By Haleema Mohammed, 2nd Year Computer Science with a year in industry BSc
Computer Science has risen to become one of the most popular university degrees in 2025. Technology is intertwined in all our lives, and the career opportunities draw many students in.
However, Computer Science stereotypes are common, and can often deter students from pursuing the subject. Can you study (and succeed) in Computer Science if you haven’t already been coding for years?
Hello world
I’ve been coding for a long time. I messed around with Scratch when I was younger and, from there, learned C# and Java at school. Despite that, I don’t believe I am notably further ahead than my peers who only began to code when starting their degrees.
Coding is a skill, and any skill can be learned. The building-block structure of coding means that it’s one of the best skills to self-teach. There are so many great (free) courses online that can teach you programming languages at a university level – it’s how I taught myself Python. If courses aren’t your style, there are endless YouTube videos and books for practically every language you could think of. A student who works hard and puts in the time and effort will inevitably outperform the one who relies on pure natural ability.
I’ve never studied Computer Science!
Some students are more naturally inclined to analytical thinking and logical reasoning – characteristics that intertwine with subjects like Computer Science. It can’t be overlooked that many high-ranking Computer Science courses, including King’s, require Maths A-Level as a prerequisite. (As a result, it could be argued that not everyone can study Computer science.)
However, being good at differentiation doesn’t mean you’ll be good at Computer Science. Similarly, being good at Computer Science doesn’t mean you must be good at differentiation! I took Maths A-Level and did well, but I took it primarily intending to fit that requirement to pursue Computer Science. My favourite subjects – and the ones I received top marks in – were English Literature and History.
Cue the confused looks.
If I were to dive into all the reasons I picked Computer Science over an arts degree, we would have an entirely separate blog post. When I started this degree, I worried my years of essay writing and literary analysis would be useless or worse, hinder me. My peers in arts subjects couldn’t imagine pursuing a STEM degree.
To my surprise, many of the skills I built in those subjects have been even more valuable than my years of coding.
- Creativity: Programming and problem-solving require a level of creativity that those who are only logically inclined can often struggle to reach. Developing and adjusting a project without clear guidelines to follow can be difficult if you can’t see beyond the current scope. Innovation is fuelled by creativity, which is a key reason why employers often list creativity as a desirable skill for technology positions.
- Analysis: Who says analysis is limited to numbers? Analysing literature and historical events translates to data analysis far more seamlessly than one would expect. Analysis involves being able to break a complex topic into smaller parts to gain a better understanding of the details, a key transferable skill. Are you good at seeing the bigger picture, and then zooming in on the fine details?
- Communication: Computer Scientists are infamously known for being reserved, preferring to work independently and emerge from the shadows with a deployable project. While this is a bit of an exaggeration, it’s certainly true that good communication and interpersonal skills are lacking. Strong communication means being able to translate concepts into actions, solve problems collaboratively, transfer knowledge, and present information clearly. In technology, it could also mean writing user guides, project documentation or simply writing emails. Being able to communicate well both verbally and through writing has been a fundamental way for me to stand out in the field.
Being a well-rounded individual is valuable in all professional fields. It allows you to adapt to changing scenarios, stand out amongst common characteristics, and tailor your abilities to the task. Unusual career paths are also a great conversation starter (from experience)!
If you’re interested in another blog that encouraged me on my Computer Science journey, I’d suggest this blog post by Arya Boudaie.
Finally, feel free to reach out if you’re looking for advice or are unsure whether a Computer Science degree is for you.
Leave a Reply