Uni for Physics/Astronomy- Durham/Bristol/Warwick/Edinburgh/St Andrew's/Other?

However, regarding, Exeter, I still stand by my statement. It is not a "top" university for Physics. Indeed it might still be good, but as the initial poster wanted to know the "best" that were available to her/him, then I stand by my statement. We could go on all day listing all the good universities, but that won't help the initial poster!

It's as good as Durham and Warwick, so why not list it with them?

IMO the department may be but the calbre of the students that exeter admits is far bellow that of durham

Just because I wasn't aware that Scottish Universities were well renowned for Physics there's no need to be so rude:

No, their grades can be lower that a) doesn't mean they are, b) doesn't mean they are of lower calibre. Admissions do not equate to quality of degree - you are on a hiding to nothing by trying to show that degree quality is related to the A-level grades set as admission requirements (this merely shows popularity). Exeter is really struggling to fill its requirements (and it seems that many members of this board seem to have an inexplicably low opinion of the institution - maybe why they are struggling) and that is why it has low requirements. True they maybe a greater percentage of students that drop out from the course, but that has no effect on the standard of the degree, which is very well respected.

A relative was given a offer of BBB there and manged to get in despite dropping 3 grades in relavent subjects. I am sure that you would not be allowed to do a similar thing at durham.
And I did not mention what i thought of the quality of the degree in that post. I do not think that the a levels is related to degree quality as i did not mention degree quality at all in that post.

Then your point is what?

the cabre of students going to exeter is lower, one reason why IMO it is at a lower standard than a uni like durham

So you are saying that the entrance requirements do affect the quality of the degree?

Exeter is a much less popular university than durham and thus has a lot more places available on it's physics course than durham and thus the entrance requirements are lower (i.e. Exeter struggles to fill its threshold to keep the course viable). However I see no connection between this and the quality of graduates produce, nor the standard of the department at Exeter which is on a par with that of Durham. Surely these things are more important markers of a department's ability than the grades you have to get to get in there?

Why in your opinion is Exeter is alot less popular?

I don't know but it is.

Physics is unpopular anyway.

I don't see any reason why there should be less people acheiving firsts.

Not really. A-Level results don't tend to correlate that well with degree classifications.

Yes but you reasoning is based on speculations and assumptions that are incorrect. The fact remains that physics graduates from exeter graduate from an RAE 5 department with 2 FRS's on staff - that's as good as most non-oxbridge/imperial universities if not better.

and? its not like we are comparing different subjects here, History at durham and exeter is popular and requires high grades. Physics is according to you of a similar level at both institutions yet one requires lower grades and is unpopular. I would suggest that the latter is because the Uni is simpely not as good for physics.

Well you are wrong, but I can't be bothered arguing the toss anymore

if that is your attitude there is little point replying to your post

Yep, just take bits of my post out of context - are you training to be a journalist?

oh so you are still interested in this debate?

No, just don't like it when people do that. Next time you get neg repped.

Oh i am scared, you cannot say someone is wrong when the view you are expressing is an opinion. That also annoys me if we are going to get into this.

I think what incomplete is getting at is not that he suggests anything about the standard of the degree, but at the standard going in. These are not really related, but perhaps if u have brighter students going in then perhaps u can push them further.