Computer Science at the Warsaw University of Technology (WUT): Is it hard?

The most difficult subjects in Computer Science (Critical Analysis)

Below we present a detailed analysis of the subjects that statistically generate the largest number of unsatisfactory grades and are the main reason for directing students to retake exams and conditions.

Mathematical Analysis (I and II) – Why does it generate the highest screening?

Mathematical Analysis conducted in the MiNI Building at 75 Koszykowa Street and for electronics students in the Main Building is a classic “kiler”. The classes consist of lectures and exercises where advanced tasks in the field of differential and integral calculus are solved.

• Building: Mainly the Mathematics Building or the Main Building (Plac Politechniki 1).
• Exam format: A written exam divided into a task-based (accounting) and theoretical part (evidence of theorems). It is often required to obtain a minimum of 50% of each part separately.
• Bottleneck: Mid-term colloquiums, which determine admission to the exam. Failure to pass the exercises makes it impossible to approach the session.
• Chance for kindergarten: Depends on the decision of the exam team, usually available to people with a high average in colloquia.

Computer Architecture (AK) – Challenge in the Electronics Building

This course, carried out at WEiTI (15/19 Nowowiejska Street), is considered to be one of the most difficult due to the need to understand the low-level mechanisms of the processor.

• Location: Auditorium in the Electronics Building.
• Exam format: A very detailed multiple-choice test and open-ended tasks of designing a data path or writing code snippets in Assembler.
• Bottleneck: Laboratories. It is required to pass all projects and entrance fees. Even one error in the logic of the system can result in the failure of the module.
• Retake Rules: The retake exam takes place in a retake session, usually in written form, with a similar degree of difficulty as the first term.

Algorithms and Data Structures (AiSD) – Foundation and Barrier

A key subject for every computer scientist, but at WUT it is taught with great theoretical rigor.

• Location: Lecture halls at Koszykowa or Nowowiejska Streets.
• Exam format: Solving algorithmic problems on paper, analysis of computational complexity (Capital O notation), proving the correctness of algorithms.
• Bottleneck: Implementation of difficult data structures (e.g. red-black trees, graphs) at a strictly defined time during laboratory classes.
• Amendment rules: Possibility of improving the exam exams, however, the retake session with AiSD is considered extremely difficult due to new, non-standard logic problems.

Operating Systems (SO) – System Programming in Practice

A course focusing on the management of processes, memory and file systems.

• Building: Computer laboratories in the Electronics Building (Nowowiejska Street).
• Exam format: Written theoretical exam and defense of projects implemented in C/C++.
• Bottleneck: Projects from process synchronization (semaphores, monitors). They are checked for memory leaks and deadlocks.
• Amendment rules: Failure to complete projects on time usually results in the need to take a condition, as laboratories are difficult to make up for in session.

Physics (I and II) – The Terror of Computer Scientists

For many Computer Science students, physics is a marginal subject, which is a strategic mistake. Departments teaching this subject require precision and understanding of the phenomena of electromagnetism and quantum mechanics.

• Location: Physics Building at 75 Koszykowa Street.
• Exam format: Accounting tasks and theoretical questions.
• Bottleneck: Physical laboratory (laboratories). Each exercise is preceded by an “entry form” (a short test). Three negative grades from the entrance exams mean that the studio did not pass the exam.
• Amendment rules: Opportunity to improve the exam in the September campaign.

Object-Oriented Programming (PO) – Engineering Rigor

An introduction to the world of design patterns and clean code.

• Building: Computer rooms at the faculties of MiNI or WEiTI.
• Exam format: Often in the form of a practical exam at the computer – writing a working application that meets the requirements within 90-120 minutes.
• Bottleneck: Automated tests. The student code must pass all unit tests prepared by the instructors.
• Amendment rules: Usually one chance to improve the programming colloquium in the semester.

Numerical Methods – Mathematics in a Computer

A course combining mathematical analysis with computer implementation.

• Location: Lecture halls in the MiNI building.
• Exam format: Theory test and project evaluation (e.g. implementation of interpolation methods or solving differential equations).
• Bottleneck: Computational precision and understanding of fillet errors. Proficiency in environments such as MATLAB or Python/NumPy is often required.
• Amendment rules: Written exam in a retake session.

Databases – From Theory to SQL

A course covering relational schema design and SQL queries.

• Building: Electronics Building or auditorium at Noakowskiego Street.
• Exam format: Database design and query normalization and optimization exam.
• Bottleneck: Normalizing the database (BCNF, 3NF) and writing complex queries with multiple joins under time pressure.
• Revision Rules: Revision of a written design or exam.

Assessment system and rescue procedures in USOS

Understanding the regulations of studies at the Warsaw University of Technology is essential to survive crisis situations during the session.

How does the condition work on Computer Science? (ECTS limits and costs)

The condition, i.e. conditional enrolment for the next semester, is possible when the student does not exceed the permissible deficit of ECTS credits. Each subject has an assigned weight (e.g. Analysis – 6 ECTS, Computer Architecture – 5 ECTS). If the sum of points from the failed courses is within the limit (usually about 12 ECTS), the student can continue their education, but must repeat the failed courses in the next cycle. Repetition of a course is associated with a financial fee, the rate of which for one ECTS point is determined by the order of the Rector of WUT.

Board exam – when is it eligible and what does it look like?

The board exam (commission exam) is the final appeal procedure. A student is entitled to it in justified cases, e.g. when he believes that the grade from the retake exam was issued in an unfair manner or the course of the exam violated the regulations. The application is submitted to the Vice-Dean for Education within 7 days of the announcement of the results in the USOS system. The exam takes place in front of a committee consisting of the chairperson (the Dean or a person appointed by him), an examiner and another specialist in a given field.

Failure to pass the laboratory and not being admitted to the exam

In technical fields such as Computer Science, laboratory classes are superior to lecture. This means that obtaining an unsatisfactory grade from laboratories (e.g. due to non-submission of projects or failing to submit tickets) results in automatic disadmission to the exam on the first date. In the USOS system, information about the lack of credit then appears, which often closes the way to the fight for entry in a given session and forces the approach to the subject in the condition mode.

Procedure for removing students from the list of students and re-enrolling

In the event of exceeding the deficit of points, the Dean’s Office initiates the procedure of removing them from the list of students. The student receives an administrative decision, which can be appealed to the Rector within 14 days. An alternative is to apply for a semester repetition. Cancelled persons have the opportunity to resume their studies after meeting certain conditions (e.g. passing the curriculum differences), but this process is formalized and requires the consent of the faculty authorities.

Why do students fail Computer Science? Main causes

The analysis of academic failures at WUT allows us to identify repetitive patterns leading to failures.

Accumulation of material in the winter session

The winter session in the first year is considered the most murderous. The accumulation of difficult subjects (Analysis, Algebra, Basics of Programming, AK) makes it difficult for students to cope with the amount of material. A common mistake is to postpone learning mathematics in favor of programming projects, which ends up failing theoretical exams.

Specificity of mid-term colloquia

At the Warsaw University of Technology, regularity is enforced by the so-called half-colloquia (often held around November and April). Failure to pass these tests in the MiNI Building or the Electronics Building drastically reduces the chances of passing the subject, as subsequent retake dates overlap with current projects.

Lack of access to the Department’s up-to-date databases of questions and materials

Although there is an informal “question exchange”, exam teams at the Warsaw University of Technology often change sets of tasks, emphasizing understanding the problem rather than memorizing the patterns. Students based solely on old materials are sometimes surprised by the new form of questions during the exam in the Maximum Auditorium or in the rooms at Nowowiejska Street.

Psychological and Economic Aspects of Voluntary Dropout

The phenomenon of voluntary resignation from studies at WUT is a complex process, often resulting from the calculation of profits and losses. Unlike those who are expelled for lack of academic progress, students who drop out on their own often make this decision based on an analysis of the ECTS credit deficit and the attractiveness of alternative career paths.

The mechanism of academic burnout in the Electronics Building and the MiNI Building

Cognitive overload in the field of Computer Science results from the need to simultaneously master advanced mathematical theory and complex engineering issues. In the buildings at 15/19 Nowowiejska Street and 75 Koszykowa Street, students often spend 10-12 hours a day, moving between laboratories and auditoriums.

• Time bottleneck: The accumulation of deadlines for submitting projects from Operating Systems and Algorithms and Data Structures leads to chronic sleep deprivation.
• The pressure of “tickets”: The need to prepare for each laboratory class under pain of not being allowed to exercise generates a state of permanent stress, which for many people becomes unacceptable before the end of the second year of studies.

Labour market vs. academic rigor – why is the third year critical?

The specificity of the IT industry makes IT students at WUT attractive candidates for technology corporations in Warsaw after the fourth semester. Then there is a conflict between the requirements of the departments teaching the subjects and professional duties.

• Earning trap: A student who receives a job offer at the Junior Developer level often comes to the conclusion that the time spent on passing extremely difficult subjects, such as Signal Theory or Numerical Methods, is disproportionate to the market benefits.
• Lack of flexibility of USOS: The rigid system of registration for courses and the lack of the possibility of individual course of study for people working at an early stage of education forces many students to submit a written resignation before the dean’s office makes a decision to strike them off for absence.

Mathematical-theoretical barrier

Many candidates choose Computer Science with high-level programming in mind, however, the study program at the Warsaw University of Technology is strongly rooted in discrete mathematics and physics.

• Programmatic dissonance: The collision with abstract proofs of theorems in the Mathematics Building (75 Koszykowa Street) can be demotivating. Students who do not see a direct translation of theory into coding practice often decide to transfer to non-public universities with a strictly practical profile.
• Feeling hopeless in the session: If a student in the middle of the winter session already has two failed exams in subjects for 6 ECTS each, mathematically loses the chance to avoid the condition while maintaining financial liquidity (high fees for debt points).

Financial costs of conditions and profitability of continuing studies

The system of fees for repeating classes due to unsatisfactory results in learning at WUT is precisely defined in the regulations.

• Debt Accumulation: With the accumulation of several difficult subjects (e.g. Physics, Analysis, Architecture), the cost of repeating the semester can amount to several thousand zlotys.
• Economic calculation: For some students, especially those who finance their own living in Warsaw, the financial barrier becomes insurmountable. Instead of incurring liabilities to universities in the USOS system, they choose to resign and return to education in another mode or at another university after collecting appropriate funds.

Survival strategies and crisis management

For people who want to avoid resignation, it is crucial to navigate the administrative and didactic complexities of universities efficiently.

Optimization of the ECTS credit deficit – when is it worth skipping a course?

Managing the deficit of points is a key strategic skill. Experienced students know that in situations of extreme overload, it is better to consciously “let go” of one subject with low ECTS weight in order to focus resources on passing the “kiler” for 6-7 points.

• Prioritization: Subjects such as Mathematical Analysis or Algorithms are prioritized, because failing them often blocks the possibility of enrolling in courses in the next three semesters (a chain of dependencies in the study program).
• Syllabus analysis: Before deciding to resign from studying a course in a given semester, you should check with USOS whether this course is offered in the summer semester or only once a year.

Use of dean’s and health leave

Instead of definitively completing studies, the student has the right to apply for dean’s or medical leave.

• Dean’s leave (the so-called dean’s leave): It allows for a one-year break in studies without losing the status of a student (although with the limitation of some privileges). This is the time to repair the budget or catch up on the question exchange before the next attempt at difficult modules.
• Medical leave: It requires documentation of the health condition by a medical committee. At WUT, this procedure is strict, but it allows you to stop the course of studies without financial consequences resulting from failing subjects during the illness.

Frequently asked questions about studying at WUT

What is the permissible deficit of ECTS credits in Computer Science?

The permissible deficit of ECTS credits depends on the specific faculty and semester in which the student is located, but usually oscillates between 10 and 12 credits. This value is crucial, because exceeding it makes it impossible to obtain conditional enrolment for the next semester and may result in the dean’s office being removed from the list of students. Each student should monitor their score in the USOS system, where achievements are updated after each session. If the limit is exceeded, the only way to save the course is to submit a reasoned application for repeating the semester to the Vice-Dean for Student Affairs. Please note that each deficit point involves the need to pay a fee for repeating the item in the future. The student must also take into account that some courses are so-called sequential courses, which means that failing them blocks the possibility of enrolling in courses in the next semester, even if the ECTS limit is maintained.

Is there a “September campaign” at the Warsaw University of Technology?

Yes, the term “September campaign” refers to a revision session that takes place at the end of the summer holiday break, usually in September. This is the time when students try to pass courses from the summer semester and sometimes they have the last chance to improve their grades from the winter semester, if the regulations of a given subject allow it. For many people, this is the period of the final struggle to stay in college and avoid the condition. During the September campaign, retake exams are held, which often take the form of a collective form for the entire year in large halls, such as those in the Main Building. Some departments that teach courses also organize remedial laboratories during this time, although this is a rarer practice. Failure to pass a course in September usually definitively closes the academic year with a deficit.

What should I do if I fail an exam in a retake session?

If the retake exam is not passed, the student is faced with the need to apply for a condition (conditional entry) or repeat the entire course. The first step should be to check in the USOS system whether the total deficit of ECTS credits does not exceed the limit allowed at a given faculty. If the limit is not exceeded, the student usually receives permission to continue their studies with a credit debt automatically or after submitting a short application. However, if the deficit is too large, it is necessary to visit the dean’s office and submit an application for repeating the semester or academic year. In extreme cases, you can try to apply for a board exam, as long as there are hard procedural grounds for doing so. It is important to complete all the formalities before the registration deadline for the new semester.

What is the difference between a “zero” exam and a regular exam?

“Zero”, i.e. the exam on the zero date, is an additional chance to pass the subject before the official start of the exam session. It is organized on a voluntary basis by the course coordinator and is usually dedicated to students who have shown high activity or obtained very good grades in partial colloquia. The main advantage of the kindergarten is that in the case of failing it, the unsatisfactory grade is usually not entered into the USOS as a wasted attempt, and the student retains the right to take the exam in the first and second session dates. Kindergartens often take place in the last week of classes, which allows you to “clean” the most difficult subjects earlier. Not all subjects in Computer Science offer this opportunity, especially those with the highest degree of difficulty, such as Computer Architecture.

What documents are needed for the board exam?

In order to apply for the board exam, the student must submit a written application to the Dean’s Office addressed to the Vice-Dean for Student Affairs within 7 days from the date of issuing a negative grade from the retake exam. The application must contain a detailed justification in which the student points out irregularities in the assessment process or violation of the study regulations. It is worth attaching a photocopy of the exam paper (if it was possible to view it) and any certificates, e.g. medical certificates, if the health condition affected the course of the exam and was not taken into account beforehand. A positive consideration of the application results in the appointment of a date for a committee consisting of three researchers. It should be remembered that the result of the board exam is final and overwrites the previous grade in the USOS system. This is a high-risk procedure, usually used in contentious situations.

Is it possible to study Computer Science at WUT without attending lectures?

Although lectures at the Warsaw University of Technology are generally optional, giving up on them in the field of Computer Science is highly risky. Many lecturers convey content that is not available in standard textbooks, and which later appears in exams in the form of problem questions. In addition, the lectures often provide key information about the format of the colloquia, deadlines for submitting projects or potential questions for “kindergartens”. In the case of subjects such as Physics or Algorithms and Data Structures, understanding the theory presented by the lecturer is essential for the correct performance of laboratory tasks. Attendance at lectures also allows you to build relationships with the chair in charge, which can be helpful in borderline situations when issuing final grades.

What are “passes” and how do they affect laboratory credit?

“Passes” are short, usually 10-15 minute tests of knowledge conducted at the beginning of each laboratory class. They are designed to verify that the student is prepared to perform a given exercise and understands the laboratory instructions. In subjects such as Electronics or Physics in the Physics Building, failure to pass the entrance exam usually results in not being allowed to perform the exercise on a given day and receiving a grade of 2.0. The regulations of most courses in Computer Science provide for a limit of failed passes (e.g. a maximum of two per semester), after which the student loses the right to pass the entire laboratory module. This, in turn, automatically means that you will not be admitted to the exam and that you will have to take a condition. Entrance exams are therefore one of the most stressful elements of ongoing learning.

How to appeal against a decision to remove students from the list?

An appeal against the decision to remove students from the list of students should be submitted to the WUT Rector through the relevant Dean within 14 days from the date of delivery of the decision. In this document, the student should refer to special circumstances that prevented him from obtaining credits, such as health problems (confirmed by medical documentation), a difficult fortuitous situation or procedural errors on the part of the university. It is important that the appeal is specific and includes a proposal to remedy the situation, e.g. a plan for passing overdue courses in the semester repetition mode. Until the appeal is considered, the student usually retains his or her rights, but cannot undertake new teaching commitments. The Rector’s decision is final in the instance course within the university, after which only a complaint to the administrative court remains.

Is it easy to rewrite a grade from another university at WUT?

The procedure of rewriting the grade, i.e. recognizing the learning outcomes acquired at another university or another faculty of the Warsaw University of Technology, is formalized and depends on the decision of the course coordinator and the Vice-Dean for Education. In order for the rewriting to be possible, the curriculum of the completed subject must be at least 80% consistent with the curriculum applicable in Computer Science. The student must provide a course syllabus from the previous unit and a diploma supplement or an extract from USOS with a confirmed grade and the number of ECTS credits. It should be remembered that a grade lower than 4.0 is rarely rewritten, and key (major) subjects usually have to be retaken to ensure an adequate level of preparation for the next stages of engineering studies.