Thanks

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 1

I want to study pharmacy and unsure where to go. I don't have an offer yet but the unis that gave me an interview were bath reading cardiff and Manchester. Which on should I firm (when i get offers) as I want to live in a nice safe city that would have activities to do.

Hi! As a fourth year pharmacy student at Bath, hopefully I can give some insight into what it’s like to study here :smile:

Just for a bit of context, every pharmacy school has to cover the same content by the end of the degree so you should (in theory) finish with the same knowledge regardless of where you study. However, each university will deliver the course in a slightly different way.

At Bath, each of our modules cover a different system in the body. We learn about them from a variety of subject areas, for example pharmacology, pharmaceutics, and clinical therapeutics to gain thorough and collected knowledge of each system. The content is taught in lectures and reinforced in workshops (seminars), practicals, clinical practice and on placements. I enjoy this mix of teaching as it doesn’t get as tedious when you have to take in so much knowledge.

Bath is very strong for placements in all its courses and pharmacy is the same, especially for placement links in the South West. I’ve had experience in all the main sectors of pharmacy (community pharmacy, GP, and hospital) as well as some more niche ones including a mental health unit and a harm reduction centre for substance use. This has helped me feel prepared to start practice in a few months, and helped me figure out what sectors I’m interested in working in (GP and hospital). For me, that’s one aspect in which I feel going to Bath has benefitted me.

As for the city itself, Bath is a really beautiful and historic city and it’s super safe. There are plenty of things to get up to, both in the day and at night. While it may not have a huge clubbing scene, Bristol is just 15 mins away by train so it’s still an option if you want a bigger night out.

The uni also provides plenty of things to do. The SU arranges a lot of events, especially in Fresher’s Week, and there are a huge range of societies and sports groups you can join. Bath is very big on sports so if you’re even vaguely interested in a sport I would recommend joining a group, as you will meet a lot of people and it’s a good opportunity to form long lasting friendships.

I always recommend visiting the city and campus to figure out if it’s somewhere that you think would suit you. Good luck with your interviews and your decision, all the unis you mentioned are great options!

Let me know if you have any more questions about pharmacy or studying at Bath :smile:

Lauren, University of Bath

Reply 2

CardiffUni Rep 4

Official Rep

Original post by userr456

Hiya!
Congratulations on getting an interview to so many places that's amazing!
I have been a student here at Cardiff for almost 4 years now and I love it. I don't do pharmacy, but my friend does and he is loving it, and thriving! We rank Joint First School of Pharmacy in the UK for the quality of our teaching and research according to the Research Excellence Framework!
In terms of wanting to live in a nice, safe city - I completely get you, I was the same! I genuinely think Cardiff is a perfect city to be a student in, its so lovely. The main uni buildings (and most of the ones you would be working in), are right next to city centre, Bute park (huge park in the city), and is right next to where the vast majority of students live (in first year, but mostly even after first year), so nothing for me is more than a 20 minuet walk - including all my friends, it so great! There is so much to do in Cardiff and within the uni all the time, we have one of the best Students' union in the country, with a huge range of societies and activities on all the time, it really creates a lovely student community in the area as well. There are often large concerts and matches on in the city, from Beyonce, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, to Six Nations! Cardiff has a lovely bay area too, which is a 10 minute (if less) train journey, and a lovely seafront in Penarth as well. There are countless walks near by up hills, along beaches, and through forests' with waterfalls!

Is there any specific hobbies you have?

Grace - Cardiff Uni Student Rep :smile:

Reply 3

McGinger

Manchester.

Cardiff is going through a very public financial crunch, staff redundancies and staff strikes. Whilst all Uni are having ££ issues, Cardiff is already badly fractured and this will have a direct impact on students - Cardiff University staff vote to strike and take action that could disrupt graduations in cuts row

Reply 4

t4smiyah

Original post by McGinger

Manchester.
Cardiff is going through a very public financial crunch, staff redundancies and staff strikes. Whilst all Uni are having ££ issues, Cardiff is already badly fractured and this will have a direct impact on students - Cardiff University staff vote to strike and take action that could disrupt graduations in cuts row

Do you think that pharmacy courses in these struggling universities will be under threat like the humanities subjects are? Also, will these funding issues only get worse in the future?

Reply 5

McGinger

Original post by t4smiyah

Do you think that pharmacy courses in these struggling universities will be under threat like the humanities subjects are? Also, will these funding issues only get worse in the future?

If the drop in International students - especially postgrad students - continues then many top Unis who have relied on this ££ as a major income source, will be in increasing financial trouble. Beyond that its anyone's guess.