I'm applying for university in a bit, and I'm looking for a design/computer based course (video games would be preferable). I'm having a bit of trouble choosing.
What are your opinions about the courses that are offered? I'm thinking of doing Computer Arts at Abertay Uni (in Dundee) - http://www.abertay.ac.uk/Courses/CDetails.cfm?RID=1&CID=184&Key=002 - because it seems to envelope a lot of things other than just graphics; cinematography, character design, music/sfx. It's just a bit far away though.
Another option is Computer Games Design, which a variety of universities do. I dunno which one's best for it though. Also Animation, which I can do at UCLan, which is close to where I live.
Applying for university? I thought you were much older. Anyway... I was going to do a similar course at Abertay, but I was warned that the image of Abertay was that it was for people who were... a bit thick. I'd actually do a standard computer science course and specialise later on.
I'm planning on going to Uclan to do software development or software engineering. They do video game courses and stuff there (we had a tour/day where we looked at the video game stuff, and it was very impressive). But I'm not really sure whether a video game course is considered a professional course to do? I don't know
I had a look on Google for top universities for Computing, and Manchester, Lancaster, Durham where all in the top 10 - which is quite close to were I live. But I don't want to move away from home, and Uclan is only 30 minute drive from where I live, so that'll probably be my choice.
That's what I'm struggling with - like how do you know which universities are for thickos and which ones are actually half-decent. Is there no website which tells you?
Yeh I know.
Uclan isn't exactly known for being a clever university or anything - but it's something like the 6th biggest in the UK. To be honest, I'm not too bothered on how clever or how performance for a uni is. With something like Computing, if there is something you want to learn further - you can just learn it at home, so really the results you get will depend on the effort you put in. Obviously with subjects like Maths and Chemistry or something, then the university would matter a lot more, but for computing I'm not really too bothered.
I just searched google for top universities - I think The Times online had a list of university courses, and showed you which universities got the top 20 results for each subject. For computing, Oxford and Cambridge were obviously top.
The Sunday Times list is good for those looking to study academic subjects, but for art/design it's a pile of wank, and it's art/design that I'm looking for (computers is a secondary thing).
Huddersfield runs a very good BSc game design course. Staffordshire runs a series of quite good design course. Manchester's Design and Art Direction course is the dogs bollocks. Salford has a lot of high tech equipment, course is supposed to be good.
The design rooms and stuff are in the building behind him. way on the top floor. Absolutely stunning buildings, inside and out. They've got this mad full sized hydraulic driving cockpit for game devs to use, that was a bit of alright.
Noodle if you can try to do a BSc degree rather than BA. They have more punch later on in life.
As Mr Newton says try to do a degree like computer science or something similar, it carries more clout as you will be teached about C, C++, architecture (of computers that is), probably some AI areas - prolog, Neural newtorks, different ways of implementing algorithms (recursion etc), searching/sorting algorithms etc.
It may be less appealing and the maths will be heavy at times, but it is a very valued discipline.
I just finished an Electronics & Comp Science degree (BSc) and now i'm doing a MSc , lol so i been through all the above plus electronics
Thing is Hagar, I don't really give a crap about getting a really mint job. Give me a decent enough wage and I'll be fine. I'd rather spend three years of my life doing something I enjoy rather than learning about stuff I don't really care about like bloody Maths.
Thing is noodle, any game designing course worth its salt will have loads of maths in it - 3d vector manipulation, fractuals all sorts. Any sort of programming requires maths skills and logical thinking so be prepared to work hard if you're not too hot on maths. Try asking some people who have already done a similar course and see how they found it. And also see how easy it was for them to find work afterwards.
Also, i know u said it wasnt for you but computer science is what the game companys want you to have - have a look at some graduate jobs (scary i know already!) and look at what sort of requirements they have - i think that you will find 99% of them don't regard some of these game desgin courses as a ligitimate qualification for what they are after.
With regards to universities, the Times list is a good starting point no matter what the subject. Apply to all 6 you can put on your UCAS form and make sure you visit them all - bear in mind that you will be spending 3/4 years there so make sure it is not a dump!
Finally, like you say, make sure its something u enjoy. If u really dont wana do computer science then dont. University is not all about the qualification - its as much about maturing as a person (running round at 4 in the morning with a traffic cone on your head) making new friends and trying new things as it is your qualification. Obviously you will be more empoyable if u goto a top university but if your not gona enjoy those uni years then its pointless. However, there is no point spending goodness knows how much money on tuition fees and accomodation if you go to some crappy university .
Oh, and make sure the course you choose has honours!!
Anyway, you have a good few months before you have to start applying so really try and ask some people who have done a similar course
My UCAS application was so easy, they created an application for us to do it, put it on a floppy disk and hand it in. I remember when my brothers had to fill the forms in and it took them hours. Im not sure what method is used nowadays?
Thing is, university will cost me barely anything. The grant I get plus the loan will mean I'll barely pay anything even when I do get a job. People go on about tuition fees, but if the only reason you go to uni is to get a better job and more money, so therefore it's not unreasonable to ask for some of that money in return.
Still don't know what I'm going to do. I'm good at maths generally (do it at A2), but I find it uninteresting and for me the maths we study is pointless without further research, and I couldn't stand that.
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