Geographically, Birmingham is ideally placed in the centre of England’s population and naturally has great infrastructure. Day/weekend trips to most of the major cities in Wales or England are easily possible and affordable.
Sam Thomas, MSci Computer Science with a Year in Industry
Why did you decide to choose the University of Birmingham?
After attending open days at several universities, UoB stood out for me as the place I could see myself settling. The city has a great infrastructure and the campus setup made it clear to me that everything a student could ever need was on one site. The aesthetics of campus immediately stood out for me and I also loved the idea of most students being based in the local area and walking onto campus.
What stood out for you about the School of Computer Science?
The students that came before me were the major selling point of the School of Computer Science. I remember clearly the excitement with which they talked of their modules and their high praise for the support given by lecturers. The lecturers themselves were also extremely personable and I remember numerous conversations with lecturers about the sheer vastness of the discipline and how much scope for individual specialisation that exists within it.
Tell us how your experience has been so far at Birmingham…
24hr access to the labs has been priceless - it’s meant that I have been able to fit my individual studies into my personal life, without having to sacrifice my hobbies. In particular, I’ve loved delving into the theory of computer science and learning why programming exists in the way it does and understanding how different programming languages can be suited to different applications. As well as this, the numerous team projects have meant that I have never felt isolated and have always had others to support and be supported by through tougher times.
Do you have any hobbies/are you part of any societies?
Throughout my time at UoB, I’ve been involved in the Computer Science football team and been part of a team that’s won competitions and competed in leagues. Through this, I’ve made numerous friends and been able to play competitive sports. I’ve also attended several games events and talks through the Computer Science Society and, through these, even gained connections to people working in industry!
What do you think of University’s location?
Geographically, Birmingham is ideally placed in the centre of England’s population and naturally has great infrastructure. Day/weekend trips to most of the major cities in Wales or England are easily possible and affordable on public transport, without needing your own car. As for the University, we are a short train journey from the city centre and, when it’s sunny, I’ve done the journey by foot along the beautiful canal. At UoB, I really do feel like I’m in the heart of life.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to a new student?
I wish I had taken more of the opportunities available to me in my first year. There will be countless classes, labs, office hours and extra help sessions to support you throughout your studies. It took until my second year to really galvanise this opportunity and realise the value they can have when you get stuck. My key piece of advice to new students would be simply to make use of all the support that is available.
Find out more about my programme - MSci Computer Science with a Year in Industry