Choosing to do computer science was never really the question for me. The question was rather; which University do I study it at?  The main reason for me choosing Lancaster was the friendly and accepting vibe you get when visiting the place. Even after 3 years this hasn't changed a bit and (personally speaking) warms up the sometimes cold prospect of spending the next 4 years waking up in the morning (afternoon?) to earn a PhD.

A close second reason for choosing Lancaster was the Innovations course. I suppose we came to think of it as an advanced version of normal Computer Science; rather than following the main stream we had much more control over what we did and where it took us. Being around like-minded and equally curious people (including the staff) often led to tutorials and lectures taking on tangents that encompassed everything from philosophy to politics. I'm grateful that the staff would accommodate this because whilst it may take 

a little longer, it lead to a much richer experience that I feel lucky to have had.

It's difficult to describe what you gain from a course like this. Perhaps it's not the course, but rather the University experience in general, but it certainly is a good one that I would gladly re-live given the chance. 

I know I am a lot more confident in my ability to learn and persevere with a problem than I was before.  Innovations in particular taught me how little I know in the grand scheme of things, but how with some thought, it is possible to see a problem from different perspectives and then unpick it to find solutions and usually more intricate problems! Reading this, it will probably sound a little silly and you will think you already have these qualities. And you are most-likely right, but I am certain everyone who was on the course has taken away something they value.

The most interesting or exciting part of it? I love building things and we got to do that a lot: file system, simple VGA graphics card, games, mobile phone simulators etc. The freedom we were given on our 2nd and 3rd year projects was absolutely fantastic in that respect.

I guess I've already answered this, but I will add that I wanted a campus university and fresh air, so it ticked those boxes as well!

In a word, yes. Most of my friends and I used our own laptops to do work on, but we have a dedicated lab (with computers) that let us form something of a community. To a certain extent the labs grew into a social place where we would be happy to spend time whilst we worked. On more than one occasion the Computing Department has asked us for input regarding improvement of the labs; a majority of our feedback focusing on the idea of a kettle and coffee dispenser!

To say I am a complete recluse who's skin has seen almost no sunlight beyond that of the glare from a monitor displaying a JPG of a Caribbean beach would be a lie!  Seriously though, I have made lots of wonderful friends who I genuinely hope to stay in touch with for the rest of my life. I've found the campus community and small(ish) city means that people you know are never far away and there is always something to do. I have just returned from traveling around India with some friends who I met in the Management School; three of which I will be living with next year.

The Innovations course had plenty of 'guest lectures'; where companies would come in and talk to us. In addition, when I was looking for a PhD area Dr. Enrico Rukzio used his contacts to set up a meeting with a large international company, for whom I would have done blue sky research (basically being Q from James Bond!) but ultimately it fell through because of a 6-month hiatus on new projects imposed on the company due to the recession. Two months down the line, this cloud revealed it's silver lining and I was accepted onto the HighWire scheme.

Currently I am studying for an MRes and PhD on the new HighWire programme. After that I would like to start a company and invent things. On the side; as it were, I have been developing a computer game with commercial potential that may very well open a door for me to work in the games industry.

I honestly can't say I ever really thought about going to University until I was actually here. It was about half-way through that I started to consider using a PhD as the foundation of the career path I end up taking (or making) for myself. I now know that software development is not for me. I still don't feel I want to be an academic either but perhaps somewhere in between? I suppose that time will eventually sweep away the dust on the signposts and let me take stock of where I have been so I can decide where I want to go tomorrow.

The course is difficult and expects a lot from you, but as you get used to it and you become better at clarifying your ideas, it gets easier.  The friendliness of the place means that any barriers between the staff and students are only there if you put them there.  My friends and I have had many interesting conversations with the lecturers and professors and I have never once been talked down to; even when vocally struggling to understand something or completely missing the point.

These last few years at Lancaster have been the best of my life.  I owe it all to the wonderful friends I have made, the great course and the people around me!