Choosing the right course to undertake at university is vital to success and is also key to whether you will engage in it and get the career you want. No pressure.
While many students have their eyes set on a particular university, it is worth considering that not all the courses that have the same name will follow the same syllabus. They certainly won’t all be able to offer the same opportunities once the degree has been completed. So, how do you choose which one is right for you?
Here, let us explore some key tips to ensure you choose the right college to further your studies in computer engineering.
Exposure
Does the university or college you want to attend offer you the same exposure as other computer engineering colleges?
This can be tough to determine, but when choosing the right college for you, it is best to look around the colleges’ websites and see if your degree will allow you to be spotted by employers in that area, or by other colleges if you wish to earn a master’s degree or a PhD.
When you attend open evenings, be sure to ask as many questions as possible to the lecturers and admin staff about what exposure your degree will earn you, as well as where the other students who have left the degree are working.
Updated Syllabus
It is a well-known fact that the world of computers and engineering is being changed and updated almost daily, so you will want a college that offers an updated syllabus.
One way to do this is to check with the jobs that you want; look through the candidate specifications and see if you will be able to learn these skills on the course. A job in the field is more likely to be up to date than a course and can offer some valuable insight into which skills are needed and are in the highest demand.
Placements
Any college worth its salt will be eager to place students in environments where they can stand out and make an impression on potential employers. One way to assess this is by looking at whether the college you want to attend can offer placements as part of the course as a way to top up your real-world knowledge of the area.
Once again, the college website will be able to offer this information, but it can also be worth asking lecturers and even former students about this.
Ranking
Where does the college that you want to attend rank in the tables? Is it at the top for teaching computer engineering? Or is it somewhere in the middle? This will be a key thing to look up, as the league tables highlight how much money and time is put into each course, as well as how the students perform on exams and once they leave the course.
Reviews
Reviews of any college are important, not only for assessing the courses themselves but getting access to other bits of vital information. For example, how do the students rate the course admin office? Are the lecturers responsive to emails? All these things are key to having a successful and satisfactory time when studying for your degree.
