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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Particularly fantastic less-conventional undergrad degree courses

211 replies

Delphigirl · 03/07/2021 17:20

I would be really interested in hearing what people think are really interesting and perhaps less considered degree courses available to undergrads at UK universities. I don’t really mean a list of unis that people thinks are great for chemistry, but rather those slightly niche courses run in fantastic departments that maybe people don’t generally know even exist, or in any event are outside the usual A level departments.

So I’m thinking of, for example, War Studies at Kings College London - internationally renowned, different to what you might think of from the name, highly attractive to employers.
I would add Landscape Architecture at Sheffield - the best course in the UK, probably in Europe, a jewel of a department with fabulous teaching and cameraderie, extremely high employment rates, probably not thought about by kids who re attracted by architecture but arguably can lead to a better paid and more fulfilling career.
Also Oceanography at Southampton - world-leading and world-respected, broad ranging multidisciplinary science/geography/ and environmental degree leading to a number of different careers, becoming more topical by the day re climate change.

Or

I’m sure there are lots of others - what degrees/departments can you recommend which are out of the ordinary run of things, for our kids to think about? Particularly hearing from employers who hire out of particular courses - what makes those kids so employable?

OP posts:
Needmoresleep · 05/07/2021 15:07

I like the sound of Human Sciences at Oxford.

There is also a BA Hons Degree In Circus Arts at the National Centre for Circus Arts.

Cornishmumofone · 05/07/2021 16:55

@Delphigirl Allegedly Exeter has 'paused' recruitment to BEng Mining Engineering while it 'looks to reshape the opportunities to study mining and related topics'. Friends who studied at CSM are devastated as they know that job applicants from there will have a strong degree. I don't think it's seen as a good fit for Exeter's portfolio, despite being internationally renowned :-(

SeasonFinale · 05/07/2021 17:05

How about Meterology or Meteorology and Climate or Meteorology and Maths at Reading Uni.

ChocolateHelps · 05/07/2021 17:21

@igelkott2021

A friend of mine did marine photography at Falmouth university.
I spotted a 'contemporary crafts' degree at Falmouth in Homes and Gardens magazine. I thought that sounded fantastic!
indigoemerald · 05/07/2021 18:54

BA (Hons) Comedy at Bath Spa... quite a funny degree course!

ClerkMaxwell · 05/07/2021 20:10

MA Knitwear at Heriot Watt. My DS2 spotted this one when he was looking for another course. If I wasn't still paying for my youngest I would retire and sign up for this.

Olympicfan · 05/07/2021 20:34

What a great thread! I have done so much googling as a result. I now know what ergometrics are, what a foley artist is and what tonmeister means. Everyday is a school day.

Years ago a family friend's DD did a degree in Surface Pattern and design.

Clearing opened today. There are some fascinating niche courses that come up when you put in your chosen degree area. You end up going down some fascinating rabbit holes!

Three0fivepointfour · 05/07/2021 21:35

De Montfort do a BA Contour Fashion which I’ve always thought sounded fun. Making bras and general lingerie. It was the only dedicated course in the country but UAL: LCF now run a course too.

CliffsofMohair · 05/07/2021 21:36

@Delphigirl

Is hot Icelanders a thing?
Have you not seen the Eurovision movie 😁
pingster · 05/07/2021 22:03

@Needmoresleep

I like the sound of Human Sciences at Oxford.

There is also a BA Hons Degree In Circus Arts at the National Centre for Circus Arts.

I did human sciences - it's a fantastic course, really interesting mix of subjects
Capricornandproud · 05/07/2021 22:10

Postgrad but a Masters in Philanthropic Studies in Kent… unusual cross between profiling rich givers, digital marketing and literally hosting events! Which can ultimately lead to high level careers in fundraising, banking, CSR depts in corporates and Sales 😀

popolvuh · 06/07/2021 09:14

@GalacticDragonfly That reputation probably still stands really, i'm pretty sure the marketing departments sound bite for a while was 'Outstanding in our field'. I attended as a very much non young farmer from a big city and loved it but its definitely an acquired taste.
Well worth a look for anyone who's children are into animals the countryside, off road cars and big machinery though as well as the standard farming.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 06/07/2021 09:27

Based on how brilliant the lecturers are, some social science ones -
Public sociology at Queen Margaret University (very practise based and 1/3 of students are from the local college so a good one for someone who isn't entering uni conventionally).
Also anything based at the institute for global health and development there.
Social policy at Glasgow Caledonian. Just brilliant lecturers again.

Both places are great places to study.
I have a fondness for post 92 institutions.

I'm reading this thread hoping to see courses in Scotland for ds2 who is sciencey but unsure what he wants to do.

tealasoldastime · 06/07/2021 10:16

Can I add food science... there are a number of good uni's to study it (although I would say Reading is the best!) and it always surprises me how few people know it exists, especially when food manufacturing is such big business in the UK and things like inside the factory are on TV all the time...

TheDevils · 06/07/2021 11:03

Another quite niche subject is a masters in Career Guidance and development. It's only offered at a handful of universities (Huddersfield, Coventry, notts Trent, derby) but can be a great way of working in a university with students, on an academic level salary but without being an academic!!

Iamanunsafebuilding · 06/07/2021 12:20

@SuperLoudPoppingAction

Based on how brilliant the lecturers are, some social science ones - Public sociology at Queen Margaret University (very practise based and 1/3 of students are from the local college so a good one for someone who isn't entering uni conventionally). Also anything based at the institute for global health and development there. Social policy at Glasgow Caledonian. Just brilliant lecturers again.

Both places are great places to study.
I have a fondness for post 92 institutions.

I'm reading this thread hoping to see courses in Scotland for ds2 who is sciencey but unsure what he wants to do.

Forensic Science is a real true science degree in a really practical setting! My DS did it at LJMU and they did all sorts of cool things like analysing street drugs confiscated by Merseyside police. They've also got 3 dedicated crime scene houses so they can set up any crime scene they want to. They also do digital forensics which is a growth area for jobs.

It's quite chemistry heavy in the first year which my DS found hard cos he didn't do A level chemistry!

HollowTalk · 06/07/2021 12:25

My son did Popular Music and Recording at Salford. There's a performance element which tends to attract students in, but staff said the goal was to enable the students to work in music in some field or other - some went on to be music journalists, another went on to work as a lawyer working for large music companies. My son composes for film & TV and has his own separate sound library business. He wasn't a high flyer at school but was lucky enough to have a music teacher who was fresh out of that course himself and told him how brilliant it was. All of his friends from the course work in music related fields now.

Mallowmarshmallow · 06/07/2021 12:28

British sign language/English interpreting at Wolverhampton.

Vocational degree allowing students to go straight into work as a trainee interpreter albeit with several years of further study/experience to become fully qualified.

Wbeezer · 06/07/2021 15:48

The course i wish I'd heard about at school is the MA in Fine Art that is a joint degree between Edinburgh Uni and Edinburgh College of Art, its a five year degree with four years split between uni modules and studio time with a final year 100% studio time. Very small numbers, very competetive, as you have to be very academic and arty, but I was able to tell a friend's daughter about it (again she hadn't heard of it and neither had her teachers) and she got a place and loves the course.
Stirling Uni has Aquaculture degrees that sound quite niche.
Im attracted to niche courses at art schools like blacksmithing or shoe - making but I wouldn't necessarily recommend them for employment prospects.

Orangecinnamon21 · 06/07/2021 18:55

I like the look of Nottingham's you can theme it to e.g Climate Change

Orangecinnamon21 · 06/07/2021 18:56

@Orangecinnamon21

I like the look of Nottingham's you can theme it to e.g Climate Change
I was meant to be quoting a post regarding lib arts !
Snowcapper · 06/07/2021 19:04

@Three0fivepointfour

De Montfort do a BA Contour Fashion which I’ve always thought sounded fun. Making bras and general lingerie. It was the only dedicated course in the country but UAL: LCF now run a course too.
A friend of mine did the contour degree at DMU.

I have a degree in Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern Design Smile

Orangecinnamon21 · 06/07/2021 19:04

I'm seriously tempted by this course at Lancs

www.lancaster.ac.uk/educational-research/study/ma-in-education-and-social-justice/

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 06/07/2021 19:15

UEA Creative Writing Course- Kazuo Ishiguro still comes back and lectures-the list of authors having graduated is amazing-
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEA_Creative_Writing_Course

titchy · 06/07/2021 19:17

What's particularly heartening is that some of these packets of excellence are in the oft-maligned ex poly/college of HE sector. Sadly that warmed heart is quickly cooled by the current Secretary of State for Education's view on such courses...