Well i have been wondering about this for a while, and have yet to find one direct piece of information on the subject, so my question to you is, what really is the difference between learning under computing science to learning under software engineering? Does one provide something more than the other?

Well as you can see i am confused here, and i wonder if anyone who knows can clear it up a bit for me?

Thanks
Arran.

Perhaps I can illuminate this with a quote on this topic attributed to the late Edsger Dijkstra, one of the fathers of modern computer science:
"Computer science is about computers in the same way that astronomy is about telescopes."

To put it another way, Computer Science (CS) is to Software Engineering (SE) what Physics is to Civil Engineering. That is, CS is the academic branch of computing that takes care of the theoretical aspects, whereas SE is one of the practical branches that is responsible for actually building things.

As for which is preferable, that depends on what you want to learn. If you're interested in developing software, that's what SE is all about. CS is applicable to software development, but is not primarily concerned with it. CS is what you'd want if you're more interested in, e.g., the mathematical basis of encryption of compression algorithms (as opposed to programs thatuse those algorithms).

Hope that helped.

Basically, you have CS which is more theoretical while CSE is more applied - though you learn quite a bit of theory.

e.g. Manchester Uni offers CSE and C.S. - CSE is essentially a subset of CS.

The definitions tend to be variable between institutions - so if your talking about uni courses then I would recommend looking in detail at the syllabus.

Thanks lads, (had loss of electricity for most of today so couldn't get back to you), i appreciate you trying to differ the two, so which would you suggest though, as i read an article stating of polled programmers only 40% had done CS, and none has done SE.

Also currently thinking bout going to glasgow university to do one of the courses (Scottish )

Cool, I have just applied for CS at a load of English Universities - you doing your application or just planning it?

Planning mine just now, i could leave for uni now, but i am waiting off till i finish my last year possible in high school before going to uni so i can obtain the required grades

So just now is just a head start thinking stage with a year worth of planning, i just don't know which path is more suitable, i mean i was going to go for CS but now that i have been reading around i'm wondering if SE is better for me. My plan is to get into the programming industry creating programs etc, and i am just unsure as to which path is best then, as it isn't fairly documented (that i can find)

I had the same problem as you last year - I though that I wanted a more applied education - which the CSE course does seem to offer, however it seemed that the name of this course, when I mentioned it to potential employers, seemed to put them off as it sounds more iffy.

I've decided to do CS. Most Uni's let you choose which modules you take and the two degrees do overlap to a large extent.

I was thinking of applying to Edinburgh but didn't in the end - too far on the train

Yeah i mean i've noticed as much as you, the two courses are literally the same for the first 2ish years, and then you choose some modules, which are almost identical aswell, so i reckon i will be sticking with my insitinct and going with CS instead of SE as first intended.

Interesting to hear yuo were thinking of going to Edinburgh, i haven't really had a nosey at their CS course, though that will come next year on the open days

haha, yeah I was supposed to go on a couple of open days but never really got round to it - they're a little overhyped I think but I suppose you should visit a place where you plan to spend the next three years of your life.

Got an offer for interview today from Imperial so all going well so far

One of the give aways on the courses that are less applied is that they put they desire further maths in a prospective undergraduate - probably because they're course is basically an applied mathematics one

Hmm well it seems to be the thing to go to open days so i reckon i'll be taking those up next year, i want to know what it's going to be like and actually talk with a few of the lecturers and see what they say about the subject.

Nice , congrats on the offer and hopefully it goes somewhere ehh?

Also i know brochures are supposed to hype up a subject and make it seem great, but what do you think of the Glasgow CS course: http://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_45623_en.pdf ?

Just had a quick look through - is it accredited by the IET? If your not going to a uni they're very familiar with like Ox/Cam then they're gonna want that from the course.

Seems quite softwarey but otherwise good I quite like a bit of the hardware side to, to get a fully rounded idea of the subject area.

I'm also applying to Bristol, Manchester, Oxford and Bath but no offers from them yet. You got any other ideas?

So far i can't see anything saying it is accredited by the IET, however maybe i just ain't looking well enough, or not on the right places.


As for my suggestion , i don't really know mate, however the York uni is apprently really good.