• Question: Which universities did you go to and what would you reccommend for future scientists?

    Asked by anon-334943 on 30 Sep 2022.
    • Photo: Kieran O'Sullivan

      Kieran O'Sullivan answered on 30 Sep 2022:

      I went to Coventry University. It wasn’t my first choice and I ended up going through clearing. Initially I was going to do Architecture at Uni. of Liverpool, but didn’t get grades anywhere high enough to get in. I’d also done a work experience at an engineering company and decided that looked more exciting so when my grades didn’t come in, went to an open day at a fairly local Universiy and got an offer to do Automotive Engineering on the spot, ended up getting a First Class Honours, and a pretty good job out of it.

      So don’t worry too much about where you’re going or what you’re going to do, although the harder you work the more you’ll be able to plan ahead I guess.

    • Photo: Hugh Birkmyre

      Hugh Birkmyre answered on 30 Sep 2022:

      I went to the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow and I really liked it – the chemistry department there is fantastic.
      I would always recommend doing your homework: just because a university does some courses well doesn’t mean it will do your course well. Always visit on an open day if you can and get a feel for the place and see if you like it.
      Some courses are accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry which is a mark of quality. Check their website. If you can, go for one with a placement year – you will gain far better experience at a real workplace than being in lectures and you may be able to use them as a reference later.
      if you don’t fancy university (it’s not for everyone, and tuition fees are a big expense) then more and more places now do scientific apprenticeships, including up to degree level. These give you a chance to gain valuable practical experience and earn some money along the way.

    • Photo: Polly Keen

      Polly Keen answered on 30 Sep 2022:

      I went to Cambridge. But where I’d recommend would really depend on the person! There are so many things to balance when choosing: the course, whether you want a “broad” first year, the department facilities, the location of the university, the university facilities… Some university departments have better industrial links. I’d say, do your research, and don’t just apply to the university which is highest in league tables!

    • Photo: Mark McGrady

      Mark McGrady answered on 30 Sep 2022:

      I did both my undergraduate and postgraduate degree at the University of Strathclyde and had a fantastic time. But as per some of the other responses, I would recommend doing your homework on universities. If you can, get to as many open days as possible and get a feel for each place. Also, does the outline of the degree meet what you want to study? One of the things that drove me to Strathclyde was that the first year was quite diverse, so I did elective classes in the Physics and Maths departments whilst my core subject was Chemistry.

    • Photo: Dan Day

      Dan Day answered on 3 Oct 2022:

      I did my undergrad at the University of Leicester, PhD at Durham University and now work at the University of York. And I have also spent quite a lot of time at Leeds and Edinburgh Universities, so I’ve been about a bit!

      My advice would be to visit each place you’re interested in and get a feel for the city itself. Every university can teach you a course. There will be sight differences and you will get a feel for that on the open days, but certain cities just feel right and it is so important with your first time moving away from home that you go to a place that makes you feel comfortable

    • Photo: Jasmine Bone

      Jasmine Bone answered on 3 Oct 2022:

      I went to the University of Bath to study Chemistry as they had a good reputation for the course with an Industrial Placement. I knew I wanted to do this to get some work experience while studying. I also knew Bath was great for sports so I started rowing while I was there, and the city is a lovely place to live.

      For my doctorate I went to the University of Surrey as it provided the course and support I was looking for in terms of skills development and industrial links. It also meant I could stay living around London where my boyfriend got a job.

      Lots of universities have excellent science courses, so do your homework looking them up on league tables and online, go to open days if you can. Also think about what else you want out of your experience eg where do you want to live? What is the student experience like? Do you want to participate in sports and societies? Do you want to go on a placement in industry or abroad? This is likely your first time moving away from home so it’s important to consider your support as well as what your future goals are.

    • Photo: Victoria Bemmer

      Victoria Bemmer answered on 3 Oct 2022:

      I went to Cardiff. I would definitely recommend it as I had a great time and really enjoyed the course, but it depends on the person.

      I would firstly think about would you rather be at a campus university or more in a city, and then research the courses at the universities you are interested in. I would definitely make an effort to visit the university during an open day if you can, as this will really give you a feel for both the course, and the place you could be living for 3 or 4 years!

    • Photo: Miray Yasar

      Miray Yasar answered on 4 Oct 2022:

      I completed my bachelor and master degrees in Turkey. I highly recommend going better university in every level of your studies. Changing the group always contribute your career and you vision and your network

    • Photo: Harry Dodge

      Harry Dodge answered on 4 Oct 2022:

      I went to The University of Plymouth.
      I wasn’t sure what A-levels I wanted to do, and my dad said it was important to consider choosing them based on what degree I might be interested in. So we went to a university open day focussing specifically on what subjects I enjoyed, and my passions outside of school. I looked at Marine Biology courses first because of my love of the sea and all of the sciences. However, when I got to the uni I was toured around a brand new building which had a wave machine inside it. I saw them creating waves to test a wave-powered renewable energy generator. From that moment I knew I had to get involved, and within 5 minutes I was talking to the professor who ended up being my university tutor!

      I would recommend you write down your favourite subjects and your favourite hobbies. Ask some friends and adults to suggest some jobs or courses that might overlap with them and start there! University isn’t always the right answer, sometimes a college or an apprenticeship may suit you more if you are more practical.

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