University Computing Course

Craig321

Craig321

Craig321

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Joined
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Hi,

I'm looking to start a Computing course next year in Uni (UCAS G403).

The best place I've found for it so far is Derby, the Computing courses offered at other Unis are a bit too much like Computer Science for me.

Derby covers a good range of subjects - software development, web programming, databases, algorithms and data structures, operating systems, game development, networks etc.

Derby also do a work placement for the third year which I think will be brilliant experience for me in the industry.

Some Unis class the G403 course as Computer Science, but they also include a discrete maths module. I'm not sure if Derby just haven't listed it, or if they just don't include it?

Any suggestions? I'll probably end up going to Derby, but I'd like to have a few other choice as well.

I've got Bournemouth down under G603 which seems to be the same as G403.

Thanks,
Craig.
 
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I'm at Aber doing Computer Science G401 (others available) Offers a year in industry too. Most Comp course require you to have Maths AS so they do the maths module to make sure everyone can do maths as Computing is quite mathematical.

There's lot of choices with modules in later years really so you may want to look into Computing Science, it has more options rather than just straight programming, (not Computer Science) at Staffs, Norwich and other places.
 
Derby doesn't require a maths GCSE/AS for their Computing course, so I'm guessing they only do a little bit of maths in the Algorithm module?

Bournemouth seem to do the exact same modules in their G603 Computing course, but when I enter that into UCAS it comes out as Software Systems Framework, so I'll give them a call tomorrow.

Both Bournemouth and Derby don't list a 'dedicated' maths module, I think they'll probably just cover that under the algorithms module which I'm OK with.

I'm not really sure about Computer Science, I think it'd do a little too much maths for me. I might not even be accepted on a Computer Science course - I completed all the GCSE work and passed the college GCSE maths test (the one you're required to take before you go into college so they can check whether you need to be signed up to the key skills course or not), but never got the actual qualification :(
 
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Not sure if this helps but I'm currently doing Computing Science (G400 I think) at Staffs. The first Semester has a Maths module but after that there isn't any. The Maths is really basic; I completely failed AS Maths and find it really easy (I've already passed the Maths module and there's still an exam to go).

I got to pick one module for the first Semester and get to pick two next. There's a whole range of modules I could've picked from and you're allowed to take a 'general' module as well (something that isn't specific to Computing such as Business).

EDIT: First year student, by the way. Not sure how many I get to pick in my 2nd/3rd year. I've also got the opportunity to do a placement year.
 
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Craig321 said:
Derby covers a good range of subjects - software development, web programming, databases, algorithms and data structures, operating systems, game development, networks etc.
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I've done units in most of those subjects and know of people who have done units in all of those subjects at UEA on a G400 course (Computer Science). Data Structures and Algorithms is a core part of any Computer Science course and the others sound no different from a typical CS degree - in fact, it sounds exactly like a CS degree ;)

Most courses will get you up to speed with Maths as if you want to cover things properly you're going to need at least some level of understanding of a number of maths techniques.

Apart from the content of the course, is there any other reason you're considering Derby? I find it hard to believe Derby is the best you've found considering the position of the department in the league tables and entry requirements. I considered it when I was applying ~3 years ago and whilst it wasn't terrible, everywhere else I visited seemed to be better.

I think the most important thing to consider is what you're planning on getting out of the course. What are your main areas of interest in Computing?
 
I do G420 at Hertfordshire, pretty good, did a placement year last year which was cool. Not really any maths, well I tiny bit but not a whole module.

Doesnt really focus that much on networking in the final year which is a bit poo though IMO.
 
Xtrm2Matt said:
Not sure if this helps but I'm currently doing Computing Science (G400 I think) at Staffs. The first Semester has a Maths module but after that there isn't any. The Maths is really basic; I completely failed AS Maths and find it really easy (I've already passed the Maths module and there's still an exam to go).

I got to pick one module for the first Semester and get to pick two next. There's a whole range of modules I could've picked from and you're allowed to take a 'general' module as well (something that isn't specific to Computing such as Business).
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Same here, I did well at GCSE Maths (A) but really didn't get on with AS Level (D).

The Maths course we studied at UEA (2 semesters, first year only) was tiered so the people who'd done A-Level maths did more advanced stuff and the others (including myself) did the lower tier where they brought us up to speed on the important areas.

It was all pretty basic stuff but it's been very useful in other modules, especially Graphics and Machine Learning. Other units like Sound and Image, Networking, Programming and even units you wouldn't expect it like Databases all make (in some cases extensive) use of Maths.
 
Craig321 said:
Only reason is that I was under the impression there was a lot of maths in a computer science course.
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At the start there is, but that's not a bad thing. I found the maths modules and barely passed them, but once you've done it, other courses really do make more sense.

I take it you don't like maths?
 
Most universities regard "Computer Science" and "Computing" as the same thing.

I'm doing "Computing" at Imperial College, but when I applied through UCAS (code G400), it was listed as "Computer Science".

I'm in my 3rd year now, and in the first 2 years I've learned (maths modules):

Abstract Data Types
Compilers
Complexity and Computability
Computational Techniques
Computer Architecture
Databases
Discrete Mathematics
Hardware
Artificial Intelligence
Logic (Propositional/Predicate)
Mathematical Methods
Networks and Communications
Operating Systems
Programming (Functional/Declarative/OO)
Reasoning about Programs
Software Engineering - Design
Statistics
 
Burnsy2023 said:
At the start there is, but that's not a bad thing. I found the maths modules and barely passed them, but once you've done it, other courses really do make more sense.

I take it you don't like maths?
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Nope, I really don't like maths. Although if the teaching is good then I'll be willing to give it a go if there is a maths module.

After a bit more looking around at computer science I've not got Aberystwyth, Bournemouth, Derby and Kent down as choices (temporary, might change them if something better comes up).

Will look at Staffs now.

gumbald said:
You'll need some maths to understand other stuff. Challenge yourself!
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Maybe, I just don't want too many maths modules else I'll end up hating the entire course. I'd be alright with one or two modules. I'd actually like to learn how algorithms etc. work which I know requires a lot of maths, so maybe it's a good idea to go for computer science.
 
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Xtrm2Matt said:
Not sure if this helps but I'm currently doing Computing Science (G400 I think) at Staffs. The first Semester has a Maths module but after that there isn't any. The Maths is really basic; I completely failed AS Maths and find it really easy (I've already passed the Maths module and there's still an exam to go).

I got to pick one module for the first Semester and get to pick two next. There's a whole range of modules I could've picked from and you're allowed to take a 'general' module as well (something that isn't specific to Computing such as Business).

EDIT: First year student, by the way. Not sure how many I get to pick in my 2nd/3rd year. I've also got the opportunity to do a placement year.
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That sounds alright, as I said in my previous post I would like to learn algorithms etc. but I was just worried that a computer science would be full of advanced maths. Looking at Staffs now :)
Burnsy2023 said:
Look at CS @ Southampton, it rocks :)
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Will do, is it just the one maths module at the beginning for Southampton?
 
Burnsy2023 said:
Look at CS @ Southampton, it rocks :)
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Went for an interview there, I agree with this :)

Craig321 said:
Maybe, I just don't want too many maths modules else I'll end up hating the entire course. I'd be alright with one or two modules. I'd actually like to learn how algorithms etc. work which I know requires a lot of maths, so maybe it's a good idea to go for computer science.
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Just following on from my post, only a handful of the modules I mentioned consisted of no maths whatsoever, but if you've done matrices and a little bit of stats for A-level maths, that's all you need to get started, once you understand the fundamental concepts the rest is fairly straight forward :)

Trust me, there will be aspects of your course that you will not like, regardless of how much you like computers :p
 
I did computer science at Manchester Uni course code was G400 i think. In he first year there was a maths module which was not to difficult if you put your head to it, i did not do AS or A2 Maths but did do A2 Physics. After the first year there were no maths modules however the other modules such as networking and 'C' programming incorporated a fair bit of maths which i found fairly testing.
 
I did mine at Kent was really good and had an excellent placement scheme going on and as said, those modules sound exactly like Computer Science, you are going to do maths in them, there is no getting around it.
 
I was expecting to do some maths no matter what computer course I'm going on, it's just some Computing/Computer Science courses do more than others. For example York does 2 maths modules in the first year, Derby, and possibly Bournemouth/Kent don't mention anything about maths.
 
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