Macbook Pro: More SSD or More Unified Memory?

As neither can be upgraded after the computer is on the assembly line, the real asnswer is "both." If only on is possible, I go for more storage. 18GB RAM is generous.

But there may be a much more basic issue at play here. Does the CS department in the Uni you plan to attend have classes that require Windows?

My son, now an engineer for one of the biggest component suppliers, did most of his uni course with a Macbook Pro. Even then some coding courses used Win-only software.

Fortunately the profs were Mac-friendly and let him do the coding using Terminal. It was a pain for him but he made good grades.

Then his last year a new prof chose to use apps that were Win-only, and work could no longer be done through Terminal. We bought yet another computer so he could finish his degree. His Mac did not have the disk space to run Win though Boot Camp or emulation.

That was NOT known when he originally asked. Profs have the choice of books and materials to use. A new one comes in and, bingo, what the counselor told you when you entered study may no longer apply. Approach carefully.

if you don't have enough RAM memory, your projects can only run in slow motion, simulating the RAM Memory you need on disk. Buy lots.

if you run out of File Storage space, you can recover by keeping an external drive in your desk und using it for big projects, with less portability.

You MUST buy the AppleCare Plus plan. The glass of the screen is NOT covered under the standard warranty.

More is always better, but if it were my decision to make I'd choose the larger storage option. Even 1 TB isn't that much any more.

18 GB RAM should be plenty.