Physics and maths courses

[Arianrod]

Any ideas for a shortlist of universities teaching good Physics and maths courses?

My DD is off to start a Masters in Theoretical Physics at York next weekend - offer was AAA (which she achieved), her insurance was Sheffield which she also loved and offer was AAB for a BSc, I think. Her other choices were Edinburgh (AAA), Royal Holloway (unconditional) and Bath I think.

She also looked at Manchester (didn't like - too big and did not like the feel of the city) and Warwick (didn't like the campus and not so keen on the course content.

Similar to Southampton would be a medium sized city with a "local" feel to it. My DD went to Bristol, which is not ahuge university, and it has a fairly compact student area but is not campus. Great student area though. York is campus and so is Lancaster and Exeter. What about Cardiff? Although Leeds is a much bigger university, again it has its own area of the city; Sheffield, Nottingham, Newcastle and Edinburgh likewise.

All universities will hype if they do not get enough qualified students firming for their courses. They are recruiting universities! Of course they want you to go there if you have the grades. Most peope do not get put off by this - they look past the hype!

dc isn't most people. Bright but with an ability to underestimate ability.

Those are good suggestions bojo. If dc likes Southampton, Bath and Warwick I've suggested looking online for the last two and visiting on offer holders day if an offer is forthcoming.

Thanks dotty. dc hasn't been to see those ones. Good suggestions although one or two are a long journey.

I did physics at Cardiff, loved the city and its vibe. I knew several people who did Physics and Maths

That was what we did, Arianrod. It is not always possible to get round all the ones you are interested in. Warwick is very campus - nearer to Leamington Spa than Warwick I think. Obviously it is a brilliant university, but if he likes Southampton, I would say it does not have the same feel as it is not in a city at all. I think he really needs to decide if he wants any life outside the campus at all. Is he happy with everything he needs being on site? Or does he like the life that somewhere like Southampton offers? My DD's were not happy with a campus, and wanted what a city had to offer and the university to be in the city. (7 years at boarding school meant they had had enough of a campus!). I amsure you will find another two that are suitable. Just make a list of "must have" and "must not have" and then you will get there!

That's why my DD disliked Warwick - she felt the campus was too far away from a city, whereas York offered the combination of a campus, but close to a city (albeit relatively small) for going out etc, and also close to the countryside, as she is a cyclist and likes to get out and about. Sheffield is non-campus, but as the uni buildings were all relatively close together she said it felt like more of a campus but again in a manageable sized city.

It is just getting the balance between what they want from where they are going to be living, and what the course offers.

Nephew with 4 A's at AS plus A in EPQ related to physics he carried on with 3 A levels at A2 he got Physics offers from Bath, Warwick, Sheffield, Bristol but was rejected for Durham maybe because he didn't do FM. Might be interesting/useful info for those wanting to apply to any of the uni mentioned with his or similar subject /grade profile

Sorry I got it wrong he got 3A 1B (physics) A in EPQ physics related. As I remember sister telling me he was 4 ums off a A grade in physics.

Similar grades coffee but my dc not doing an EPQ. However dc is taking Further maths.

bojo I think both campus and small town / city are acceptable but not so keen on a very big city.

Think doing FM is better than doing EPQ. Its going to be more helpful and useful for when doing a physics degree. I think your DC has better subjects choices than my nephew did. Despite him getting a B in AS physics he still got offers from good uni. His mate applied for joint maths&physics for Bath and Durham he got offers for both. He did do FM. But for Durham think those 2 subjects is under Natscience tripod that's what he was offered. But he missed his grades and went to Sheffield. There was a big thing at his school all the physics practical's had been moderated down to a D/E grade. So everyone went down a grade for physics overall. Alot of the lads (all boys school) who applied to high entry uni missed their grades because of it end up in insurance. Luckily nephew still got in to his 1st choice, Bath.

DD did FM as her 4th A level, got a B, to go with her 3 As but is convinced it will stand her in good stead for the first year of her Physics course.

Her final UCAS choice on the list was Bath, offer was AAA (I couldn't recall what it had been) but she didn't go to look as liked York so much and was worried about missing the A, which of course she did (by 1 mark in Maths)

She has also been learning how to programme in Python and again, it looks as if this will be useful - they teach it in Yr 1, but those who are already proficient have been put in a group together and she is hoping they will be taught another language as well.

Quite a lot of the universities seem to want one A*.

Shame about all those boys missing their firm choice coffee.

DS liked Southampton. He has two friends doing physics/astrophysics at Bristol. He has however just started physics at Queen Mary UL but as he only started on Sat I can't really comment yet. They were happy to take a slipped grade (In physics, another practical issue) and in later years he will have access to modules at other University of london colleges eg UCL, Kings etc. Also unlike UCL it has a campus.
Doesn't fit your wish for small city though.

I think Oxford's standard offer for physics is A*AA but a lot hangs on how they perform in the PAT.

Hi Essexmum69.. I have a DC at QMUL ( not physics though) who is in 2nd year. Absolutely loves it.

If your DC didn't like Durham then they probably wouldn't like St Andrews either.

Have you also thought about Surrey, Nottingham and Loughborough?

dc has the prospectuses for Surrey and Nottingham now but hadn't thought about Loughborough. I'll pass that suggestion on.

There is a definite lean towards modern rather than traditional so I don't think dc would take to St Andrews. dc not keen on gowns, traditions, keep off the grass signs or old buildings. It is a long way away so I shudder to think about that journey.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Ds is at Surrey not physics , but he loves it there.

My DD is just starting physics at Birmingham. She really liked the campus when she looked around, the city is also very accessible. Too early to say much about the course but she is very happy so far.

She liked the course at Warwick but was put off by the travelling after 1st year. She liked the university in Sheffield but though the course was more industry focused and preferred the research focus of others. Her insurance was Bristol, the course was similar to Birmingham but everything is spread out and a lot of the accommodation is quite a distance away.

We found that Oxbridge, Durham, Manchester and Imperial offered AAA, Birmingham AAA as they don't want to be the insurance choice for the 2 A universities and most others were AAA, with a few AABs such as Sheffield. I've heard of quite a few getting in with dropped grades, I suspect it's down to how much they want you and numbers on results day. Dotty's DD is the first person I've heard of with an unconditional offer for physics.

I went to Birmingham (many years ago), lovely campus and many of the halls are in the Vale so it feels homely and compact despite being in a big city.

Birmingham added to list. Hadn't realised that it was campus not inner city so it fits the criteria.

I think dc will avoid the ones with AAA offers. There are enough good ones in the A*AA to AAB range.

Is it just me or does anyone else find it impossible to interpret the random bolding that occurs whenever anyone uses an asterisk against the letter A? I'm never quite sure what people are saying.

I'm not sure if Arian is talking about avoiding universities with one A star (which the single bold A suggests) or with 2 A stars which would make more sense.

Is it because I am looking at the site on my phone I wonder?

I think it might be your phone stone, no bold on my view (iPad looking at the website not the app). Far too many A* involved in physics in my opinion though!

We went to the Birmingham open day expecting not to like the university but both really loved the place. Really nice feel to the campus, great facilities and good sports. DD is at Pritchatts Park and has settled in really well.