Science Courses in the U.K.

Amz

I'm strongly considering changing my course in college, preferably with a complete move from Dublin.

I'm looking at UK courses at the moment but given the vast number of institutions I'm having some difficulty knowing which courses/institutions are worth considering.

I'm particularly interested in the areas of forensic science, health and biotechnology.

Has anyone any experience of UK science courses?
Is there any reason why I should consider one course above another or one institution above another?
Am I foolish to consider UK courses when there is possibly a similar course in this country?

ecksor

The best place to search for courses by whatever category or word is probably http://www.ucas.com/search/index.html

There are rankings of various institutions and subjects produced by the guardian and the times and can be found online at http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityguide2004/ and http://www.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,17569,00.html

How much faith or stock to put in them is a matter of debate, but it's no harm to have a look at them.

http://www.hero.ac.uk/ contains useful information also.

GuanYin

Amz wrote:

Am I foolish to consider UK courses when there is possibly a similar course in this country?

You should always choose the course and not the college so if you're looking for something in terms of education and career then yes you're probably being a bit foolish in incurring debt and setting yourself back a few years when you have no way of knowing you will like the course in another college any better, never mind the prospect of living abroad, which, while appealing now, be be different in reality.

As your course has a good deal of physiology missing from most BSc degrees, it may be worth seeing if it profers you some advantage in applying for taught masters courses. There are many in the UK. Scotland having the most reputable forensics ones, but there are also some good molecular forensics courses in england.

If you really want forensics or biotech then you are as well off seeing if you can transfer to analytical science or biotechnology in DCU. You may get into second year of the course so you wouldn't lose as much time (or incur as much in fees).

Either way a career in forensics usually requires a postgrad degree these days so if I were you I'd write to the admissions office and see how the view your current degree course. If they feel it acceptable for admissions then I don't see what you have to gain by starting over at this stage. If they don't or if you feel you can change without losing time, you're best of trying Biotech or analytical.

Amz

syke wrote:

You should always choose the course and not the college so if you're looking for something in terms of education and career then yes you're probably being a bit foolish in incurring debt and setting yourself back a few years when you have no way of knowing you will like the course in another college any better, never mind the prospect of living abroad, which, while appealing now, be be different in reality.

I chose DCU originally because the course was preferable to the one in U.L due to the health aspect.

The course isn't what I'd hoped. I'm finding it hard to find me feet and I'm not sure it is where I want to go in life.

The physiology this year is proving difficult due to the practical labs we have, I'm having problems there that I can't seem to overcome.

If you really want forensics or biotech then you are as well off seeing if you can transfer to analytical science or biotechnology in DCU. You may get into second year of the course so you wouldn't lose as much time (or incur as much in fees).

If I were to change course I don't have any desire to remain in DCU for science. One of the reasons I'm disliking my current course is due to the lack of support I've gotten so far from the disability service. I don't see that improving if I change faculty.

Either way a career in forensics usually requires a postgrad degree these days so if I were you I'd write to the admissions office and see how the view your current degree course. If they feel it acceptable for admissions then I don't see what you have to gain by starting over at this stage. If they don't or if you feel you can change without losing time, you're best of trying Biotech or analytical.

In hindsight forensics probably wouldn't be a good area for me due to eyesight.

I dunno ...

Maybe science isn't for me.

Thanks for your help.