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UCL > Imperial?

Hi guys,
I've got two spots left on ucas and I'm not sure where to apply. I've got an offer from KCL already but now I've heard UCL and Imperial are the more prestigious universities and also 'better' than KCL in general.

I want to study either Physics or Natural Sciences. Which university should I choose? I haven't visited either but it's enough for me to know whether they're in central London.

Why not just use my two spots for both, you might ask. Well, I'm also considering Durham University. I'd very much appreciate it if you could give a (personal) answer to the following questions and/or your general opinion on these unis.

I'm sorry I use the words better/best so much I know it doesn't mean much but I still hope you can answer it.

- Which university is the best in general? (for example the highest in ranking)
- Which university is the best at science?
- Which university is best at providing accomodation? (and won't leave me looking for expensive London appartments)
- Which university has the best Natural Science (or Physics if they haven't got one) course?
- Which university is the easiest to get into (and which the hardest)?

Is it going to be UCL, Durham or Imperial?
Thanks for reading and potentially answering this!

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Imperial is by far the best for Physics, followed slightly more distantly by Durham. UCLs Physics course isn't bad per se, but it is nowhere near the level of either of those (unless your specific interest is in planetary science or astrophysics - particularly, NOT high energy astrophysics - which it has some specialist expertise in).

NatSci at UCL depends somewhat on the courses you pursue - I'd say overall Durham's NatSci course is better though, perhaps excepting if you want to pursue earth sciences/similar (which are better at UCL on one of their single subject courses anyway, as the NatSci course doesn't seem to facilitate it that well).

KCL's Physics course is better than UCL, for reference. You should stop looking at rankings and look at the course content (and former students comments/destinations).
Reply 2
Original post by artful_lounger
Imperial is by far the best for Physics, followed slightly more distantly by Durham. UCLs Physics course isn't bad per se, but it is nowhere near the level of either of those (unless your specific interest is in planetary science or astrophysics - particularly, NOT high energy astrophysics - which it has some specialist expertise in).


UCL's Butterworth is pretty involved in the LHC and writes a good book :smile:
Original post by dutchstudent123
Hi guys,
I've got two spots left on ucas and I'm not sure where to apply. I've got an offer from KCL already but now I've heard UCL and Imperial are the more prestigious universities and also 'better' than KCL in general.

I want to study either Physics or Natural Sciences. Which university should I choose? I haven't visited either but it's enough for me to know whether they're in central London.

Why not just use my two spots for both, you might ask. Well, I'm also considering Durham University. I'd very much appreciate it if you could give a (personal) answer to the following questions and/or your general opinion on these unis.

I'm sorry I use the words better/best so much I know it doesn't mean much but I still hope you can answer it.

- Which university is the best in general? (for example the highest in ranking)
- Which university is the best at science?
- Which university is best at providing accomodation? (and won't leave me looking for expensive London appartments)
- Which university has the best Natural Science (or Physics if they haven't got one) course?
- Which university is the easiest to get into (and which the hardest)?

Is it going to be UCL, Durham or Imperial?
Thanks for reading and potentially answering this!


I would go for UCL and Durham.

Imperial is fantastic, but I have heard that life is much better at UCL/Durham.
Reply 4
Original post by dutchstudent123
Hi guys,
I've got two spots left on ucas and I'm not sure where to apply. I've got an offer from KCL already but now I've heard UCL and Imperial are the more prestigious universities and also 'better' than KCL in general.

I want to study either Physics or Natural Sciences. Which university should I choose? I haven't visited either but it's enough for me to know whether they're in central London.

Why not just use my two spots for both, you might ask. Well, I'm also considering Durham University. I'd very much appreciate it if you could give a (personal) answer to the following questions and/or your general opinion on these unis.

I'm sorry I use the words better/best so much I know it doesn't mean much but I still hope you can answer it.

- Which university is the best in general? (for example the highest in ranking)
- Which university is the best at science?
- Which university is best at providing accomodation? (and won't leave me looking for expensive London appartments)
- Which university has the best Natural Science (or Physics if they haven't got one) course?
- Which university is the easiest to get into (and which the hardest)?

Is it going to be UCL, Durham or Imperial?
Thanks for reading and potentially answering this!


Considering the deadline has now passed... where did you apply in the end?
Reply 5
One of my very good friends studies Chem at UCL. Obtained A*A*A*A so could have gone anywhere but wanted to be in London. UCL life was the main thing for him, Imperial is undoubtedly a highly ranked university in regards to sciences but he met such a wider range of people at UCL. Plus, a lot of the student accommodation is closer together and the campus is not as far spread as Imperial.

Hope this helps!
Original post by Doonesbury
Considering the deadline has now passed... where did you apply in the end?


Only at Durham😅 I figured the cost of living in London wouldn't be worth it for either of them.
Reply 7
Original post by dutchstudent123
Only at Durham😅 I figured the cost of living in London wouldn't be worth it for either of them.


London is certainly expensive but Imperial (and perhaps UCL, dunno) have generous bursaries.

Anyway - good luck with your Durham application. :smile:

Did you not apply anywhere else at all?
Original post by Doonesbury
London is certainly expensive but Imperial (and perhaps UCL, dunno) have generous bursaries.

Anyway - good luck with your Durham application. :smile:

Did you not apply anywhere else at all?


Well, you may remember me from the Cambridge threads. Other than that I've applied for KCL and Edinborough. And for TU Delft in my own country.
Reply 9
Original post by dutchstudent123
Well, you may remember me from the Cambridge threads. Other than that I've applied for KCL and Edinborough. And for TU Delft in my own country.


Ah yes! :smile:
ill be answering all of the above questions in order keeping in mind that you want to study physics.
-imperial gets better ranks consistantly in general rankings
-imperial is better at sciences because it is dubbed as "MIT of europe"
-accomodation according to me would be better at UCL
- imperial , undoubtedly
- durham is easiest to get into followed by ucl and then imperial

hope this helps!
Kcl and ucl are bad unis so pick imperial
Reply 12
Original post by Proxenus
Kcl and ucl are bad unis so pick imperial


They aren’t bad.
Original post by Proxenus
Kcl and ucl are bad unis so pick imperial


how?
Reply 14
Original post by SuperHuman98
how?


Exactly lol.
Original post by Black Water
They aren’t bad.


whats your reason?
Reply 16
Original post by Proxenus
whats your reason?


I know this isn’t a reason, but they just aren’t. In your opinion, why are they bad?
Original post by Black Water
I know this isn’t a reason, but they just aren’t. In your opinion, why are they bad?


oh come on something must have made you say they arent. i will answer yours if you answer mine properly
Reply 18
Original post by Proxenus
oh come on something must have made you say they arent. i will answer yours if you answer mine properly


Good graduate prospects, and has a diverse range of students. It’s ranked quite highly on league tables. I’m guessing you probably think it’s bad because of it’s student satisfaction.
why didn't anyone reply to him? he wrote this a week ago.

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