Is it good to apply two courses of same university in UCAS?

[User11010866]

DC wishes to apply the mathematics or computer science courses at Imperial College. What are the potential drawbacks of put these two courses in the UCAS?

DS was told by Oxford last year that it would be a disadvantage to apply for more than one course within the institution. I'm paraphrasing but they said along the lines of 'we want to see passion for the course not a passion for Oxford'

I think you'd need to check with the institution. My Y12 DC is considering Computer Science, and one of her likely choices specifically says do not apply for more than one course in the same department ie joint honours as you will only get one offer.

Yes two different faculties can both make offers but, as others have said, they might not. I think the sensible option is to make your DS aware of this and suggest that he use his UCAS choices for different institutions - otherwise there is a danger that they will decide for him and he might not like their choice. Good luck

I understand that many DCs know what they want to do quite early. My DC likes maths and CS and isn't quite sure what to do now. US universities might be a good choice, but too far away.

@User11010866 that's quite ironic, we are in the US but DS knew exactly what he wanted to do (Maths). He applied to the UK so that he didn't have to spend any more time doing English, social studies and languages!

It’s fine to have a personal statement that focuses on more than one subject. My son did it and I’m a 6th form tutor in a large school and it’s not an issue. You just have to craft the statement carefully.

Not necessarily relevant but my very good friend went to uni to do CS but chanced to maths within a few days. If he wants to go to imperial he should make a decision for the course he wants more and apply accordingly. But changing will not necessarily be impossible.

I applied to two courses at Durham (Modern Languages and Arabic with Turkish) Got offers from both but I guess Arabic might not have been that competitive.

Yes, indeed. DC doesn't mind doing general studies. DC forth A-level is music. If only one course to choose from I, it would be math I believe. MAT is necessary for IC math corse, and it will spread the pressure of STEP required for Cambridge math.

He could email the admissions tutors and ask. MN last year strongly discouraged applying for similar courses at Bath Uni so DD emailed them. They replied saying they would view each application independently. She received offers for both courses.

This does appear to be what happened to DS when he applied to 2 courses at UCL. He fairly quickly got an offer from the less popular course, then some time later a rejection from the more popular course. When he queried it with the department, he was told all decisions were made by central admissions (who would have been aware of both applications) and couldn't be appealed. A shame, as he'd really have liked the more popular course, was predicted and has now comfortably exceeded the grades needed, but is going to to a different (higher ranked) institution. His PS was tailored to the more popular course and if he'd been offered it, would have accepted it, whereas he only put the less popular course as an insurance option.

It really is worth asking their admissions people. He could apply to just the one course (ie, maths) and his other uni choices in Oct but leave one free & what he’s offered come Jan then add the 5th choice once he knows he’s offers - this works well if the unis don’t offer very late.
DD did this. Applied to just 4 courses as wasn’t sure if York would drop their grade requirement for core maths. They offered with a dropped grade within 48 hours. So she never used her 5th choice. If they hadn’t dropped she would have needed to use her 5th choice for an alternative insurance.

It depends on the courses. If you apply for another course as well as medicine you can forget getting into medicine. If the courses are not as competitive then probably as long as your personal statement is clever.

DD applied for two courses at one university and was offered places on both. They had slightly different grade requirements though.

I had always understood that admissions could see all other applications (university and course) is that not correct?

@PegasusReturns No that’s not correct. They definitely do not see where else a candidate has applied.

DC applied to 2 courses at his favourite university. He just couldn't decide and they were very similar. He got offers for both and picked after the offer holders' day when he had asked more questions.

A fascinating divergence amongst the eay unis handle multiple applications. Thanks, everyone: I’ve learnt something.

OP,

If the US is genuinely too far I completely understand. But if you’re understandably put off by the stated fees at the top universities and elite colleges, please know that some of them have excellent financial aid with parity for international students. For example, Harvard practises international needs blind admissions and a family with an income less than US $100,000 neither writes a check nor takes a loan. Then there is a sliding scale.

The Fulbright Commission, which promotes bilateral educational opportunities between the US and the UK, has good information on its web site. There are other sources as well.
(It is named after the late, distinguished Senator William Fulbright.)

Also the elite four year colleges are worth consideration. The most elite are about as competitive as the Ivy League. These focus on teaching rather than research. The academics are superbly qualified; in STEM, after postdoctoral experience they have chosen to foreground teaching rather than research. Small classes, lots of interaction with staff, better chances for independent study and UG research, etc. Preparation for PG study and employment is the equal of anywhere - highly respected (I found this to be true). The Fulbright site should discuss them. We have a MumsNetter who had one DC at Oxbridge, one at an Ivy and one at college. The college student had the best experience.

In America not only do you have general studies during the first two years, it is fairly common to ‘double major’ in maths and CS.

Not trying to sell you on this, but for a general scholar it seems worth a thought.

That surely can't be correct - they're only allowed to apply to 4 med schools (afaik same may apply to vets) and are supposed to put a non-clinical 5th option as a backup. I can't see why there should be any problem if that 5th choice is at the same uni as one of the med schools.

We researched this extensively as DS1 also applying to CS at Imperial and other very competitive courses.

There was a long list of pros and cons but the cons far outweighed the pros for DS1 so he chose not to apply for 2. But it is a personal decision.

We don't see what other courses an applicant has applied for on their UCAS form. I can pretty much guess, when I interview applicants, but we don't see their other choices, and we don't take any notice of them.

Thanks. I only did clearing in my uni and I certainly can see the other courses applied of my institution. Don't know how UCAS looks like.

@Travelban DC reliezed no MAT target uni to fill in when registering the test and then added maths course to the UCAS. Originally, it's the joint Maths & CS.

I contacted IC Admission and was told they accept applications for multiple courses. It is not possible to transfer courses between Maths and Joint Maths and Computer science courses

@User11010866 excellent. I do think it’s best to get the info from the uni of interest as
unis do differ as we’ve seen on this thread. Hopefully, he is offered both and can really think through his presences. Good luck to him.