Nottingham A100 / A108 2020 Offer Holders

DR2002

My son had the same dilemma last year! He firmed Birmingham and insured Nottingham - he is at Birmingham and has not regretted it for one minute.

Do you know how the firming and insuring works? My offer grades for Birmingham are lower than Nottingham IF I firm Birmingham otherwise they are both the same AAA. Am I therefore only able to firm with higher grade entry and insure a lower grade? If so I would have to go with my 5th offer of Biochem at Sheffield which is AAB. It is so hard as I like both equally. Waiting to hear from Sheffield and Manchester but these were my top 2 choices so over the moon I heard from both. Pleased your son is enjoying Birmingham, where would you recommend is the best place halls wise?

Reply 21

bathtimecheetah

7

Original post by Aspiring_doc786

Nope, only the foundation year is based in Derby, the rest of the 5 years are in Nottingham

Apologies I meant to say is all of the foundation year based in Derby? Like would there be times we would need to be in the Nottingham Campus?

Reply 22

Simbasoul

19

Original post by Thomsontwins

Do you know how the firming and insuring works? My offer grades for Birmingham are lower than Nottingham IF I firm Birmingham otherwise they are both the same AAA. Am I therefore only able to firm with higher grade entry and insure a lower grade? If so I would have to go with my 5th offer of Biochem at Sheffield which is AAB. It is so hard as I like both equally. Waiting to hear from Sheffield and Manchester but these were my top 2 choices so over the moon I heard from both. Pleased your son is enjoying Birmingham, where would you recommend is the best place halls wise?

Do not make the decision based on a lower offer if you firm, is my first bit of advice. You are committing to at least 5 years so choose the one you prefer - look at the teaching styles, patient contact, GP placements. A big difference is the intercalated degree at Birmingham - Notts do it differently - there are pros and cons of both. In theory you firm a higher offer and insure a lower offer (so that you improve your chances if you don’t make the grades for your higher offer.) in practise with Medicine the offer is usually AAA (although Birmingham was higher last year). If you are confident in getting your grades put two medical schools - your first choice might take you with lower grades, your insurance might not. If you firm Birmingham and that gets you a lower offer then, in a sense, insuring Notts is almost irrelevant - if you don’t make the “lower” offer from Brum (AAB?) then it is highly unlikely Notts would accept you.

With regards to accom - I believe Notts allow you (if you firm them) to literally book your exact room. Birmingham run a far fairer system (bearing in mind that most medical schools require you to apply the earliest but are often the last to hear about offers) and open accommodation on a set date and require you to list 6 choices in preference order and they will try and give you one of those. My advice would be don’t set your heart on a particular type as you may not get it. Choose the type you want (catered or self catering) and then look at the options. My son wanted self catering and would have preferred ensuite but got Tennis Court. This has worked out fantastically - small flats in small blocks and generally they are considered the most sociable (the bigger newer halls tend to be too big so only socialise by floor). Tennis Courts might look a bit scruffier but we are very glad he is where he is!

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 23

adzz.s1

13

Original post by bathtimecheetah

I’m too waiting for offer holder days to see where I’ll be picking my accommodation. I don’t want to feel left out of the whole experience if I’m staying in Derby :s-smilie:

but then again is all of A108 foundation based in Derby?

Exactly my dilemma, I’m just working towards getting an AAA so that they hopefully say I can just do the 5 yr course

Reply 24

schoolsuxs

12

Original post by adzz.s1

Exactly my dilemma, I’m just working towards getting an AAA so that they hopefully say I can just do the 5 yr course

with this, i’m sure you’re required to book accommodation before results day so wouldn’t it be hard to predict if they have spaces on the A100 course because I saw someone say the first year is located in derby? not sure tho

Reply 25

wiktxriaxo

6

Original post by schoolsuxs

with this, i’m sure you’re required to book accommodation before results day so wouldn’t it be hard to predict if they have spaces on the A100 course because I saw someone say the first year is located in derby? not sure tho

There is a free shuttle every half an hour from Nottingham to derby and they said you can still live in at the uni and just get that

Reply 26

adzz.s1

13

Original post by wiktxriaxo

There is a free shuttle every half an hour from Nottingham to derby and they said you can still live in at the uni and just get that

Oh that’s good lol, feeling a bit better...

Reply 27

adzz.s1

13

Original post by schoolsuxs

with this, i’m sure you’re required to book accommodation before results day so wouldn’t it be hard to predict if they have spaces on the A100 course because I saw someone say the first year is located in derby? not sure tho

Original post by schoolsuxs

with this, i’m sure you’re required to book accommodation before results day so wouldn’t it be hard to predict if they have spaces on the A100 course because I saw someone say the first year is located in derby? not sure tho

Oh yh lol, we’ll see what happens I guess

Reply 28

DR2002

11

Original post by Simbasoul

Do not make the decision based on a lower offer if you firm, is my first bit of advice. You are committing to at least 5 years so choose the one you prefer - look at the teaching styles, patient contact, GP placements. A big difference is the intercalated degree at Birmingham - Notts do it differently - there are pros and cons of both. In theory you firm a higher offer and insure a lower offer (so that you improve your chances if you don’t make the grades for your higher offer.) in practise with Medicine the offer is usually AAA (although Birmingham was higher last year). If you are confident in getting your grades put two medical schools - your first choice might take you with lower grades, your insurance might not. If you firm Birmingham and that gets you a lower offer then, in a sense, insuring Notts is almost irrelevant - if you don’t make the “lower” offer from Brum (AAB?) then it is highly unlikely Notts would accept you.

With regards to accom - I believe Notts allow you (if you firm them) to literally book your exact room. Birmingham run a far fairer system (bearing in mind that most medical schools require you to apply the earliest but are often the last to hear about offers) and open accommodation on a set date and require you to list 6 choices in preference order and they will try and give you one of those. My advice would be don’t set your heart on a particular type as you may not get it. Choose the type you want (catered or self catering) and then look at the options. My son wanted self catering and would have preferred ensuite but got Tennis Court. This has worked out fantastically - small flats in small blocks and generally they are considered the most sociable (the bigger newer halls tend to be too big so only socialise by floor). Tennis Courts might look a bit scruffier but we are very glad he is where he is!

That's great thank you lots of pros/cons to consider for both before deciding on who to firm. Thanks for taking the time to advise really appreciated.

Reply 29

Thatmedic21

5

Original post by elle_:)

The graduate medics normally stay in University of Derby halls but I am a tutor at Broadgate Park so if you have any questions I can most likely answer them for you :smile:

Do undergraduate foundation medics stay in derby too?

Reply 30

bogie123s

3

Is anyone here an international who has already received an offer?

Reply 31

elle_:)

4

Original post by Thatmedic21

Do undergraduate foundation medics stay in derby too?

I don't know how many foundation medics stay in Derby but I do know that it is where the graduate medics are expected to stay. However, just because you are based in Derby doesn't necessarily mean you need to live there.

I know quite a lot of foundation medics that live at Broadgate Park and it is usually in order to stay involved in more of the Nottingham university life and nights out in Notts town centre. But you do have to take into account the extra time it would take to get to Derby medical school. Although the university website says that Broadgate is 15 minutes from University Park it does depend on where you need to go. For example, to get to Derby you would have to walk to Portland East Drive and catch the shuttle and it would take you around an hour. If you were going to QMC, as you would after foundation years, then you can walk but it would take about 30-40 minutes depending on how fast you walk or you could catch the tram as it is only two stops from Broadgate. However, bear in mind with the tram you will need to purchase an annual card if you use it often which is a couple hundred pounds.

Reply 32

schoolsuxs

12

Original post by elle_:)

I don't know how many foundation medics stay in Derby but I do know that it is where the graduate medics are expected to stay. However, just because you are based in Derby doesn't necessarily mean you need to live there.

I know quite a lot of foundation medics that live at Broadgate Park and it is usually in order to stay involved in more of the Nottingham university life and nights out in Notts town centre. But you do have to take into account the extra time it would take to get to Derby medical school. Although the university website says that Broadgate is 15 minutes from University Park it does depend on where you need to go. For example, to get to Derby you would have to walk to Portland East Drive and catch the shuttle and it would take you around an hour. If you were going to QMC, as you would after foundation years, then you can walk but it would take about 30-40 minutes depending on how fast you walk or you could catch the tram as it is only two stops from Broadgate. However, bear in mind with the tram you will need to purchase an annual card if you use it often which is a couple hundred pounds.

That’s quite a con of living in the notts accommodation :frown:

public transport can never be trusted to arrive on time. When do we have to book accommodation by? As I am planning to achieve higher grades to enter the A100 course so I would want to be situated near QMC but i have no idea how well i would’ve done, and if the first year is situated in derby I would rather just stay in derby in order to prevent time loss/issues due to transport.

Reply 33

elle_:)

4

Original post by schoolsuxs

That’s quite a con of living in the notts accommodation :frown:

public transport can never be trusted to arrive on time. When do we have to book accommodation by? As I am planning to achieve higher grades to enter the A100 course so I would want to be situated near QMC but i have no idea how well i would’ve done, and if the first year is situated in derby I would rather just stay in derby in order to prevent time loss/issues due to transport.

The shuttles are relatively reliable and are free because they are provided by the uni. But yes, that is why the journey usually takes around an hour because most people sit in a lot of traffic if they get the 8am one for a 9am lecture. That's why a lot of my friends get the earlier 7:30am one so they don't sit in traffic.

If you firm Nottingham then you are guaranteed first year accommodation but as people book there will be less choice. For example, when I did my BSc at Notts I waited to firm for ages and I ended up with only one choice which was St Peter's Court. Although, I did love it there. It might be worth ringing Undergraduate Accommodation Services who could help you with deadlines and potentially swapping halls if you do end up switching onto the 5 year undergraduate course instead. If you do end up based at QMC and don't mind being self-catered I would recommend St Peter's Court though as it is closer than Broadgate and they provide a free bus directly from the halls to QMC and University Park.