Can't decide where to go - help!

Hi all,

I'm a (very) mature student, and I have to decide on my choice of university very soon. I completed an HND in Applied Biological Science in 2022 and had hoped to get direct entry into the third year of a uni course after finishing the HND. However, a run of bad health curtailed those hopes for a couple of years. I've now recovered to the point where I can turn my wishes into reality, and I'm holding some unconditional offers right now.

I'm also autistic, so the busy uni environment can be quite overwhelming for me, although I'm determined to complete my degree studies.

I live in the Glasgow area, and for a few reasons I don't really want to go in to, I don't want to attend one of the Glasgow-based unis. I have narrowed down my choices to Stirling (Applied Biological Science) and Napier (Applied Microbiology) - both offers are for third year entry.

I've been trying to make a decision but swing back and forth between the two. I know that Stirling is objectively the "better" uni, but the course at Napier is RSB accredited (the Stirling degree isn't) and is focused on Microbiology (which is my favourite area of study). However, the Stirling campus looks a lot nicer and is cheaper to get to, plus I might have more employment options with the more broadly-based degree that Stirling offers.

I need to make a decision soon. I'd love to hear from students/past students who have studied at either Stirling or Napier, especially if you studied a scientific subject.

Thanks for all your help.

Reply 1

Anonymous #2

Hi there, I have also done an HND (I went to Aberdeen college). I'm also autistic.

I would speak (online or in person) to both universities student support services or disability services to make sure they are good at supporting your needs. It's no good going to a uni if they're bad at supporting students who have meltdowns because you'll be disadvantaged. I did this and found to my delight my preferred institution, a red brick uni, actually was very supportive, much more so than the 'lesser' uni.

Have you physically visited both campuses? If you haven't, do that if you possibly can before making a choice as there really isn't a way to gauge a uni in my experience without visiting the campus itself.

Royal society of biology accreditation is good, it means at minimum you get similar standard of education to the rest of the UK. For example I was assessed this year on several key RSB skills like making streak plates, SDS-PAGE pipetting. However it's not the be all and end all, so see how happy you are with each institutions teaching. Do the lecturers seem knowledgeable? Did you get on with the ones you talked to on the open day? They'll be the people teaching you so if you don't get on with them, that spells trouble at uni!

By the way if you've missed the open days, you can still get a private tour at most unis if you email the uni and ask nicely.