Perfect supervisor.

I can choose and arrange courses by my own will.

Newcastle is a great city for students, with accessible roads making most places walkable, plenty of activities to do, and affordable public transport. I found the University to have many well kept facilities (libraries, campuses, schools, etc.) which any student can use throughout their time at the University. I am a third year Bsc Hons Computer Science student (G400) meaning most of my lectures and practicals were held in the Urban Science Building (USB) or Fredlus Douglas Centre (FDC) near St James' Park. I found these facilities to be in great condition and well maintained.

As a computer science student, I found the first year not particularly challenging, as the content closely mirrored what I had learned in GCSE and A-Level Computer Science, including the basics of Python and Java, networking, and CPU architecture—likely because the degree didn’t require A-Level Computer Science as a prerequisite, making the first year a near repeat for those who had studied it. However, the second year was more challenging and enjoyable, with engaging team projects, new theories, and excellent lecturers, offering a timetable of roughly four days a week of practical's, lectures, and workshops, though most of the work needed to be completed independently; despite the increased workload, I still had ample time to socialise while achieving my desired grades. I am midway through third year, having completed my January exams. Unlike the first two years, you choose your own modules in semester one (60 credits total), while semester two is reserved for your dissertation. Third year is far more intense, with little free time due to heavy coursework demands post-October. I chose Predictive Analytics, Computer Vision & AI (CSC3831), Introduction to BioDesign and Natural Computing (CSC3431), Data Visualization and Visual Analytics (CSC3833), and Cryptography (CSC3631). The AI (CSC3831) and Data Visualization (CSC3833) modules were excellent, with clear teaching, challenging coursework, and helpful lecturers and demonstrators. CSC3431 (BioDesign) and CSC3631 (Cryptography) had significant issues. Cryptography, despite requiring only GCSE-level math, in lecturers certain unexplained post-GCSE mathematical terms were used making it hard to follow, with slides filled with equations and unlabelled diagrams. Studying was difficult as only partial exercise solutions were provided, and no example answers were given for the past papers and half the topics, making revision stressful and unnecessarily hard. BioDesign was poorly managed; in the first half of the module, the coursework had major errors that lecturers couldn’t fix, making it hard to complete or write the report. After announcing their departure mid-semester, our lecturer stopped attending practicals and lectures for the final 2–3 weeks before the coursework deadline and did not respond to questions, creating a stressful and frustrating experience. Whilst a five day extension was granted and we were told that when marking this would be taken into consideration, this was only announced two days prior to the original deadline. Overall, Newcastle University is a great place to study with an abundance of well maintained facilities and interesting modules to take. Throughout first and second year, I felt well supported by my lecturers and any issues were resolved quickly and effectively, with the exception of two modules in third year.