Question for Science Undenominated Entry

UpcomingStudent

Basically, i just wanted to ask a current student doing the science undenominated entry how many lectures a week he/she has, weither they are once daily or every few days or even daily all day. Can anyone enlighten me on this subject?

humbert

two or three a day I think.

UpcomingStudent

so i would be able to get a part time job too? basically in my house, once your finished school and in college, your out the door.

humbert

yea it's quite common. evenings and weekends. the workload in first year is very manageable and if you got a grant too it's quite doable. you will likely have labs some evenings until five or so depending on your subjects.

UpcomingStudent

so the second year ill have less classes?

humbert

Na the number of hours of lectures per week remains pretty constant right up until forth year. just the number of subjects decrease but the classes per subject increases.

UpcomingStudent

cool, ill work through the summer and then see about my courses and get a job around em, thanks for your help.

humbert

No problem. if you ask in most departments they are usually very helpful and will discuss the courses with you. don't bother asking the college administration though, I doubt they could tell you where the departments are!

UpcomingStudent

hmm sounds really like secondary school already

humbert

It's all too much like secondary school I'm afraid

tribulus

From my experience I found 1st year to be 23 contact hours i think.

2nd year I was an idiot who picked 3 lab subjects and so I had 30 contact hours a week. Although everyone had at least 25.

3rd year is largely dependent on the subject for your degree or major i guess in your case. For me I only have 18hours a week this semester and had 22 before Christmas.

2nd year was really tough, 3rd year is a doss

In comparison to the poor chemistry students they had an insane amount of hours and workload, even this semester they've one day from 8am to 4/5pm in the lab.

Labs are usually on in the afternoon though again it depends on the modules you pick and what they might clash with.

Realise that even with 25 contact hours that doesn't take into account gaps in between lectures and labs, so a day with 2 lectures and one lab could actually have you in college from 10am to 6pm.

I think it would be entirely possible to keep a part time job though you should be prepared to be in after 5pm fairly often and keep in mind you'll have lab reports and study to do as well.

I'm not a fully modularised student but i'm confident the difference in workload and hours for horizons students is minimal so everything i've said should still hold true more or less.

kaalgat

I am 3rd year chemistry now, and the hours are very bad, but only for some days.

First year had about 3 lectures every day, and then a couple of labs during the week which will keep you until 5pm.
2nd year pretty much the same.
3rd year, fewer lectures, couple of labs a week.

Even so I have been able to keep a part-time job during term for the last 3 years, as well as paying attention to the studying.

So hopefully you don't have any problem.

One thing worth mentioning is Aoife Fitzgerald in the Science building faculty office. She would answer any questions, and if she doesn't know the answer straight away, she will enquire for you. They're all very helpful.

lizzyvera

UpcomingStudent wrote:

Basically, i just wanted to ask a current student doing the science undenominated entry how many lectures a week he/she has, weither they are once daily or every few days or even daily all day. Can anyone enlighten me on this subject?

If you have to commute far you probably won't have time to study, socialise, go to labs and lectures and have a part time job. You'll probably get involved in other things too like sport and societies.
Much better to save up over summer and relax at weekends. Actually, people who don't have part time jobs do get better results in their degrees. I wouldn't compromise my degree unless it was really important, like if my parents couldn't pay for my bus ticket or lunch.
I have 25 to 35 hourse a week, I usually finish at 6.

mloc

A friend of mine is in 4th year with me and has a part time job. He works mostly weekends.

It must be said, however, to pay for rent and all expenses entirely on your own for the full four years of a science degree would be a significant challenge. Working a lot during the summer would help alleviate some of the problems, but your social life and studies may suffer during the year.

I guess you gotta do what you gotta do.

gliondar

I do third year maths-physics.
First year was a great year, course was not to demanding.
Second year was a significant step-up and the work was certainly demanding.
Third year has been about the same as second year
Final years are put through hell apparently. An air of foreboding.......

An average of 25 hours a week.
I enjoy the degree though and my fellow students are very interesting. I'd recommend it to anybody. Couldn't see myself do anything different. You finish being highly skilled in a variety of mathematical disciplines.

Le Rack

I'm in first science at the mo, and would love to have the time for a job let alone to have a job, there isn't a huge number of hours, bout 20 a week, but if you take a lot of lab subjects (I have 5 out of 6 this Sem) then you will be fairly tied with those, then it depends where you live in relation to the college about having a job, I only live ten minutes away up here but three hours to go home home, between lectures and commutes there's no tme for a job. And as well as that even though you might not have many lectures a day, they might be well spread out, taking up more of your time.

JimmNeutron

it might be even better if you have a lot of spread out lectures for getting a part time job on campus. i have a few friends working between lectures in the different su shops. a great way to earn money and pass long gaps in your timetable. id say spaces are fairly limited tho so you would have to be quick

kaalgat

Yeah places like the old Forum Bar and the old Student Bar (new names too confusing to remember) are always looking for part-time staff, and they're willing to work around your lecture times.