One for the Physics grads

[Lord Percy]

Sorry, it's not a fun physics question for you to get your teeth into, it's a stab in the dark for some university information.

I've noticed there are a few physics students/graduates on here, so I just have a bit of a question regarding my university decision!

I have an offer from Leeds uni and an offer from Queen Mary uni - both are conditional and both have the same entry requirements.

I was really sold on Queen Mary when I visited there, and I didn't like Leeds at all, but this may be because I was born, and grew up, in Leeds, so it all seemed a bit drab and samey.

However now I've checked the university ranking website malarkey and it turns out Leeds is 7th for Physics while Queen Mary is 32nd, so I'm concerned about why I was so amazed by Queen Mary. I'm now doing a bit of snooping on their websites and both institutions seem quite good, or maybe Leeds now seems like a better choice.

So I'm just wondering if any current students or graduates, at any university, might have some idea on the perception/quality/etc of these two places?

I put a similar question up on The Student Room forums but had no reply, and to be honest I don't trust half the info there anyway - too many over-opinionated non-lived teenage bedroom-dwellers who think their speculations are gospel.

Probably gonna get no replies for this, but worth a try!

[Lord Percy]

Oh and I'll add that my interest (the thing I've applied for) is Theoretical Physics. Queen Mary seems more focussed on that (String Theory to be precise), but I know that Physics degrees actually cover everything, generally, so I'd rather go to a generally better university I think ?

[Chalky.]

[Lord Percy]

Hmmm. That's a good shout actually. I mean... I'm not thinking of it for the shagging and the partying as I'll actually be 25 when I start so I'm more focussed on some serious learning, going for First, etc. However, comparing Leeds to London, it may be a better feel in Leeds. I like London, but it might feel a little bit 'little fish big sea' - lots of people but no friendships.

As far as the quality/status/respect for each uni... Anybody know?

[Nick 50]

Do the degrees differ in any way? As in 1 may be accredited and another isn't?

The more I thin about Uni choice the more I see the "How many graduates are in jobs 6 months down the line" as important.

If a relevant school of a Uni has a good reputation then companies will keep going back for good graduates. Also it can show that a Uni has good links with industry.

What do you want after your degree? and which is best suited for that?
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[Lord Percy]

[KLR600]

Would Leeds not be way cheaper than London to live in? I don't know what your financial situation is like but I'm a mature (26 ) student studying at Salford uni (final year) and I know I wouldn't have been able to afford to study in London without getting a proper full time job. I have a very flexible part time job now but it's basically just beer money as my student loans cover my basic rent and utilities (albeit with nothing left over) but I know if I had a full time job my studies would seriously suffer. My degree (Professional Broadcast Techniques) requires me to go and shoot a lot of video which just wouldn't be possible if I was working full time as it's not the kind of thing you can study in your room all night (unless I was making porn I guess ).

You might be great at managing full time work and study commitments and not let either suffer but that's not something I'd like to chance. I'd probably go for Leeds if you're more bothered about getting good grades as you'll need to devote more time to studying over working just to keep a roof over your head.

Does London offer any major advantages or opportunities over Leeds in terms of work placements/opportunities, notable lecturers or established links with other useful institutions?

I think choosing a uni is so much more than just league tables, especially after going through almost 3 years of colleges and uni myself so make sure you check out what each university can offer in it's entirety instead of just league table places and what the night life might be like!
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[Nick 50]

[Rogerborg]

[Lord Percy]

@KLR600 - I was against London for this very reason - money. However my younger bro has been there two years now and has somehow survived the whole time without a job. My parents haven't given him a penny either, so he's managed it all himself, albeit he's epically skint most of the time. Student finance gives higher loans for London students too But yeah for money aspects, it's fair to generally admit Leeds will be cheaper.

@Nick50 - The thing that put me off Leeds in the first place was actually the admissions tutor who presented the open day to us and was 'selling' the university to us. He was highly off-putting, I'd hate to be taught by him and I even said that in my interview . The guy who interviewed me was cool though. For the stas, I mainly used this one -university guide UK. There's also unistats. I don't know which one is more reputable. They must count for something, though. Leeds seems to have a broader range of specialities/specialists, when considering the 'employable' qualities I might be able to pick up as a Theoretical Physics grad, if my furious study plan goes tits up and I need to find more normal work instead.

@Rogerborg - Grades or research? No idea. Maybe it's based on grades and research and more? If you want a standard job or one that's 'slightly related' then sure, anything will do, but if you want to get to the top of your game and study all you can, going into research etc, there will be good and bad connotations dependent on the places you've been, with various connections and cliques to worm into. Or should I sack it all off and study from home instead?

Highly considering Leeds now anyway, for all who care.

[Rogerborg]

[Lord Percy]

[WindyMiller]

[HJM]

I cant really speak from the physics side as im an Economics undergrad, but my brother is on his final year of his degree (masters) studying physics (@Imperial) and i just quickly asked him what university he thought was better, he said Leeds.

I have a good friend who studies at QM and so far isn't enjoying his time there. Its not so much the learning, im sure thats as good as it is anywhere else. Its more the social side, the university has a high level of international students, this may appeal to you or may not. My friend doesn't like this as they are (from his experience) a bit anti-social and keep to themselves.

Ontop of all this, you live in Leeds, and your comparing it to a London university which will cost you a shit more in accommodation, id say to go with Leeds!
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[Rogerborg]

[el_oso]

the very brief time I spent around the leeds uni it really was the absolute dogshit bollocks third world piece of shit. People there seem to get good grades though. No offence to your home town, but the people around the uni area were extremely skanky.
Queen Mary is quite a nice uni. It does draw a lot of people from around east London, however everyone I know that went Queen Mary studied some form of engineering. There are also quite a large group of avid bikers at Queen Mary, a lot of arabs/inidan/bangladeshi in terms of ethnic background, but generally quite pleasant people or at least in my social circles at least.

As a side note: Physics is maths. If you can't integrate/differentiate/solve differential equations, start studying now. Practice, practice and practice until you can solve them as easily as you find breathing.
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[J.M.]

Personally, go for the one which you'll enjoy studying at more. Have a look around.

Out of every single University in the UK, there was actually only 1 that I was happy with. It had the course content I wanted, a nice campus, good area, good results, high employability after 6 months. Luckily I got an offer to study there.

If they had rejected me, I'd have rejected all of my other offers and taken a year out. Probably got a job. Then applied again the year after.

Controversially liamwithers on here, same sort of age as me, same course as me, he chose a different Uni. One of the ones I really didn't like. He likes it more than my one.

You need to choose a Uni that you're actually going to enjoy being at

Like I went to an open day at Aston University in Birmingham. Came home and thought "fuck that".
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[Lord Percy]

Oh man... such an even balance of pros and cons for each one! You've all provided very good info indeed but the argument is still so balanced, hah. I guess I still have plenty of time to decide. I really do wish I could just phone each uni up and ask them if they're worse or better than the other

And yeah I know physics is maths! I chose theoretical physics because I prefer the maths! It's my forte - almost finished powering through A-level maths (and mechanics), entirely self taught, in a bit over a year .

To be honest, I just want to go to parties, integrate and get parametric until I lose all rational values and can't differentiate between the positive and negative sines when I hyp to women about secx with my log.

[Nexus Icon]

I worked at Leeds for a couple of years, tutoring one to one on, and running the machines in the RP department they had at the time. It was a great place to work and the students seemed to enjoy themselves. I can't speak for the student life itself as I got my degree at Southampton.
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[HJM]

[Lord Percy]

[HJM]

[haroman666]

I cant help on the Uni leaderboards. But if you've been to an open day at each uni, go to the one that you feel you would enjoy more.

I went to 3 open days for Motorsport courses: Oxford Brookes, Derby and Hertfordshire.

Oxford were wayyyy too far up their own arses for my liking. Crossed off the list.
Derby offered a different style of course which incidently had less value in comparison to Oxford and Herts.
And well Hertfordshire just seemed to present everything to me well. The SU looked amazing and the accommodation on offer was interesting to me.

No brainer.

3 years from then... Do I feel the same? Yes.
My fellow BTEC college mate went to Oxford Brookes; said it was shit and not enjoyable at all. Dropped out after a few months and is now wokring in a kitchen.
Derby now sounds quite appealing from memory as their workshop was much modest but they had a racing bike and a Radical race car. Here at Herts we have MORE but not so exciting... An Insignia with in car telemetry and control systems, a Forumla Student car and a fully hand controlled Alpina B3. However I still feel that I will benefit more from being at Herts than Derby; just my gut feeling in addition to the course having a greater value on my CV.

Dont go to a place that you aren't going to like or enjoy. It's 3 years of your life that needs to be good!
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[herulach]

I did an Undergrad MPhys in Theoretical Physics at Leeds. (Graduated in 2006).

The course is excellent - if professor lawrie is still running it I'd be surprised if its gone down hill any. It is bloody hard though.

TO be fair I can see how you'd be put off by the department, which isn't in the nicest of buildings, but the staff were all great, and the fact that its a fairly small cohort (4 on my course, IIRC 5 on the year below) means you get the support, and the facilities are excellent (even if the buildings a bit 70s).

Leeds is an awesome city too, different to london, but imo much better to be a student in.

PM me if you want anything specific.
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[Lord Percy]