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University of Nottingham or UEA

Hi, I am having trouble deciding whether or not to go to University of East Anglia (UEA) for Biomedical Sciences with a Placement year or whether or not to go to University of Nottingham for Biotechnology.

I know the University of Nottingham is a Russell group and I don’t know whether or not that will actually affect my prospects later on. I am happy with doing either of those courses so for me it is more about what will be more beneficial to me in the long run.

I plan on doing a Masters and potentially eventually head towards a Doctorate and work in research, Universities, etc.

I can’t figure out which is best for the courses and which will be better for me overall or whether it is about the same

Reply 1

UoN Students

Official Rep

Hello @Ascbd!

Both options are indeed great so that it is difficult to make a decision!

I would create a table with all the criteria that matter to you in an order (for instance, the modules that will study, research quality, how you like the campus, location/city, cost of living etc) and then choose based on that. Likewise, as you mention that you may want to work in academia after you graduate, have you looked into the modules that allow you to work on a research project? For example, the Biotechnology MSci at UoN has a mandatory Year 3 module named "Undergraduate Research Project" on top of your MSci Final Year project. It could be argued that both of them would be helpful to develop most of the skillset that is required for a potential PhD in the future.

Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions!

All the best,
Abian.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 2

Ascbd

Original post by UoN Students

Hello @Ascbd!
Both options are indeed great so that it is difficult to make a decision!
I would create a table with all the criteria that matter to you in an order (for instance, the modules that will study, research quality, how you like the campus, location/city, cost of living etc) and then choose based on that. Likewise, as you mention that you may want to work in academia after you graduate, have you looked into the modules that allow you to work on a research project? For example, the Biotechnology MSci at UoN has a mandatory Year 3 module named "Undergraduate Research Project" on top of your MSci Final Year project. It could be argued that both of them would be helpful to develop most of the skillset that is required for a potential PhD in the future.
Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions!
All the best,
Abian.

Thank you! The campus of both I’m fine with, the same goes for the location! They’re very different but both are fine for me. I am having a lot of trouble deciding because I want to go somewhere that makes me happy but also will be better for me academically.

Reply 3

UEA Rep Grace

Official Rep

Original post by Ascbd

Hi, I am having trouble deciding whether or not to go to University of East Anglia (UEA) for Biomedical Sciences with a Placement year or whether or not to go to University of Nottingham for Biotechnology.
I know the University of Nottingham is a Russell group and I don’t know whether or not that will actually affect my prospects later on. I am happy with doing either of those courses so for me it is more about what will be more beneficial to me in the long run.
I plan on doing a Masters and potentially eventually head towards a Doctorate and work in research, Universities, etc.
I can’t figure out which is best for the courses and which will be better for me overall or whether it is about the same

Hi there.

While I can't speak about your courses in particular, I was in a similar situation deciding between UEA for Psychology with Placement Year or Psychology at the University of Southampton, a Russell group.

When deciding, I considered how competitive the universities would be to get into- for instance, if I didn't achieve my predicted grades, would Southampton still take me? I ended up going to UEA because I fell in love with the campus and had a really positive open day experience. They have amazing placement links and are very supportive in both helping you find a placement and helping you prepare for the interviews, etc, as well as supporting you through your placement.

Having finished my placement and now starting a master's at UEA, I would highly recommend the placement year as the experience you gain is invaluable in setting you apart from your peers. I was able to link my placement research to my final year project (the dissertation) and was offered a job! There is also potential for me to do a PhD with my placement organisation which has been supported by my academic advisor, so in terms of your future plans I think UEA would be really good in helping you get to your doctorate.

I'm happy to answer any other questions if you have them!

Thanks,
Grace

Reply 4

UEA Rep Daniel

Official Rep

Original post by Ascbd

Hi, I am having trouble deciding whether or not to go to University of East Anglia (UEA) for Biomedical Sciences with a Placement year or whether or not to go to University of Nottingham for Biotechnology.
I know the University of Nottingham is a Russell group and I don’t know whether or not that will actually affect my prospects later on. I am happy with doing either of those courses so for me it is more about what will be more beneficial to me in the long run.
I plan on doing a Masters and potentially eventually head towards a Doctorate and work in research, Universities, etc.
I can’t figure out which is best for the courses and which will be better for me overall or whether it is about the same

Hi there,

I totally get how tough this decision can be, especially when both options have a lot to offer. I’ve been through a similar journey myself, so I thought I’d share a bit of my experience, which might help.

I studied Biomedical Science, then went on to do my MSc at UCL and later a PhD at UEA. The support and opportunities I received at UEA were fantastic and really set me up for my research career. Whilst I did not have a placement year (I did summer internship), I do see a massive advantage having one. Beyond the hands-on experience it would help you build connections in the industry, and can really make you stand out when applying for Masters or PhD programs. It’s something that genuinely boosts your CV and gives you a taste of what working in research or a related field could be like.

While Nottingham being a Russell Group university is something to consider, what’s really important is finding a place where you’ll thrive and get the most out of your studies. UEA has a strong reputation in the sciences, and the environment here is incredibly supportive, both academically and personally. The focus on research is strong, with plenty of opportunities to get involved in cutting-edge projects, which could be beneficial for your plans to pursue a Masters and eventually a PhD. Fun fact about the school of biological sciences, post post docs and lecturers have started in the school as undergraduates and stayed later on for PhD, post-docs and lectureships :smile:

If you have any more questions or want to chat more about what UEA has to offer, I’m happy to help. Whatever you decide, I’m sure you’ll make the right choice for your future.

Best of luck with your decision!
Daniel
PhD in Biology