Bsc Computer Science Advice needed

[Aquilla]

Hey need some advice,

I want to open new doors in my programming career. I only have certificates at the moment and no UNI papers. I would like to know if Bsc computer Science is a good way to go... and who offers the best and affordable course for the average(financially) Joe

I know UNISA offers one, http://www.unisa.ac.za/qualification...s/p_98906.html

^^ Is the above qualification good and has anyone previously done the above course with them?

All input and Advice is appreciated

[shah]

A Bsc Comp Sci is always a good qualification to have if you want to pursue an IT career. The corporate I work for is now insisting that all new dev hires have a Comp Sci or BComm IS degree. The IS degree is more suited to Business Analyst or System Analyst career paths. ALL staff in management positions MUSt have a degree.

The funny thing is that a Comp Sci degree is wasted on normal corporate type programming jobs. Someone with a Tech qualification would be better suited to business type of development. Comp Sci guys actually get bored. You never get to use the nice algorithms, calculas etc that you studied.

The UNISA degree looks like a good basis for a career in software development. My advice to guys starting out has always been to understand the theory and concepts of software development and not to concentrate on a specific language. Once you understand the abstract concepts of software development you only need to learn the specific syntax of a language in order to start using it. There are many people out there who know the syntax, libraries, frameworks etc of a specific language but can't structure a program properly.

[koeksGHT]

Currently studying that degree with UNISA. It's a nice degree to have basically because with it you can for into any kind of IT job with some extra training.

[Paul_S]

I'm busy looking at studying a BSc Computing and Information Systems through the University of London.
http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk...rk-entry-route
Total course cost excluding books and local exam charges is about R58000.
They also offer BSc Information Systems and Management and BSc Creative Computing.

I do not trust the level of education in South Africa and would rather study through an overseas institution that has some sort of credibility. I also do not want the hassles of working with an institution run like the South African department of home affairs.

[cbrunsdonza]

I'm busy looking at studying a BSc Computing and Information Systems through the University of London.
http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk...rk-entry-route
Total course cost excluding books and local exam charges is about R58000.
They also offer BSc Information Systems and Management and BSc Creative Computing.

I do not trust the level of education in South Africa and would rather study through an overseas institution that has some sort of credibility. I also do not want the hassles of working with an institution run like the South African department of home affairs.

Sorry to hear about your lack of faith in our tertiary institutions but this University Of London does not appear on top listed world universities unlike UCT, Wits or KZN.

Its your money, your education but first do your homework. Just because the place has "University" in it, does not mean its going to give you a quality education.

[cbrunsdonza]

@Paul_S Oh, I had to double check their world ranking and only their Birkbeck institution has a world ranking, non of their other institutions - so make sure your studying through Birkbeck else your better off going to the University Of JuJu Malema

[rwenzori]

Sorry to hear about your lack of faith in our tertiary institutions but this University Of London does not appear on top listed world universities unlike UCT, Wits or KZN.

Its your money, your education but first do your homework. Just because the place has "University" in it, does not mean its going to give you a quality education.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Univers...nal_Programmes

[Paul_S]

Sorry to hear about your lack of faith in our tertiary institutions but this University Of London does not appear on top listed world universities unlike UCT, Wits or KZN.

None of those universities you listed offer BSc IT correspondence courses.
The OP was referring to UNISA so I assume he wants to study part time via correspondence.

With regards to rankings I assume you're refering to QS University Rankings
The BSc Computing and Information Systems is done via Goldsmiths, University of London.

Goldsmiths, University of London's overall ranking for 2011 is 99
KZN's score is 301+
Wits is 399
Stellenbosch is 401-450
Tuks is 501-550
UNISA doesn't even have a ranking.

So yes, I consider our quality of education in South Africa lacking compared to what is available overseas.
Don't even get me started on our schools pass rate of 30%.