Experiences of University College London

[LightandAiry]

My DD has an offer from UCL to study Chemistry. She did really like Bath, but she's found out UCL is more highly regarded for her subject, she needs 3 Grade A for Maths, Chemistry and Biology.

She hasn't seen UCL, but I hope we can go on a campus tour in two week's time. Accommodation looks pretty expensive, but I believe it's close to the University.

If anyone has experience of UCL how did you/your DC like it there?

Thanks in advance.

My son is there, reading History. Having a fabulous time, but it isn't a cheap hobby keeping him there...

DD left 2 years ago - loved it. Accommodation is expensive but yes close to the campus. Living out in Yr 2 & 3 was eyewatering expensive, but DD worked pt - lots of work available in hospitality in central London.

My son studies architecture at UCL’s Bartlett School and LOVES it. It’s a demanding degree but he is having a fabulous experience. The location and amenities are amazing.
Congratulations to your daughter! It’s a difficult choice! Bath and UCL both have so much to offer!

She’ll love it.

DS didn’t get an offer (predicted 3As in chem, maths and physics and he is pretty disappointed).

Ds1 did Physics there. Whilst he loved many aspects of it, when he hit some problems we found the pastoral care really poor.

Look at accommodation costs over three years as it's likely to cost far more on London than it would anywhere else.

@LightandAiry In the Complete University Guide rankings for chemistry, UCL is 8th and Bath 10th – that isn't a difference worth worrying about tbh, especially as they have the same overall score.

FWIW DD1's best friend did chemistry at Bath and now works as a chemist for a multi-national company which you would all have heard of.

It would be a very different experience living in London compared to Bath.
All other things being equal, and tbh it sounds like there’s only a tiny difference in the quality/reputation of the degree, which city would your DD prefer to live in for the next 3 years?

DD is having the time of her life at UCL. She loves her course and has made the most of all the opportunities available whilst living in central London. There is a huge variety of clubs and societies which she enjoys. She has made lots of great friends from her course, her accommodation and her societies.

She stays in one of the cheapest accommodation blocks and is very happy with her choice.

It's easy to find paid work in London, she does paid work for UCL and also has another part-time job at the weekends and holidays.

Dd is doing Medicine in UCL and absolutely loves it. She has embraced London life to the full and having a fab time as well as working really hard. She stayed in the halls for the first year and has been renting with her friends after that. It is expensive, won't lie but if he likes it and you can afford it then it is a good choice.

I know at least three of our friends' children who went to Bath and really had a good time. All in good jobs now and did not hear any complaints about the uni

He won't go wrong any of his choice

The difference in ranking @thing47 quotes is just noise, OP. In what rating system is UCL significantly higher than Bath? We may have something to say about it. Eg QS rankings spams us for fairly random opinions and does not describe their analysis of how they tally these opinions well, but these academic opinions comprise the largest component of the ranking (40%). They are robust at the very top but rather fragile after that, and sometimes lead to silly outcomes.

Students generally do best where they are happiest. I am Russell Group (which I do not think particularly significant; although the universities in the cohort are sound to outstanding, so are some others) and Bath is not, but I have long thought Bath STEM students amongst the happiest looking STEM UG cohorts I’ve seen in the UK. Bath is the Times Uni of the Year this year.

None of this is to urge your DD to choose Bath. I do think that between this pair she should choose happiness.

DD is another one doing medicine at UCL, just finishing 3rd year.
Ho hum. i dunno. Says she's happy. She was determined London no matter what. Costs us a fortune. She grew up in a little country town but is total Londoner now.

One thing to bear in mind is that Bath is a campus university whereas UCL is part of a huge university complex in a large city. They may love that or they may feel lost. I would definitely recommend a visit before deciding.

The Bloomsbury campus is basically a UCL-dense area with the accommodation circling it. It effectively is a campus. Bloomsbury is a gorgeous area too.

DM and DF met at UCL, so I guess I have to say it's a great place. I wouldn't exist if it wasn't for UCL.

Let her go for Bath if that is where she is happy.

DD is studying Chemistry. She didn't like
UCL a much but she loves Bath. Bath was her second choice.

@Dotcheck
The op’s DD believes UCL is better. As she hasn’t visited UCL, she would not know if she might be happy or not. They are very different though!

Costs for years 2-3 in London are likely to be more. London students get spread out as budgets mean they live away from Bloomsbury. Sometimes quite a commute away. So bear that in mind. They are not now all in Camden due to price of rents . It does mean travelling quite a lot for some students. Or the student works and pays more rent. Bath isn’t cheap, but it’s cheaper than London.

London simply has everything. Bath has beauty! Both are great universities and not much different in ranking. UCL is probably better known internationally but does that matter to DD? If she loves London, go for it. My Dsis and one of my best friends went there. Regarding employability: chemists get jobs! It’s stem so no problem. Just comes down to what she prefers.

She needs to visit UCL!

Thanks for replies. There is a little while until she has to choose, hoping to go on a campus visit to UCL soon, she is lucky to have great choices.