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University of Bath

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Truth about Bath University

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Reply 20

warblade

SarahB_

For me it was primarily the placement scheme (ironic really as I'm about to move from the 4yr to 3yr course coz I don't want to do it). I applied to 6 fairly highly regarded campus unis and visited 4 of them, Warwick got dropped then as they were really rude to me & I didn't like Coventry at all. I then chose Bath because the admissions tutor persuaded me that doing a placement would really improve my prospects as a graduate. I'm sure its true, but I've got a job lined up for when I graduate so I now don't feel the need to leave uni and student life for a year to work at the company I'm going to work at when I graduate anyway.

It is quite interesting that you say that, as the admissions tutor for Computer Science did exactly the same with me, and the rest of us on the Applicants day. Will it really be as they say? Because I mean, it's a fact that they have a person just for the placements for Computer Science, I saw her, but will it really be that good as they say? Will you really get a job that will make your life easy after University and lots of money (counting with some work, obviously) ?

Cheers, war.

University of Bath

Bath

Reply 21

Deus

The psychology department also has staff that focuses solely on the placement year. To be honest, it's one of the major factors that draws in a lot of applicants.

I do believe that it will help with prospects later on. I have no doubt about that. Experience in the field of study is essential when looking for work later.

Reply 22

Isotope

I think that all departments have a person in charge of placements and coordinating with industry. And yeah, its another reason why I chose Bath. The good thing is that when you're done with the placement, if they really like you, you already have a job lined up especially for you, the day you graduate from university. Well, if you want to do that job, that is. If you haven't realised you hate it Haha.

Reply 23

prb

Isotope

Well, if you want to do that job, that is. If you haven't realised you hate it Haha.

Thats what I'm worried about! :p:

Reply 24

hairy_scary

What i think is the whole industrial placement scheme is a genius money making scam that Bath came up with so that people on 4 year courses pay tuition for 5 years and ppl on 3 year courses pay tuition for 4 years.

Reply 25

hairy_scary

getting back to the topic.........i only chose bath because i wasnt able to get the grades that superior universities like UCL, Oxbridge, Bristol and Warwick wanted.

Reply 26

JonnyZZ88

hairy_scary

It's a good thing it's optional then, isn't it :P

Reply 27

hairy_scary

Yeah its optional but they "highly recommend" that you do it.

Reply 28

vladsharp

hairy_scary

getting back to the topic.........i only chose bath because i wasnt able to get the grades that superior universities like UCL, Oxbridge, Bristol and Warwick wanted.

Hahahahahahaha that is really very funny...

I'm sure Oxbridge people like to think that they're superior, but it honestly doesn't matter what undergraduate university you go to so long as it's one of the best in its field - it's when it gets postgraduate time that would begin to matter. What you get from Oxbridge (IMO) is really lots and lots of theory with limited pragmatic application. (At least that's what I got from their Open Day/Interviews for the Maths & Comp. Sci. course).

What put me off UCL was the fact that they did *not* get the International Baccalaureate (as was evident from their rather ridiculous offer...)

In the end, you're going to end up teaching yourself (in one way or another).

----

Perhaps the Open Day thing was a bit overdone with the whole emphasis on work placements and amazing prospects - however (and again, I talk about Computer Science) in the market for jobs there is no shortage of demand for people with Comp. Sci. qualifications (or others, such as Engineers - especially in the electronics field).

Reply 29

JonnyZZ88

hairy_scary

Yeah its optional but they "highly recommend" that you do it.

I actually asked a lot when visiting universities whether the placement was worth it (I think I asked it in every interview) and I got the same answer pretty much every time, which was it's more of a personal thing, you wont be disadvantaged by not taking it and it doesn't directly benefit your degree (just boosts your personal experience and might look good on your CV at the end). I don't think it was highly recommended to me at any point (apart from on the leaflets that advertise it, pah).

I'm doing Engineering by the way, perhaps they recommend it more on other courses.

Reply 30

amie

hairy_scary

Even if it is, so what? I have friends working for Microsoft, IBM, L'Oreal (in Paris!) etc. at the moment which is a great opportunity. When they graduate, they'll already have a years worth of top-quality, relevant work experience at a multinational corporation under their belt that students of other universities most likely won't have. Perhaps there are financial benefits for Bath, who knows? But there are huge benefits for the students too, so what does it matter?

That said, I'm not doing a placement because I've already spent one extra year pissing around on the wrong course, I don't want it to take 5 years to get one regular BSc (Hons). Some people take them, others don't but it's really a personal choice.

I chose Bath because I liked it the best out of everywhere I saw. Simple as, really.

Reply 31

SarahB_

Nefarious

I’m fairly sure you don't pay tuition fees when you aren't being taught rather unsurprisingly, including during placements (you will pay for semesters where you are taught so if you have a year that is 50% taught 50% placement you'll pay half fees.) On the other hand if you do a year at a university abroad you may be eligible for all or some of your fees depending on the arrangement with the other university.

Unfortunately not the case for economists, we have to pay half fees for that year.. and when my fees are £6,000 a year normally I can't afford it! (well.. I could.. I'd be earning lots of money as its a full years placement & I'd be living at home.. I'd just rather not)

Reply 32

Lex69

Been reading The Times website a fair bit while at work and you'd be surprised how many company bosses complain that graduates aren't suited to the real world and take time to adjust. It's nothing against students and it's something they have to accept, but I've noticed it since working a 8 hour plus days in London this summer. Having a year long placement shows that you can actually hack a real job and when you compare 2 similar students one with and one without a placement it's pretty obvious who's got the advantage.

Reply 33

Crazbrains

hello guys.. i am currently meant to be studying at bath this year but i took a year off to work in industry... anyways i had a difficult choice i had to choose between Imperial College(No1 in Electrical and Electronics Eng) and Bath(No2#)... i like the way bath is, the city, the buildings compaired to living at home in london, the less level if noise and "hype"... i cant wait till i get to study there myself, reading about it from you guys that feel the same way i feel about the Uni is just too good... thanks :biggrin:

Reply 34

RJA

hairy_scary

getting back to the topic.........i only chose bath because i wasnt able to get the grades that superior universities like UCL, Oxbridge, Bristol and Warwick wanted.

Tbh I thought Warwick was mediocre compared to Bath - and academically there isn't that much difference.

Reply 35

Kryis

I am a final year Computer Science student, and I have just come back from my placement year. It was definitely worth doing - you get experience in industry, which will help getting a job at the end, and you get some money.

We did have to pay 50% tuition fees (~£600), even though we didn't have any lectures. When asked about it, the placements tutor said that it is to cover the cost of running the placement scheme.

With regards to grades, last year the only people that got 1st's were people that did a placement, and the only people that got 3rds didn't do a placement. They reckon that doing a placement increases your final result by up to 1 classification (i.e. you could get a 2:1 instead of a 2:2 if you do a placement) - this is because you learn time management skills etc. which are very important in your final year.

Overall, I would say go for a placement - its a chance you wont get again.

Reply 36

BluesMan

hairy_scary

getting back to the topic.........i only chose bath because i wasnt able to get the grades that superior universities like UCL, Oxbridge, Bristol and Warwick wanted.

Get over yourself.

Unis about what you put in, the contacts you make, and the degree class you get. Not where you went. A 1st from Bath will out rank a 2nd from any other uni in the country.

Reply 37

recneps

BluesMan

Get over yourself.

Unis about what you put in, the contacts you make, and the degree class you get. Not where you went. A 1st from Bath will out rank a 2nd from any other uni in the country.

Bath is one of the top unis in the country (ranked in the top ten in several fields) and for some courses like pharmacy is right at the head of the game. It is certainly no lower ranking than Bristol or Warwick.

And employers have a very high opinion of Bath uni. Yes it's not oxbridge, but its still a very good university with a good reputation, and a first, or even a 2.1, from Bath will look extremely favourable on any job application!

Truth about Bath University

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