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Higher education

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

Original poster

Human Sciences

16 replies

Timeforaliein · 29/01/2023 18:03

Does anyone have any experience of Human Sciences degrees? DD has found courses at Oxford, UCL and Exeter (a quick Google has told me there are others) and it seems to have sparked an interest (she is year 11 and planning A levels in Biology, Geography and Economics)

If you have experience, did you/your children enjoy the course and which job opportunities does it lead to?

OP posts:
Original poster
Timeforaliein · 29/01/2023 22:01

Bump

OP posts:
kitsuneghost · 29/01/2023 22:06

When I was at uni it was seen as a bit of a 'weak' course. Biochemistry would give her a much better base.

JaffavsCookie · 29/01/2023 22:13

Well the oxford course needs biology and maths so probably a non starter. I think there are better course options out ther

Original poster
Timeforaliein · 29/01/2023 22:17

JaffavsCookie · 29/01/2023 22:13

Well the oxford course needs biology and maths so probably a non starter. I think there are better course options out ther

I think maths and biology are helpful but not required?

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Original poster
Timeforaliein · 29/01/2023 22:18

kitsuneghost · 29/01/2023 22:06

When I was at uni it was seen as a bit of a 'weak' course. Biochemistry would give her a much better base.

Assume she would need chemistry for this? But may be I am making the wrong assumption (I am a languages graduate, so this is all new to me!)

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kitsuneghost · 29/01/2023 22:28

Yes she would need chemistry. Could she not do chemistry?

Original poster
Timeforaliein · 29/01/2023 22:30

kitsuneghost · 29/01/2023 22:28

Yes she would need chemistry. Could she not do chemistry?

Yes - is predicted a 9. But it's not really on her radar. Parents' evening this week so will discuss with her and her chemistry teacher. Thanks

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titchy · 29/01/2023 22:48

Interesting interdisciplinary degree. Science career would be difficult afterwards - not enough biology, but would lend itself to policy, environment, planning, public health type areas.

Pepermintea · 29/01/2023 23:27

My friend's DD did this at Oxford and really enjoyed it. She is now working writing articles about public health policy. I think it's an interesting degree bridging science and humanities

TizerorFizz · 30/01/2023 00:00

The Oxford web site says maths or biology but digging deeper, they say both are useful. Lots of biology based learning and stats. So Economics maybe should be maths? Economics without maths is not a brilliant choice either. What Oxford don’t mention is chemistry! So I would delve much deeper into possible courses before she chooses chemistry and not maths.

Wintermornings · 30/01/2023 08:48

There have been previous threads about this where posters who actually did HS praise it for being a fascinating mix and allowing them to gain knowledge and sometimes specialise in areas they would never have thought of, eg anthropology, genetics. I know two Biology teachers who took HS.

Pepermintea · 30/01/2023 12:07

My friend's DD who did human sciences at Oxford definitely didn't do chemistry A level. I think she did maths, biology and Spanish. I think someone suggested chemistry incase she would consider a biochemistry degree - but I think that is a totally different thing!

SeaToSki · 30/01/2023 12:16

I did HS at Oxford and had biology, economics and geography Alevels. It was an AMAZING degree and set me up really well for life. It teaches looking at things from all angles and not just approaching from one. It gives you a brilliant grounding in so many disciplines and then you can focus in and go into more depth in an area of particular interest in your third year. Many of my friends went into further academia as it sparked an interest in something they would never have found otherwise. I went into marketing in industry and then pharma and found I used the skillset everyday and the knowledge regularly. There are graduates in TV, doctors, biotech farmers, geneticists, politicians, human rights lawyers and that just the ones I am still connected with.

And her Alevels are perfect for it! Economics is all the maths she needs and is more helpful than theoretical maths as HS is all about applied knowledge to the human world..which is what economics is getting at.

lenalove · 30/01/2023 12:20

Hi OP! I studied Human Sciences myself and really enjoyed it! I had taken A levels in Maths, Physics and French and although there was a lot to catch up on in first year it was mainly on the Biology side which if your daughter has she will be absolutely fine. The maths required was really quite basic, and a fair few people hadn't taken it past GCSE. They did need to do a little more self study but totally manageable. This degree suits those who prefer to study a wide range of disciplines rather than specialising in one particular subject. Personally I loved the flexibility to remain broad in scope. I was able to take classes in pharmacology, biochemistry, anthropology, psychology, economics etc. This degree opens up the door to a very wide range of careers. My coursemates went on to become lawyers, lab researchers, auditors, policy advisors, doctors (having taken postgraduate medicine), lecturers, data scientists...the list goes on!

Original poster
Timeforaliein · 30/01/2023 16:52

Thanks everyone! Very useful - thank you especially to the posters who shared their experience of the course. I think it sounds great - fancy going back to do it myself!

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TizerorFizz · 30/01/2023 17:59

@Timeforaliein
When people have done the course, they are not applying now. Things change. I would read about the course and subjects advised for 2023.

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