Advice on Chemistry degree courses

[loveisenough]

My DS is currently studying A Levels in Chemistry, Biology and Maths and thinking about doing a Chemistry degree although he isn't totally sure. I wondered if anyone has practical experience of chemistry or other chemistry-related degree courses, would you recommend particular courses and is it better to go for a course with a placement - some are five year courses!

Hi OP
Chem grad here (a little while ago though ) and I have also some some science recruitment.

If your DS wants a job after graduation then I would suggest a placement. The universities which tend to have better placement courses are often the old polys.

The best research AND placement unis are the likes of Aston or York. Especially MChem courses

If your DS is pretty academic and is likely to want a PhD then go for one of the above or RG uni. It also depends on where in the country he wants to work afterwards but you/he should know that the vast majority of Chem jobs aren't well paid.

In my experience a placement never does you any harm - employers prefer practical experience over what uni you went to

*science recruitment experience I should say!!

The course at Loughborough is only 3 years?! I thought they did placements

Is he very sporty as if he is Loughborough is the place to be

I think you are right Errol and once you are on a course it can be pretty flexible. I think Bristol may also offer you the 3-year course if you miss the grades for MChem.

Dancingdreamer thanks to your daughter for a useful insight!

Howtotrainyourdragqueen I think that Loughborough may actually offer a 5-year course including placement or a 4-year full-time course.

Well done to your ds on those offers.

DS1 is currently in his masters year of an integrated M Chem in a large city uni (not at one of the unis your ds is looking at). He spent his third year abroad rather than in industry so can't help with advice on industry but as for choosing between similar courses I'd say look up the course student satisfaction scores on Unistats. . If these are much lower in one or other uni it can be a sign of problems in the department. Also look up outcomes. What proportion of their students are in graduate level jobs after the degree?

Get your ds to seriously think through the type of place he might want to spend the next 4 years of his life. (Ds wanted the big city lights and music scene but is now seriously disaffected by the high crime rate in his student area.)

Also consider travel costs and distance. Both my sons had no interest in staying close to home and considered unis all over the UK. They poo-pooed the idea they might want to come home occasionally in their 18 year old zest to discover the world. Lo and behold both have fairly regularly felt the need to drop home for a weekend of home cooking or nursing freshers flu. Both are about 2 hours away so dropping home and end of term shifting belongings by car is easy to manage.

Finally, nothing wrong with a bit of gut feeling. If he likes the look of the student accommodation or general student vibe in one place then that helps. It makes a big difference if you live in a place that feels right for you in your first year.

Good luck for the A levels.