Computing and Mathematics

Newcastle University

The city is walkable and has a lot to offer inside and outside of studying. An improvement could be to make student life more affordable to more people.

The Best Aspects Conversion Course Support: One of the strongest points is how the university facilitates students moving from non-technical backgrounds (like your undergraduate education degree) into CS. The structure of modules like CSC8021 (Computer Networks) and CSC8023 (Programming and Data) provides a solid bridge for career changers. Career & Research Opportunities: The access to prestigious opportunities, such as the Google DeepMind Research Ready programme and internal NCL internships, shows that the uni is well-connected with the industry and dedicated to student employability. Supportive Faculty: Having personal tutors and lecturers (like Rehmat Ullah, Bo Wei, or Dr. Dan Nesbitt) who are willing to provide detailed letters of recommendation and guidance is a massive plus for those looking toward PhDs or high-level internships. Campus & Facilities: Being located in the heart of Newcastle, the campus offers a great balance of modern academic buildings and proximity to city life, making it a very convenient place to live and study. The Worst Aspects Intense Pace of STEM Conversion: For students coming from a "文科" (liberal arts) background, the learning curve for Java, data structures, and algorithms can be incredibly steep. The rapid succession of exams (like your Jan 7th and 15th deadlines) can feel overwhelming without more bridge-building workshops. Administrative Hurdles: Like many large institutions, navigating the bureaucracy for things like laundry refunds or specific internship eligibility can occasionally be a bit of a headache. Need for More Applied AI Projects: While the theoretical foundation is strong, providing more "from-scratch" project guidance—similar to the deep learning MNIST project you're interested in—within the standard curriculum would better prepare students for the competitive tech job market.

Had a very great study experience , Every other place is accessible from my accommodation including the school , gym and library. Would recommend anyone to join the university

It's a great location, the uni is communicative and teaching quality and support is fantastic. Campus is lovely, buildings are great

The school has very good and modern facilities, and the departmental planning is well-structured and detailed. Most faculty and staff members are very supportive and are willing to assist students when needed. The school also enforces strict policies regarding discrimination, which makes the learning environment feel safe and respectful. One of the things I appreciate most is that the library is open 24 hours a day for students to use. However, it would be better if internal information within the school were more consistently synchronized to avoid discrepancies. There was a previous incident where the IT department mistakenly provided insufficient printing credits due to a system error. At the beginning, the student did not know which department to contact and therefore asked the departmental front desk for assistance. Unfortunately, the staff member refused to provide any compensation and even stated that our department should not have this printing credit. They suggested that other students might have secretly topped up their own credits and advised the student to rely on social skills and ask classmates for help with printing. Eventually, the student went directly to the IT department, where it was confirmed that the issue was caused by a system error, and the correct printing credits were promptly restored.