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Best physics undergraduate education (Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, UCL)

Any views on which of the following universities provide the best undergraduate _educational_ experience (as distinct from departmental research rankings and the like): Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, UCL? Any examples of why you would consider any of these as preferable to the other?

As for getting offers, would a student with A* in Maths and three additional A*s predicted in Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry be likely to receive offers at all of these universities?
(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 1

Original post
by helipar
Any views on which of the following universities provide the best undergraduate _educational_ experience (as distinct from departmental research rankings and the like): Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, UCL? Any examples of why you would consider any of these as preferable to the other?
As for getting offers, would a student with A* in Maths and three additional A*s predicted in Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry be likely to all of these universities?

Manchester and UCL.

I would suggest Surrey and Southampton.

Reply 3

Original post
by Wired_1800
Manchester and UCL.
I would suggest Surrey and Southampton.

I am curious as to why you'd suggest Manchester and UCL? I would have thought they might be more likely to rank as major, globally recognised universities while not necessarily any better in terms of educational provision than Birmingham or Bristol. And why Surrey and Southampton?

Reply 4

Original post
by helipar
I am curious as to why you'd suggest Manchester and UCL? I would have thought they might be more likely to rank as major, globally recognised universities while not necessarily any better in terms of educational provision than Birmingham or Bristol. And why Surrey and Southampton?

Manchester and UCL have decent reputations for their teaching quality and academic research esp in STEM subjects like Physics and Engineering.

I suggested Southampton and Surrey as they will add diversity to your uni selection list. Good unis, excellent social life and great community.

Reply 5

Original post
by helipar
Any views on which of the following universities provide the best undergraduate _educational_ experience (as distinct from departmental research rankings and the like): Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, UCL? Any examples of why you would consider any of these as preferable to the other?
As for getting offers, would a student with A* in Maths and three additional A*s predicted in Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry be likely to receive offers at all of these universities?

Congrats on that predicted A* in further maths. I seen that Durham as an A*A*A offer but that is one of the highest offers actually (higher than Oxford somehow). For Birmingham you are most likely to get an offer (same subjects and very similar predicted grades) but with those grades you are most likely to get an offer at all these universities. I am not sure if that depends on whether you have applied early or for the later deadline as I have got an offer (physics) already just over two weeks from sending my application. But that could also depend on the course.
Good luck on your results!

Reply 6

Original post
by WerkaS
Congrats on that predicted A* in further maths. I seen that Durham as an A*A*A offer but that is one of the highest offers actually (higher than Oxford somehow). For Birmingham you are most likely to get an offer (same subjects and very similar predicted grades) but with those grades you are most likely to get an offer at all these universities. I am not sure if that depends on whether you have applied early or for the later deadline as I have got an offer (physics) already just over two weeks from sending my application. But that could also depend on the course.
Good luck on your results!

Actually the highest non-Oxbrimp entry requirement is Edinburgh 2nd year entry mathphys, three A*s in maths, FM, physics.

Reply 7

Original post
by WerkaS
Congrats on that predicted A* in further maths. I seen that Durham as an A*A*A offer but that is one of the highest offers actually (higher than Oxford somehow). For Birmingham you are most likely to get an offer (same subjects and very similar predicted grades) but with those grades you are most likely to get an offer at all these universities. I am not sure if that depends on whether you have applied early or for the later deadline as I have got an offer (physics) already just over two weeks from sending my application. But that could also depend on the course.
Good luck on your results!

Oxford and Cambridge really don't need to bother with setting the highest A-level entries given their rigorous standardised testing and interview procedures. They'll figure out who they want by means of interview and can then set a reasonable A-level offer for the students they want to meet.

Reply 8

I have heard good things about the teaching at Durham and St. Andrews

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