Glasgow Uni - Biological Sciences

[KittyMcKitty]

Hi all

DC is in year 12 but just starting to look at Uni’s. She’s interested in Biological Sciences - either a broad based degree or possibly something more along the microbiology lines. She would ideally like it to encompass some Biochemistry.

She thinks Glasgow looks good from a course / city perspective- does anyone have any recent experience of the Uni? They look to have a decent number of lab hours.

She’s also interested in UCL and has discounted Imperial (wants a Uni with all types of courses / people) and Exeter (too in the middle of nowhere). She has considered Oxford but currently thinks she’s not clever enough for them.

Are there any other Uni’s people would recommend? (Ds is doing Philosophy and Politics so we don’t have any experience of Biology).

She'd like a Uni in a largeish city with theatres / galleries / bands playing etc etc.

Obv it’s v early days in year 12 but she has 8’s & 9’s (and a 7 in French) at gcse - these are not inflated grades, her school if anything graded very harshly and based on my older child / experience I would expect her to be predicted / attain a minimum of AAA. She’s also doing an EPQ and BTec in Tech Theatre.

Thank you

Glasgow is grimy?
Oh don't be ridiculous, it's a fantastic city.

Think the train only takes 4.5 hours to Euston. Several mumsnetters unhappy with the way Edinburgh responded to COVID also - making students eat at tables alone for example.

Agree Glasgow is a great city but Edinburgh better if you want a more tourist experience.

@Mum5net it’s sad that your DC had such a poor experience but degree quality can vary wildly between courses in a single uni (hence the reason for looking at subject specific data). The OP @KittyMcKitty DD is looking a biological science I assume human or micro biology and the satisfaction scores are very good for these courses. Study abroad varies and we’ve been told at two unis we have visited that year 2 study abroad is being phased out by 2023 entry. I agree studying away from uni abroad in year 2 doesn’t make sense and year 3 which is the case for most unis is far superior as kids have found friendship groups and got used to studying before choosing this route. I think all large cities could be called both grimy and beautiful depending where you look.

Accepted courses differ, even with overlaps.
For my DC the best thing about Glasgow was that they could study elsewhere for 1.5 years of their 5 year course. They had a year in the US and six months in a fabulous European city. For them, this became their focus and looked on it positively, to make up for much of the disappointment elsewhere. However, navigating the study abroad elements is not easy and at least a third of those who intended to go away could have been advised better and fell foul of the system. (Specifically over ambitious choices and poor class matching. )
Looking on from the sidelines, UofG could hugely improve their game here, too.
Finally, the reality of the Euston train is that door-to-door think 6.5 hrs one way and for Sundays going via Edinburgh is almost inevitable. In practical terms, I’d be crossing fingers that somewhere three hours away suits then better.

Dundee has one of the best biochem/bio science degrees in the country, if not further. It’s graduates are highly sought after.

Think the admin around a year/term abroad can be challenging regardless - was having a look at the other thread.

Dad decided against applying for a year abroad but of her friends who did so the experience was not consistent and often depended on the quality of support/communication from the overseas uni and from the home university.

That should be dd. Not dad

Hi thanks for the new comments. Fruitygal she’s doing Biology, Chemistry and Psychology- school wanted her to do Maths but she really hates it so knows her choice ruled out some biochemistry courses and biomedical.

You don’t need maths for biomedical sciences. DD did chemistry, biology and geography and is doing well in her biomed course at Newcastle.

She loves the city BTW. She isn't really into clubbing, but there is loads of other entertainment that she enjoys: pub quizzes, bongo bingo, gigs, bottomless brunches, parties, easy access to the coast, loads of fabulous places to eat and drink, etc.

@RampantIvy several friends with children at Newcastle and loving it - so good to hear!

@RampantIvy that’s fab to hear about Newcastle- lots of Biomed seem to imply that you should have maths to be likely to get an offer (everyone in my older child’s year who dd biomed has maths).

Kitty as I said on my previous post, DD didn't have maths A level either for biomed (though she did have good GCSE grades in maths, further maths and stats), she did the same A levels as your DD.

She now has a very prestigious Masters too – and still no maths required, though she did say stats helped with the epidemiology modules.

Dundee has some of the best bio science courses in the county. But it’s quite hard to get into, she would need AAA i think.

Hi OP,

my DD started at Glasgow Uni this year. DD has settled in really well, is loving getting to know Glasgow and really likes her hall of residence (Murano). There seem to be plenty of English students, including DD so no concerns there.

Lectures are online but all seminars/tutorials are face to face. DD is working from the study spaces at Library and the Learning Hub with friends quite a lot and is impressed with the amount and quality of the study spaces available.

She's doing an arts degree so I can't help with anything to do with the course or lab hours but could ask her to find out if there is anything specific you want to know.

Forgot to say, many of the Dundee courses don’t need A level maths, just C3 at GCSE.

PS - Don't forget that it is actually quicker and cheaper to fly down to London rather than get the train.

DD is on a reading week and is home for the first time since starting term this weekend. She flew in Stansted on Thursday evening and will be going back to Glasgow on Tuesday morning.

Obviously doesn't work when there is much luggage to be taken with, but is a great bonus for a quick trip home!

@GenderAtheist Dundee looks fab but we are South of England so she felt it was just too far. Given the MN threads I follow more and more DCs looks to be travelling north of the border for their education so I imagine Dundee will get more and more applicants from England.

@ChequerBoard what a positive post about Glasgow so glad your DD is getting on so well

My girls are in Glasgow for uni. One at Strathclyde and one at Glasgow. Neither doing Bio sciences, so can't help in that respect, but both love the city.

They live outside of the city in a house because they're both there. It's not glam where they live, but it's a £20 taxi ride from Glasgow, but a third of the price of living in Glasgow.

They love the social life now that things are opening up again. Their first year was tough with lockdown and everything.

They tend to get the train home as it's only 4.5 hours to London or Birmingham and there's no waiting times at the airport. Plus they can get direct train to here without having to trek from the airport into the city, but flights are also cheap depending on where you are. A railcard adds massive savings to train fares and is only £30 a year.

Dundee is a bit of a hidden gem. Good connections to Glasgow and Edinburgh travel wise. Dd did visit for an offer holder day and we were very impressed with the university. The city also has a lot going on and is much more reasonable cost of living than either Glasgow or Edinburgh. Is also the sunniest place in Scotland (apparently)

Negative post alert.
Flying can be quicker I grant you, but not actually cheaper if you stray from off peak hours and if Stansted not handy at the other side. However, it is worth investigating a chair on the overnight Caledonian sleeper if they have an early Monday start which can be bought with 16-25 railcard discount. (Beds don’t qualify.)