there is a big group project you have to do (it's normal to do a game) that usually involves 3D graphics. But I think you are marked more on the quality of your code than any artistic ability. I think Bristol does focus more on the practical side of things than theoretical stuff like Imperial. That's the impression I got from their open day anyway. I actually chose Bristol over Imperial even though I could (and did) get the grades for Imperial.

Thanks for clearing that up, I did go down to the open day and they did seem to be selling the 3D stuff, which is a shame as I know for a fact there are many people I've spoken to that have been put off because of this.

Alex_L · 14 Mar 2006 at 21:21

3rd year of 4 of chemistry at Imperial. To be honest i rather hate the subject now, and have less than no interest in it, and wish i'd done something different. Consequently i probably won't get a 2.1 and the whole 4 years will have been a waste of time....

A mate of mine whos done a BSC in CS at imperial said that its wasn't that theoretically based, and the practical stuff wasn't that useful, though hes now working in investment banking, so i'm not sure he was too interested in the computing side of things.

NicktheNorse · 14 Mar 2006 at 21:53

KaHn said:
Are you lookin at just Aero Eng Nick or are you lookin at broader engineering traights, I ask because since graduating I really dont want to spend my life with aircraft and decided to do a MSc in Mechanical (my course was very similiar to mechnical) to broaden my fields, just wondering what you are looking at really.

KaHn

I've thought about all the large Aero related companies. After spending quite a lot of time in the aerodynamics department of QinetiQ at farnborough for my final year project, I'm pretty sure I don't want to work in Aero as an engineer (its all computational, 40 years of meshing, running CFD and writing fortran isn't something i want to do). Instead I'm hoping to go into flying

NicktheNorse · 14 Mar 2006 at 21:55

BUSH said:
3rd year of 4 of chemistry at Imperial. To be honest i rather hate the subject now, and have less than no interest in it, and wish i'd done something different. Consequently i probably won't get a 2.1 and the whole 4 years will have been a waste of time....

I missed the big controversy last year - do you know anything about the big cheating crackdown they had last year in chemistry? I heard several people were expelled.

KaHn · 14 Mar 2006 at 22:09

NicktheNorse said:
I've thought about all the large Aero related companies. After spending quite a lot of time in the aerodynamics department of QinetiQ at farnborough for my final year project, I'm pretty sure I don't want to work in Aero as an engineer (its all computational, 40 years of meshing, running CFD and writing fortran isn't something i want to do). Instead I'm hoping to go into flying

Yeah I see what you are on about, a lot of my work now is CFD work and since we are all currently using k-epsilon thats whats being taught, with the introduction of L.E.S. and DNS in the next few years will mean everything I have been taught will be pointless, I am looking at joining the RAF as an engineering officer soon and maybe go into project managment after that, I really dont think I will survive in an office.

What sort of pilot are you looking at? Fast Jet, transport, heli's or comercial?

KaHn

Burnsy2023 · 14 Mar 2006 at 22:26

What university to do you go to?
Southampton University

Is it good?
Very good campus and extra activities with the SU

and what do you study?
Computer Science 1st year

do you like the subject?
It's very hard work but all things worth doing are difficult