How much Work involved???

Ana36

I plan on starting a biological and biomedical course in September in nui. I would just like to know from anyone who has undertaken this course or one like it, how much work should I be preparing to undertake ie. how huge is the work load? Might be important to mention I have a young child. Nervous prospective, mature student needing advice! Thanks!

josey_whale

Ana36 wrote: »

I plan on starting a biological and biomedical course in September in nui. I would just like to know from anyone who has undertaken this course or one like it, how much work should I be preparing to undertake ie. how huge is the work load? Might be important to mention I have a young child. Nervous prospective, mature student needing advice! Thanks!

Hi Ana,

It would be helpful if you could give us more information...
Which NUI? Galway? Maynooth?
What is the course title?
Is it a MSc or BSc course that you plan on studying?
Do you have a background in the subject?
What are your expectations in terms of a grade... pass, 2nd class, 1st class?

Ana36

Its a degree in NUIM. Naturally I would like to keep the standard as high as possible and would be aiming for a first as I'd like to do a masters. All advice would be appreciated greatly. Thanks a mill

josey_whale

Hi Ana,

I didn't study that course, so I can't really comment on the individual course. The best advice I can give is to treat the programme like a 9-5 job... If you put in those sort of hours you will have no difficulty.

Most importantly, attend your lectures and practicals and take good notes! Secondly, understand them. Thirdly, read around the subject. Reading around the subject and being able to demonstrate this will be the key to a good grade (1st).

I wouldn't be phased at all if I were you. You will be in class with mostly clueless 18-19yr olds. You already have a big advantage over them!

Ana36

Thanks for you advice JW! Just want to make sure I'm making right decision so that I'm ready to commit to this for the next 4+ years! Wish me luck!

Vojera

I did this course and thought it was a little heavier in terms of assignments etc. than general science, but if you want to specialise in biology then it's a much better degree for you. As already stated, if you treat it like a 9-5 job, you'll get through it no bother. Things can get a little hectic in the final year, but that's to be expected for any course. All the lecturers are really friendly and approachable if you ever have any problems.

BarnhallBull

Not sure if you'll see this OP as the thread's a bit old, but i'll give my 2 cents anyway...

I'm currently in my 3rd year of the course you mentioned and it's great, really enjoyable. I guess i'd describe the workload as heavy but manageable. You'll have one 3-hour lab a week in Biology on thursday/friday and you'll have a write-up to do based on these each week. Maths is tough, I think you said you're a mature student so if you've been away from maths for a while i'd reccomend getting some help now so you're prepared. I breezed through Ordinary Level maths for leaving Cert and struggled with one or 2 of the modules so just be wary of that, but it's manageable if you use the Maths Support Centre (It's a God-send!)

Biological Science is just kind of "Advanced Biology", it's quite enjoyable and the workload isn't too heavy. You do a dissertation in your 1st semester I think, but it's only 1500 words and marked quite easily. In your second semester you'll do a poster presentation as part of a group of 4 on a topic given to you by the department, there is some work involved in this but it can be good fun. I got edible vaccines as my topic and learned quite a bit of interesting stuff.

Your 4th subject is either Chemistry, Physics or an Arts subject. I'd reccomend Chem or Physics, because you can keep these up in 2nd year and drop Maths, whereas if you choos an Arts subject you have to continue with Maths in 2nd year. I chose Chemistry and I think it's standing to me now with some of the more advanced modules in 3rd year. The downside is more labs and more write ups, but I think it's worth it. So usually you'll have 2 write ups and a maths assignment to do each week if you choose Chem or physics, and this doesn't really change for the year. Exams are manageable, nothing too crazy in any of them.

2nd year you drop one subject (like I explained above) and I think it's 2 Bio labs a week (can't really remember, it is in 3rd year anyway) and apart from that nothing really changes. First year labs are quite dull, a lot of basic stuff but they get better in 2nd year and a million times better in 3rd. I love the course, i'd definitely recommend it

Oh, and if you are a mature student (sorry I just can't remember!) there are a few of them in my year and they all do fine!

Ana36

Thanks guys! That was really helpful. I'm actually re-sitting my l.c. in maths but its only pass. No probs with that. Reckon I could manage honours if i'd more than a year to do it in. I have a young child so it's time and stress management that I'm keeping into consideration. This might sound like an insignificent question but could you tell me how many days I'll be there till 6 and what the story is with tutorials as opposed to lectures. I checked the timetable on the nuim website and naturally they change every year, but I'd like to have an idea with regards to what to expect. Don't know that I'll have that much interest in chemistry I'll probably get a chemistry book of some sort and give it a bash during the summer hols. Also, could you tell me what the story is with books etc? Do you need to buy them or are they readily availiable from the library? My sister said she didnt need any. Thanks for all your replies and advice, they are very much appreciated!

Vojera

It really does change every year. In first year I had one day that I was in till six and had Fridays off, but that all depends on what subjects you choose and what lab slot you're assigned to.

The first year general biology labs have four slots: Thursday 10am-1pm, Thursday 3pm-6pm and then the same on Friday, so it depends where you get put. Can't remember when the biological science labs were. You can request to have one of the earlier labs and explain that you need to be home with your child. There's no guarantee they'll give it to you, but they're pretty considerate.

I took maths for two years and I found it okay, tough enough, but the maths dept do a lot of clinics to help people out. Maths doesn't have labs, but has tutorials. In first year I think it's one per week and it's only an hour. You get a sheet of homework questions every week and hand them up to be corrected, and the tutor will go through them.

Chemistry (I think) has tutorials as well as labs, similar to maths. They're really helpful though, and attendance at tutorials (and labs) is compulsory, whereas lectures aren't.

In my course there were two girls who had young children and they did great. They were way more organised than everyone else because they had to work around their kids and they were great at assigning time to study etc. So long as you approach it with the attitude that it's a full time job, rather than a part time course, you'll be okay.

Oh, as for books, for biology they're not really necessary. I bought the recommended text in first year and opened it maybe twice, and there are loads in the library. The SU also does a second-hand book sale, and you can keep an eye out on the notice boards for people selling them as well. If you do decide to buy the books, bear in mind that new editions come out every year and there isn't that much difference between them. If they say 7th edition, the 6th is probably fine and you might get it cheaper.

I think maths and chemistry might use the books a little more often, but it's 4 years since I graduated so that might have changed!

Ana36

Thanks a mill! If you think of anything else that might be useful, do let me know please! I'll check this space regularly!:)

aquarian_fire

I'm doing Biomedical Science in UCC and it's really great! I had the opportunity to meet with people from NUIM last year when we were all doing a summer scholarship for research. Doing a course like that (Biology, broadly speaking) is hugely beneficial not only from the course point of view, but also because you do get the chance if you're lucky to meet with other students in the same types of courses as you and it's great to know that you can network with people around the country and discuss things with them.

So, if you like Biology and are also interested in maybe travelling around the country getting to know people doing similar things, it's a really good idea!

Best of luck in your Maths OP!