Is ucl upcse worth it?

I am currently on the course. Your chance to progress largely depends on what subject you want to study. What would you like to study for undergraduate?

I am currently on the course. Your chance to progress largely depends on what subject you want to study. What would you like to study for undergraduate?

Pharmacy

Do you have any idea for Physics?

What textbooks are used for bio and chem? I am trying to assess how intense the course is. Also, how is the ucl environment for an international student? Thank in advance

'Advanced Biology' by Michael Kent and 'Chemistry in Context Sixth Edition' by Graham Hill and John Holman.

Thanks teeth for responding. Super helpful. i was mostly wondering about neighborhood, and accessibility. Is it better to stay in a dorm because life is hectic, or do students stay in nearby housing and get by.

Hi teeeth, we have to pay fees for the course ASAP, and are in two minds whether we should apply straight to UCL for Bsc next year after doing 1 year of college in California, or to opt for the UPCSE course. What in your opinion could be the advantages of doing this ? How are you liking the course ? Also, When is the entry assessment taken after starting the course in September ? How intense is the curriculum of Bio/Chem ? Is it easy to get into Bio Sciences after finishing the course ? Is there tutoring help and group study possible for UPCSE students ? Thanks again for answering.

First of all, congratulations on getting into UPCSE and good luck on your future studies!

It might be a bit late for me to say this but it depends on what sort of qualifications the college in California could give you. If they are not equivalent to A level, I think UPCSE would definitely give you a higher chance of progressing to UCL undergraduate studies. Plus, you have a guaranteed offer for many biosciences courses at UCL when you apply on the UPC.

The entry assessments take place during the first week, though if you completed the first entry exams honestly, this should not worry you at all.

Biology and chemistry modules are the most intense elective modules on the UPCSE. Maths and physics students have less hours. Prepare yourself for 6 hours of lab, 4 hours of lectures, 4 hours of tutorials and having to produce 2 lab reports and 2 courseworks (on top of other EAP and S&S assignments) every week. For biology, there is a field trip around May to Nettlecombe Court Field Studies Centre, where you will work extremely hard for 5 whole days.

It is definitely not “easy” to progress to a UCL undergraduate course. Although it depends on the course, you will need to achieve extremely good grades of mostly As during UPC in order to progress. What undergraduate course(s) are you thinking of applying? Never enroll yourself into the UPC thinking it will be an easy ticket into UCL undergraduates. It is not. You need to work very hard. From my understanding, although many people get offers, not all of them meet their offer and actually progress. Most of my friends last year were unsuccessful.

I have finished the course. Honestly the course was overall a more positive experience for me rather than a negative one, because I’ve really learned a lot, even though it was highly difficult at times and put me through a lot of stress. It is very challenging and is definitely not for everyone. I know lots of people who seriously struggled, even developed mental health issues throughout the course. I am happy to have done it and now I am in my dream course at UCL.

For bio/chem tutorials, students are divided into smaller groups of around 6 or 7 and they take place twice per week for each module. When a student seriously falls behind the course coordinators will provide extra one-on-one or group tutoring sessions (though I don’t know how effective they are really since I haven’t attended one). Everyone on the UPC is also assigned a personal tutor at the beginning of the year though they do not really teach; they mostly provide guidance and check on your progress once a week. They make sure you meet all your deadlines, attend all your classes and your grades are maintained. The UPC does not put you in study groups; however, it shouldn’t be difficult for you to gather some friends and study together.

I hope I’ve answered all of your questions. Feel free to ask more

As long as you maintain 70% in all your modules you should have a good chance in getting into UCL pharmacy. I have two friends who are currently applying to UCL pharmacy from UPC. They were shortlisted for interview and are waiting on a final decision.

The most important assessments during UPCSE are probably the Term 1 exams, as they would be the primary determinant of your predicted grades. Usually, if your marks meet the entry requirements (e.g. AAA or AAB) for your desired UCL course then it is quite likely for you to receive an offer. Medicine and law are exceptions.