Uni choices??

I’m currently at college and have sent off my uni applications just waiting for the school to confirm them.

Basically I’ve applied for three undergrad animal behaviour courses and two zoology courses! The universities i chose were Reading, Royal veterinary college London, Chester(x2 subjects), and Exeter.

I was just wondering if anybody on here had any experiences with animal related courses at these universities and how you found it? or even just any courses really and some more info i could get on how people feel about the unis? I’ve looked through all their websites thoroughly and been to some open days but I just wanted to hear from students what they thought.

Reply 1

Gob123

Original post by grrakz

I’m currently at college and have sent off my uni applications just waiting for the school to confirm them.
Basically I’ve applied for three undergrad animal behaviour courses and two zoology courses! The universities i chose were Reading, Royal veterinary college London, Chester(x2 subjects), and Exeter.
I was just wondering if anybody on here had any experiences with animal related courses at these universities and how you found it? or even just any courses really and some more info i could get on how people feel about the unis? I’ve looked through all their websites thoroughly and been to some open days but I just wanted to hear from students what they thought.

I didn’t go to those unis but if you are able to write this post again but say the full uni name and that university itself will come and respond to your chat. So say university of Chester, university or Exeter so they find it if you get what I mean.

Reply 2

Chester Student

Official Rep

Original post by grrakz

I’m currently at college and have sent off my uni applications just waiting for the school to confirm them.
Basically I’ve applied for three undergrad animal behaviour courses and two zoology courses! The universities i chose were Reading, Royal veterinary college London, Chester(x2 subjects), and Exeter.
I was just wondering if anybody on here had any experiences with animal related courses at these universities and how you found it? or even just any courses really and some more info i could get on how people feel about the unis? I’ve looked through all their websites thoroughly and been to some open days but I just wanted to hear from students what they thought.

Hi there, I am a student at Chester University and whilst I don't study an animal related course, I can hopefully give you an idea of what it's like from a student's point of view. You say you've been to some open days - did you manage to go to Chester's? If not, the next one is on Saturday January 18th 2025. If you would like to go, here is the link to the webpage which will book you on Open Days | University of Chester. We have students working on the Open Days who are around on the whole campus to answer any questions you have and also to lead tours around the University - you can look at the Student Accommodation and the facilities such as the gym, sports hall, Students' Union etc.
So, from a student's point of view, I'd say that I definitely made the right choice in studying at Chester, it really is a great university. In terms of as a place to study, the library is brilliant and the staff can't do enough to help you find the resources and books that you need. Each subject has a subject librarian who is an expert in finding the texts in that area which is a real help. As well as the library we also have support from the Academic Skills team who are independent of your subject tutor and can help with everything to do with your work. I've often asked them to read through bits of my writing and they will pick up on grammar / articulation errors that I've made and ways that I can improve. As well as this, you can have one to one appointments or go with a group of friends for help with anything from taking good notes to time management. They have created a series of podcasts on loads of different topics too. Basically what I'm trying to say is that the staff at the University are all really supportive and will do all they can to help you get the best grades you can.
Outside of the academic part of uni life, Chester is a great place to live: the campus has lots going on, the Union has loads of societies and sports clubs that you can join, there is something for everyone and it's a great way to settle in and make friends. The city is lovely, although it is quite small, it is really vibrant with plenty of places to shop, eat, drink and visit, and this is all about a 15 minute walk from campus.
As you're obviously interested in animals, Chester Zoo is really close by and there is a bus that takes you there from the city centre.
I hope this has helped, good luck with your applications!
Jess
PhD English
University of Chester

Reply 3

ExeterStudentRep

Official Rep

Original post by grrakz

I’m currently at college and have sent off my uni applications just waiting for the school to confirm them.
Basically I’ve applied for three undergrad animal behaviour courses and two zoology courses! The universities i chose were Reading, Royal veterinary college London, Chester(x2 subjects), and Exeter.
I was just wondering if anybody on here had any experiences with animal related courses at these universities and how you found it? or even just any courses really and some more info i could get on how people feel about the unis? I’ve looked through all their websites thoroughly and been to some open days but I just wanted to hear from students what they thought.

Hi grrakz,

Congratulations on making your choices for university. I've got my fingers crossed you receive offers at each of the courses you've applied to.

I'm a current PhD student in the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at the University of Exeter's Penryn Campus, and before that studied here for both my Masters and undergraduate degree in Zoology (with Study Abroad) too. In short, three times over I've had to choose where to go in the UK to study animal biology, and three times over I've decided that Exeter was the best choice (and this included turning down some other prestigious options like Oxford for undergrad).

Exeter's Ecology and Conservation department has a really great global reputation for research, as the lecturers and academics that teach you really are world class - in a recent global ranking we came 4th in ecology based on the quality of our research in topics across zoology, marine biology, animal behaviour and conservation. We're really fortunate to have a really big faculty, with a wide range of academics researching diverse topics from mongoose and corvid social behaviour, to sea turtle conservation, to anti-biotic resistance and evolution of bacteria. You can find out more about our research interests and staff here. I'm sure that whatever topics on animal behaviour and zoology you are interested in, you will overlap with our department somewhere.

Perhaps more importantly than being home to lots of really good academics and researchers, they're also really supportive, approachable and friendly people too. Throughout my undergraduate degree I felt like I could reach out to academics and get help when I needed it, and didn't find that they were intimidating or uninterested in their students as I did at some other institutions I applied to. My undergraduate dissertation supervisor even helped work with me to publish my work in a scientific journal, which was probably one of the highlights of my undergraduate degree. There are lots of great opportunities throughout the degree, including a real emphasis on practical teaching and fieldwork. We are very lucky to be based in Cornwall and surrounded by amazing terrestrial and marine biodiversity, which we often integrated into field trips or practicals for specific modules. We also offer a range of international residential field courses as part of the degree programme, currently including destinations such as Alaska, Costa Rica and the Azores.

The student lifestyle living in Cornwall also offers an excellent work-life balance. There aren't many places where you can finish a lecture from a world class academic and then within 30 minutes be at the beach for a BBQ, or to go for a snorkel or surf. Cornwall is surrounded by incredible nature, including the South West coastal path, which makes it the ideal home for students studying a course like zoology. Overall, I couldn't recommend the campus, course and community enough, and am sure you'd have an excellent time if you chose to come to Exeter.

If you have any further questions about Exeter and the Zoology course, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Kingsley
University of Exeter Student Ambassador.