[TheRandomer]

Does anyone know if there's any kind of scholarships I can apply for to do Physics placements abroad this summer? I'm graduating in June. Or if I got a placement actually IN Durham at the uni, is there funding for this kind of thing?

[Awoodrow2]

(Original post by TheRandomer)
Does anyone know if there's any kind of scholarships I can apply for to do Physics placements abroad this summer? I'm graduating in June. Or if I got a placement actually IN Durham at the uni, is there funding for this kind of thing?

http://www.dur.ac.uk/physics/students/vacplacements/

I think that's probably your most comprehensive source of information about it. Also try checking out the IoP website, as they're usually pretty good for funding.

[summer_dreamer]

Hi,

I am currently at sixth form and looking into universities for next year.
I hope to study BSc Geography and was wondering what sort of GCSE/AS grades students on this course, or similar, achieved?

Many thanks!

[fzzz]

Hi,
I'm gonna study Business Finance in Durham next year.However, there only one thing that make me consider is that Can i apply for a Ms/Ma for finance or economic in Durham in the future if i'm studying business finance??

[KayteeKaytee]

(Original post by summer_dreamer)
Hi,

I am currently at sixth form and looking into universities for next year.
I hope to study BSc Geography and was wondering what sort of GCSE/AS grades students on this course, or similar, achieved?

Many thanks!

I got 6.5 A*s, 3 As and 1 B at GCSE. Then A*A*A at A level.

You'll probably do better if your A levels are good strong subjects, particularly some science if you want to do the BSc.

My offer was AAA but I think they might have changed that now. Durham don't interview so they like a really strong personal statement and reference so it's worth putting a lot of effort into that.

[summer_dreamer]

(Original post by KayteeKaytee)
I got 6.5 A*s, 3 As and 1 B at GCSE. Then A*A*A at A level.

You'll probably do better if your A levels are good strong subjects, particularly some science if you want to do the BSc.

My offer was AAA but I think they might have changed that now. Durham don't interview so they like a really strong personal statement and reference so it's worth putting a lot of effort into that.

Thank you for such a quick reply! I have 3A*, 10A, 1B at GCSE and am predicted A's in my AS subjects in summer. I take Biology, Geography, Maths and English Lit and I am unsure whether the Durham entry requirements (A*AA) are aiming too high or not!

[canŵio]

I've already firmed Durham and I'll definitely be going but I still want to know what it's like to actually be there!

What is the best and worst thing about St Mary's College? (besides having the worst bar)
does each floor have a little kitchen, if so what does it have in it?
is there an opportunity to arrange packed lunches or something sometimes (like weekends).
if you're not allowed bluetack how do you personalise your room?
Does St Mary's have its own boathouse?

What is the best and worst thing about Biology? (from anyone on any of the biology degree routes).
How many hours contact time do you get for lectures, tutorials and labs per week?
how many people are generally in each?
which is the most enjoyable?
how much are you expected to spend on books and equipment? (especially right at the beginning)
where's the best place to get books/lab coat/dissection kit?
which books are mandatory/very advisable?
I've heard it might be a good idea to borrow books from the library for a few weeks before you decide which to buy - is this advisable?
Do any graduates sell their second hand books?
Do we need the most recent edition?


That's quite a lot of questions! I hope someone can help me out with some of them!

[purple-girl]

(Original post by canŵio)
I've already firmed Durham and I'll definitely be going but I still want to know what it's like to actually be there!


What is the best and worst thing about Biology? (from anyone on any of the biology degree routes).
How many hours contact time do you get for lectures, tutorials and labs per week?
how many people are generally in each?
which is the most enjoyable?
how much are you expected to spend on books and equipment? (especially right at the beginning)
where's the best place to get books/lab coat/dissection kit?
which books are mandatory/very advisable?
I've heard it might be a good idea to borrow books from the library for a few weeks before you decide which to buy - is this advisable?
Do any graduates sell their second hand books?
Do we need the most recent edition?


That's quite a lot of questions! I hope someone can help me out with some of them!

-From next year all routes other than Biomed will be combined into one so after the first year you'll get to choose which modules you do which I think is good. Most lecturers I know are relatively good and willing to help. Bad things; the exams, though I don't like essays and the MCQs in first year are tough, and the department being up "cardiac hill" .

-In the first 2 years you'll get around 12 lectures a week and in theory 4 tutorials a term and on average 1 or 2 3-hour labs a week. 3rd year's a bit different...you'll have 3 taught modules which have 3 lectures a week for the first term and first 3 weeks of 2nd term then you'll probably have a lab project for the rest of that term (another module in itself). Then you'll have a field course module or another lab based thing (if you're a cell/molecular biologist) and a lit review in the first term.

-First year lectures are capped at 240 and generally aren't far off that. After 1st year some modules will still be around 200 but some are closer to 50. Tutorials have around 6 or 7 people in. Labs have up to 80 in each group.

-Most enjoyable depends on your interests really!

-I only have the 2 core textbooks; "Life: The Science of Biology" and "Molecular Cell Biology". There are other recommended textbooks which I didn't bother with. You can order these online or get them as a bundle in Waterstones (but online is cheaper). Some graduates do sell their books so if you want you can look at them in the library before you buy them. Most recent edition might not be necessary but don't go more than 1 or 2 editions behind, stuff does change slightly.

-You can get lab coat and dissection kit from the department in freshers week. I never got a dissection kit (as I mainly do molecular modules) and in my year I think they charged £10 for lab coats. Personally I already had a lab coat as I had a relatively new one for school but most people just bought one from the department.

[canŵio]

(Original post by purple-girl)
-From next year all routes other than Biomed will be combined into one so after the first year you'll get to choose which modules you do which I think is good. Most lecturers I know are relatively good and willing to help. Bad things; the exams, though I don't like essays and the MCQs in first year are tough, and the department being up "cardiac hill" .

-In the first 2 years you'll get around 12 lectures a week and in theory 4 tutorials a term and on average 1 or 2 3-hour labs a week. 3rd year's a bit different...you'll have 3 taught modules which have 3 lectures a week for the first term and first 3 weeks of 2nd term then you'll probably have a lab project for the rest of that term (another module in itself). Then you'll have a field course module or another lab based thing (if you're a cell/molecular biologist) and a lit review in the first term.

-First year lectures are capped at 240 and generally aren't far off that. After 1st year some modules will still be around 200 but some are closer to 50. Tutorials have around 6 or 7 people in. Labs have up to 80 in each group.

-Most enjoyable depends on your interests really!

-I only have the 2 core textbooks; "Life: The Science of Biology" and "Molecular Cell Biology". There are other recommended textbooks which I didn't bother with. You can order these online or get them as a bundle in Waterstones (but online is cheaper). Some graduates do sell their books so if you want you can look at them in the library before you buy them. Most recent edition might not be necessary but don't go more than 1 or 2 editions behind, stuff does change slightly.

-You can get lab coat and dissection kit from the department in freshers week. I never got a dissection kit (as I mainly do molecular modules) and in my year I think they charged £10 for lab coats. Personally I already had a lab coat as I had a relatively new one for school but most people just bought one from the department.

your reply was really helpful, thanks!
the size of lectures i think will be hardest for me, 240 people... that's more than all the people in my school!
is the molecular biology book this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Molecular-Ce...5602467&sr=8-1
or this one:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Molecular-Ce...5602467&sr=8-1

i actually have the second one from a cousin who did biology.

more questions: are you expected to do loads of reading/own notes in science subjects? are you generally kept busy with work to do?

also how much did you generally spend per week/month in your first year? i've heard about £30-£50 is normal, more if you like to go out lots. i can't really handle much alcohol so that'll be cheap but what kind of unexpected costs are there? like how much do you spend on laundry/snacks/toiletries?

[paperstars123]

(Original post by purple-girl)
-First year lectures are capped at 240 and generally aren't far off that. After 1st year some modules will still be around 200 but some are closer to 50. Tutorials have around 6 or 7 people in. Labs have up to 80 in each group.

Hello, do you happen to know the class size for social science lectures and tutorials (specifically for economics)? Are they usually smaller or larger than those at the science department?

Also, how many libraries are there in Durham? (sorry I searched for this some time ago but forgot)

[Econ92]

(Original post by paperstars123)
Hello, do you happen to know the class size for social science lectures and tutorials (specifically for economics)? Are they usually smaller or larger than those at the science department?

Also, how many libraries are there in Durham? (sorry I searched for this some time ago but forgot)

For the core economics modules (Elements and Methods) there is upwards of 300-350 people in lectures. Tutorials range from 10-18 or so people.

Other modules could have as few as 100 people, but pretty similar tutorial sizes. Really depends on the popularity of the module that year.

[undergradstudent]

(Original post by paperstars123)
Hello, do you happen to know the class size for social science lectures and tutorials (specifically for economics)? Are they usually smaller or larger than those at the science department?

Also, how many libraries are there in Durham? (sorry I searched for this some time ago but forgot)

There are 3 libraries in Durham city, but you'll only need to use the main library (at the science site).

http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/using/l...s/mainlibrary/

For economics though I would guess that you'll only need textbooks and newspaper reports in first year and then textbooks and articles so you won't need to go to the library much if you don't want to (eg if you work better in your college bedroom than in the library).

[purple-girl]

(Original post by canŵio)
your reply was really helpful, thanks!
the size of lectures i think will be hardest for me, 240 people... that's more than all the people in my school!
is the molecular biology book this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Molecular-Ce...5602467&sr=8-1
or this one:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Molecular-Ce...5602467&sr=8-1

i actually have the second one from a cousin who did biology.

more questions: are you expected to do loads of reading/own notes in science subjects? are you generally kept busy with work to do?

also how much did you generally spend per week/month in your first year? i've heard about £30-£50 is normal, more if you like to go out lots. i can't really handle much alcohol so that'll be cheap but what kind of unexpected costs are there? like how much do you spend on laundry/snacks/toiletries?

I wouldn't worry about the size of the lectures, you probably won't talk to most of the people there; chances are you'll either find a group from your college to walk down/sit with or you'll eventually find a group within other colleges through labs/tutorials etc.

I think both of those links were the same so I don't know what the other one you meant to link to was. Those both link to the book I have but there's also "Molecular Biology of the Cell" which I believe is similar.

I think Biology technically expect you to do extra reading but this gets more important as the years go on; for the first couple of years you're taught stuff that's in textbooks but in 3rd year the content's all relatively new research and you're expected to read papers etc to get more knowledge, but I'm not sure how many people actually do this! You'll have the odd lab report to do and the very occasional essay so you're kept busy but you should have free time.

I'm a bit of a cheapskate and don't go out that much so spend maybe £20-30 a week? You'lll only need to do laundry every other week or so as the machines in college are huge but I'm not sure how much they cost nowadays. Other stuff (eg snacks) it really depends on yourself really...personally I'd often have a pack of biscuits in my room and occasionally have a toastie in the way of snacks but other people would have a real stash of sweets etc and others nothing. It really does depend, but in theory when you're in college extra costs should be minimalised.

[rebeccap]

(Original post by canŵio)
more questions: are you expected to do loads of reading/own notes in science subjects? are you generally kept busy with work to do?

also how much did you generally spend per week/month in your first year? i've heard about £30-£50 is normal, more if you like to go out lots. i can't really handle much alcohol so that'll be cheap but what kind of unexpected costs are there? like how much do you spend on laundry/snacks/toiletries?

Biology is probably the science with the least work to do, at least in first year. You have to write up practicals (mostly in the second term) which are counted towards your end of year mark. But apart from that, outside of lectures and practicals you have a few tutorials that will probably give you a past paper question to do each term and then a shortish essay over the Christmas holidays. You are meant to do reading outside of lectures, but it's not that much work really.

The washing machines are £2.50 a wash and 50p for the dryer, although the size of the machine depends on the college (and some driers don't get everything dry in one go :/)
Balls can add a significant extra cost if you decide to go and depending what college you are depends how expensive they are.

[Brand New Eyes]

What are tutorials like?

(sizes, time wise, work you do)

Pros and Cons of Van Mildert

Also, is it possible to change your college allocation D:

[maxcartwright]

are traditions a big thing at durham (st marys)? my choice is between War studies at KCL and IR at Durham. Favorite course is war studies but I think i would prefer the small community and 'oldness' of a small town.

[aimee810]

(Original post by Brand New Eyes)
What are tutorials like?

(sizes, time wise, work you do)

Also, is it possible to change your college allocation D:

Tutorials vary a lot by subject and by which tutor you have. I do biology and mine are fortnightly, 6 people, we look at current scientific literature and the tutor sets us essays/articles to write. But like I said, it massively depends on your subject.

I think you can only change college if there's some sort of medical reason like, I don't know, being physically disabled and wanting to be moved to a college closer to your department? If it's just personal preference, then I really doubt it. Plus, Van Mildert is pretty cool

[thisisaweirdbus]

Hi. I've applied for German and ab inito Russian (2012 entry), and I'm really struggling to choose between Durham and UCL. Would anyone who studies Modern Languages be willing to let me pester them with some questions? I can PM you if you'd prefer.

[Maestromatica12]

(Original post by thisisaweirdbus)
Hi. I've applied for German and ab inito Russian (2012 entry), and I'm really struggling to choose between Durham and UCL. Would anyone who studies Modern Languages be willing to let me pester them with some questions? I can PM you if you'd prefer.

Hey Don't post here much these days but stumbled across this!

Admittedly I'm not doing German or Russian but I am doing Modern Languages (French + ab initio Italian), so if you've got any general questions about how the course works or the place itself, then feel free to pester away and I'll do my best to help! PM or here, whichever you want

[StarSpangled]

Hi

Got unconditional for a foundation course 2 months or so ago and still havent heard from the college ( Applied for St hills and bede) . Am i going to have to wait until everyone gets their exams result in august?

And can anyone tell me if st hills and bede is any good as in accomodation , the people there , i just blindly pickt it Much appreciated