Science in UCD or TCD?

Kev_M

The age old question!

The CAO is looming in the foreground and I'm currently thinking of placing Science as my 1st choice - but where! I'm looking to focus in the area of physics and I'm really not too sure where to go. TCD has the state of the art CRANN building but on the other hand UCD just recently opened the new science building. I heard on the radio that both colleges have dropped places in the world rankings with UCD falling more places, but are these tables accurate or reliable? My careers advisor says it's based mostly on post graduate courses.

Could anyone offer even a partially objective view as to what each college offers? Even personal responses would be welcomed!

DublinArnie

Same here, I'd love someone to give some input.

phoebo

Would love advice on this too!

rsktrap

I would appreciate the advice also

Raspberry Fileds

Few will be able to compare the two courses. I did a year of Science in TCD so can only speak of it. The course requires that you combine at least three subjects in first and secon year. If you want to specialise in Physics, you must take the two Physics modules (which account for a third of your credits) which in turn requires that you take the two maths modules (another third). Unless you take the two Chemistry modules as your final credits, your options when chosing a specialisationi for third and fourth year are very limited. It is not possible to specialise in Mathematics while it is in UCD Science.

This year they both had the same points requirement, but UCD Science has twenty-percent more places which distorts in favour of Trinity. The international rankings should be ignored when chosing a college at undergrad level - partly because they are almost entirely reflective of graduate standards but also because the results are too general to be able to infer the quality of a particular department within a multi-faculty university.

topbloke

Science isn't my immediate first choice but it's of interest so I looked into it a little and personally I'd prefer UCD for science. It has a broader range of subjects you can specialise in such as Maths and Statistics. I know you can study Maths in TCD but not through the Science degree as the chap above said. Then there is also that new Science building in UCD which should offer great facilities for learning.

Kev_M

Thanks for the contributions ^ and ^^. It's just a really big decision so I'm trying to garner as much information as possible about each college before I decide.

Conor_B

Kev_M wrote: »

The age old question!

The CAO is looming in the foreground and I'm currently thinking of placing Science as my 1st choice - but where! I'm looking to focus in the area of physics and I'm really not too sure where to go. TCD has the state of the art CRANN building but on the other hand UCD just recently opened the new science building. I heard on the radio that both colleges have dropped places in the world rankings with UCD falling more places, but are these tables accurate or reliable? My careers advisor says it's based mostly on post graduate courses.

Could anyone offer even a partially objective view as to what each college offers? Even personal responses would be welcomed!

In my experience, those rankings don't really affect the undergraduate courses.

I have friends who are all in their final year of science in TCD and have all seemed to have got on quite well in their different specializations within the program. It is worth noting though that the course itself is quite hard if you've never taken chemistry before and chose to take it as a module, which you'll probably have to for many of the specializations.

STP50

Hi

I know a number of people (including 2 of my own children) who have either completed or are currently enrolled in Science in both TCD & UCD.
Firstly I would say that if you have an interest in Science it is really necessary to do lot of research for both TCD and UCD. As they are both general entry courses they both offer a good deal of choice - so you need to ensure that you have the right subject choice by the end of 2nd year so you are eligible for your chosen specialization.
If you know generally what area you want to specialize in that really helps. Op I note you have an interest in Physics ( which is where my children went) I will address that -
TCD.
TCD science has 2 freshman years where you need to take 3 subjects (from a choice of 6 - Bio,chem,physics,maths,geog & geology). At the end of 2nd year you apply for your specialization or moderatorship. This is a competitive process where you submit your preferences and will be allocated your place for the final 2 years based on ranking of 2nd year results. Not everyone gets their first choice (like a mini CAO). Every moderatorship has prerequisites so make sure your have the subjects needed.
The department of Physics offer two moderatorships - 1. Physics and 2. Physics with Astrophysics. Anyone looking to do physics will get one of these as they do not fill up. (The biology medical based ones are very competitive).
If you want to take Physics 2 of your 3 freshman subjects will have to be Maths & physics, your have choice of the 3rd, both Chemistry and Geology are popular with physicists.
The physics degrees in TCD are excellent if challenging and are very well respected both in academia and industry.
As mentioned you cannot do a Maths moderatorship via Science. If you want this options apply to Theoretical Physics ( TP) directly or Maths.

TCD run a maths & Physics open day every year to give details as to the options and I highly recommend you try attend (On Sat 15th Nov)
Go to www dot tcd dot ie/Physics/outreach/


UCD.
UCD offer a lot more choice at the module level and this gives a lot of flexibility , however it is very complex and you really need to spend time understanding what you will need to ensure you have the prerequisites for your final degree. I know a couple of students who really struggled with this up to the end of 2nd year.
UCD have tried to address this by offering 3 streams (BBB,CCC,MPG - Biologies , Chemistry and Maths,Physics&Geology). This give some level of pre selected modules but you are not tied down and can move if you really need to.

If you are interested in Physics you would take to MPG stream - this would cover the options for degrees in Maths, Theoretical Physics, Physics & Astro physics and Geology- so if you were not quite decided as to the area within Physics & Maths you wanted this is a good option.


UCD run a number of science evenings where each department will showcase their offerings and these are worth attending.
The Science evening is 21st Oct, Physics 18th Nov and Maths 25th Nov
GO to www dot ucd dot ie/science/events/undergrad_events_ireland

The physics degrees in UCD are also are excellent and are well respected both in academia and industry.

Do spend some time going to the dedicated events run by both UCD & TCD over the next month as they are presented by the departments you are looking to join and you will get a feeling for both.

Good luck ( Sorry cannot post links)