Questions

Please tell us about your experience of using the University's services.

I had an appointment with Careers Network to discuss interview tips as well as receive feedback on my CV and cover letter. The appointment calmed my nerves and made me feel more confident going into my interview. I would recommend anyone to make the most of the careers network service.

What has been your biggest achievement during your course so far?

I am most proud of how quickly I have adapted to a completely new course, and how my coding ability has improved in a short space of time. Thinking back to the start of the year, I found the course quite challenging as everything was so new, but I’m glad I stuck with it as a lot of the concepts I struggled with initially feel like second nature now.

What are the best things about your course?

The course provides a good foundation of knowledge to those with no prior knowledge of Computer Science, which was perfect for me as I had never studied it before. I enjoyed learning about something completely new, with a completely different style of teaching/learning than I was used to. The coding workshops were great for improving my coding skills, and having one-on-one support from people who are experienced in coding was invaluable.

How has your funding helped you?

The AI and Data Science Masters Scholarship has allowed me to study without worrying about financial pressures, allowing me to focus fully on my course and do the best I can. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to continue studying right after my undergraduate without taking time out to work and save money. As the course is quite demanding I would have found working more than a few hours a week alongside the course very challenging, and it would’ve prevented me from doing my best.

Tell us about yourself and your journey to postgraduate study.

Originally I studied Natural Sciences (Biological Sciences), and although I enjoyed my course I realised it was not something I wanted to pursue after graduating. I also did not think I would continue to study for a Masters. However, once I found the Computer Science course at Birmingham, and the AI and Data Science Masters Scholarship, I thought I might as well apply. So I was delighted when I found out I had been accepted onto the course, and awarded the scholarship.

What was your motivation for postgraduate study?

While studying for my undergraduate in Natural Sciences with a major in Biological Sciences, I began to consider a career in software development. However, as this was completely different to what I was studying I knew I would need further education to achieve this goal. I initially looked at online bootcamps and courses before finding the MSc Computer Science conversion course at Birmingham which seemed like the ideal next step for me.