University: The University of Western Australia

Degree: Bachelor of Science, Computer Science and Cybersecurity

School Subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics (A-level)

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Before completing my A-level, I was tossing up Medicine, Psychology, or Computer Science. But after realising I didn’t enjoy Chemistry as much as I thought, I decided to pursue Computer Science based on the advice of people working in the field. However, as Computer Science is becoming more saturated, I decided I wanted a second major. I had a look into Cybersecurity, and after completing the intro unit for it, I knew it ‘clicked’ with me.

Likewise, if you’re entering first year and are unsure if you want to pick up a double major or if there’s another major you want to switch into, I recommend taking the intro unit for it. It’s a great opportunity for you to see if it is something that’ll interest you.

Computer Science

A question I get asked often is, “What is the difference between Computer Science and all the rest?” At least for UWA, Computer Science is an umbrella term that gives you a good base and structure to branch out after graduating. One of the first walls you’ll meet in this degree is Python. It is like learning a totally new language that’s almost made up of calculations. I would argue that this is one of the most important units to understand, as it’ll be much easier to follow other programming languages (e.g., C, Java, etc.). Because of how intrinsic programming is, I would recommend learning some basic Python if you are set on taking this major, especially the basics, such as what loops are and how to iterate a list, etc. However, a gripe I have with this major is that 90% of the exams are handwritten, which I find weird—why would we code on paper?

Cybersecurity

Computer Science is similar to Cybersecurity; however, the latter is said to be more of a ‘game.’ It’s a push and pull where you build defences or attack a machine and try to get your target (flag). In Cybersecurity, we call this ‘Capture the Flag’ (for attackers), and there are competitions for these where the first person to get the flag in the target machine, sometimes without getting detected, wins. What I love about Cybersecurity is how you’ll never stop learning. Even after graduating, you’ll learn about new viruses, methods of hacks, vulnerabilities, etc. This is the same for Computer Science but even more so for Cybersecurity because you might have a super secure website/machine that could be vulnerable the next day if a new method is found.

Typical Week/Social Aspects

A stereotypical stigma surrounding Computer Science and other tech-related majors is that we … to be blunt … don’t touch grass and are allergic to showers. However, I find that this very much depends on you. Because of the structure of Computer Science and Cybersecurity, where a lot of the lab work can be done at home (as long as you understand and are able to complete it), a lot of us are rarely seen at uni. This is largely due to the intensive nature of the workload, as projects will often require 10+ hours of work and constant thinking of, “Why am I doing this major? I’m going to fail and drop out,” only to complete it and say, “That wasn’t so bad… let’s do it again.”

No doubt these majors are tough courses, but with a ‘never give up’ attitude, you’ll make it for sure! I would highly recommend putting in the effort to join uni clubs and make friends. It’ll make uni life and these tiresome group projects (if they happen to be in the same majors) far more enjoyable.

Career Advice for Students Wanting to Break into Tech

For a field as competitive as tech, although having a degree gives an advantage, it won’t guarantee you a job. Having practical experience (i.e., internships) and demonstrating an eagerness to learn is essential. My main advice is to try to get your foot in the door; the moment you score one internship/job, it’ll get easier. Try some uni-sourced internships (e.g., for UWA, try McCusker and WIL) and always try to network with others to learn more. You would be shocked at the number of times I thought I was the only one who felt lost about something, but in reality, quite a few others didn’t get it either!