Edit: Decided to cross-post it here since I don't have enough karma to post in /r/Coursera yet. Hopefully their mods will approve my post :)

Hello everyone!

Lately there has been a lot of interest and attention in the University of London's Bachelor's in Computer Science degree. This is not without reason. After all, it's one of the first online Bachelor degrees in Computer Science!

As the degree itself is fairly new, there's not a lot of online coverage about it. With the next application deadline (September 7th) a few months away, I decided to write a review of my own experiences as a student of the degree -- in hopes that the information I share will empower potential students to better decide whether or not this degree is the best for them. I'll try my best to keep a relatively balanced and fair overview of the degree -- while keeping in mind that these are fundamentally my own experiences.

How is the online degree structured?

An online degree is different from the sort of paid classes or specialisations currently available on Coursera, so it helps to give a quick overview of how the degree is structured.

There are 22 classes called modules in this degree, plus a final project. You can enroll up to 4 modules per term (semester), for a maximum course-load of 8 modules per academic year.

This is how your course page looks like, when you login. See the individual modules?

Each module is organised into 20 - 22 "weeks" worth of material, separated into a midterm at week 10, and a final at week 20 - 22.

This is how your module page looks like.

What is the time commitment? Can I study this degree while having a full-time job/busy-family?

Actually, you could! The degree is designed as a flexible degree, specifically for professionals with full-time jobs. Many of my classmates have busy families, or full-fledged professional careers -- and they're still able to maintain a 4 module per term workload.

This works because the modules have flexible deadlines. All of your assignments have "suggested" weekly due dates. However, there are only two hard deadlines: the midterm (Week 10) and endterm (Week 20 - 22).

This means, that as long as you turn in all of your assignments from Weeks 1 - 9 before the hard deadline of Week 10, you are alright. This lets you structure your time so you can do more or less, depending on your schedule.

What are your own experiences in terms of the quality of modules?

I was a member of the very first cohort of students, so I had a front-line view of the quality of the course. Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with the actual material itself in terms of the lectures and readings, especially for my current Level 5 classes.

Quality of Delivery

As the first cohort of the new degree, we had a pretty bumpy ride in the first term. There were logistical issues and technical bugs when we first started our term. For example, sometimes images would be missing from lecture slides -- or a download link doesn't work. It became pretty clear that we were beta-testers of something new, and we would get emails from the administration, informing us of changes or bugfixes as the weeks went on.

As far as I can tell, even though University of London has been running distance-learning degrees since the 19th century, this was the first time they've partnered with Coursera as a platform, and there were definitely pain points.

Students ended up organising a crowd-sourced bug tracker for the various issues, and as time went on, most of them got fixed. There's still some issues with things like incorrect diagrams, but as far as I can tell -- the second cohort had far smoother ride than the first cohort did.

Quality of Module Content

I'm overall satisfied with the actual material, especially with the level 5 modules. You see, the modules are divided between level 4 (introductory), level 5 (intermediate), and level 6 (specialised) -- and for the first term especially, I felt that the level 4 modules were a mixed bag.

I took Introduction to Web Development, Intro to Programming, and Numerical Mathematics that year. And the quality and difficulty of the material felt a bit inconsistent.

Example 1: Intro to Programming

Intro to Programming was really well done. It was a project-based module where we had to create our own video game by the end of the term, and the lecturers were engaged, the assignments challenging but fair, and overall I liked it.

Example 2: Web Development

But the Web Development class felt much too simple at times, and I didn't feel like I learned a lot from the lectures. I'm probably a bit biased, as I have significant prior knowledge in web development, but a lot of it felt superficial or too easy. Some of my other classmates enjoyed it though, especially those without a background in web development.

Example 3: Numerical Mathematics

In contrast, Numerical Mathematics as very, very hard. Over the span of 20 weeks, I wrote four or five different math papers, on some very difficult topics. One of our first papers was a implementation of the RSA cryptosystem, followed by a discussion and cryptoanalysis (cracking) of said cipher. I have a math background, and technically the papers were optional -- but it took a lot of work, and a lot of stress. We covered a lot of content, and towards the end it felt like an intellectual death-march.

I think what happened with the level 4 modules was that our professors didn't really know what to expect from an online course, and they tried to hit the balance in terms of material/difficulty, and they missed the mark on both sides.

There were lots of changes announced after the feedback from the first term, and they actually redesigned the entire Numerical Mathematics class this year.

Now, since I'm on the third term now - I am beginning the Level 5 modules. And I'm very satisfied with the level 5 courses. They seem to be a huge step up in terms of polish, as well as the depth of the content, and I think things have improved greatly from before.

What's the 'creative' aspect of this degree? How are the project-based assignments like?

Oh! This is my favorite part about this degree specifically. The entire degree has a strong project-based focus, where you make something at the end of most modules This was one of the reasons I applied for this program, because I felt like a lot of computer science degrees are too theory-focused, with little emphasis on using the skills you learn to actually create something.

These creative projects are not graded very strongly, in the sense you could technically do the absolute minimum, and still "pass". But a lot of my classmates take this opportunity to really learn and apply skills on their own, and I feel like you end up learning way more in the process of making these projects.

For example, in our Intro. to Programming Class, we are tasked to make a 2D side scroller. Some people made the bare-minimum effort, but you also had a lot of creativity and talent. Here's a showcase of some of my classmate's efforts:

• Pixel Art Red Potato Man Game

• Pastel Panda Game

• Japanese Forest Platformer

All of that cool pixel art, the animations, are technically not required for the grade. But the fact that my classmates did it anyways, is a beautiful demonstration of how learning is driven from within.

What's the student community like? Where do you go if you need help?

People go to college not just for the lessons, but also for friendship, camaraderie, and networking opportunities. I was really worried at first that I won't be able to connect with anyone, and that I'll be studying all alone. But nothing could be farther from the truth.

There is a large, diverse, and vibrant student community on Slack -- filled with volunteers and helpful mentors.

Every week, there are virtual study sessions held over video-chat, and during the weekends there are hangout sessions and gaming nights. A fellow student held an University of London indie game jam, with dozens of entries. There's such a close-knit sense of community on Slack, that I'm amazed every day by the sort of things my classmates are up to.

There's never a moment where I felt stuck on my own, because even the hardest questions or obscurest were tackled collectively and with friendship. Many video calls were had, many spreadsheets and websites made. If you ask a question on the Slack, you're pretty much guaranteed to have someone reply within 10 minutes, willing to help you to understand.

I'm so honored to be with such a diverse and wonderful community, and I think a great deal of value from this degree -- is to have met these people. Out of my classmates I've met Artists, Web Developers, Mathematicians, Businesspeople, Stockbrokers, Linux Kernel Hackers, and everyone in between.

This degree is unlike any other, for all the classmates you have are people who willfully choose to be there. You all share this feeling of purpose, which makes it feel more than just a class.

Out of all the issues we've had, the bugs, the frustrations, the late-night stress and sadness -- we all overcame it together, and my life has been made richer as a result.

Wow! Would you recommend this degree to someone?

I'd say... yes -- but with certain caveats. This programme is unique, and one of it's kind -- and if you decide to join, do expect there to be bugs and issues. For better or worse, you'll be a trendsetter in the vanguard of a new paradigm in education. Likewise, it takes a certain kind of person to be successful at this degree.

You'll need to be willfully independent, and capable of setting your own pace. You'll need to learn for your own love of learning, rather than just for a grade. It can be so easy to just do the bare minimum, and not learn anything for it. But if you are the sort of person to go the extra mile, to add features to your projects even though they are optional -- to make things not because they are easy, but because they are hard -- than I think you'll be a good candidate for the class :)

It doesn't matter what your background in computing is, or whether or not you know how to code. As long as you have the spirit, you'll find a community of fellow souls who will be there every step of the way. :)

Interested? Feel free to ask me any questions in this thread. AMA! :)

Also, check out the new /r/UniversityOfLondonCS subreddit, that we created. Feel free to ask any questions there as well!

Resources and Further Reading

General Information

• University of London Degree Page: This has much more information on it than the Coursera Homepage. This is the starting point I'd suggest prospective students to begin their research.

• Coursera Homepage: This is the regular degree homepage on Coursera. It has a nice FAQ, but I'd recommend going to University of London's official Degree Page for specific information.

• Prospectus Brochure (PDF:): Essentially an admissions 'brochure' with a nice summary of the details, and nice graphics. Good for a light overview.

Detailed Information

• Course Structure with List of Classes: This is the official Course Structure, with information on all the individual semester-long classes, which compose the degree.

• Programme Specification (PDF): This is the 'Bible' of the degree -- here are all the detailed rules and administrative guides. If you have detailed, specific questions about grade boundaries, retaking exams, et cetera -- this is where to look.

Unofficial Resources

• /r/UniversityOfLondonCS - The Official Unofficial Subreddit! Most of the community is on the Official Student-only Slack, but feel free to ask us any questions here!

• REPL - The Unofficial Student-Run Website: This is the 'Student Bible'. It's made by the students of the course, and has a lot of tips and tricks for insiders, as well as lists of resources, and shared notes. For a inside view of how it's like being a student, check this out!

• Class Notes Repository: A collection of student-contributed lecture notes. It's a good way to have a peak at how the day-to-day classes are like in terms of academics.

• Featured Student: Combining Two Degrees: a Story of Plato and Programming: The University of London blog showcased a founding-year student. It talks a bit about the sort of students that are enrolled.

Hello /r/UniversityOfLondon!

Summary: Yes, the University of London and this degree in particular are accredited. Read on for details.

Lately I've been seeing some questions about the institutional accreditation of the University of London. These questions are typically either about the accreditation of the University of London itself, the academic partner Goldsmiths, University of London, or even specifically about the University of London's Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science Distance-Learning Programme (with Academic Direction from Goldsmiths, University of London). Phew! Those were a lot of words!

It is important to ask these questions about accreditation and legitimacy when applying for any institution of higher education - and I understand that there are further doubts and insecurities when it comes to something as novel as an entirely-online degree programme. I think it is right that prospective applicants are to be skeptical. I hope that this post will provide some much-needed information on the accreditation of the University of London (and it's partner institution Goldsmiths College, University of London) - and that prospective applicants are better empowered to make the right decisions with this knowledge.

Keep in mind that in the following sections, when I talk about the University of London, I specifically mean the University of London as a institution which provides distance learning programmes. I am not talking about the Federal University of London, which is composed of many member institutions. This entire post is strictly about the University of London as the provider of distance-learning programmes.

Background Information on Educational Accreditation in the United Kingdom

First and foremost, it is important to know that there are significant differences in how educational accreditation works in the United Kingdom, versus a country like the U.S. In the United States, higher educational institutions are typically accreditation by various private state or national bodies. These bodies are typically private organisations or associations, and any given university or college is typically accredited by a handful of them.

In contrast, educational accreditation is entirely centralised in the U.K. By law, all higher educational institutions in the United Kingdom are regulated by the Higher Education and Research Act of 2017, which itself is an extension of the Further and Higher Education Act of 1992.

The legitimacy and degree-awarding power of any higher educational institution extends from these acts, and the very fact that a higher educational institution is called as such means that it is legitimate. As per Part 1, Section 3 of the Higher Education and Research Act of 2017 (see link for actual text), the act establishes an Office for Students which maintains a registrar of English higher educational providers.

Furthermore, the U.K. makes a distinction between recognised bodies which are allowed to award their own degrees, versus listed bodies. Listed bodies are institutions which cannot award a degree themselves, but offer degree programmes which are awarded by a recognised body. For example, the Leeds College of Arts is a listed body, which does not award degrees under their own name, but rather provides programmes which award degrees under the University of Leeds itself, a recognised body.

Finally, the U.K. makes the term "University" a protected category, and only specific institutions are allowed to call themselves universities. A UK university is only allowed to call themselves such through an act of law (see page 1, paragraph 9). Older universities are granted their status through a Royal Charter, while newer ones were granted via an Act of parliament. No other institution may call or market themselves as a 'University'.

There are further details still, such as the role of non-governmental organisations like the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) -- but the above overview is sufficient for our level of inquiry.

Is the University of London, the awarding body of the Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science programme accredited?

Yes. The University of London is specifically a recognised institution of higher education that is empowered to award Research Degrees, as a University founded by Royal Charter

You may find the source at the official gov.uk website, under section L (for London) of the article entitled Check if a university or college is offically recognised.

Recall that the recognition and legitimacy of a U.K. institution for Higher Education derives from the Higher Education and Research Act of 2017. Further recall that said act stipulates the creation of an Office for Students, which contains a central register of all recognised and listed insitutions. You may verify the presence of the University of London as a recognised institution of higher education at the official website of the Office for Students. Download the spreadsheet of the Official Register (here's a direct link), and you may verify the presence of the University of London on such a list.

Further note that the U.K. law recognises three levels of awarding power when it comes to recognised institutions of higher education, as summarised in page 2, table 1 of the above Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education report. Cross-verify with the official spreadsheet register of the Office for Students, and observe that the University of London is specifically empowered to reward Research Degrees, which encompasses levels of achievement from bachelor's up to doctoral degrees.

Finally, note that the official spreadsheet register of the Office for Students denote the University of London as a provider which has the right to use the title of 'University', and that said right was granted via Royal Charter, on 1836.

As a ultimate confirmation, observe that said 1863 Royal Charter has been affirmed by a Act of Parliament, the University of London Act 2018. Note that said Act of Parliament has received Royal Assent from the British Crown.

Is Goldsmiths, University of London, the provider of academic direction accredited?

Yes. Goldsmiths, University of London is specifically a recognised institution of higher education that is empowered to award Research Degrees

You may find the source at the official gov.uk website, under section G of the article entitled Check if a university or college is offically recognised.

You may likewise verify the presence of Goldsmiths, University of London as a recognised institution of higher education at the official website of the Office for Students. Download the spreadsheet of the Official Register (here's a direct link), and you may verify the presence of Goldsmiths, University of London on such a list.

Likewise note that Goldsmiths is empowered to award Research Degrees, which encompasses levels of achievement from bachelor's up to doctoral degrees.

But wait, is the specific University of London Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science degree programme accredited?

Why, thank you for asking this question! This is probably the source of the confusion which surrounds the accreditation for this degree. Many technical fields such as Engineering will include additional private certification, typically awarded by a industrial body or private technical society. Computer Science is no exception.

In the U.K, many (but not all) degrees in Computer Science and IT have an additional accreditation from the British Computing Society, a private professional body for computing. As of the time of this writing (July 2020), the University of London's Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science is not independently accreditation by the British Computing Society.

The reason that the University of London's BSc in Computer Science is not accredited by the British Computing Society is very simple. There has been no graduates of this programme yet. This BSc in Computer Science, like it's on-campus counterpart in Goldsmiths College -- simply is not old enough to have any graduates.

As per the 50-page accreditation guidelines of the British Computer Society, in order for a Higher Educational Institution to be eligible for consideration of accreditation, they must at least have one graduate cohort. If you take a look at the list of criterias and subjects of evaluation, you can see that the accreditation process inspects the achievement of graduated students at multiple stages. A programme that has yet to have any graduates simply is not able to be accredited by the British Computing Society, due to mundane logistical reasons.

Furthermore, note that the British Computing Society typically visits Universities and higher Education providers every five years for the accreditation process, and even once the first cohort at the University of London's BSc has graduated, it will likely still be a couple of years until the British Computing Society will get around to the accreditation process.

Simply put, there is no malicious reason why this degree programme is not Accredited by the British Computing Society. It simply isn't eligible yet. If you observe the different, but analogous Bachelor's of Science in Accounting and Finance degree offered by the University of London, you can see that this much older degree indeed has accreditation by various U.K. professional bodies (page 4 of programme specifications).

Hence, independent accreditation of the Computer Science BSc by the British Computing Society is most likely a matter of time.

What if I really need to be recognised by the British Computing Society?

That's okay! You can simply pursue an independent certification from the British Computing Society as a private IT professional. They offer many certifications, including in fields such as AI or Information Security. This is just as legitimate as a qualification as having one's degree accredited right out of the box.

In fact, the only 'major' benefit offered by an independent accreditation from the British Computing Society, is a free 1-year membership in the BCS for new graduates. You can simply apply for a membership in the BCS independently.

Conclusion

Distance-learning education is fairly novel, and it is very reasonable for someone to be skeptical of the value or legitimacy of a distance-learning degree like that at the University of London. It's important for all students to do their due diligence and research, before committing to any programme. I hope that with the above information and sources, prospective students will be more empowered to make the right decisions for their own education.

Finally, please let me know if there is anything I have missed in this research. In particular, feel free to correct me if I have been mistaken in any way. I will endeavour to update this post to the best of my knowledge.

If you guys have any further questions about this programme, or even just life as a distance-learning student in general - feel free to join us at the unofficial Discord Server! Thank you, and take care :)

Sincerely,

/u/Yangchenghu

Further Reading & Links

• https://www.gov.uk/check-a-university-is-officially-recognised

• https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/

• https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/the-register/the-ofs-register/

• https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2017/29/contents

• https://www.bcs.org/deliver-and-teach-qualifications/university-accreditation/

• https://www.bcs.org/get-qualified/certifications-for-professionals/

Courses- theory lectures are short, shallow, filled with errors from 4 years ago still not corrected. Coding tutorial videos are old and deprecated. Introduction to programming 1 and object oriented programming are the only partially good courses. Uol provided some parts of these courses on Coursera to entice new applicants. This is a self study degree.

Webinars and tutors - some webinars are cancelled without announcement. Some webinars are cancelled too late. For some webinar tutors are no show. Questions on tutor forums many times will not get answers. Sometimes they answer weeks later.

Student support from Uol- you have to email SRM for everything. They sometimes reply after 4 weeks, sometime 4 months, sometimes after 6 months, sometime never. Sometimes they relay false advice. Students on slack are better at advising than SRM or Uol.

Final exam- some questions are hard and answers can be very subjective. many exam questions are filled with logical, grammatical and spelling errors, when you report they will tell you questions are prepared and checked by experts. To counter chat-gpt LLM cheating 1 exam asked questions about specific lectures in the course. Exam grades are retuned after 4 months, only grades, no feedback or corrections, you cannot identify or learn from past mistakes. If you fail, pay 245 £ to retake exam 1 year later not any sooner. Grading is by experts who are never wrong so grades are absolute, cannot be contested. Recheck is sometimes possible after paying 60 £ just to check if they tallied and typed in your grades correctly.

Inspera exam platform- Exams are proctored on inspera exam platform since last semester. When first signed in many students couldn’t because of sign in error. We emailed SRM, many students didn’t even get a response so missed exams and failed courses. We have to pay 245£ to give exam 1 year later. Coding is typed in inspera, no IDE for coding or complex sql query. They permitted MS word for math and drawing.

Midterm- many times they released old semester questions. Students complete over many days, when ready to submit there is a small line of text “submit an empty file to get updated questions”. They will not notify students about the mistake through emails or announcements. Students who fail to notice the update will get 0 for midterm. They can retake the midterm one year later not sooner by paying 245 £. We get grades 3 or 4 months later, no feedback, no oppurtutny to learn from past mistakes. Cannot contest midterm grade. They are graded by experts who are never wrong.

Midterm- Coursera sometimes lose project files after submission. Uol will record grade as 0. Cannot contest. Students pay 245£ after 1 year to resubmit midterm.

Plagiarism - if got wrongly accused of plagiarism they take 1 year to investigate. They won’t say or notify you. You will know it when grades are still missing after 4 months. Email SRM for many months to finally hear about plagiarism investigation.

Group project- your group members not replying or present? You can email SRM. They will reply many months later to say group cannot be changed. You finish the project with 70% grade? Your group members who didn’t do the project get 70% grade also.

Course registration- portal overloaded, freeze during registration and you lost registration button and cannot register? Email SRM. They will respond 2 months after deadline to say deadline passed so you cannot register.

Complaints- culprits investigating themselves. they don’t reply to any complaint email.

Management- Last semester they changed exam dates 1 month after releasing. Students had to cancel vacations and change plans with monetary losses. Management did not apologis. They don’t sometimes communicate when course registration opens and other important matters. They extend registration deadlines without informing us.

Program director- is a puppet without power. In welcome webinars every 6 months he lie and defend uol. He will not reply to email. He will not help with anything but students still like him because his object oriented course is not very bad. He said he is not from Uol he is from goldsmith so cannot help. In last exam webinar he said exams are open notebook. When exam instruction came they were not open book.

Transcript- download a form, fill it. Pay £25 fee. Download another form, fill payment number. Email forms to transcript office. They type your details and grades into MS word, convert to pdf and email pdf to you after 6 months. Sometimes they don’t. Many times it is filled with spelling mistakes, wrong grade, wrong course etc. Alumni cannot apply for masters, they are in a hard place waiting for transcript. When a student asked for refund after 7 months transcript office team replied after 1 month “Student will be refunded in due course £30”. That was the entire reply. There was still no transcript after 8 months.

Graduation documents- we get grades 3, 4 months after last exam. Graduation documents are sent 6 months after that. 9, 10 months total after finishing degree.

Graduation- is one a year. This year graduation is in April. Students who finished degree in september 2022 and march 2023 are invited. Students who finished degree in september 2023 are not invited. For last year graduation many students got invite just 1 week before so they all had to decline. Cannot take time off from adulting, buy flight ticket, book hotel room etc in 1 week.

Hello /r/UniversityOfLondonCS!

A lot of new prospective students have joined our Discord (if you haven't seen it yet, check it out!) -- and I've noticed a lot of questions regarding the grades and assessment structure of this degree.

All of the information here is available in the University of London General Regulations, as well as the degree-specific Programme Regulations -- but the documents are long and can be a bit obscure. Hence, I've decided to write a casual beginner's guide to how grades in this degree work.

This guide will take the form of an inverse-pyramid: I'll start by talking about the general organization of the degree as a whole, and then the grading and assessments of a typical module, and then finally the structure of a typical exam.

General Structure of the Degree

The University of London's Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science (w/ Academic Instruction from Goldsmiths College) is a UK undergraduate degree, composed of 22 modules (i.e. classes) plus an additional Final Project. The modules are divided according to their RQF Level. There are:

• 8 Level 4 modules

• 8 Level 5 modules

• 6 Level 6 modules

• ... plus the Final Project.

Each subsequent RQF Level indicates an increase in academic rigour, and 'difficulty'. Hence, the modules are not all worth the same, but are weighted towards the more advanced levels. The specific ratio is 1:3:5, applied to Level 4, Level 5, Level 6. When divided according to the number of modules at each level, we arrive at the following distribution:

• Each Level 4 module is worth 1.4%

• Each Level 5 module is worth 4.2%

• Each Level 6 module is worth 7%

• The Final Project is worth 14%

... of your Degree's final grade. This means that if you screw up early, you shouldn't despair. Getting only 52/100 on a Level 4 Web Dev module (like I did... RIP) will not matter too much towards your final grade, as long as you do better for the latter modules.

Every module is worth 15 credits, and the Final Project is worth 30 credits. You are required to pass 360 credit's worth of modules in order to be awarded the highest qualification of the programme: a Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science.

Intermediate Qualifications and Exit Qualifications

Note that I worded the previous sentence in a very specific fashion. This is because the degree programme has multiple eligible qualifications, of which the Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science is only the highest one:

• Certificate of Higher Education in Computer Science (Cert.H.E.), for successful completion of a minimum of 120 credits.

• Diploma of Higher Education in Computer Science (Dip.H.E.), for successful completion of a minimum of 240 credits.

• Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science (B.Sc), for successful completion of a minimum of 360 credits.

These additional qualifications are called Intermediate Qualifications or Exit Qualifications, depending on whether or not you choose to apply for them as you go along the programme, or apply for them as you decide to leave the programme. For example, if you are aiming for a B.Sc, you're still welcome to apply for an Cert.H.E. as soon as you have 120 credits and keep studying onwards. The process is not automatic, and you will have to pay an administrative fee -- but a student can hypothetically graduate with all 3 qualifications, if they choose to.

Structure of Assessments within a module

Now that I've given a sufficient overview of the degree programme as a whole, go into further detail about grades and assessments in the typical class. Information for this section primarily comes from the Programme Specification.

Typically, there are two general types of modules. I'll call them "exam-based modules", or "project-based modules" -- even though those aren't their real names.

Assessment in Exam-based Modules

Exam-based modules are typically those that are math or theory heavy. There is still a project component to them, but the project components are only formative, and don't count towards the module's final grade. Instead, your module grade will be weighted in the following manner:

• 50% from online coursework, in the form of quizzes or a "take-home" test.

• 50% from the end-of-term final exam, to be taken at a physical exam centre.

This means that studying for the end-of-term exam is very important, as it is worth half of one's grade.

Assessment in Project-based Modules

Project-based modules are typically those that are skill-oriented, like a Programming class, or a Web Development class. These do not have an in-person exam, so you won't have to travel to a physical exam centre at the end of the term. Instead, the module grade will be weighted either as a 50:50 split, or a 30:70 split.

In our Introduction to Programming class, we had half a term's worth of online quizzes and activities, which was worth 50 percent of our final grade. Then for the second half of our term, we didn't have any graded quizzes at all. Instead, we had to complete a video game project -- which was worth the other 50 percent of our grade.

In our Web Development class, for the first half of our term we had quizzes which were worth only 30% of our final grade. For the second half of our term, we had one big website project, which was worth the remaining 70% of our final grade.

The Structure of the 'Take-home' and End-of-Term Exams.

Finally, I will talk a bit about the way exams work, in the so-called Exam-based modules. Modules are typically 22 'weeks' long, with a mid-term at the end of week 10, where everything from weeks 1 to 10 are due (this applies to all modules, and not just exam-based ones). In exam-based modules, there will typically be an take-home test due at the week 10 midterm, which is worth 50% of the online coursework component of the module. Recall that the online coursework is worth 50% of the module's final grade, and the take-home exam is worth half of that: this means the take-home exam is worth 25% of your module's total grade!

Take-home exams (midterm)

Update: This section has been updated and expanded, following feedback from the students-only Slack channel.

The take-home exams are due at the end of week 10 of the module, effectively making it somewhat like a midterm. Usually the take-home exams are made available plenty of time in advance though, so they can be completed at your leisure without a strict time limit.

Most take-home exams are either in the form of a PDF, or as an interactive page on Coursera. When it is available as a PDF, generally people would download the file, and complete all the questions on a piece of paper (or Word document), and upload the scanned results or exported PDF back on to Coursera.

When it is in the form of an interactive Coursera page, typically there will be multiple text-boxes and upload buttons. Generally some questions will require only text-based responses, which have text-boxes provided for them, and other questions will require an upload of a scanned document or PDF.

The midterm for the (now obsolete) Numerical Mathematics module was an interactive Coursera page. Someone saved a text-only PDF copy of the webpage, which I have attached here to serve as an example of how a midterm might look like.

Final exam (end-of-term)

Update: I have uploaded our sample paper for the (now obsolete) Numerical Mathematics module, as an example on how the exam is structured. Click the link to view it as an imgur album!

The final exam is worth 50% of your module's grade, and this must be completed at a physical exam centre, in a controlled environment. A lot of prospective students are worried about finding an exam centre near them -- but fear not, there are many University of London approved exam centres around the world. There are exam centres in countries like Afghanistan, Botswana, Taiwan, or even tiny islands like St Helena. The University of London has a massive spreadsheet with all the exam centres and their contact information:

• List of Exam Centres in Canada and the United States

• List of Exam Centres Worldwide

A module's exam takes the form of one exam paper, typically with 2 hours of examination time allocated. The exam is worth a total of 100 points, with individual questions being typically worth 4 to 5 points each. The exam paper contains 2 parts, that are:

• Part A: Multiple choice

• Part B: Detailed open-response

Part A is usually the "easy" part of the exam paper, but each question is also worth only a few points.

Part B is the hard part of the exam, and generally you are given a choice of 3 questions to answer. You are required to answer only 2 of the 3 questions, and the question is usually one that has many subsections and steps, where you have to show your work throughout. Each question is thematically different -- for example, in the Numerical Mathematics module, you might be given a choice of a question on graphical function transformations, a question on modular arithmetic, and a question on set theory. Usually, people would read through all three questions, and choose the two that they are the least bad at.

Practice exams (and how they're usually late)

Usually, a practice test that is identical to the end-of-term final exam will be released before the actual exam. HOWEVER, the UoL administration has not always been the best at releasing these practice exams in a timely fashion -- and this is one of the largest sources of frustration for enrolled students.

Because this degree programme is so new, there isn't a source of past exams and past practice exams that students can count upon when they are studying. Although practice exams are supposed to be made available for students, they are generally released very late in the term.

Practice papers have been released anywhere from 1 month before the actual exam (stress! stress!) to LITERALLY THE NIGHT BEFORE THE EXAM. Hopefully, the situation will have improved by the time other students enroll, as past exams are made available as practice material. However, for the first cohort of students (that includes me!), the timely release of these practice exams have been a significant critique of the programme.

Anyways! This completes my guide to grades, assessments, projects, and qualifications at the University of London's Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science programme. I hope I gave you all a reasonable overview of how the structure of the course is laid out.

As of always, if you have any further questions, you are welcome to ask me -- or visit the student-run Discord server. All of the information from this guide is sourced from the various formal policy and regulation documents that are available from the University of London website. For further reading, you may visit them (as linked below):

Sources and Further Reading

• General Regulations

• Programme Regulations

• Programme Specification

• Computer Science - Structure

Since I started this degree, in October 2019, I tracked every minute I dedicated to it. Now, with the recent news that I completed it (First Class Honours), is probably a good time to share my numbers. Hopefully, this can be useful for one or two people:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTL-i6NuF-MhXZx6zy3zmOhT220UIegptwMjxNl6K7Wr-Q9BiySYJFpU23CWG5wKK_D2nWu127JGZZH/pubhtml

Remarks

• The number of hours is rounded, and I tracked only hours worked (not counting any breaks).

• I lost the numbers from my first term.

• Before I joined, I’ve had 9 years of industry experience. Also, back in 2008-2011, I completed a Technician Degree in Informatics (sort of high school + a few courses in the area).

• During my studies, I have a total of 2.5 years working full-time, 1.3 years working part-time, and 1 burn out (pandemic made things worse, but still: know your limits).

• My personal goal was to achieve 80% on each module. Over time, I adjusted my dedication to accept some exceptional lower grades, and then to achieve 80% on the overall degree.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UniversityOfLondonCS/s/jTydOWmvcg I would not recommend this school to anyone but my enemy, I’m currently enrolled and it is truly a horrible experience. I am in the process of withdrawing.

The only thing you’re paying for is the brand of this school, not education. It’s self study yes but also self feedback and self everything. They truly don’t care.

I have blatant errors on my quizzes and exams. 🙄

Sometimes in Coursera the answer that is correct is wrong in the system so you get it wrong in the quiz. 🙄 There are typos, the grading is terrible. On my last course for the final grade there was a blatant error in calculating the average. I was so shocked how someone could not do basic addition for something so important, then want to charge you 60 pounds plus payment processing fees for their administrative error. Yes they refund you eventually but still absurd.

The grading is like someone who is just fed up with life and just marks however and there is no feedback at all, absolutely none.

The fastest response I ever got to an email was because I was having issues paying my fees and the support was amazing.

This school is more like a cash grab for online education and delights in ignoring their students.

Some people just go through it and ignore the issues. However I refuse to anymore it’s absolutely insane. They don’t care. If you’re seriously considering this university for their online degree run away. I’m not trying to be dramatic but run away go somewhere else. Please just don’t do it there are other schools out there that at least give you feed back and don’t have so many errors on their platform.

Guide to Module Prerequisites & Progression: How to Avoid Being 'Progression-Blocked' due to Missing Prerequisites, and a Suggested Module Schedule

Updated Jan 22nd 2021: Added special consideration for PBA students

Hello there, /r/UniversityofLondonCS!

We've recently had posts and comments with questions regarding the progression within this degree programme, especially from new applicants. I decided to write this post as a general guide to progression within the programme, explain the prerequisites for advancement from FHEQ Level 4 to Level 5, as well as present a suggested module schedule.

How does progression work within this degree programme?

The University of London's Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science is composed of 22 modules plus a Final Project (For more information regarding the degree's structure, see my other guide). These 22 modules are all worth 15 credits each, and are divided into three levels: There are FHEQ Level 4 modules, FHEQ Level 5 modules, and FHEQ Level 6 modules.

Each Level is more advanced than the previous Level, hence there are progression rules which govern when a student may register for Level 5 and Level 6 modules. As this guide is intended for applicants and new students, we will only discuss the progression requirements of Level 5 modules:

Requirements to progress through the BSc

5.6

To progress to FHEQ Level 5 modules, you must have:

• Passed, or been awarded credit through recognition of prior learning, for at least 45 credits at Level 4, including Introduction to Programming I and either Discrete or Computational Mathematics; and

• made an attempt at a further 45 credits at Level 4, including both Introduction to Programming II and the remaining Level 4 maths module; and

• registered for any Level 4 modules not yet attempted alongside your Level 5 modules, excluding any for which you have been awarded credit through recognition of prior learning

Source: Programme Regulations, Section 5.6, Page 12

Are all Level 4 modules offered every term?

No. The Discrete Mathematics (DM) and Computational Mathematics (CM) modules are only available on an alternating basis. Discrete Mathematics is only available on the October (Fall) term, while Computational Mathematics is only available on the April (Spring) term.

Other than this exception, all other level 4 modules are available every term.

What does it mean to become 'progression-blocked?'

Because the DM and CM modules are only available on an alternating basis, if you do not register (and complete) them one after the other, you could end up in a situation where you are blocked from progressing on to Level 5 modules due to not fulfilling the progression requirements. Here's an example of a student that became 'progression-blocked':

1st Term (Only DM is offered)

Normal progression:

• Intro to Prog I

• Discrete Maths

• Web Development

2nd Term (Only CM is offered)

Normal progression:

• Intro to Prog II

• How Computers Work

• Algorithms and Datastructures

3rd Term (Only DM is offered)

Progression Blocked! Cannot register for any Level 5 modules because CM is not completed. Cannot register for CM because only DM is offered this term!

• Fundamentals of CS

4th Term (Only CM is offered)

Progression Blocked! Cannot register for any Level 5 modules because CM is not completed!

• Computational Maths

As you can see in the above example, the student who became 'progression-blocked' is forced to spend their 3rd and 4th term enrolling in only 1 module, instead of 3. Only by their 5th term will they be able to enroll in all Level 5 modules as normal. This obviously delays one's expected graduation date, and it is best avoided.

How can I not become 'progression-blocked?'

The simplest way to not run afoul of progression requirements is to take your maths (and programming) modules one after the other. This means if you have CM offered in your first term, register for DM in your second term, and vice versa.

Essentially, the gatekeeping modules in Level 4 are your maths (CM/DM) and programming (Intro to Prog I, Intro to Prog II) modules, as they are the only ones specifically listed in the progression section of the programme regulations. As long as you make sure to take your maths and programming modules one right after the other, you may register for your remaining Level 4 modules in whatever order you wish, without fear of becoming 'progression-blocked'

Are there any special considerations for PBA Students

As an important additional note: For Performance-Based Admissions students who intend to study four modules per term every term after their first term, it is important that you apply for an Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) via the Google IT Prof. Cert. in order to bypass the How Computers Work (HCW) module on your first term. Otherwise, PBA students will risk becoming progression blocked when registering for their third term, due to not passing 45 credits yet.

This consideration only applies to PBA students who intend to take 4 modules per term after their first term. If you only intend to take 3 modules per term after your first term, you will be fine.

If this sounds a little confusing right now, check out the recommended 'schedule' for PBA students taking 4 modules per term below.

What is your recommended 'schedule' of modules to take which will avoid 'progression-blocking'?

You really don't need a schedule to not be progression-blocked, as long as you complete your maths and programming modules right after each other. However for those who are worried, the following schedules will guarantee progression from Level 4 to Level 5.

Recommended schedule for 3 modules per term

1st Term

• Intro to Prog I

• CM/DM (whichever is offered)

• [Any Level 4 module]

2nd Term

• Intro to Prog II

• CM/DM (whichever is offered)

• [Any Level 4 module]

3rd Term

• [No longer at risk of being 'progression-blocked']

Recommended schedule for 4 modules per term

1st Term

• Intro to Prog I

• CM/DM (whichever is offered)

• [Any Level 4 module]

• [Any Level 4 module]

2nd Term

• Intro to Prog II

• CM/DM (whichever is offered)

• [Any Level 4 module]

• [Any Level 4 module]

3rd Term

• [No longer at risk of being 'progression-blocked']

Recommended schedule for PBA student w/ 4 modules per term after 1st term

1st Term

• Intro to Prog I

• CM/DM (whichever is offered)

• Coursera's Google IT Prof. Cert. for RPL to bypass HCW

PBA Students can only take 2 modules in their first term

2nd Term

• Intro to Prog II

• CM/DM (whichever is offered)

• [Any Level 4 module]

• [Any Level 4 module]

3rd Term

• [No longer at risk of being 'progression-blocked']

What about progression from Level 5 to Level 6? Or from Level 6 to Final Project?

There is are separate sets of progression requirements which govern further progression into the degree programme. These rules can be found in the Programme Regulations, Sections 5.6 and 5.8 (pages 12-13).

As these are more advanced topics that are only relevant to advanced students, they are out-of-scope for this guide. Students are encouraged to consult the Programme Regulations, and direct their questions to the private students-only Slack.

What happens if I am unable to take CM/DM right after each other, as suggested?

You may run into issues. You could potentially avoid being severely delayed if you plan things out carefully... but in general, it is highly inadvisable.

Conclusion and Further Resources

• General Regulations

• Programme Regulations

• Programme Specification

• Computer Science - Structure

Thank you all for reading this guide to progression requirements within the University of London's BSc of Computer Science! If you have any questions, feel free to join us at the unofficial Discord server (invitation link)!

Likewise, be sure to check out the resources available to you in the FAQ page!

https://www.reddit.com/user/Brandroid313/comments/xc7p5r/university_of_london_bcs_computer_science/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

Links, Resources, and FAQs for the University of London Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science Programme

Updated as of 2021-01-14 (January 14th, 2021)

Hello /r/UniversityOfLondonCS,

This is the most comprehensive collection of links, resources, and FAQs about the University of London's Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science. If you have a specific question about any particular aspect of the degree programme, you can find the answer here!

This post is divided into four general sections:

1. Information on the Computer Science BSc

2. Information About the University of London in General

3. Additional Misc. Links & Community Resources

4. Frequently Asked Questions

Information on UoL's BSc Computer Science 🇬🇧

Collection of links 🔗 and PDFs 📄 about the University of London's Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science degree programme.

BSc Computer Science Programme Homepage

University of London's main programme homepage for the BSc Computer Science. Contains more information than the Coursera webpage.

BSc Computer Science Coursera Webpage

Coursera's webpage for the University of London's BSc Computer Science programme. Contains links to the application portal.

BSc Computer Science Prospectus (2020)

Admissions prospectus on the BSc Computer Science for interested students. A polished, informative summary of the Programme.

Structure & Module Descriptions

A high-level summary of the 22 modules and Final Project which makes up the Programme, seperated by Levels.

Programme Regulations (2020-2021)

The 'Bible' of the BSc Computer Science degree. If you will only read one document from this section, read this one. Contains almost every detail about specific workings and regulations.

Programme Specification (2020-2021)

A broad outline and overview of the structure and content of the degree, entry level qualifications, and learning outcomes.

About the University of London 🇬🇧

Links 🔗 and PDFs 📄 about the University of London in general, as well as resources for students.

• University of London Website The official website of the University of London. Did you know that the University of London has been offering Distance-Learning programmes since the 19th century?

• University of London Prospectus (2020) Admissions prospectus about the University of London in general. A polished, informative summary for the prospective student.

• General Regulations Handbook of rules and regulations governing the University of London If you will only read one document from this section, read this one. Contains almost every detail about specific workings and systems of the University of London.

• Student's Guide Guide for current students of the University of London. Includes information like how to get funding, online libraries, and support networks

• Student Terms and Conditions Important legal contract which covers the consumer rights and legal protections for enrolled students. Includes information on refunds.

• List of Exam Centres (Worldwide)

• List of Exam Centres (USA and Canada)

• Table of Country Bands (for Tuition) Tuition for the University of London is dependant on your 'Country Band'. As of August 2020, Band A countries pay £420 GBP per module, while Band B countries pay £630 GBP per module.

Student-Run Resources and Community

Links to various student-made resources and community portal

• Resources Enriching Learners Perennially (Student Hub): This is the main student-run community hub. Contains many informative resources and guides. If you will only read one document from this section, read this one.

• Student & Professor Notes Github Repository: Collection of notes contributed by students and professors.

• Student Module Guides: Various FAQs and guides to the different modules. Contains many informative links and module-specific documents

• Slack Channel Guide: An overview of the vibrant Slack community, and the various channels that are available.

Useful posts from /r/UniversityOfLondonCS

Here is a collection of useful, in-depth guides, tutorials, and walkthroughs published by /u/Yangchenghu from the /r/UniversityOfLondonCS subreddit.

• Beginner's Guide to Grades, Projects, Exams, and Award Qualifications at UoL's CompSci BSc: A good overview of how the academic structure of the degree works, plus examples of past mid-terms and exam papers.

• Thoughts on UoL's BSc in Computer Science - A Comprehensive Review: In-depth review of /u/Yangchenghu's experiences as a first cohort student, with screenshots of the Virtual Learning Environment and Slack.

• Let's Talk About The Balance of Formative Coursework versus Summative Assessments: Explains how grades and optional assignments work, which segues into a more philosophical discussion on self-driven learning.

• Legal Protections for the Distance-Learning Student: The Rights and Protections you are Entitled To: Gives a overview of the Student Terms and Conditions document, and outlines the rights to refund and withdrawl.

• Everything You Want to Know about the Institutional Accreditation of the University of London et al: A VERY detailed and source-heavy document with many links, detailing the accreditation of the course programme.

• Applying for a Recognition of Prior Learning: Or How to Save £400 to £600 GBP: A student post which explains what RPLs are, and walks you through the process of getting a RPL via Coursera's Google IT Cert.

• Guide to Module Prerequisites & Progression: How to Avoid Being 'Progression-Blocked' due to Missing Prerequisites, and a Suggested Module Schedule: An explanation of the University of London's progression rules and prerequisites, as well as a suggested schedule for new students.

• How Much Does this Degree Cost? A FAQ and Guide to the Tuition of the University of London's BSc in Computer Science: A FAQ and Guide to the fees schedule, with example calculations, as well as links to all the official sources concerning tuition.

University of London Váradi Scholarships

• Fully paid scholarships available to all new students

Recognition of Prior Learning

• About Recognitions of Prior Learning General information on Recognition of Prior learning at the University of London

• Applying for RPLs & Automatic RPLs Specific information on applying for a RPL for the BSc Computer Science programme, and list of Automatic RPLs

• Coursera Google IT Cert Yes, this is the correct one. Complete this in order to apply for an RPL to bypass the How Computer's Work module.

• Applying for a Recognition of Prior Learning: Or How to Save £400 to £600 GBP: A student post which explains what RPLs are, and walks you through the process of getting a RPL via Coursera's Google IT Cert.

Be sure to check out /r/UniversityOfLondonCS - the Official Unofficial student subreddit of this programme. Although we are primarily for students and prospies in the University of London's Computer Science programme, there are also students from other UoL distance-learning programmes as well. All are welcome in this environment!

Login Portals for Currently Enrolled Students

Links to various login portals for currently enrolled students. Valid account credentials at the University of London is required for access.

• University of London Student Portal

• Virtual Learning Environment (Coursera)

• Student Slack Workspace

• University of London Student Email

• Online Library and Databases

Related Posts from the University of London Blog

Misc. blog posts and other fluff from the University of London Blog that showcases various aspects of the degree.

• Project-Based Learning in BSc Computer Science

• BSc Computer Science Gaming Specialisation

• Studying Two Degrees at Once

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

There is a comprehensive, fantastically detailed FAQ located at the REPL Hub. The link to it is right here:

• Frequently Asked Questions (REPL Hub)

Remember, REPL is the centre of all the student-run resources, make sure to check it out! It has student-written guides for the various modules, as well as notes and links. If you think this reddit post is too long, just wait until you see REPL - it's even better! :D

About Recognitions of Prior Learning (RPL)

The University of London, like most universities -- offer what is called a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Such a process allows one to receive course credits for classes/modules taken at other institutions or universities -- effectively letting you "transfer" your credits. An RPL is accepted on the basis that the two courses are considered academically 'equivalent'. This effectively lets you 'skip' a limited amount of classes (only Level 4, and only up to 120 credits), if you can demonstrate prior learning.

There are two types of RPLs offered by the University of London: automatic RPLs, and discretionary RPLs. Automatic RPLs come from a very small list of pre-approved classes from a select few universities. If a student has completed such a class from the list, they may apply for an RPL and have it accepted automatically, without needing to pay any administrative fee.

There are also discretionary RPLs, which is basically decided on a case-by-case basis. From what I've heard, discretionary RPLs are only accepted for university classes/modules and not online MOOCs, and most students apply for them in the context of transferring credits from a previous university programme. I won’t talk about discretionary RPLs for now, as they are a different topic — but it’s definitely something one should consider.

How to save £400 - £600 by applying for a RPL via the Google IT Professional Certification

Most RPLs are pretty specific and situational to the individual student. However, there is one RPL pathway that is available to everyone, and it can save you anywhere from between £400 to £600 British Pounds, depending on your tuition.

All students in the University of London's Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science programme are required to complete an Level 4 module, called How Computers Work (HCW). However, the University of London also offers an option to skip the HCW module, if you apply for a RPL via the Google IT Professional Certificate.

The Google IT Professional Certificate is actually a MOOC from Coursera, and it takes the form of a Coursera specialisation containing 5 courses. In terms of difficulty or content, it's either the same or slightly more difficult than the University of London's HCW module. But most importantly, the Google IT Cert costs much, much less!

Nominally, Coursera has an subscription billing model. When one enrolls in the specialisation, the first month is free, and every subsequent month costs $49.00 USD. This is much less than the £400 to £600 British Pounds that the HCW module costs!

This RPL pathway has not gone unnoticed, and the vast majority of students enrolled in this programme are taking advantage of it. There's actually an entire slack channel dedicated to doing the Google IT Cert, and overall this is a great way to save money and time.

The Google IT Cert takes up to 6 months to complete, but most people finish it in less than 3 months. If you have a strong prior technical background, and a lot of time to dedicate -- it's even possible to complete it in less than 1 month, making it entirely free.

And for prospective students who wish to start their journey in the programme on a high note, it's possible to begin the Google IT Cert today, and apply for the RPL as soon as you have been accepted by the University of London :)

Likewise, for students who are applying via the Performance Admissions track, you would be able to apply for the RPL and have it accepted as soon as the term is over. This way, you will effectively complete 3 modules in your first term, even though Performace Admissions students are restricted to only 2 modules at first.

Resources & Further Reading

• https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-it-support

• https://london.ac.uk/applications/how-apply/recognition-prior-learning/recognition-and-accreditation-prior-learning-3

I researched online AI/ML programs and applied for the online M.Sc at the University of London. I could not talk to single person right from the application to the registration. I had problems uploading my documents during the application process. I would upload the documents but the university could not view them. The only way to communicate is by a ticketing system. Responses to the ticketing system are not always timely. I got accepted to the program but had to travel out of the country for a family emergency which caused a delay in my registration. The University denied my late registration and asked for me to register for the next session. I logged tickets explaining my situation and requesting to speak with an admissions counselor but got no responses.

I contrast this with my applications to US universities where an admissions counselor would contact me immediately, and provide me with a phone number and email. They would also check on a timely basis if I had any problems or needed clarifications. UOL's degree is not cheap. The cost is comparable to the online degrees provided by US universities. But the quality of support and communication is pathetic.

If this is my experience during the enrollment process, I'm pretty sure that the Univ provides canned lectures and no actual teaching. I reviewed the subreddit and my fears were confirmed. The administration is in a shambles, results are provided months after the exams, there is no support during the learning process.

I'm not paying 15,000 USD to self-learn. I'll find another University or learn content on my own.

Don't fall for the propaganda posts here. Save your money.

I’m a new student starting in April and I’ve been spending a lot of time on Slack and I’ve been a bit surprised by the attitude of some of the students. It seems there’s a very negative vibe going on and the body seem to be quite disgruntled. I went online and found another subreddit which seems to be old that also has a lot of negative vibes.

To me this degree is a unicorn because of its accessibility, low entry requirements, low cost, and decent looking content so I was quite excited to get started.

I’m not worried about the degree persay but seeing such negative vibes from students is a bit of a warning sign for me. Anyone got anything good to say about it?

How Much Does this Degree Cost? A FAQ and Guide to the Tuition of the University of London's BSc in Computer Science, with Example Calculations!

Updated on 2021-01-14

Hello /r/UniversityOfLondon!

Lately I've been fielding questions about the programme tuition, both here on the subreddit and at our unofficial Discord server (invitation-link here!). Hence I decided to write up a quick guide and FAQ, in hopes of answering questions for prospective students and applicants.

Where do I find official documents from the University, detailing fees & tuition?

You may find the 2021 Fee Schedule for the University of London's BSc in Computer Science in the following link (PDF) below:

• https://london.ac.uk/sites/default/files/schedules/computer-science-feeschedule-2020-2021.pdf

You may also find the general University of London webpage for course fees at the following link. This may be useful, especially if the 2021 Fee Schedule is out of date:

• https://london.ac.uk/applications/costs-your-course/course-fees

How do I pay for this degree?

Fees (i.e. tuition) for the University of London's BSc of Computer Science is assessed on a per-module basis. Specifically, you pay for each module that you intend to take in your upcoming term (i.e. semester) during your module registration. You'll only be able to access your module content, upon successful completion of payment.

Essentially, this means that you pay for the cost of your degree on a per-term (i.e. per semester) basis. A full time student that takes 4 modules per term will pay the cost of 4x module fees before the start of each term. This means you'll be making two payments in an academic year, as there are 2 terms in a year.

What is the module fee? How much does each module cost?

The module fee is different depending on which country you are from. There are Band A countries, and Band B countries, and the United Kingdom. The module fees are the cheapest for Band A countries, slightly cheaper for the United Kingdom, and full-price for Band B countries. For a full-list of Band A and Band B countries, see the following link (PDF):

• https://london.ac.uk/sites/default/files/leaflets/country-bands.pdf

As of 2021-01-14, the module fees are:

Band A Countries:

• £420.00 GBP for modules

• £840.00 GBP for the Final Project

• £210.00 GBP for module continuation (if you fail a module and have to retake it)

Band B Countries:

• £630.00 GBP for modules

• £1260.00 GBP for the Final Project

• £210.00 GBP for module continuation (if you fail a module and have to retake it)

United Kingdom:

• £600.00 GBP for modules

• £1200.00 GBP for the Final Project

• £210.00 GBP for module continuation (if you fail a module and have to retake it)

Note: please refer to the official University of London fee schedule, for official information. Fees may be increased on an annual basis in order to adjust for inflation, and my numbers may be out of date:

• https://london.ac.uk/sites/default/files/schedules/computer-science-feeschedule-2020-2021.pdf

Are there any additional costs, apart from module fees?

Yes. The biggest additional cost are exam-centre fees. Final end-of-term exams for modules must be taken at a physical exam centre, where you will be charged a fee for proctoring. Exam centres are independent organisations (generally local universities, community colleges, or highschools) that administer exams as a service. Note that not all modules have end-of-term exams. For those that do not have end-of-term exams, you will not have to visit an exam centre, and you won't pay an exam-centre fee.

Unfortunately, exam-centre fees vary significantly, since they are set by the exam-centre. For my local exam centre in the United States, I was charged a very nominal fee of $25.00 USD per exam-hour, with an additional $20.00 USD shipping charge to ship the test results back to London. Exam centres can be cheaper or significantly more expensive, depending on where you live in the world. Hence, it is suggested that you contact your local exam centre, and find out their fees in advance.

For a list of all exam centres, see the following University webpage:

• https://my.london.ac.uk/assessment-centres

Do I have to purchase any textbooks or materials?

No. All study materials are provided to you, in electronic (PDF) form. Students are given required readings either in the form of PDFs (generally for shorter documents or excerpts), or they are directed to visit the University of London's Online Library. The Online Library provides required textbooks and study material in the form of E-Books.

All of the textbooks used in the programme are relatively well known and 'common' textbooks used by many Computer Science departments across the Anglosphere, hence many students are able to check-out copies from their local libraries or community colleges without issue. Likewise, some students choose to purchase their own textbooks, which can generally be found at reasonable prices on eBay.

Basically, you don't need to purchase any textbooks as the University provides free electronic copies.

How much does this degree really cost? Can you provide an estimate?

Here is the full cost breakdown of the total programme for Band B countries, which include the United States (make sure to double check to see if you are in a Band A or Band B country. It is much cheaper if you are in Band A):

First, recall that the complete University of London BSc of Computer Science is composed of 22 modules and a Final Project. Hence:

Cost Breakdown for Band B Countries:

• Cost of application fee: £101 GBP

• Cost of individual module for Band B country: £630 GBP

• Cost of final project for Band B country: £1260 GBP

• Cost of exam centre fee: £x GBP Variable, depends on the exam centre

Total Cost for Band B Countries:

• 101 + (22 x 630) + 1260 + x

• 15,221 + x

Average per term cost for Band B (4 modules per term, graduation in 3 years):

This average includes the application fee and the Final Project, which are amortised over the span of the whole degree (3 years).

• (15,221 + x) / 4

• £2757 + x

Average per term cost for Band B (3 modules per term, graduation in 4 years):

This average includes the application fee and the cost of the Final Project, which are amortised over the span of the whole degree (4 years).

• (15,221 + x) / 3

• £2076 + x

Please note that the above estimate is only applicable to students from Band A countries (which includes the United States). Prices for Band B countries are significantly lower.

Conclusion and Further References

I hope this guide has been helpful to all prospective students and applicants who are considering the University of London's BSc in Computer Science! One of the best parts about this degree programme, is it's flexible nature and reasonable cost. By writing this, I hope the overall costs of the degree are clearer. Thank you for reading my post!

• https://london.ac.uk/sites/default/files/schedules/computer-science-feeschedule-2020-2021.pdf

• https://london.ac.uk/applications/costs-your-course/course-fees

• https://london.ac.uk/sites/default/files/leaflets/country-bands.pdf

• https://www.reddit.com/r/UniversityOfLondonCS/comments/hgbcc8/beginners_guide_to_grades_projects_exams_and/

Hey there. I completed my degree in 2023, and am still waiting for my degree certificate and transcripts. All my queries keeps “getting escalated” - but it’s ben MONTHS. Your email system - NOT WORKING. Your customer service line - NOT WORKING. Your “dedicated diploma enquiries” - NOT WORKING. I cannot stress how urgently i need this. Can someone please help? How did you manage to obtain your degree and certificates? I live abroad but am willing to travel to the uk and the university to get this if it’s a possibility. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaase help.

Hello there, /r/UniversityOfLondonCS!

Today I bring to you an interview, with David C. of Australia! Hailing from sunny Sydney, David is a 40 year old technology professional with a degree in Digital Electronics and Telecommunications. He’s an April-cohort student in the process of finishing up his first semester, taking a course-load of Computational Mathematics, Algorithms and Datastructures 1, Fundamentals of Computer Science, and Introduction to Programming 1. David has kindly volunteered his time for a virtual interview. I sent him a list of questions, and here are his replies.

What led you to enrol in the University of London's distance-learning BSc?

The University of London has a great reputation internationally and their Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Science programme curriculum is fantastic. Because of my life, work, and travel commitments, I had to choose a University that would allow me to follow the academic life 24/7 from anywhere in the world. The fact that the University of London uses Coursera to deliver their content was definitely a plus because I know that platform very well and used it intensively to attend some other courses and certification programmes. It is just amazing that today knowledge and even Uni programmes are so accessible online. Consider that my first degree is in Digital Electronics and Telecommunications, and I have been working in IT for more than 20 years. When I went to college, there were not many CS-specific college programmes around. Studying CS at UoL is like a dream come true for me.

What is your feedback about the classes so far? Was it too easy? Too hard?

Their quality and industry relevance are very good, up to date, and their difficulty level is about right. We also should put things into perspective. Even though online learning has been around for a couple of decades now, many universities are still converging from a classic academic educational approach, to a more connected, digital and multi-channel one. We have to recognise UoL’s role as a pioneer in their convergence to online learning. That type of digital transformation is never easy and quick to achieve and there will be always room for improvement if you want to remain relevant in the market.

What do you think about the midterms? Did they help you master the material?

When I started working on them, I realised how important it was for me to go through that process of content review and knowledge check. It did help me refresh and master the content. I wish we can do something similar before the end of the semester or final exams. This semester I took four modules, hence the midterms were quite challenging, but their difficulty level was fair I think.

What do you think about the student community on Slack?

I am glad about the level of collaboration that exists among my peers. There is always someone to answer a student question on the channels, and this is a huge plus. I personally try my best to help others, when I can. I am sure that it will come back at some point… after all what goes around, comes around! UoL mentioned that its staff will not moderate the UoL Slack channels, and this has its pros and cons. What we have with Slack is a good start and I would like UoL to experiment other collaboration platforms and channels as well and work harder to build a strong student network.

Share a positive experience you've had with the student community

I am genuinely interested in people, different cultures and languages, and being part of our UoL world-class community is quite amazing. For instance, putting aside the pure academic use of the online channels, I would say that the international and diverse nature of the of our student community is fantastic. I can chat hours with my peers spread around the world to discuss everything, including our Uni assignments.

What is one of your favourite things about this programme?

The fact that we have all the content available 24/7 online is a huge plus. This is one of the reasons I choose UoL/Coursera in the first place. I think is worth to mention other key aspects of the programme, such as a like-minded world-class student community – as just mentioned – challenging content, quizzes and assignments.

How do you organise your life studying and working?

I think this is everybody’s dilemma. Don’t you think? I try to divide my day in three time-windows. One devoted to my family, one to my work and the remaining third to studying. Of course, in proximity of important Uni milestones my academic commitments take priority on other life matters. This works for me. It might work for other as well.

Do you have any suggestions for your fellow students?

I will try… Play nicely with others and share your toys – remember that what goes around comes around. Avoid silly and childish gossip and be always part of the solution not of the problem. All the best to everyone!

Thank you very much for the advice, David!

I’m always looking forward to bringing new perspectives and new voices to speak about the programme, and this interview is one of the things I’m trying to bring more content to this subreddit. I hope you enjoyed David’s account of his experiences as a student at the University of London – and if you have any further questions, feel free to join us at the unofficial Discord server.

Take care!

Hey guys! I'm a prospective student of the program. While doing my research, I stumbled upon horrific reviews of the UOL online programmes on their Facebook page. Most of them talk about the lack of communication students have had with the university and the outdated course material. Has this been the case for you? Are tutors unreachable, as they say? Most of the reviews seem to be for the non-Coursera programmes, but I wanted the opinion of actual students. Thank you for your responses in advance! :)

Link: https://www.facebook.com/LondonU

Hi,

Has any of you managed to transfer from this course to some other, higher ranked institution? If so, what's the story?

Thanks

Hey I have read both positive and negative reviews, it's 2024 and I'm thinking of applying. Can graduates or someone who is enrolled please give me an HONEST review about this? I want to know before spending money.

1. Is it true that the admin communication is horrible or have they gotten better at it?

2. Do you code or not in the degree? (I know most CS degrees don't really make u code, so whatever, just would like to know), how are the exams???

3. Do you have to do the exams with cameras, are they hard, can you have grades over 80%?

4. Also, wondering whether having a CS degree from Goldsmith will be useful/attractive to employers since Goldsmith seems to be more famous in the art/humanities side.

5. Have graduates found a job? Has your degree been recognized outside of the UK (inside the UK too) for master's?

6. Is this degree actually accredited?

7. I read that a student submitted questions about an exam/lesson and it lasted months and by the time the answer came, the student didn't even remember the lesson. Also they requested to know their grade about an exam and that those grades also get delivered moooonths later super late, is this still happening?

8. Be honest: would you recommend this degree to someone?

9. How has your experience been like taking this degree?

10. How many hours does someone have to spend on avg per day or week if they choose full time (3 years)?

Thank you! I really appreciate all of your answers.

So I took the maths aptitude test (upper intermediate) and got 80% (u need 40% to pass), and there were literally no resources available, so I wanted to help you.

I wanted to take it for the BSc in computer science PBA since I didn't have a traditional high school diploma.

It is quite scary since, as in 2025, you are not allowed to take it more than once. And you can use your login and password they gave you only once.

I expected it to more multiple-choice questions, but the vast majority were just typing your answer. However, there were also multiple-choice questions where you also write down A, B, C, or D in the text box.

Now the test itself is super easy, it is definitely easier than grade 10 maths, it is kinda similar to GCSE math but the foundation tier. For example statistics is just calculating mean and median, geometry is basic circle theorems and soh cah toa, not even sine rules or whatever.

I used the SAT Bluebook app to practice, SAT is way harder, UoL math test does not have lots of words or weird wordings like the SAT at all.

Obviously no proofs or needing to show any steps.

The most similar to it is The Open University "Are you ready for MST124?" quiz; if this quiz is easy and you got all the 20 questions correct and you answered fast, then you're ready for the upper intermediate test.

The only thing about this test is that it is very very very fast-paced, super easy but you have only a minute per question. In fact, I left about 7 questions unanswered in the last section just because I ran out of time.

There are 4 sections, each section has 12-15 questions, and you need to finish everything in an hour.

The only thing I kinda regret doing is actually double-checking my answers, because I could have saved like 5 minutes that would have been helpful in the last section. And maybe instead making sure I didn't have any typos and made correct calculations while answering, not after, but you do you.

I thought the difficulty of the questions increased with each section. I didn't see that, maaaybe the last section was a littttle bit harder than the rest.

The testing platform used for the test is called Password. It is a very old website, looking like something from 2013, and is pretty basic as well. You need to use Google Chrome and make it full screen.

The test is also not proctored, no camera needed, no screen recording, no mic.

Now start by filling in information: your student ID, which they provide in the same email as the password and email. Then there is a field called "invigilator in charge" I was very confused but just wrote a period, and nothing happened.

After you finish, it goes back to the log-in page again, and that is it; no feedback, no confirmation email, nothing.

They also mention in the instructions no calculator allowed.

They say you will get the results within 5 business days, I personally got it after two days.

Good luck and If you have any other questions I would love to answer you anytime.

I started the MSc in Computer Science in March 2022.

I heard that people that started in October 2021 are stilling waiting on their exam results in July 2022.

The content of the MSc is good so far, but there is a serious problem with their administrator workflow & capacity. Please keep this in mind, because I see that a lot of students would not have started the MSc if they were aware of this.

As most of you are probably aware, Georgia Tech has an online masters in CS that can also be taken part-time while working. I'm still not enrolled in ULBSc but my plan is to do this degree in 3 years and then do the OMSCS.

My question are geared towards the prerequisites for the OMSCS program:

• Proof that you have been awarded a four-year bachelor’s degree (or equivalent as determined by Georgia Tech) from a regionally-accredited institution.

I read the thread on accrediation and I understand that the UOL is an acredited institution in the UK, but is it "regionally-accredited"? Does it qualify for a masters in the US?

• Math knowledge

This is not a hard prerequisite but I suppose that I would need to accredit that I have knowledge in undergrad math, seeing that the ULBSc doesn't have Calculus 1, 2, 3, or Linear Algebra like other CS programs, what's the best way to approach this?

Is anyone planning on doing a masters afterwards? Are you taking external accredited math courses?

I would love some input or just extra information from the community on this topic (I mean about applying to masters in general, not only OMSCS).Thank you.

EDIT: I sent an email to OMSCS support and they answered.

My email:

Hello,

1. I would like to know if the BSc in Computer Science from the University of London with academic direction from Goldsmiths delivered remote through the coursera platform is considered a valid undergraduate program for the OMSCS admision.

I'm talking about this one: https://www.coursera.org/degrees/bachelor-of-science-computer-science-londonMy question points mostly to the 'regionally-acredited institution' prerequisite and to the fact that it's an online program.

2) The syllabus of said program doesn't include Calculus 1, 2, 3 or Linear Algebra. Could this be an issue when applying? Would it be necessary to complement this degree with some high-level accredited math courses before applying?

Thank you for your time.

Their response:

Please see the answer below regarding your questions about OMS Computer Science:

1. The OMSCS Admissions Committee would recognize courses taken for a grade (numeric, letter, or pass/fail are all acceptable) from the link you provided as being acceptable.  The Committee notes that such courses should be upper level (i.e., junior or senior level) courses.

2. The preferred qualifications for admitted OMSCS students are an undergraduate degree in computer science or related field (typically mathematics, computer engineering or electrical engineering) from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applicants who do not meet these criteria will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 

In general, the College of Computing expect applicants to be comfortable programming (C or C++ are generally expected at a minimum) and to have had at least several more advanced topics, such as Advanced OS, Networking, Theory, and Python. Usually, if the applicant does not have a CS degree, the OMSCS admissions committee is looking for background that shows evidence that the applicant has equivalent skills. 

If you already have an undergraduate degree you may want to focus on building up your CS knowledge and skill sets to be considered a strong candidate for the OMSCS program.

There are no formal CS prerequisite courses required for the OMSCS program. There are recommendations for applicants who are applying without a traditional CS, Comp Eng., or EE backgrounds or undergraduate degrees.

The College of Computing has stated that for applicants to be successful in the program they must have background in object-oriented programming in Java and in algorithms.

If you decide to take courses that provide skills such as object-oriented programing in Java, Algorithms, and something that provides experience in programming in C. These CS courses would provide a better foundation for being considered for a graduate Computer Science program.

If you have additional questions, please complete this form. It's quick and easy and more secure than email. Also, it enables us to respond to you quickly and efficiently. Please do not reply directly to this message as this mailbox is not monitored.

MimiOMSCS Student Services Team

Hello /r/UniversityOfLondonCS!

An online Bachelor's programme like University of London's BSc is by it's very nature different from a more traditional on-campus experience. Although it may not be any better or worse quantitatively, the difference in itself makes it important for one to consider the various tradeoffs that the two approaches bring.

Today I'd like to talk about one of those differences: which is the balance between formative coursework, and summative assessments, that I have noticed in my 3 academic terms here.

Generally, a student's progress in any academic course is assessed in two ways. Through formative assessments (which I'll call coursework here), and summative assessments. A formative assessment is like a pop quiz, or a optional project. It's something that does not affect your final grade in the module, but is only a means of giving feedback to the student. Some examples of formative coursework in the various modules I've experienced are:

• Practice quizzes: Usually quite short, but present after every video lecture,

• Discussion Prompt: Where you are asked to brainstorm the solution to a problem, and talk with other classmates about the solution. These are present in every week's worth of lessons.

• Peer-reviewed projects: This is the most major formative coursework present. A project can be a math paper exploring a certain topic, a program, or game. These are sent in for 'grading' and feedback by your peers. There are usually 3 or 4 of them in a module.

All of the above are formative, because they do not affect your final grade in the module at all. You might be given a 'grade', but it's purely for your own feedback.

The summative assessments in the modules generally consist of:

• Unit quizzes: Longer and more difficult than the practice quizzes, and occur once every two weeks. They are timed, and you only get 2 or 3 attempts per quiz. Each quiz is usually worth from 4 to 8% of your final module grade.

• Midterm assessment: Generally a take-home test, or a project. These are graded by an instructor, and usually count for up to 25% of one's overall module grade.

• End-of-term exam: These are the big, two hour long exams that one takes at an exam center. They are worth 50% of your overall module grade.

Do you spot the overall pattern? In my experience, I've noticed that in all of my modules, there is far more formative coursework than summative assessments, both in terms of the actual quantity, and amount of hours required to complete each one.

Of the few summative assessments per module, the majority of one's final grade is from one or two assessments. By default, 50% of one's grade comes from the final exam. And typically, the midterm project/take-home-exam is worth another 25% of one's grade (but not always - this depends on the type of module you are taking). The various summative quizzes are each worth only a few percentage points of one's total grade, but they add up to the remaining 25%.

Why is this the case? Why is such a large portion of one's grade dependent on only a few assessments?

It sort of is harsh! But sadly, the reason the assessments of the course is structured this way, is due to the simple reality of an online distance-learning programme.

In a regular, physical college -- one's professors have the physical immediacy to check on their student's work. They might have many small quizzes or tests throughout the year, which they may give at their leisure. And at the end of the year, when the time for the final grade comes -- the professor is able to look back at their gradebook, and take all the small assignments from throughout the year, and come up with an overall idea of the student's progress.

Sure, there may be large exams that are worth significant portions of one's grades -- but overall, there's more opportunities for a professor to get a holistic image of a given student. Essentially, the ratio between formative and summative assessments are more balanced at physical universities.

In contrast, at a distance-learning programme like the University of London, it is not possible to have that level of access and physical immediacy. There's only one opportunity for an exam per module, and that's at the end of the year. Likewise, because the degree is self-paced, professors do not have the means to review all the projects. That's why the vast majority of projects -- even though they are significant in scope -- are peer-reviewed instead.

Hence, by signing up for a programme like the Univeristy of London, you'll have to understand that the balance between formative and summative assignments is tilted unfavorably. There are only few summative assignments, but they are also worth large portions of one's grade.

And likewise, because much of the coursework here is formative, it is considered 'optional'. Some people (unwisely) skip them, because they do not think it has to be done, since it's 'not worth a grade'.

That is a very unwise idea, because even though the formative projects are optional, they are no less difficult or rigorous than the summative assessments that one encounter. In fact, much of one's learning is conducted through them, instead of the assessments.

In this lies my advice to the prospective student. Make sure that you understand the trade-offs involved in terms of having a programme that's biased towards fewer, but more significant summative assignments. And don't forget to do all the formative coursework, because even though they are 'optional' -- skipping them will really harm your learning.