Particularly fantastic less-conventional undergrad degree courses

[Delphigirl]

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?

@titchy

Music Tech at Huddersfield or Salford. Tonmeister at Surrey.

It's not so long ago that I posted on here about university applications and mentioned Surrey, LIPA, Salford & Huddersfield as potential options for ds and oh goodness, some posters were so snobby about Salford & Huddersfield.

People (including several newspapers) laugh at this so called mickey mouse degree but Staffordshire University's Visitor Attraction & Resort Management has excellent graduate employment rates and includes 20 weeks of paid work experience.

It apparently grew out of nearby Alton Towers (Merlin Entertainments) wanting to be able to train their future management level staff

Indeed. The previous Education minister was similarly sneery. Let's hope the new one isn't....

As you seem to be knowledgable in this area @titchy where should ds be considering for for a 5th (preferably safeish option) Ds now doesnt want a tech course, but one where he will get instrumental tuition as he wants to be able to work in musical theatre/keyboard playing/programming alongside various other options.

Have you looked at Manchester? Very many great music options on the BMus course. DDs friend did it and did all of what your DS wants .

Manchester Uni is too academic and it won't accept ds's Btec. His performance standard isn;t high enough for Royal Northern.

Ah I see. I thought when you mentioned performance he might be at a sufficient level. I did mean the university though! I think they are different aren’t they?

@Comefromaway

As you seem to be knowledgable in this area *@titchy* where should ds be considering for for a 5th (preferably safeish option) Ds now doesnt want a tech course, but one where he will get instrumental tuition as he wants to be able to work in musical theatre/keyboard playing/programming alongside various other options.

Tbh I don't know that much about music - but are Trinity Laban and BIMM worth a look? Trinity offers instrumental tuition, not sure about BIMM.

Yes, they are different although they do have one joint course.

He's about Grade 7 standard as he has only been playing 3 and a half years. He has an aptitude for technology and composition and programming the sounds for keyboards using musical theatre industry standard software but knows that if he wants to give himself the best chances he needs to improve his playing. At the moment he is a fantastic sight reader but lacks technical ability in his playing. Leeds Conservatoire have a course with a Foundation year for those not yet of the standard which would be ideal if he can get onto it. LIPA is a long shot, I don't think his playing is good enough yet.

Drama/Theatre courses at Russell Group/research-led universities: Glasgow, Birmingham, Exeter ... There is a common misconception that a Drama degree is only for those who want to work as actors or in the theatre, but nothing could be further from the truth. Students will still write essays, do research - historical, contemporary; they'll do literary textual analysis, and they'll also be introduced to world cultures. They'll learn how to really collaborate and organise themselves in teams which are often thrown together. They learn to work with anybody, not just their friends. And they have to work to targets - here's no extension possible for a group performance. They just have to get on with it and do it.

The way Drama students work really reflects a lot of professional workplaces: teams of people, each with specific and different skills, brought together for specific projects, to a tight timetable, and high expectations on accurate & timely delivery.

This is a great thread!

Can I throw in neuroscience? Not as niche as some of these but I’m not sure may a level students know about it. It covers human behaviour so grads get recruited by big AI companies, government etc as well as big pharma, education policy etc

So many fascinating courses on here! A really interesting read.

There’s a BA in Contour Fashion at De Montfort Uni, the only degree in lingerie/swimwear etc

It’s not. The London College of Fashion has been offering a contour degree for years and years. They also do cordwaining. Shoes and bags

Adding MORSE at Warwick (Maths, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics): warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/statistics/courses/morse/

I've really enjoyed reading through this thread.

Can I add Canine Clinical Behaviour at Reaseheath?

@newgirls Are there any particularly excellent neuroscience depts that you recommend, particularly those targeted by the range of employers you refer to?

Off top of my head, Nottingham, St. Andrews, Royal Holloway. Some of the med schools have neuroscience course too. Cam is planning a course at undergrad too but might be a couple of years. I think it’s a very high employment rate as it’s used for business/IT/ government too.

Mechatronics and robotic engineering at Sheffield Uni

UCL's neuroscience is excellent.

Ds is applying to Salford for Popular Music & Recording but they have a very well regarded Musical Arts degree which basically used to be called Brass Band Musicianship.

I noticed liberal arts mentioned further up. DS is thinking of doing this. Does anyone know if it's a good degree to get and what careers it could lead to?

From what I understand, Liberal Arts in the USA has a huge variety of majors available that might include engineering, maths and sciences. Here it’s likely to be arts, humanities and social sciences. Therefore what people might understand by liberal arts varies a great deal. You wouldn’t see liberal arts grads being engineers here. So it’s a degree that competes with MFLs, English, History, Psychology, Sociology, etc. in the workplace. So huge choice but it might depend upon the students interests and aptitudes in the end. So anything from Law to Social Worker to Civil Servant, business grad trainee or NHS manager. Many more options are available of course. I would definitely look for liberal arts with a MFL to get a year abroad for the experience of learning in another university and get work experience too so that career options might be identified and worked towards.

Thank you Tizerorfizz that's helpful

@Ulelia

Global sustainable development at Warwick is a fantastic course for those interested in that area. As is the join degree offered by St Andrews and William and Mary where students get Scottish and American experience and degree.

Saw on another thread that UCL do ESPS (European Social and Political Science) duel degree with Science Po.

Years 1 and 2 spent at Science Po and Years 3 and 4 at UCL. This must be quite niche as usually it is Year 3 only that is spent abroad.