Which uni for chemistry

[cbatoday]

My daughter wants to study chemistry at uni. Any recommendations on where she could go?

My DD is looking to do the MBio Biochemistry with Industrial Placement and she certainly found that Warwick and York were very forthcoming with the information about placements - both stating that very few DC didn't get a placement and named their links within the industry. However, Bath Uni stated that they were finding it more competitive in providing placements for everyone on the course and stated the top performers were the most likely to be offered places.

So, I would definitely agree with Bubbles, get your DD to do her research wisely. It was quite evident about how narrow some of the research would be at certain Uni's too e.g. research would be geared towards the lecturers own research and specialism.

Are there actually any unis that "provide" placements for students? Obviously they have links with industry, and they have a placement team that advertise placements on blackboard. They also help with CV building, interview practice etc. However, all the placement opportunities that were advertised on blackboard were open to applicants from other unis/advertised on indeed etc, so there's lots of competition.

My comment about research is partly because of the Oxford type model - where you do a big (Oxford 1 year) research project but that is very specialised for undergraduates and they come out not knowing that much about techniques or other areas compared to other universities. But it does all depend on what you want to do next.

@yearinyearout - There is no guarantee of a placement, but yes they don't provide placements (I badly worded my post) just actively assist students. Bath Uni just seemed to be a little bit more pessimistic whereas Warwick and York were quite bullish on this front.

2 of DD's best friends are studying Chemistry and have just completed their 2nd year. Friend 1 is at Oxford. She has found it really hard going. Friend 2 had some MH issues in 6th form. She didn't apply to Oxbridge but accepted an offer from Nottingham. She is having a ball. She's about to spend a year abroad and has lots of other interests beyond the lab to keep her busy.

DD is studying NatSci so has other subjects in addition to Chemistry. She is really happy too. All 3 of them did really well this year.

It depends not only on the course, but the sort of learner your DD is. We looked at several universities, Much to my annoyance, DD didn't even get out of the car at some, but it whittled the list down.

Bath Uni just seemed to be a little bit more pessimistic whereas Warwick and York were quite bullish on this front.

We have links at work with York (they are one of our local unis) I think having the science park next to the campus helps, and they are very focussed on links with Industry (provide some good analysis services for us and have research collaborations with local companies as well so more professional than many Unis). Can't comment about Warwick but did have a bunch of CVs from Bath a few years ago for student placements. All the same, not very informative, format listing every grade they had ever had and very much 'look how much privilege my parents have bought me', they all had min grade 6 in some instrument, all had played sport competitively at school, all had done DoE or were a Queen's Guide or Scout, all had taken a gap year abroad. So the advice they'd been given by Bath wasn't great about how to sell themselves.