Sheffield Hallam-Any good?

[albroxs]

Hey,
I'm new to the forum and I've just applied to study Computer Forensics at:

Sheffield Hallam
Derby
Birmingham City
Middlesex
Portsmouth

I recently went to an open day at Sheffield Hallam and fell in love with the place. I was wondering if anyone has had any personal experience with SHU and if there degree is actually any good for students wishing to persue a career in computer forensics. As much as i like the uni the content of the degree is important and i dont want to spend lots of money on something that may not give me the best opportunity.
Any help you could give me would be much appreciated

Thanks
Albroxs

[kern]

hi albrox and welcome.

What actually *is* the content of the SHU course ?

cheers

Kern

[albroxs]

thanks, heres a link

http://prospectus.shu.ac.uk/op_uglookup1.cfm?id_num=575&CurrTab=4
When I went to visit SHU I spoke to one of the lecturers. She said it had been developed in calaboration with local businesses.

[kern]

The Uni is good, and nice and convenient for all manner of reasons. i graduated from there 10+ yrs back.

However .....
What exactly is "Forensic and Security Technologies"?
Sounds like learning about shovels for shovels sake.

Check the content. Does it match Your ideal of what You want to study?
Start with the end in mind. What will it give you in terms of employability at the end....

Ask Yourself, and maybe the course leader :
"I want to be a "<job description>" in 4 yrs time. Will this get me where i want to be ?

If You don't know exactly where You want to be, his answer will be an all encompassing "probably/possibly"

If it can't give You the door to *the* job you want, then its just another bit of, albeit expensive, arse wipe.

iirc i think SHU are one or the proponents of short courses now, because what's being taught today, in a fast changing technology field will not be so relevant in 4 yrs time.

Kern
:eek:

on a side note, i'm really disappointed by the SHU website.
It's like going into a top class restaurant and instead of them putting on the menu an appetising description of the forthcoming banquet, they chalk up a list of raw ingredients.

what a drab, red, drab, grey, dull, drab, paint drying, dull red, boring, overcast, grey, dreek, website.

[Unreal Numbers]

hiya, i cant really help with what the course is like at SHU, but i can tell you that iv applied there too :)
along with

derby
coventry - conditional
staffordshire
sunderland

What did you think of the uni? just asking as i didnt check that one out..
i can say that the course at derby seems really good. had a chat with the lecturer and hes really nice and just seem like a good course over all. unis nice, not so sure on the city it self. will have to have a closer look if i get an offer. my first choice is derby.

whats yours?

cheers

[albroxs]

Ah nice, I've had conditionals from all my choices now.

I'm off to look at Derby next Saturday. I like SHU alot, the city is great, and the campus is right next to the city centre, it is also a stones throw away from the train station. Go and have alook around everyones really friendly.
I havent made my mind up yet as to what i'm putting as my firm choice and what i'm putting as my insurance choice. I'll choose when i come back from Derby, although i know for a fact SHU will be one of the ones i put down.
Good luck with the application btw.

[Unreal Numbers]

Ah cool! well i only sent my app on Thursday, got a conditional on Friday and obviously they don't do them at weekends so this next week will be fun :)

hmmm the main reason i like derby is because of the course, i know its not one of the best city's in the world but that's not what im going for, i want to come out of uni to the best standard i can. no point going have a larf and not learning anything relevant.

yeah well when i get more offers im planning on taking a closer look at the citys. A mate is looking at computer games development at derby too so all sounds fun.

cheers, good luck with exam!

[Disklabs]

All,

I am off to Glamorgan tomorrow to present a lecture to the academics from many universitys, (some of which I didnt know did forensics).

I like Derby, their course is good, they use industry tools and talk about phones too, as does Birmingham. Glamorgan is very good.

I recently spoke to DeMontfort at Leicestershire, where I was very impressed indeed with their philosophy, lecturers and the way that they use industry tools too.

On a quite important point. One of the biggest problems that I have is how they help their students apply for a job. Staffordshire and Glamorgan make us employers go through lots of crap, (registering, posting, formatting etc), our application. I didnt bother in the end, as it was too time consuming. I wanted to speak to someone, then send over an email with a job description on it? Maybe I am just lazy?

Now the difference: When I contacted Derby, I spoke to Harj, (senior lecturer), who had a word with some people that he thought was be able to assist. I much prefer this approach. It was the same with Demontfort too. Birmingham City Uni couldnt help as it was their first course but they did say that this was their approach too.

I hope the above was a little helpful.

Regards,

[albroxs]

Thanks that does help, it looks like i'll be putting Birmingham as my insurance choice.

[Unreal Numbers]

ah cheers for all the info.
I have conditional offers from Derby, Coventry and Sheffield hallam at the moment so all's good. Sheffield will be my insurance i think and Derby first choice.... not all to sure atm though.

cheers again

[Disklabs]

Derby is the best bet in my opinion. I met with Harj yesterday. He has some GREAT ideas and is very much into using the tools that industry use, rather than free ones that then mean you cant start working in an organisation immediately as you have no or little experience in the tools that most of us use.

Good luck! Tell Harj that Simon said you should be let in!

Simon

[albroxs]

haha i'm off to look round Derby tomorrow. The course sounds pretty good and you lot seem to recommend it. Lets hope the rest of it is jsut as good :P

[Unreal Numbers]

Well have fun looking around, tell us what you think!
Got 4 conditional's and an interview now so tis all good.
just trying to get the grades now :)

[Disklabs]

thanks, heres a link

http://prospectus.shu.ac.uk/op_uglookup1.cfm?id_num=575&CurrTab=4
When I went to visit SHU I spoke to one of the lecturers. She said it had been developed in calaboration with local businesses.

Albroxs,

Sorry about the delay, but who is the local company that they used for colaboration?

I dont think I know any companies around Sheffield, so it would be interesting to find out who.

Regards,

Simon

[Disklabs]

Well have fun looking around, tell us what you think!
Got 4 conditional's and an interview now so tis all good.
just trying to get the grades now :)

Here is my recommendations for degree/masters at computer forensics:

1. Cranfield - though you have to be a proficient practitioner to do this course PRIOR to starting.
2. Derby/Glamorgan - though Derby is more geared up for getting students into work at the completion of their course, both are good courses.
3. Birmingham City University - only just began this course, however they had good guidance on its inception, (from me)!

3. Canterbury Christ Church University - good academically
4. Coventry University - Uses predominantly linix tools but course leader is very technical

If Derby is on your radar, go for it. The same goes for Glamorgan.

Good luck,

Regards,

Simon

[Unreal Numbers]

Hi, Cheers
My choices are

Debry - Conditional
Coventry - Conditional
Sheffield Hallam - Conditional
Sunderland - Conditional
Staffordshire - Interview

Hoping for Derby tbh. Will keep you posted.

thanks again

[albroxs]

Albroxs,

Sorry about the delay, but who is the local company that they used for colaboration?

I dont think I know any companies around Sheffield, so it would be interesting to find out who.

Regards,

Simon

I couldnt tell you tbh thats just what the head lecture told me.

Derby was good and i very nearly changed my mind. Its a great degree and the campus was nice, shame about having to get buses to the accommodation and the distance from the railway station. I highly recommend it though, i'll differently do my masters there.