Durham vs Edinburgh vs Bath for physics

I've firmed bath for NatSci (Chem and physics) but will probably be switching to physics after year 1. However, I am not convinced that their physics course is of the best quality, especially as it is only partially accredited by the IOP according to uni stats. I also have an offer for NatSci from Durham and for chemical physics at Edinburgh. Does anyone know how good the physics courses are at these places compared to each other in terms of what and how much you actually learn? I am also interested in astrophysics. Any help appreciated as I am very stressed out and am running out of time to decide.

Reply 1

Unkempt_One

13

In terms of what and how much you learn, Durham and Edinburgh are competitive with each other and both better than Bath. If you go for Durham make sure you study Discovery Skills in Physics and Foundations of Physics in first year so you can specialise in Physics later.

Reply 2

Film

13

Durham or Edinburgh are better for you.

Reply 3

1lilypad1

OP

7

Original post by Unkempt_One

In terms of what and how much you learn, Durham and Edinburgh are competitive with each other and both better than Bath. If you go for Durham make sure you study Discovery Skills in Physics and Foundations of Physics in first year so you can specialise in Physics later.

I know Durham has a very good rep for physics. However, I would still like to be able to do chemistry for a while to make my mind up, and I can't really do that at Durham as I'd have to change my modules early on to be taking all the prerequisites to switch to physics. Do you know if the physics course at Durham is far better than Edinburghs as if it is I would go to Durham, otherwise I would settle for a slightly less good course at Edinburgh where I can do both subjects for longer? Also I haven't done FM a level which makes me think Durham would be a struggle.

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Reply 4

1lilypad1

OP

7

Original post by Film

Durham or Edinburgh are better for you.

I know they are both more prestigious than bath, although bath has done better in the UK league tables than Edinburgh, probably coz of the student satisfaction. It would be good to go to Durham or Edinburgh in terms of prestige but Bath seems like the most friendly university and I just feel happier about it. However, I'm willing to try and be happy somewhere else if the course is far superior.

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Reply 5

Unkempt_One

13

Original post by 1lilypad1

I know they are both more prestigious than bath, although bath has done better in the UK league tables than Edinburgh, probably coz of the student satisfaction. It would be good to go to Durham or Edinburgh in terms of prestige but Bath seems like the most friendly university and I just feel happier about it. However, I'm willing to try and be happy somewhere else if the course is far superior.

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I'm mainly thinking from a Physics point of view, where the Bath physics course very clearly isn't as good. Also, only being partially credited by the IoP may well close some doors for you, though I'm not sure whether you saw that is the case for the joint honours course or the actual Physics course, which I think is accredited. I'm also trying to emphasize Physics since you seem to want to transfer in second year. At Durham you indeed would only be able to take one Chemistry in first year if you have any intention of transferring to physics. At Edinburgh it seems to be more flexible: compare the MChemPhys course with the requirements of the MPhys course. I presume you would be entering in second year? First year at Scottish universities is essentially a foundation year. If Edinburgh meets your requirements I'd recommend it. I'm sure Bath may well be more 'friendly' but is friendliness the only metric you'd judge a university community by?

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 6

1lilypad1

OP

7

Original post by Unkempt_One

I'm mainly thinking from a Physics point of view, where the Bath physics course very clearly isn't as good. Also, only being partially credited by the IoP may well close some doors for you, though I'm not sure whether you saw that is the case for the joint honours course or the actual Physics course, which I think is accredited. I'm also trying to emphasize Physics since you seem to want to transfer in second year. At Durham you indeed would only be able to take one Chemistry in first year if you have any intention of transferring to physics. At Edinburgh it seems to be more flexible: compare the MChemPhys course with the requirements of the MPhys course. I presume you would be entering in second year? First year at Scottish universities is essentially a foundation year. If Edinburgh meets your requirements I'd recommend it. I'm sure Bath may well be more 'friendly' but is friendliness the only metric you'd judge a university community by?

I would probably do the extra year at Edinburgh to have more time for extra-curriculars, and also because I'm not sure it would be as easy to switch degrees if I enter in year 2.

I'm not sure if the accreditation thing really matters as it's only on unistats that the accreditation appears different, the accreditation is recorded the same way for both by the IOP. Regardless, is the Bath course really that much worse than Edinburgh's? As far as I can see you study the same things except that at Bath you do more on condensed matter. However, there are apparently twice as many lectures on certain topics at Edinburgh than at Bath according to module details, but I'm not sure that could be right :s-smilie:

. So basically what I'm asking is is the course at Edinburgh really so much better? I'm finding it very hard to tell seeing as I don't know what most of the stuff in the module details means.

If not I would rather stick with Bath. Friendliness is not the only metric I would use, but it is important in making me feel happy where I am, which means I'll probably do better. However, if Edinburgh's course really is superior to Bath's I would rather go there.

Durham vs Edinburgh vs Bath for physics

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