Planetarion Forums

Rids · 27 Nov 2003, 23:57

I am thinking of attending a university, to gain a degree in something. (As you can see, I've given this a lot of thought)

Now, it will need to be in London (not UEL though) and, obviously, be open to 'mature students' - I believe I count as a mature student since I'm 21, and have fk all qualifications in anything.

However, I do not know where to begin my search, the UCAS site makes me want to eat my own liver.

Are there any sites on the intraweb where I may find out about universitys in east of London offering courses in telecommunications and or computing?

Dante Hicks · 28 Nov 2003, 00:36

Queen Mary (and Wetsfield : http://www.qmw.ac.uk/) on the Mile End Road does a Computing Degree I believe. I did my undergraduate degree there (albeit in one of the humanities) and the facilities are pretty good. I think their Computing Dept is supposed to be pretty good. Fk knows if they accept mature students specifically tho.

Birkbeck (http://www.birkbeck.ac.uk) specialise in mature students, etc. Based in Central London they do evening degree courses, etc. I think they do both an Undergraduate and 'Foundation' degrees in computing.

And you're obviously right about UEL. Although, depressingly they were my insurance choice some years ago. Thank god I didn't fail my A-Levels even worse than I did.

28 Nov 2003, 00:49

comedy 'university of north london' option

NEWSBOT3 · 28 Nov 2003, 04:01

ok, theres a few things you'll need to consider.

1. Money
although you can qualify for a loan from your Local Education Authority , in some situations (ie, mine), it can be not enough to actually live on each year. Having about 5k savings in the bank would help if you dont want to have to work during term time etc. Working in the summer is a necessity almost just to pay off and/or prepare for those term time bills.

2.Getting in
Your a mature student, which for the most part means entry requirements mean **** all.
click greater london here
press go, and choose a subject

that should find you the uni's you are looking for.
Now, what you -may- find , is that you do not have to use the UCAS admission system. The best thing to do is contact the university in questions admissions dept, whom will be able to advise y ou on what exactly you need to do.

Also, email/phone some course leaders (again, this should be on the website) and you can discuss courses etc, or you can attend an Open Day at the university, again of which you should find info on the web.

3. Career Prospects
Right now, there are less jobs in computing than there are graduates each year by quite a bit. This might or might not pick up in the 3-4-5 years you could be in uni, so i would say that something more telecoms based would be a better decision, although the choice is yours.

I think thats the basic things, if theres anything else, ask.

Weeks · 28 Nov 2003, 05:06

Goto middlesex (north london though).
They'll let anyone in (lots of mature students). There campus Trent Park is ok. Long way from Central though. You'll probably have to do a Foundation though.
Don't blame me for wreaking your life.

Remember if you're a poorpur (hello) your LEA will pay your tutition init. And the student loan company will probably load you with enough crack-buying ability you should be pretty sorted.

NEWSBOT3 · 28 Nov 2003, 07:27

dunno where you live, but i pay no fees, get max loan, and so far this semester i've had my overdraft extended once by 250 , and got a new credit card as i need the 500 limit to live on :\

that gives me like zero buying ability, i'm currently living on toast.

so i disagree that that the LEA/SLC get you 'pretty sorted' tbh.

Aryn · 28 Nov 2003, 07:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weeks

Goto middlesex (north london though).
They'll let anyone in (lots of mature students). There campus Trent Park is ok. Long way from Central though. You'll probably have to do a Foundation though.
Don't blame me for wreaking your life.

Remember if you're a poorpur (hello) your LEA will pay your tutition init. And the student loan company will probably load you with enough crack-buying ability you should be pretty sorted.

i found a job in middlesex
i didn't apply for it though :\

Luckeh!!!! · 28 Nov 2003, 10:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dante Hicks

Queen Mary (and Wetsfield : http://www.qmw.ac.uk/) on the Mile End Road does a Computing Degree I believe. I did my undergraduate degree there (albeit in one of the humanities) and the facilities are pretty good. I think their Computing Dept is supposed to be pretty good. Fk knows if they accept mature students specifically tho.

I'm doing CompSci with Maths @ QMUL, computer facilities are very good here, there are some mature students here, though not that many (actually I can't even tell really, only the really older ppl stand out like 30+, other than that everyone pretty much blends in)

Goldsmiths apparently have a large mature student contingent according to my m8, but he says computer facilities sux.

I am Idler · 28 Nov 2003, 10:23

I want to go study, or rejoin the army, but it appears I'll be a dad in 7-8 months, so horay for me

Rumad · 28 Nov 2003, 10:31

degree's are uselss

hasn't helped my career one iota except to say I have a piece of paper. Better to do some on the job qualification such as MCSE or a telecommunications degree as part of a structured part of a job.

Though I must say was worth it for the social life and the shagging.

Luckeh!!!! · 28 Nov 2003, 10:31

lol

I am Idler · 28 Nov 2003, 10:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toccata & Fugue

So the foreign legion it is then.

yes, but they will require my butt for atleast 7 years, so I need a week to think it over