Which Uni to choose - Biomedical science

[zaz44]

Hi my DD has been accepted with conditional offers for biomedical sciences to following universities. International student with IB scores. Confused on how to order our preferences.
University of Dundee
University of Bristol (cellular and molecular medicine)
University of Manchester
University of Warwick
Trinity college dublin
University college Dublin
University of Melbourne
University of Sydney
UNWA Perth

All have their pros and cons - so unable to decide on what to choose. What would be the top 3 or 4 choices in this list.

I'm lab manager for a university teaching biomed sciences (not one on the list), and as much as I love the subject id be taking a serious look at earning potential after graduation and having a serious chat. It's an absolutely worthwhile subject but I wouldn't be encouraging my child to take it due to earning potential. I'm not sure what it's like in aus but UK doesn't pay well. Also, if they want to pursue biomed in the UK it needs to be an accredited course with the IBMS or they can't go on to be a registered biomedical scienctist

Wondering if Biomedical Science and Biomedical Sciences - note the extra 's' - are being conflated

In UK they are quite different and lead to different career paths

In UK Biomedical Science is usually accredited to IBMS and is the career path to laboratory scientist in the NHS, eg beginning with running diagnostic tests etc. Entry grades are relatively modest and curriculum is regulated

Biomedical Sciences is a common route for folks who cant, or don't want to, go down the Medicine route. Entry grades can be close to Medicine and the career path is to medical research or (sometimes) post graduate medicine. Most intending to do research expect to do Masters and possibly PhD.

My daughter is looking at Biomedical Sciences and hopes to do medical research possibly around immunology or haematology, we went to Bristol, Manchester and Warwick - they are all pretty close IMO, each has its strengths. I think Dundee is in trouble, but don't quote me on that

Manchester seemed to have the largest cohorts and largest range of course choices and a lot of opportunity to engage with research institutes - great city, great location for international students, one of UKs main airports is nearby

Bristol is a little smaller, they place quite an emphasis on Chemistry with slightly less choice and slightly less connections compared to Manchester - again nice city, quite expensive (as in near London expensive) not so easy to get to from outside UK

Both these are city unis, you are in the heart of the city

Warwick is my daughters insurance choice - very impressed with the uni, its facilities and opportunities to engage with research early. Employability is one of the best in UK.

This is a campus uni, a bit remote from anything interesting, you will be in the Warwick bubble - which may or my not suit. Again not that easy to get to from outside UK (and be aware it is NOT in Warwick, its next to Coventry)

Of your 4 UK options I would say Manchester or Warwick are strong, depending on the student experience you are looking for

Watching with interest.
DS (Y11) hopes to go into Biomed.

Biomedical Science graduates can earn very well but it depends which sector they go into. Unfortunately those who go into the NHS earn less than those who go into the private sector (as with many other degrees).

DD studied biomed at a university not on the OP's list. She is now doing a post grad masters at another university and has found her biomed degree massively helpful.

One thing I would caution is that a large cohort isn't necessarily better. There were over 300 in her cohort, and she was just a number. There was no rapport between the teaching staff and the students. They would have a lecturer for one topic lasting a few weeks then they never saw that lecturer again. It was so impersonal.

The only staff that DD did get to know was her dissertation tutor in her final few months.

She is now doing a taught masters with a much smaller cohort and has pretty much the same few tutors all the way through and is very much enjoying being in a smaller group and being able to ask questions of the teaching staff.

Another aspect to consider is whether the courses have a placement year in either academia or industry. The experience gained from this will set them apart from those who have not had this and give them a head start in the interview process for jobs or postgraduate qualifications afterwards. Saying this as someone who has worked in the Pharmaceutical industry for 25+ years and have hired Biomed students and with a daughter who has recently graduated from Biomed and now doing a PhD.

Also really agree with the comment from @RampantIvy. My daughter’s degree was from a Uni not on the list above but had a smaller cohort (and a v well structured placement system) and she/I cannot speak more highly of the course and the opportunities it provided.

All good choices.

Firstly, look at the courses. What appeals to him most?

All things being equal, which city appeals to him? Where would he feel happiest to live? Large city? Smaller city? UK or abroad? Campus or spread- out uni?

@bifurCAT interesting results. Looks like Manchester wins!

DD disliked it because it was too big. The cohort was 400 when she was considering Manchester.

I went to Manchester and found being a student there horrendously stressful. Big cohort, got burgled multiple times living in Fallowfield/Withington in student houses.

I posted a similar question a few weeks ago. My DC has an offer from Manchester as well as Birmingham, Newcastle and Leeds. She didn't like Manchester from a city pov - too big and with student accommodation a bus ride away. We went to an offer holder day at Birmingham yesterday, loved the campus but weren't that impressed by the course presentation stuff. My DC's preference is Newcastle - but I'm a bit concerned due to ranking & current strike activity. Thought I'd post on this chat too to see if there was anyone else with knowledge of the course/sector who might be able to reassure me! I wish she liked Manchester more....

TBH I really don't think employers aren't concerned about ranking as far as biomedical sciences are concerned. It hasn't held back any of DD's peers. The Newcastle degree is accredited by the RBS, so it isn't a "mickey mouse degree".

@Ineedacoffeenow DD studied biomed at Newcastle and enjoyed the course. She loved the city as well. She disliked Manchester for the same reasons as your DD did. She was in Park View which is right next to the medical school where all the biomed lectures, labs and tutorials are.

If your DD likes Newcastle then please ignore its ranking because it isn't relevant here.

That should say "I don't think employers are concerned.

IMO the "best" uni is the one your young adult will do best at - we haven't ignored league tables when shortlisting, but my DD chose her Biomed firm and insurance choices based on which uni felt the most right for her

Back to OP original Q, not sure how you make the choice, esp if you haven't visited, but hopefully our ramblings here will help :)

IMO the "best" uni is the one your young adult will do best at

Absolutely.

Interestingly, Newcastle, at no 14, is higher up the CUG table for biomedical sciences than Manchester, so it isn't as if it is languishing at the bottom.

If she wants to have the option to be a registered biomedical scientist then I’d recommend an IBMS accredited course. I wasn’t sure and did a non-accredited degree at a Russell group university. When I finally decided I wanted to be a BMS I had to have my degree assessed cost almost £200 which as a new graduate felt like a lot of money, then I was fortunate that my workplace funded top up modules (this would have been another few hundred) which have to be undergrad so not able to do a masters to bump up the degree. Then a registration portfolio on top.. delayed my career by about 3 years in the end.. I regretted not just doing the accredited degree
If she’s not interested in becoming a registered BMS then it doesn’t matter so much.

Exactly as others have said, the best university is the one your ‘child’ loves. They will need to spend 3 or 4 years at in the place so don’t force your choice in them. Strike activity is due to a particular issue and will be over soon enough. It’s an issue affecting all universities. 14th out of 80 is hardly the doldrums….

My DD's experiences mirror those of @RampantIvy's DD. Large cohort, all fairly impersonal, tutor not really engaged or involved. DD had a great time socially, made some lovely friends and enjoyed playing sport for the university.

She went to a much lower ranked university than most of those mentioned on this thread, but did well enough to 'upgrade' for her Masters and managed to get onto a renowned course at a very highly regarded institution. Much better experience, very intense (she had to stop doing any paid work as every spare moment was spent studying) but very satisfying, and really got to know her tutor and the tutor's PhD student. She got a top grade in her MSc and when looking at PhDs no one is remotely interested in her under graduate university or course.