Chemistry Bath v UCL

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My child has an offer for MSci Chemistry for UCL (just plain four year course, dropping to three if not making 60% in Y1 or Y2) and for same for Bath (with year in industry, 4 years either way as year in industry also possible with BSc). Doesn't really want to go to the other three options and would risk clearing if not accepted by those two on results day as chemistry was in clearing at lots of unis last year. Does anyone have any advice or a child on any of those courses which course to firm of those two (we know about costs which are an issue but not putting us off London entirely)?

My advice will always be UCL everyday

Why?

It's more prestigious. Better well known globally and has better employment opportunities

All other things being equal, UCL

UCL is better for both research and going in industry. They have a lot of networking opportunities. DD is in UCL doing Physics and is really loving her time there. Student support is excellent.

That's reassuring as we are pretty unhappy so far with chemistry department. Not answering emails about offer holder day nor giving option to have a look around....and Bath has the option to do a placement year or study abroad which my child likes but I do see the prestige of UCL...

They are not, Bath offers placement year or study abroad, UCL doesn't...also worried about support at UCL, any views on that?

I'm going to go against the grain and say maybe Bath. If she wants to work in chemistry post degree without a Phd (pharma for example) a year in industry will be an advantage.

That's what he wants to do atm, he has even applied for the drug discovery variant of the degree. Aware that placement not guaranteed but probably best chance at Bath as the uni is known for placements...do you have any insight how hard it is to get chemistry placement?

I’m also going to go against the grain and recommend Bath. Both my daughters went there, one as an undergrad and one as a postgrad, although not doing chemistry, and they (and I) can’t praise it highly enough.

One of the key things about Bath is their placement structure. They have an incredible network of placement opportunities (Harvard, Burberry, pharma companies etc etc) with specific intern positions for Bath students each year and a designated placement office to guide the students through the interviews, visa applications. It also means when they start their placements, there is generally a Bath student who has been there the previous year to handover/advise.

With the current graduate job market, anything that gives additional experience for your CV and makes you stand out from the crowd is so important. And a placement year provides the opportunity and tangible evidence to demonstrate that you can function in the ‘real world’ and not only as a student.

As someone who has worked in a senior scientific role in the pharmaceutical industry, when hiring we do consider the calibre of the university but I’d always be far more interested in the experience gained in a placement year as this is a far better indicator of how they’ll function in the workplace.

And also Bath is a lovely place to visit if you have a child studying there 😀

Hi! My daughter has an offer at UCL for chemistry too and I’ve also found them to not be particularly helpful. I’ve emailed twice now to ask if there will be an offer holder day and have had no reply! Have you heard anything at all?

I’d say Bath by a long way. Infinitely better uni experience, beautiful campus and city, and industrial experience.

I would also go for Bath out of those two. Lovely campus and city and good industry scheme. My DD applied there though went elsewhere for a different subject but Bath were incredibly kind re her special circumstances and was impressed with them. The earnings data doesn't show much difference between Bath and UCL so think it's whatever they prefer.

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/degrees/chemistry-international-programme-msci

UCL does do a year abroad.

What's the value add of a placement year compared to a summer internship?

UCL does have year abroad programme in which you can apply and choose to do your third year abroad. The link is provided in the previous post.
I am not sure why your emails weren't returned but UCL admissions are handled by a central team rather than the department so that could be the cause. I have also heard that UCL was swamped with increased number of applicants this year causing a huge delay in offers.
Not sure if this works but there are daily campus tours and virtual offer holder videos available for all departments.

Are you soley focused on the academics, or does lifestyle and experience count for something too?

Bath and UCL are very different in terms of a campus based vs a city uni. I went to Bath many years ago and the campus does create a great sense of community, especially in the first year when most people are in campus accommodation.
My friends who went to London unis definitely didn't have the same experience because everything was so much more spread out.

Just something else to consider.

I’ve emailed twice now to ask if there will be an offer holder day and have had no reply!

Has your DD herself tried to contact them?

I work for a very large German engineering company, we make a point of going to Bath career's fairs every year to get our placement students. We also sponsor and support their women in engineering program.

Why on earth would you as a parent email to ask if there is an offer day? Surely that is down to your daughter?

We’ve both tried emailing. Thanks for your input though 🙂

No absolutely nothing despite email to admissions officer Tamara A directly. I know from someone else that there was one offer holder day but before my child got the offer. Is your daughter still putting down UCL as firm or insurance?

No virtual chemistry offer holder day, not heard anything at all, but watched some older stuff online. The central admissions office advised to email chemistry directly....

Same here, we both did out of frustration after he heard nothing. Also we as parents invest a huge amount of money especially in London unis and my child is not yet 18....fyi

That's only part of that degree variant which has higher entry requirements so not an option for my child unfortunately but that degree looks brilliant