Which is a better degree to have

Oh really? So I could basically do a geology PS and still apply for natsci. Yes I expect Imperial accomodation to be horrendously expensive.

Thanks for the advice, maybe I'll talk to school about it. But honestly I don't think I'll ever be sure. I've seriously been through everything. I thought I was doing maths for ages, then chemistry, then engineering, then astrophysics, then philosophy, then earth sciences, it's been bloody ridiculous, I don't think time will help. So tbh I just want to get the fricken application in lol. Luckily natsci covers pretty much all those things so I can prolong deciding hahaha.

I think this is pretty misleading. Firstly, from what I remember when I was applying to Imperial, their cheapest accommodation was in the form of flats that are very far away from the university, did not have very much capacity at all and were mainly for people in their second year who for whatever reason didn't have any private accommodation. The rooms that most first years occupy were in the region of £180-200+/week, which must be considerably more than you'd pay in Durham. Also, in later years when you're no longer in halls, surely it's significantly cheaper to rent in Durham than anywhere near Imperial?



Natural Sciences courses are expecting to get applications from applicants who have applied for single-honours courses at their other choices.

True - the issue is more the expensive and compulsory nature of ALL of Durham's accommodation. Living in college is compulsory for almost all students and the price ranges from £6,800-£7,000 (albeit in most cases including catering) with only a £225 discount if you're in a shared room....so basically ALL Durham first years will need to find £7k for their accommodation costs whereas elsewhere there's usually some degree of flexibility if you're willing to compromise (and for UK students in London they'd be able to get additional loans).

Wow that's a lot... any idea why it's so much? That's literally double what I pay at Oxford and even including food it's still a good £2000+ more...

No idea (but it is a lot - even if you consider that it includes meals) especially considering that that isn't en suite in many cases either (only ~£200 extra for en suite - so for that it works out quite cheap but IIRR they don't have many en suite rooms available for undergrads). https://www.dur.ac.uk/undergraduate/live/colleges/ourcolleges/costs/

Geology at Imperial or Natural Sciences at Durham?

Don't be worrying about the situation of oil.
As well as bountiful oilfields in North America, Russia, Saudi Arabia and other producers in the Middle East, there are massive, barely tapped reserves in South America, Africa and the Arctic: not billions of barrels’ worth, but trillions. So the planet is not about to run out of oil. On the contrary, according to a Harvard University report published last year, we are heading for a glut.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/energy/oil/9867659/Why-the-world-isnt-running-out-of-oil.html

??? obviously. There can be two people going for a job, same class degree, same a levels, same charisma, same everything blah blah but one went to aberystwyth and the other went to cambridge. Which do you think will get the job?

Not to derail this thread but you're making the dangerous assumption here that all of this oil is going to be used. Indeed, Tony Hayward (the ex-CEO of BP) said at a lecture at my department recently that he thinks the demand for oil (for energy) will stop well before oil reserves are ever remotely depleted. I'm not suggesting that the industry is in imminent collapse but I do not think it's remotely as stable as oil reserves would indicate - there is never going a major revival of the oil industry.

??? obviously. There can be two people going for a job, same class degree, same a levels, same charisma, same everything blah blah but one went to aberystwyth and the other went to cambridge. Which do you think will get the job?

Employers are employing people not universities. For most employers in most careers the "reputation" of a candidates university is not a factor. Rightly.

For careers where it historically has been a factor some employers are starting to change their recruitment procedures so the university is actually hidden from the interviewers/selectors to prevent potential biases.

Geology at Imperial is the better option. Imperial's the best at Geology, and for good reason: they keep adding stuff to the degree to make sure they're ahead of the pack and getting the best education for their students. They've recently introduced python programming as part of their Geology BSc/MSci.

Don't be worrying about the situation of oil.
As well as bountiful oilfields in North America, Russia, Saudi Arabia and other producers in the Middle East, there are massive, barely tapped reserves in South America, Africa and the Arctic: not billions of barrels’ worth, but trillions. So the planet is not about to run out of oil. On the contrary, according to a Harvard University report published last year, we are heading for a glut.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/energy/oil/9867659/Why-the-world-isnt-running-out-of-oil.html

Also, petroleum geology is only one of many other disciplines you could go into: geochemistry; hydrogeology; sedimentology, renewables, environmental, engineering geology, hydrogeology, seismology, geophysics (although this is more the geophysics course).

It might be too late but have you been to the open days? Imperial already had theirs, I think Durham may have had theirs already.

I'm hoping to make Imperial for Geology this year as well, so good luck!

Not to derail this thread but you're making the dangerous assumption here that all of this oil is going to be used. Indeed, Tony Hayward (the ex-CEO of BP) said at a lecture at my department recently that he thinks the demand for oil (for energy) will stop well before oil reserves are ever remotely depleted. I'm not suggesting that the industry is in imminent collapse but I do not think it's remotely as stable as oil reserves would indicate - there is never going a major revival of the oil industry.

That's good to know, will most likely not specialise into petroleum anyway it was just a worry I had haha. Maybe I'll see you there next year! Also are you not concerned about studying/living in London at all?

Well the accommodation costs aren't too bad, and they're right in the middle of London so close enough to the nightlife and things like the cinema, and literally a stone's throw from 3 big museums. Although I might live with family I have in London so

Oh you live in London? I've only visited twice so you can imagine how scary it would be for me hahaha. There would be loads to do but probably less people to do it with right? Would be harder to make friends I think, especially in a city vibe.

Ach no but I have family living there that have offered a spare room to me; whereabouts are you from? I can bet you're more used to the city than me! I wouldn't say that, when I went to their open day this month they were all really friendly and said there are enough people there that everyone finds friends that personalities match

North yorkshire lol in the middle of this tiny little village in the middle of no where (can u call 5 houses a village idk). That's reassuring, hopefully they'll be at least someone. But I've heard that because it's so competitive and everyones hardworking, the partying side of it is pretty dire. Apparently instead of having a freshers week they have two days of induction

Same I live in a townland which is a tiny rural district that doesn't even contain a village you'd have to drive a few miles to find a town Really? I know it's hard but there must be some free time, especially for sports clubs. Seriously are you sure?

Yep, my friend goes there, she started last year and I've been talking to her a lot about it. She thinks the uni expereince is definitely better else where which is what im concerned about. But then again, you do get a degree from imperial at the end of it lol