2020 Offer Holders Day: chat transcripts
Accountancy & Finance
| User Name | Message |
| Current student | Greetings everyone, my name is Bachar Zaghbour and I am a 3rd year Accounting and Finance student. Please, feel free to ask any questions and I'll try to answer it to the best of my knowledge. |
| Staff | WELCOME TO THE OF ACCOUNTANCY AND FINANCE CHAT. OUR ACADEMICS ARE ON HAND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. |
| Staff | Hi there, I am Kirsten Kininmonth, one of the lecturers in Accounting & Finance and the Admissions Office. |
| Staff | Hi Everyone I am Suzanne McCallum. I'm a senior lecturer in accounting and the Chief Adviser of Studies. |
| Staff | Hello, my name is Alvise Favotto, I teach Management Accounting and I am the Study Abroad Coordinator for Accounting & Finance. |
| Offer holder | hello，i got an conditional offer for 2020, but we are not doing the exams this year\. I only been working hard this year so the grades i will get from my teachers will not be as well as i wanted and i am a bit worried about if i will still be able to get in to glasgow\. |
| Staff | Hi Xueying, you should receive direct communication from the University. However, all updates will be posted here - https://gla.ac/cvfaqs |
| Staff | It's an FAQ for Offer holders and future students and covers issues like exams not sat due to COVID-19 - https://gla.ac/cvfaqs |
| Offer holder | Will the entry requirements still be the same |
| Staff | There will be direct communication from the Admissions Team about these issues, please see the comment from Katie above. |
| Offer holder | how does the international course differ* |
| Staff | Hi Katie. The course is very similar, but you will have to do specific International focused courses within your Honours studies. |
| Offer holder | Do I lose out on anything doing that ? |
| Staff | No, it really just means that you have to take some courses which does slightly limit your choices, but not by much and you still have many options to choose from. |
| Offer holder | Thank you |
| Offer holder | Will I still get full accreditation's studying Accountancy and Maths or will there be some that I wont get due to my course choice? |
| Offer holder | Also would like to know this |
| Staff | Amanda, you would not be able to get the 'full' accreditation as you will not have taken all of the accounting and finance courses, but some will be available plus you will get exemptions from other bodies as well. |
| Offer holder | Hi, thanks for the reply! Which ones wouldn't I be able to get and would there be anyway to get them (like taking extra classes) |
| Staff | It changes from year to year, so I would not like to be specific about which ones, that would be up to each accreditation body at the time you apply. Taking extra classes would not be an option I am afraid - partly due to timetable issues and partly due to you being very busy. |
| Offer holder | Ah ok thank you from your reply! |
| Offer holder | Hello, what has the Accountancy and Finance course been like for yourself? Any positives or negatives? |
| Current student | Hello Jordan, the course thus far has been enjoyable and challenging at the same time. The university would like to widen your horizons and push your boundaries, hence the challenging part. The lecturers and tutors are lovely and will be there to support you all the way, which I found quite helpful. |
| Offer holder | I am trying to decide between accountancy and finance(BAcc) and Finance and Statistics(BSc). What is the main difference and would I be able to switch between them after first year. |
| Staff | There is no automatic right to switch between the degree programmes after first year. On the BAcc programme you will complete all your first year courses with accounting and finance. If you study the BSc programme you will only complete half of our first year courses (Financial Accounting, Management Accounting and Finance) and the other half of your courses will be completed with Statistics. You can transfer to a Statistics only programme (As it is also a BSc) but you would need to apply to transfer to a BAcc degree |
| Offer holder | thanks Suzanne that is really helpful |
| Current student | Hello Iain, I think you will receive more exemptions if you do the BAcc course. I wanted to focus on a single subject rather than have 2 subjects hence my choice. |
| Staff | Hi Iain, it is unlikely that you would be able to switch if you haven't covered enough content of either course. As Suzanne says, if you do the BSc then you miss half the courses of the BAcc so there would be no way to catch up with this. I guess you need to choose before you start. Hopefully, this type of session helps. Also check out the modules in the course catalogue for each of these areas: https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=ACCFIN&name=Accounting+and+Finance |
| Staff | You could also always ask at the Admissions booth today to see if that helps - https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/admissions-43 |
| Offer holder | What are the benefits of study abroad? |
| Staff | @Jordan Young employers seem to favour profiles showing international awareness. Also according to the students it seems to be an enriching experience from a personal perspective |
| Offer holder | Do students find it difficult to get the grades in order to go abroad |
| Staff | @Katie Dickson - no, students tend to go abroad in year 3 and we require students to pass their year 2 exams for going. There are no additional pre-requisites so all can apply |
| Offer holder | Hi! I've already accepted my place to study BACC Accountancy starting in September. I've always wanted to study abroad, is it quite competitive to get a place? |
| Staff | @Alisa Young - Good to hear you have accepted already! The opportunity to study abroad is offered to everyone and we have a big list of destinations worldwide. Some destinations in my experience tend to be more competitive than others. For instance the University of California is very competitive historically. I suppose people like palms and the ocean :-) In general though anyone who applies get a destination based on a set of 3 they indicate |
| Offer holder | That's great, thanks very much :) |
| Offer holder | Does the study abroad account for different accounting approaches studied internationally? For instance, if I were to go to UC Berkley would the course remain the same or would there been some fundamental differences? |
| Staff | @ Jordan - you would study courses at the local university but I would help out choosing a study plan that fits with the plan you have at Glasgow. So you don't "waste time" while abroad. Everything you study counts towards your degree |
| Offer holder | Cheers Avise! |
| Staff | You're welcome, hope to meet you in person next year! |
| Offer holder | What % of the year group get the opportunity to do a year abroad \-e\.g for all those who meet the criteria is there a selection of a certain number to participate\? |
| Staff | Hi Emma, every year we have about 35% of students going abroad for a semester or a full year. The opportunity is given to everyone provided they are admitted to year 3. |
| Staff | In addition to that there are opportunities to go abroad for shorter periods throughout the 4 years. These include summer schools and business case competitions. |
| Offer holder | Thanks \- Do the receiving institutes select or Glasgow select candidates to go\? |
| Staff | Glasgow selects.. students are required to indicate up to 5 destinations amongst those we offer and they are assigned one of those |
| Offer holder | I was wondering how long roughly you attend per week |
| Current student | Hello, contact hours vary in 3rd year I was in 9 hours a week as it is more emphasis on individual work. 1st and 2nd year was a bit more around 16 hours a week. |
| Offer holder | Thank you |
| Staff | Please be aware that this may well change if we are moving to more on-line and blended styles of learning as a response to COVID-19. |
| Offer holder | WIll the start date be moved\? |
| Current student | The official start date is 21st of September, but it is still subject to change |
| Staff | Updates will be posted here - https://gla.ac/cvfaqs |
| Offer holder | Thank you |
| UNDERSTANDABLY, Offer holderS WILL WISH TO KNOW THE SITUATION WITH REGARDS TO COVID-19. ALL Offer holderS WILL RECEIVE DIRECT COMMUNICATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY HOWEVER, PLEASE ALSO CHECK OUT OUR FAQ FOR Offer holderS: https://gla.ac/cvfaqs | |
| Staff | This includes information about cancelled exams and so on... |
| Offer holder | Is it an enjoyable course in your opinion |
| Staff | Bachar or Jane our student ambassadors should be able to answer this one... |
| Current student | Hello Katie, the course is enjoyable if it is of interest of course. I personally enjoy studying it as I am always learning new concepts that I can apply to real life scenarios. You will aleways be pushed to thrive and think outside the box, which i quite enjoy as well. |
| Offer holder | Hi, which has more career opportunities? Finance and Accounting or Finance and Mathematics? And what are the differences between those two? |
| Current student | They both are popular courses, I prefer accounting and finance as the syllabus is more diverse. Ultimately, it is what you prefer to study for 4 years and where your interests lie. The former you could become an accountant and work in finance, the latter more actuarial. |
| Staff | They both have a range of career opportunities and in that sense I don't think it makes a big difference which you decide to go for. I've seen students with each degree successfully appointed to a range of finance careers - pretty much the same option are open to you with both programmes. I suggest thinking about which option interests you the most. |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much. |
| Offer holder | How many contact/timetabled hours can I be looking at doing a week for the accountancy and maths degree? |
| Current student | First and second year might be around 16 hours a week, that will change as you progress in your course. |
| Staff | Please be aware that in the current circumstances this is very much subject to change as we need to move to a more on-line and blended learning environment. |
| Offer holder | Ah ok I see, thank you both for the reply! |
| Offer holder | I was wondering how Glasgow Uni manages to make up for not having an option for a year in industry, whereas as some of my others do |
| Staff | We have strong links with the accounting profession and they are often on campus e.g. providing guest lectures. Also, we provide a lot of support to help students get internships (especially between year 3 and 4) and as a result we have a very high proportion of students being appointed to graduate level jobs on completion of their degree. |
| Offer holder | That's quite helpful thank you, also my other university courses have me studying for only 3 years, how difficult is it studying for that extra year and will the workload not potentially be too much? |
| Staff | Hi Adam. Scottish universities all have a 4 year model (unlike the English 3 year system). This allows us more time and more space in our curriculum to cover things in more depth and therefore you could argue it is to your benefit as it allows you more time and space to complete the requirements of the degree. We take workloads in to account and provide lots of help and support to our students. |
| Offer holder | I am holding offers for both Accountancy and Accountancy with Finance \- when does the programme structure differ and is it flexible to change between the 2 after year 1 or 2\? |
| Staff | You can switch between the BAcc accountancy and the BAcc accountancy with finance once you are in (this is even possible during year 3 and 4) so I wouldn't agonise over this decision. The first and second year curriculum are the same, so you can always change in your 3rd year. |
| Offer holder | Do you know if it is possible to access course slides from previous years. Since i am in isolation i would like to spend some time gaining more knowledge about the course. |
| Offer holder | same |
| Staff | Lewis, I am afraid not, you can only access slides etc. via Moodle once you have matriculated as a student. Additionally courses are updated each year so previous years material may be outdated. |
| Current student | I am not entirely sure if you could gain access to previous years, however, you can research the following Financial and Management Accounting. |
| Offer holder | My UCAS offer is for the BSc in Finance and Statistics but now I think I would rather do the BAcc in Accountancy and Finance. How do I go about switching? |
| Current student | Hello, I believe as long as you meet the requirements for both you should be able to. However, getting a professional advice might be better. |
| Offer holder | Perhaps one of the advisers could answer |
| Staff | Hi Iain, Suzanne has advised this would be answered best by our Admissions Team. We have a live chat on at the moment via the following link. https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/admissions-43. Our staff will be happy to help :) |
| Staff | Also see my comments at your previous post - thanks! |
| Offer holder | thanks |
| Offer holder | With regards to the Summer School, I have signed up and I am awaiting confirmation. I have been advised that Economics and Business are not are option for distance learning, and that I should pick subjects closely related to the area of study. There are no viable subject optionhich closely relate to Accounting and Finance, would you be able to advise? |
| Staff | Hi Jordan when would the summer school be? This summer? |
| Offer holder | I think the scheduled time is in June or July? |
| Offer holder | @Avise Favotoo It would be this Summer. |
| Staff | ok so it is down to what is on offer. I think some students in the past benefit from a refreshing their math/ stats skills before starting so if that is available for distance learning it may be an option |
| Offer holder | Do you know what level the subjects are sat at? Should I have background knowledge of the subject? I might pick maths, but the difficulty is picking something I'm unfamiliar with and then performing poorly with that subject. |
| Offer holder | Good evening, I am an international student and I have accepted my offer to study Accountancy and Finance. I was wondering whether it is difficult finding a CA training contract as an international student, after university and whether a visa is provided during this training contract. |
| Current student | Hello Tanatswa, the governement introduced a new measure whereby international students get a 2 year period after graduation to find jobs if they haven't already. Please, research this further. |
| Offer holder | Are there Bloomberg or similar type of facilities available? |
| Current student | You will be given access to the Financial Times |
| Staff | Yes, they are used for Honours courses in Finance |
| Offer holder | Hello, I am taking accounting and finance this year and was wondering if it is compulsory to take other subject modules ? |
| Current student | you will only be studying Accounting and Finance, there might be some statistcs and economics modules, but everyone will be doing the same. |
| Staff | Martin - yes you need to take management, economics, law and statistics within the 1st and 2nd years. |
| Staff | The first year curriculum is set on the BAcc degree. Unless you are completing the degree with languages or with Economics you will complete 6 subjects with us in year 1. These include Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Finance, Management Studies, The Accountancy Profession and Introductory Economics |
| Offer holder | thank you, is there any opportunities further through the course where there are chances to pick up other subjects |
| Current student | You will choose different modules in your 3rd and 4th year. |
| Staff | As Bachar notes you get lots of choices in later years. At this point you can specialise in what interests you and we have a wide range of offerings in main stream e.g. corporate finance and more critical areas e.g. psychology and finance, human rights and business |
| Offer holder | i have just completed an open uni module in fundamentals of accounting as part of my s6 studies \- could this be credited towards or exempt from modules in year 1 |
| Staff | Emma, I am afraid not. As we have a mix of students backgrounds and experience we begin all students on the same 1st and 2nd year currciulum. If you have studies some of the subjects that will be slightly easier, which gives you more time to focus on the new subjects :-) |
| Offer holder | ok thanks \:\) |
| Offer holder | Where can you go abroad |
| Staff | You have the opportunity to study abroad in year 3. |
| Offer holder | What countries are available |
| Staff | Hi Katie we have about 150 partners worldwide. Countries where our students tend to go the most are USA Australia Canada Hong Kong Germany Spain and France |
| Staff | here is the link to a list of destinations: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/students/goabroad/exchangedestinations/ |
| Offer holder | Are there opportunities for summer internships and if so what years are these available? |
| Current student | Internships are usually for 3rd year students. I personally have 2, but due to the virus they have been postponed. So, there is ample opportunity for you as a Glasgow University student. That doesnt mean you can get some for first and second year, they are just a bit harder. Spring weeks and insights might be something to look into for 2nd year. |
| Staff | Some firms offer internships form year 2, the majority focus on the summer between year 3 and 4. We have extensive links with the profession and we run a series of activities e.g. mock interviews and a careers conference to help students prepare for application and successfully secure an internship. |
| Offer holder | Thank you |
| Offer holder | Hi, I have an offer for BAcc Accountancy/Economics. With the joint honours are classes split 50/50 between accountancy and economics? |
| Staff | Adam in 1st and 2nd year you would do all of the same classes as those on the core BAcc degree PLUS one additional economics course each year. After that, in your Honours years yes the split is 50/50. You undertake your dissertation with Accounting as you are 'our' student, and your advisor of studies would also be with us. |
| Offer holder | Thanks a lot, that's really helpful. |
| Staff | You are welcome. A small number of students take this varient, so you do stand out in the job market! |
| Offer holder | What makes the accounting and finance course at Glasgow one of the best in the UK? What makes it different to other universities? |
| Current student | We are ranked no 1 in the UK for Accouting and Finance. I believe it is a mixture of support and lovely lecturers that made us the best. You will always be guided by tutors and never left alone to deal with anything. The department is very supportive and their teaching is usually easy to grasp and understand. |
| Staff | I think our strengths lie in the collegiality of our programme. All students have a set curriculum in year 1 - which I think is a positive. If we asked you to choose options in year 1, how do you know what you like without experiencing all the courses? After you have some experience you get a chance to choose options later on. One of the benefits of the set curriculum is you are in the same classes with the same students throughout year 1 and hence you can build up a strong bond more easily with your fellow students. There is also a supportive environment between year groups. Theses are positives of the degree programme set up, as there is a strong learning community. Additionally, we have a strong advising team (to look after your interests and help you with any problems you experience) and a highly dedicated teaching staff focused on your student experience. We have strong links with the profession - who feed in to many of our course and we have a strong research element which is also brought in to our programmes. All of this combines to provide a great offering. |
| Staff | All Accounting and Finance students have access to dedicated IT labs. Another unique facility is the Wards Research Library, a specialist reference library for Honours students. |
| Staff | All students have the opportunity to undertake the Professional Skills Programme, an ILM accredited extra-curricular activity. It is a free small-group based programme designed to improve professional skills, prepare you for work and to develop the attributes you need to excel in your career. |
| Offer holder | What is studied in first and second year of Accounting and Finance? I have studied HNC/HND and wondering if the first 2 years are similar to these courses. |
| Staff | 1st year - finance 1, financial accounting 1, management accounting 1, intro to economics, management for accountants and the accounting profession. |
| Staff | 2nd year - finance 2, financial accounting 2, management accounting 2, law, taxation and statistics. |
| Offer holder | Hi Kirsten, thanks for your reply! I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation at the open day last year! Would this mean I would be consolidating areas I have studied in HNC/HND? Have a look at the Course Modules - https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=ACCFIN&name=Accounting+and+Finance |
| Offer holder | When will we receive direct communication from the Admissions Office about entry criteria\? Thanks\. |
| Staff | Hi Adam, they are working on it. Information may be a little delayed as everyone is working from home (i.e. the whole University) so please allow some lag time. Admissions will be in touch with you directly. Also updates will be posted here - https://gla.ac/cvfaqs |
| Staff | You may also wish to ask in the Admissions chat room - it's open until 7pm - https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/admissions-43 |
| Offer holder | Okay Thanks \:\) |
| Offer holder | I have an offer for accounting with languages and was wondering how that would differ in 1st and 2nd year to someone doing accounting & finance. Thanks |
| Staff | Alfie, during your 1st and 2nd year you would take all of the same courses as all other BAcc students, but you would also be taking a language. |
| Offer holder | Ok, thank you very much. |
| Offer holder | what type of roles do your students end up in |
| Staff | Our employment rate for graduates in the past year is 100% and our recent graduates have been employed by: PwCKPMGGrant ThorntonAlexander SloanCignaDeloitteRoyal Bank of ScotlandCredit SuisseEY Morgan Stanley |
| Current student | You can go into anything accounting or finance related. i.e becoming an accountant, banker, public accounting, actuarial etc.. |
| Staff | There are a wide range of roles our students pursue. As you would expect, many go on to join the accounting profession - however this is not the only option that is open. Many students move on to work in banking and finance, actuarial roles, general business roles (e.g. management accountant within a business) or even set up in business themselves. A few choose to take on roles outwith the accounting and finance profession and follow roles that are open to students with any degree e.g. primary teaching. |
| Offer holder | Which building is accountancy studied in? |
| Current student | Mostly the main building, but you will be stationed in different places depending on your module. |
| Staff | Lectures and tutorials can be within any building on campus, they are not centralised within any one building. It is a great opportunity to see more of the campus :-) Our administrators are within the main building and the majority of our staff offices are in the West Quadrangle of the main building. |
| Offer holder | Thank you for your replies! |
| Offer holder | How many students are approximately on the course? |
| Staff | In general the target is around 120 per intake, we do not want to have the course become too large as it means you do not get to know each other as well and staff do not get to know you. It also ensures that you are all together in lectures. |
| Current student | I believe my year now is around 130 students. |
| Offer holder | Thank you |
| Offer holder | Hi I don’t know if this is off topic but I applied for maths, do you know are you able to take accountancy as a second subject\? |
| Staff | Hi Lucy there is a programme called Maths with Finance which would work. The finance component covers building blocks in accountancy |
| Staff | I'm afraid not. Unless you are on the joint degree with Maths and accounting (or finance) you cannot take our courses. |
| Offer holder | Which degree would you say sets you up the most for an actuarial career? |
| Current student | I think that would be Maths and Statistics |
| Staff | Students have gone in to actuarial studies from the standard accountancy degrees. However, if this is your focus you may want to think about the joint degree between Statistics and finance. |
| Offer holder | Would you say accounting and maths would also be a good combo in preparation for this type or career or not? |
| Current student | Recently employers have been giving positions to people of different degree disciplines to grab a variety of perspectives. So it honestly varies. I would suggest you choose what interest you most and go with that. |
| Staff | Accounting and Maths is also a good option. The most relevant for actuarial work is statistics and finance - but I don't think the choice between these two matter too much. Both are good options. |
| Offer holder | Ok thank you for the replies! |
| Offer holder | How many papers are exempted if you were to take the ICAEW professional exam after graduating? |
| Staff | Sean - accreditations and exemptions are reviewed by each professional body on a regular basis. In the past students have been exempt from the first level, but that is subject to change. |
| Offer holder | In first year, do we have the choice to take on an additional subject that isn't mandatory to the accountancy and finance course, sorry if that doesn't make sense. Thank you |
| Staff | You need to complete the standard curriculum. We do not want students to be overburdened, so you cannot add additional courses to your curriculum. |
| Offer holder | I would like to go into the accountancy sector after this but have chosen maths, do you think this is possible with just a maths degree or would it be more beneficial to have maths and accountancy joint degree |
| Current student | Recently employers have been giving positions to people of different degree disciplines to grab a variety of perspectives, but it will most certainly set you out of the competition if you study accounting. |
| Staff | It will be possible to go on and train as an accountant with a Maths degree. I guess taking a joint degree with accounting would let you get a flavour of what accounting and finance involves and see if this is for you. |
| Staff | YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN THE COURSE MODULES TOO - THESE CAN BE VIEWED AT: https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=ACCFIN&name=Accounting+and+Finance |
| Offer holder | Is there any difference between a BAcc in accountancy that you offer at glasgow and a BA in accountancy which is offered at most other universities\? |
| Staff | Hi Molly I would say Glasgow stands out in terms of learning community and outlook. Teaching is aimed at embracing change in the Accounting and Finance world so we emphasise on critical thinking, internationalisation and an empowering use of technology |
| Offer holder | Thank you |
| Staff | You're welcome, hope to meet you in person next year! |
| Offer holder | How many modules do you chose to study in 3rd and 4th year? |
| Current student | In your 3rd year you will have 2 compulsory courses and have to choose 4, so 3 per semester. in 4th year you will have your dissertation along with 4 other courses. |
| Staff | Amy within your Honours years you choose 6 subjects (some will be compulsory although which does depend on the varient you are taking) plus you will write your Dissertation. Students can choose but we advise students aim to take 3 courses in each semester so that the load is balanced. |
| Staff | Amy - please see my comment, although Bachar says 2 compulsory courses there may be more depending on what degree varient you take. |
| Offer holder | Thank you |
| Staff | Hi Amy if you study the BAcc there are 6 courses each year. You can choose 4 in year 3 and 4 in year 4. Course Modules - https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=ACCFIN&name=Accounting+and+Finance |
| Offer holder | Is the workload difficult considering there is 4 years of work on this course, whereas as the other unis I have applied for havde only 3 years work |
| Staff | Scottish universities all have a 4 year degree programme (our education system is different to the English system). It's just a different system. The level of degree you receive at the end of your programme is the same. The programme is designed to be manageable, provided you keep up with the work. We provide lots of help and support, and we have excellent completion rates. |
| Staff | Adam the 4 year Honours degree is the model Scottish universities have followed for many many years as we believe this gives more scope to explore a wider range of subjects and develop a deeper understanding of the material. 3 year degree are common in England I know, but not here. The workload is challenging in each year, especially in Honours, but you will be guided through at each step. |
| Offer holder | What companies do many graduates tend to go on and work for? |
| Staff | Hi Amanda, Our employment rate for graduates in the past year is 100% and our recent graduates have been employed by: PwC, KPMG, Grant Thornton, Alexander Sloan, Cigna, Deloitte, Royal Bank of Scotland, Credit Suisse, EY, Morgan Stanley |
| Current student | It varies on what you'd like to do as a career. some go into PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, Grant Thornton, the Government. Others go into banking and insurance, JP Morgan, RBS, Morgan Stanley etc… |
| Staff | A wide range of firms. As you would expect, many are accounting firms, such as the big 4 (EY, KPMG, Deloitte and PwC), Grant Thornton, BDO, local smaller firms etc. Students also go in to banking and finance roles e.g. with Morgan Stanley, Barclays and such like as well as a whole host of firms looking for someone to join their finance function. Roles are also spread across the country (not just in Glasgow) and sometime abroad too. |
| Staff | Amanda - the list is long and varied. While many students do go to work for some of the largest accountancy firms may will also go into banking, finance houses, insurance, industry, some have even set up their own businesses. There is much more choice than to become an auditor if other areas of accounting and finance have taken your interest during your studies. |
| Offer holder | how do you think you compare to strathclyde and Edinburgh |
| Staff | We're nicer :-) jokes aside I think our strengths are in building an effective learning community with students and staff and in offering a future oriented, international outlook to our graduates. University rankings seem to acknowledge that as well. |
| Offer holder | If I’m doing accountancy and finance. Can i also do courses in statistics during 1st and 2nd year |
| Current student | Hello conan, in 2nd year you will get the chance to do a stastics course in your first semester. Also, in your 3rd and 4th year there will be courses for you to choose from that relate to statistics such as Econometrics. |
| Staff | Conan there is a course on statistics that all of our students must take within their 2nd year of study. This is one course however, there is not an opportunity for you to take more than that I am afraid. |
| Offer holder | Hi I am doing the economics degree at Glasgow but was wondering the possibility of me doing it with accounting or finance even though I don’t have higher maths. Thanks a lot, Haig |
| Staff | Haig, I am afraid that Higher maths is a requirement for entry into our degree programmes. |
| Offer holder | Hi thank you for your quick reply and having higher accounting and physics at A cannot be used as a substitute in order to be able to take the subject along with economics ? |
| Offer holder | Hi, I know this is off topic as it is not directly linked to the work involved in the course. Suzanne had mentioned in a reply to another question that we "are in the same classes with the same students throughout year 1." Due to the impact of the coronavirus and possible implications it may have on the in person start date of the course, i was wondering if there is going to be any online activities or something similar that will allow people to meet other students that will be on the same Accounting course with them. |
| Staff | Lewis, we are currently working on how we will be delivering our teaching from September 2020, it is likely this will be some form of blended learning (ie. some face-to-face and some on-line material) but the details of this are not available at this time. |
| Current student | This semester the univeristy has implemented an online system to learn virtually. If the situation continues to deteriorate then the university will most likely take the necessary action to ensure the safety of the students |
| Offer holder | Thank you both for the reply. Sorry as i was unclear to what i was trying to ask. My question is more about whether or not there is a way to contact and meet new people on your course online. I was thinking more about the social impact of the coronavirus rather than the impact on learning. I hope that makes sense. |
| Offer holder | Over the course of 4 years\.\.\.How many Modules do we need to complete for graduation\? |
| Current student | You will need to complete 120 credits per year. Accounting and Finance courses are usually 20 credits, however, there are some other courses that are 15 credits. |
| Staff | Assuming you are taking the standard accountancy and finance degree (and not, for example the joint degree with Maths or Statistics) you will normally complete 6 courses per year (in years 1-3) and a further 4 courses and your dissertation in year 4. (There are some differences if you are taking a degree with languages or with economics.) |
| Staff | You don't do all of these but have a look at the Course Modules: https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=ACCFIN&name=Accounting+and+Finance |
| Offer holder | Thanks a lot\.\.\. |
| Offer holder | How are the courses assessed\? |
| Current student | Different courses have different measures, but it is most likely to be 25% incourse assessment - essay, group work, presentation, or mini exam - with 75% being a degree exam. |
| Staff | Molly courses are assessed in a variety of ways. Some have in course tests and then end of semester examinations, others have individual essays, several have group courseworks and one has a prsentation.. We try to vary the assessment methods so that you gain experience of them all. |
| Offer holder | Do first years have access to the accounting library |
| Staff | Yes! It is open to everyone, in fact you very much encouraged to access it :-) In addition AccFin has its own dedicated library in the Main Building it is called Wards Library |
| Staff | No. You can access the main library, but the accounting library (known as the Wards Library) is only available to honours (year 3 and 4) students. You can access the computer labs. |
| Staff | Oh sorry I misinterpreted the question - I thought the main library - sorry |
| Offer holder | How many exams will be there in first year \? |
| Current student | 6 exams, 3 per semester. |
| Current student | Unless you are doing a different degree to Accounting and Finance. |
| Offer holder | When do we get to choose the optional modules for pursuing ICAS\? |
| Staff | The modules that relate to ICAS accreditation (subject to the grades you achieve and current ICAS agreement) are compulsory and start from year 1. |
| Current student | Your courses from first year will be in line with ICAS, 3rd and 4th year courses are more to give you a flavour to what you'd like to learn and pursue. |
| Staff | There are no specific option modules for ICAS - all courses that you take and pass count towards any exemptions the professional bodies would award you. |
| Offer holder | Oh okay\.\.\. Thanks a lot |
| Offer holder | Hello I was wondering if as an English applicant you pay the full price for 3 years even if you spend the 3rd year of your studies abroad? |
| Staff | Hi Chiara, these programmes are 4 years long. |
| Staff | However, please also check out the fees at: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees/ukfees/ |
| Staff | Fee paying students from England get fours years for the price of three. |
| Offer holder | Thanks for the help everyone! |
| Staff | You're welcome. Hope to see you in the new academic year :) |
| Staff | Hope to see you in person soon Jordan! |
| Offer holder | when do firms come looking for students |
| Current student | Firms usually open applications in October time. Different firms have different opening dates, but it is usually for 2nd and 3rd years |
| Staff | Firms normally offer internships between year 3 and 4 - although some have opportunities at an earlier stage. Many firms let us know of the opportunities they have on offer (due to our close links with them) and we make this information available to students via a virtual careers notice board. We also offer lots of help to secure these opportiunities when they arise. |
| Staff | Additionally, many fill their graduate vacancies with people who have completed an internship - that's why we provide lots of help and support to successfully secure these opportunities. |
| Offer holder | When can we choose placement year\? |
| Staff | We do not have an option for a placement year. There is however the option to apply to study abroad for 1/2 or all of your 3rd year of study. |
| Offer holder | Thanks |
| Staff | No problem. Hope to see you in the new term :) |
| Staff | If you have a questions we haven't answered or missed please just ask now. |
| Staff | It's been a really good chat. Thanks to Kirsten, Suzanne and Alvise for all your great answers. |
| Staff | Thanks for your help Kate & Danielle. |
| Staff | No problem :) |
| Staff | THANKS AGAIN FOR PARTICIPATING. THIS CHAT HAS NOW FINISHED BUT YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO STAY AND BROWSE THE REST OF THE INFORMATION WE HAVE ON AT THE MOMENT. Offer holderS DAY WEBPAGE - www.gla.ac.uk/explore/visit/undergraduateevents/ |
| Staff | Thanks to everyone. I hope we answered all the questions. |
Business & Management, Business Economics and Economics
| User Name | Subject | Message |
| Staff | Welcome to our Virtual Offer holders Day. Congratulations to everyone on their offers from UofG! This is your chance to speak to our staff from Business & Management, Business Economics and Economics so please ask us any questions you have about the courses, we want to support you in making your upcoming UCAS choices. |
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| Offer holder | Business & Management | Having applied for the Business and Management programme I would like to ask whether there are any supplementary courses or any reading material you could recommend to read before starting university so as to garner additional knowledge? |
| Staff | Great to hear from you. My suggestion is to get yourself more and more familiar with what is going on in business world. Look at the news and online articles that provide news and analysis of what is going on. This will provide you with a good context to start your studies with. Give me a minute, I will also let you know what one of the main textbooks for level 1 is, in case you want to look at it. | |
| Current student | Beforehand I looked at the syllabus, which you'll find on the Business and Management page on the university website, which I researched and looked into for further details. As a first year student, you will choose 2 other subjects to compliment Business Management, so perhaps, try to figure out what subjects you want to choose and research them as well. Economics is one of those options, for that I read Freakanomics, undercover economist as well. Hope that helps. | |
| Staff | One of the main text books in level 1 is: Management: An Introduction by David Boddy. The teaching team may decide to change this but for your purpose, it is a good book to look at. | |
| Offer holder | Economics | Hi! I currently hold an offer to study Economics. I was wondering if there was any reading material or websites you would recommend reading/looking at before starting the course to gain some additional knowledge? |
| Staff | I would recommend that you keep up with the current news and the discussions surrounding the decisions. Economics is all about the behaviour of people, businesses, government etc. | |
| Staff | The compulsory book for year 1 is Economics by Krugman. But my advice would be to keep abreast of what's happening in the news - specifically economics, and to enjoy your summer! | |
| Staff | If you can get hold of any book on introductory economics, if you are really keen. But that can be done once you get here. You can also read magazines such as the Economist so that you start thinking like an economist. If you have already studied maths, then brush up on basic calculus and algebra. If not, we will teach you :) | |
| Offer holder | All | Do you have to study other subjects in year 1 and 2? If so what are these subjects, and when do I pick them? |
| Staff |
Yes all students who apply to Business Management, Business Economics or Economics will have to pick other subjects to study in year 1 and 2. www.glasgow.ac.uk/colleges/socialsciences/students/socialsciences/courseplanner/ |
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| Offer holder | All | What joint Honours options do you have with my course? |
| Staff |
You can view all the joint honours options for any course by going to our A-Z of courses, clicking on the course page and looking under 'Degrees and UCAS Codes'. Example at link below. www.glasgow.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/businessmanagement/#tab=degrees |
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| Offer holder | Business & Management | Hello, I have a place for "Business & Management" and now that I'm aware you have to also choose two other subjects to study, I was just wondering if you need to have obtained a certain grade in Maths (Scottish Qualifications) to choose either Economics or Psychology as Subjects? |
| Staff | No such need for Economics. You can take economics and it will be taught, taking into account there will be many students in your boat. We will also teach the maths necessary if you wish to continue with economics :) | |
| Current student |
For Psychology I do believe there are certain grades you need to obtain in your SQA exams, please have a look at the website for further information. |
|
| Offer holder | Business & Management | Hi, Do you require past knowledge of business in order to pick up the subject or is the course suited to people with no prior experience? Also do you get assigned a personal tutor when you join the university and are they from the subject area that you have applied for through UCAS? Thanks |
| Staff | No past knowledge is needed. You will have adviser of studies, and tutors for your tutorial sessions. Tutors and lecturers are happy to provide advice related to their respective courses where needed. | |
| Offer holder | Economics | If you do a single honours in Economics, does this mean you study the subject more in-depth than in a joint honours? And what are the advantages/disadvantages of doing a single honours compared to a joint honours? |
| Staff | Yes, if you do single Honours, in your 3rd and 4th you will do courses only in the single subject. If joint honours, you will take courses in two subjects. | |
| Staff | If you do single honours in one subject you will cover it in more depth than if you do a joint honours over 2 subjects | |
| Staff | I would add that even a joint honours student takes all the core courses in economics. You will take fewer optional courses and have the option to do the dissertation with the other Subject. | |
| Offer holder | Economics | Hi, I intend to study Economics. As for my additional 2 subjects in 1st and 2nd year, are there any subjects that you feel would complement Economics? |
| Staff | I would recommend math. | |
| Current student | Business Management could be good to have, some choose computing science. it all depends on your interests and preference. | |
| Offer holder | Business & Management | Hi, I was wondering if choosing business and management as a third subject is worthwhile as it would only be one year of study. |
| Staff | It depends what your interests are, what the other two subjects are, and why you would want to take it as your third subject. | |
| Current student | Business and Management will open your perspectives to how a business is run and the underlying operations, which I believe are pivotal if you hope to run your own business one day. It will most certainly help you develop skills you would need in your future years. You will also need to have 3 subjects for 2nd year, so that might be something to take into consideration. | |
| Offer holder | Business & Management | My other subjects are English Literature and Sociology and as I was struggling to pick a third I thought business might be useful |
| Staff | Business and Management certainly relate to Sociology, so it can be a good subject to take. It will add a new dimension to your studies in sociology. I suggest you look at the courses available in level 1 and compare it with other options you may be considering as your third subject, and see what interests you more. | |
| Offer holder | Business & Management | Hi, I am just wondering how similar the business & management course is to advanced higher business management? |
| Staff | You should consider the Advanced Higher as a departure point for your business studies in university. You will have much more in-depth and much wider variety of topics plus real world examples to work with, in the university. | |
| Offer holder | Economics | Hi, is it recommended you do maths as one of your other subjects if you are doing single honors economics? I have done advanced higher maths previously |
| Current student | Advanced Higher maths would suffice for Economics. Choosing Maths could be an option if you'd like a joint degree, but either way you will have 3 subjects for first and second year so it might be an option you want to take. | |
| Offer holder | Economics | Between the BSc and MA for economics, is there one that is more appealing to employers? |
| Staff | both are undergraduate degrees with equal value | |
| Offer holder | Economics | I currently hold an offer to study Economics. My school didn't offer the subject so it'll be very new to me. Does the teaching start as a relatively basic level or will I be thrown in the deep end a bit? |
| Staff | Relatively basic. In fact, those who have studied economics before need to, to some extent, forget what they knew before, as it's a different mindset. | |
| Current student | The teaching in first year is basic to that everyone will be on the same level before proceeding to more difficult teachings. Please do not feel stressed about it. Also, feel free to use youtube videos to help you gain a better understanding of the subject. You can also read Undercover Economist and Freakanomics. | |
| Staff | Many students will not have studied Economics before - don't worry. | |
| Offer holder | Business & Management | Hi, I have an offer for computing science / business and management. Is there any overlap between the two subjects in joint degrees? |
| Staff | While I don't know precisely what is taught in computer science, based on what I know about that field and what I know about what we teach in economics, there would be very little overlap, if at all. | |
| Current student | I am not aware of any overlap, however, they are both great subjects to study which in turn compliment one another. | |
| Offer holder | All | Hello, I have an unconditional to study economics at UofG and was wondering what opportunity we have to study abroad? For example in what countries/universities and in what year? |
| Staff |
The studying abroad is done in the 3rd year. Pretty much all over the world - I would assume if you are starting in the fall, it will not be a problem to travel by the 3rd year (in terms of the current Coronavirus situation). www.glasgow.ac.uk/myglasgow/students/goabroad |
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| Offer holder | All | Hi, I was wondering how likely is it economics students will get their first choice when looking to study abroad? |
| Current student | I believe it depends on your grades, application and competitiveness, rather than your chosen subject. | |
| Staff |
It very much depends where you wish to go. The University have over 300 destinations worldwide, but that is narrowed by fact you need to go somewhere that teaches your subject(s). Then you would apply for study abroad and list your preferred places, you would work with our Study Abroad team to do this. They advise that students pick both more popular destinations, but also consider some you may have not thought of. Our Study Abroad team could not be here today but I will just get their webpage link for you as they have lots of good information there www.glasgow.ac.uk/myglasgow/students/goabroad |
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| Offer holder | All | hi, are there placement opportunities or just opportunities for studying abroad? |
| Staff | To my knowledge, there are no placement opportunities in Economics. We do support through our career service when students try for internships etc. | |
| Staff | www.glasgow.ac.uk/myglasgow/careers/findingjobs/internships | |
| Offer holder | Economics | Good Afternoon, I have a conditional offer for Economics and I'm so excited to meet everyone. I was wondering how likely it is to do an internship after second or third year. |
| Current student | Internships are usually for 3rd years students, however, the univeristy has an extensive careers services that will help you develop the necessary skills in order to obtain an internship in future years. Additionally, they could help you in finding part time jobs or internships within the university or outwith it. There are spring weeks that you could apply to in your second year, might want to research those. | |
| Offer holder | Economics | What career opportunities do UofG Economics students have? What does the school do to support students in finding career opportunities? |
| Staff | There will be a wide range of job opportunities ranging from public sector, academia, to private sector | |
| Staff | Some examples of where our graduates have gone to: Ernst & Young, Morgan Stanley, Shell, Scottish Government, National Australia Group Europe and Hays PLC, among many other organisations. | |
| Staff | Students in economics are also encouraged to prepare their own events. | |
| Staff | you can also pursue your academic career, for example. doing a Master degree or why not a PhD | |
| Staff | In terms of training and support (besides academic training), one good example would be the ILM accredited Professional Skills Programme, which all Economics students have access to. This is designed to improve your professional skills and prepare you for work. | |
| Offer holder | All | Hi, what are some examples of possible careers one could pursue following an Economics/Business and Management degree? |
| Current student | You could go into anything you'd like afterwards, which ranges from a lot of things, eg Banking, private sector, public sector, accounting, finance, or even academia. If you google your question you will also get further information there. | |
| Staff | Check out the MA (Soc) web pages at: www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/socialsciences/students/socialsciences/careerpaths | |
| Staff | Many students go on to work in the Finance industry or as economic/business analysts in Industry. Economists are also employed in the third sector - charities/NGOs. The biggest employer of economists in the UK is the government. Central banks and research institutes also are large employers of economists | |
| Offer holder | Hi I was wondering roughly how many contact hours of teaching we would receive each week and in what form? (Economics socsci) | |
| Staff | For the main teaching is in the form of traditional lectures | |
| Staff | In general - 4 hours of lectures and 1 hour of tutorial. This is only for the economics course. you will have two more to deal with in each semester. The number of hours for those courses will depend. I would say, roughly speaking, 15 hours. But then you should do a lot of hours yourself! | |
| Staff | It all depends on the type of courses as well. You will find some courses much easier to handle than others | |
| Staff | 4 hours of lectures + 1 tutorial is per course. You would be taking 3 courses per term in each of the first two years. | |
| Offer holder | Economics | Hi, I am aware that teaching is done primarily through lectures for Economics but I was wondering if any tutorials are also run to consolidate learning? |
| Staff | Yes. Most courses are supplement by an hour's tutorials per week or so. | |
| Staff | With every course it is delivered via lectures and tutorials | |
| Staff | I believe every course runs tutorials or seminars alongside lectures, to support your learning. Some courses, e.g. Econometrics, also runs computer lab sessions, to help you learn how to use statistical packages for econometric analysis. | |
| Offer holder | All | Hey, How are each of the courses marked in year 1 and what will the pass mark be? |
| Staff | The code of assessment, which explains the grading system is here | |
| www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_124293_smxx.pdf | ||
| Staff | Courses grades are given on a scale of A to H (they are also further divided, so you can have A1, A2, etc....). D is needed for passing a course. | |
| Current student | you will need to achieve a grade of D3 to pass, but an average of C2 in your first and second year this is subject to your degree. Usually, it is a 25% in course assessment and a 75% exam. | |
| Offer holder | All | Does your first and second year count towards your final grade at the end of the degree? |
| Staff | According to the current regulations the answer is no. However you need to get required grades in order to proceed to honours after your 2nd year. All the courses you take throughout your degree will be detailed on your transcript, but your degree award and banding is determined by your Honours years (years 3 and 4). | |
| Offer holder | All | Hi, could you tell me roughly how many students are in lectures in first and second year? |
| Staff | Each lecture could contain around 250 students. The 1st year we might have around 400, so we usually double teach. But you will all be part of small group tutorials. | |
| Staff | Lecturers also have office hours when you can meet them. | |
| Offer holder | Economics | I was also wondering if there were many opportunities to take finance modules along with economics, possibly more in second year as I heard a finance degree was being started then? |
| Staff | Yes. There are already honours level finance courses in economics already. You can also choose some finance courses from other places (if the finance degree is running by then, but we cannot be 100% sure for your cohort). | |
| Offer holder | Economics | Hi, I've heard economics at UofG is maths-lite? But I'd prefer to expand my maths. Can I do that within the course? Or do I have to do a joint degree with maths? |
| Current student | In your first 2 years at university you will get the chance to choose 3 subjects, one of them could be maths if you are doing Economics. Economics gets more mathy as you progress. | |
| Staff | You can do joint maths, or you can take (especially during Honours) addition technical courses (a few of which I teach). I would recommend doing math alongside econ in your first two years - since you need another subject either - and then you can either continue as joint Honours as some do, or you can do just Econ but do technical courses - there is a Honours Math for Economists, there is game theory, and others. | |
| Staff | We don't require Higher/A level maths as an entry requirement, as all the maths required to study economics is included in our courses. There are also optional maths courses you can take. In general, we don't get any complaints that there is not enough maths. | |
| Offer holder | Economics | Is there much in the way of econometrics? |
| Staff | There are 2 compulsory econometrics courses that you will take in junior honours. There are also optional courses you can take to do more econometrics | |
| Offer holder | Economics | Hi, on the online course catalogue it says year 1 economics will include 'alternative perspectives in economics', but it doesn't mention this in the prospectus. Is it definitely included in the year 1 course? |
| Staff | We have optional courses on alternative perspective. This will be in the 2nd year and also in honours years. Nowadays, the mainstream economics does include discussions about new thinkings. We also have a very active student society who invite speakers, organise a conference etc. | |
| Offer holder | Economics | Do these discussions ever include the economics of environmentalm issues/sustainability? |
| Staff | Yes - we have optional courses dedicated to environment and sustainability, energy etc. in the honours years. I am not sure whether these will be discussed in detail in the 1st year. | |
| Offer holder | Business & Management | Hi I am just wondering what grade percentage I need to obtain to go on a year abroad? (Business Management) |
| Current student | We have a grade system that goes from A1 to D3, I believe you would need at least a C2 to be considered. It also depends on the competitiveness of the place you chose. You will receive further info regarding that in your first and second year. | |
| Offer holder | All | What percentage would a C2 be equivalent to and how difficult is it to achieve this as I really hope to do a year abroad? |
| Staff | just to confirm you would need to pass our Level 2 courses with an average C3 and be eligible for Honours in order to study abroad. We don't work with percentages but you can see more about the marking system here | |
| Staff | https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_106264_smxx.pdf | |
| Offer holder | Economics | How much maths support is there for economics? |
| Staff | You will cover the maths needed during the core courses, but there are also optional maths courses you can take as well if you want to improve your maths | |
| Current student | There is also a service called LEADS that will provide Maths assistance during the year, workshops and one to one help. please have a look at them through the website or google. | |
| Offer holder | Economics | Hi I don't have an A Level in maths (I only studied it to GCSE at which I achieved an A grade) however I intend on studying Economics. Will I be at a disadvantage having not studied maths previously? Or will all the required knowledge be taught within the course? thank you |
| Staff | The required knowledge is taught in the course, however, you should make sure you feel comfortable with basic high school math (need not be A Level). This means e.g. 2 equations with two unknowns, differentiating simple functions, and basic concepts in drawing graphs (e.g., equation of line between two points). | |
| Staff | I generally advise that you need to be "comfortable" with maths. All the maths you need is covered in our core courses - so not having studied maths at Higher/ALevel will not put you at a disadvantage (as long as you are "comfortable" with maths) | |
| Staff | You can look at this book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mathematics-Economics-Business-Ian-Jacques/dp/0273763563 You should be familiar with certainly the first chapter, and it would be recommended to go over the first few. |
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| Current student | Maths will only be to your advantage, dont worry about it disadvantaging you. Economics does become more maths focussed as you progress through the years one might be more difficult than others, but you will receive all the support you need. | |
| Offer holder | Economics | Is there anywhere I could find an in-depth course content for Economics? The one I was able to find on the ggow uni website was just a basic overview. |
| Staff | www.glasgow.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/economics/courses | |
| Offer holder | Economics | Is there any difference between BSc and MA for the economics content of the course? |
| Staff | The content of each subject you study will be the same, regardless of which degree you take (MA, BSc or MA (Soc)). | |
| Offer holder | Business & Management | I have an offer for Business Management and i intend to accept this if i meet the conditions, after the 4 years will i be qualified to become a teacher in secondary schools? or what will be my next steps to get to my goal of a Business Management teacher? |
| Staff | This degree is not a teaching qualification. What further qualification you will need depends on what country you want to teach in. It would be best to speak to the School of Education to discuss this. In the UK you would need a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) which you can apply to after your first degree, for entry requirements on this again we would recommend speaking to the School of Education. | |
| Offer holder | Economics | Hi, do you have a link to the first year course catalogue for economics? |
| Staff | www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue | |
| Offer holder | Economics | Do the Economics students study in the Adam Smith Business School? |
| Current student | You will have some lectures there. | |
| Staff | The Adam Smith Business School provides the programs in economics, accounting and finance, management, business. The business school is in the Main Building, but teaching can take place over the whole campus. | |
| Staff | Economics is in the Adam Smith Business School, but you will be studying 2 other subjects which may well be in other schools, depending on what you choose. | |
| Offer holder | All | Where is the School of Social and Political sciences situated? |
| Staff | 40 Bute Gardens, which is on our main Gilmorehill campus. With that said students will have teaching in variety of buildings and rooms across campus. | |
| Current student | You will most likely be stationed around campus depending on the lecture room availability. However, you will not have to walk a lot between one place to another, most likely 5-8 mins, with time in between to get from one lecture to another. | |
| Offer holder | All | Due to the corona virus, SQA's and other standardized tests have been affected. I was speaking to my representative about alternatives to my conditional offer since my tests for this May and June have been canceled (I'm from the U.S. so I take SATs). Is the university open to receiving other materials in order to meet a condition |
| Staff | The University has created an FAQ section related to any concerns you might have about the impact of the Corona virus on your studies. It is updated regularly with any developments, so it is the best place to check | |
| Staff | www.glasgow.ac.uk/myglasgow/news/coronavirus/faqs/#d.en.716256 | |
| Staff | You should also speak to Admissions with regards to your offer and what they can accept - a contact email will be on your offer letter. | |
| Offer holder | All | Will we be able to do the course online, if corona virus forces us to stay at home? I know there's a lot of uncertainty, but what do you know so far? |
| Staff | As you wrote, nothing is certain, but the university is looking to make sure if that happens, online study could be in place. | |
| Current student | Due to Covid all teaching this semester required lecturers to transfer teaching online. Thanks to the quick response the university took, we were not delayed. I believe the univeristy will provide further guidance when possible. | |
| Staff | We know that many of you will be thinking about this. The University has created an FAQ section related to any concerns you might have about the impact of the Corona virus on your studies. It is updated regularly with any developments, so it is the best place to check | |
| www.glasgow.ac.uk/myglasgow/news/coronavirus/faqs/#d.en.716256 | ||
| Staff | It may indeed be that for the fall term, and possibly most of the year, a lot of teaching will be done online. The faculty is currently hard at work figuring out the best ways to present online learning in ways that will be stimulating than merely online lectures. | |
| Staff | All | to our academic staff - can you provide a contact email for any further questions following today's chat. |
| Staff | socsci-ma@glasgow.ac.uk | |
| Staff | Thank you to everyone who joined us and thanks to all the academics for your answers. The chat has now ended for Business Management, Business Economics and Economics. |
Central & East European Studies, Economic & Social History, Quantitative Methods, Social & Public Policy, Sociology
| User Name | Subject | Message |
| Staff | Welcome to our Virtual Offer holders Day. Congratulations to everyone on their offers from UofG! This is your chance to speak to our staff from Central & Eastern European Studies, Economic & Social History, Social & Public Policy, Sociology and Quantitative Methods so please ask us any questions you have about the programmes, we want to support you in making your upcoming UCAS choices. |
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| Offer holder | Central & Eastern European Studies | Hi, it says in the course description that there's the opportunity to take hungarian, czech, polish etc. I was wondering how that works as part of the degree? |
| Staff | Absolutely. We do not offer degrees in any of these languages, but you can study these languges as part of your degree in Central and East European Studies or Russian. That means, you can start from zero and reach an upper intermediate level in 3-4 years. | |
| Offer holder | Central & Eastern European Studies | Thank you. Could I maybe choose a language alongside? Perhaps Russian? |
| Staff | www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/socialsciences/students/socialsciences/courseplanner | |
| Staff | Possibly yes, this might help to explain. If you choose a language it would have to be one which did not clash with your main two subjects. | |
| Staff | You can choose Russian but if you intend to study that beyond level 2 (second year) you would transfer to the College of Arts and would be required to complete a compulsory language year abroad. | |
| Offer holder | All | Do you have to study other subjects in year 1 and 2? If so what are these subjects, and when do I pick them? |
| Staff | Yes all students who apply to Central & Eastern European Studies, Economic & Social History, Social & Public Policy and Sociology will have to pick other subjects to study in year 1 and 2. Students will take three subjects in year 1 and three subjects in year 2. If they applied to single honours course then they pick another two at registration, and if they applied to a joint honours course they pick another one. That is 120 credits per year, 40 per subject, typically. Registration usually takes place in August, online, and then students will see their Adviser of Studies to confirm their timetable, usually in week 1 of teaching. Your Adviser is there to help you with your degree structure throughout your studies. Students will have a selection of subjects to choose from, both from within Social Sciences but possibly also from other Colleges. Its not possible to say at this stage what may be on the list of other subjects, as its determined by availability and timetable. That said students will have a wide selection of subjects to choose from and should not have to take subjects they are unhappy with. We also fully support our students in making the best choices for them. Subject to timetable and availability students can potentially pick up a language. At the end of each year of study students will meet with their Adviser of Study to decide how they would like to progress - at the end of year 1 students will take two subjects from year 1 forward, and pick another one to have again three subjects in year 2. You can find more information on how this works, and short videos explaining it, on our website at the below links. |
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| Staff | www.glasgow.ac.uk/undergraduate/choosingyourdegree/understandingthedegreestructure | |
| Staff | www.glasgow.ac.uk/colleges/socialsciences/students/socialsciences/courseplanner/ | |
| Offer holder | All | What joint Honours options do you have with my course? |
| Staff | You can view all the joint honours options for any course by going to our A-Z of courses, clicking on the course page and looking under 'Degrees and UCAS Codes'. Example at link below. | |
| Staff | www.glasgow.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/centraleasteuropeanstudies/#tab=degrees | |
| Offer holder | All | Hi there, so what would be the main differences be from single honours and joint honours? |
| Staff | Have a look at the information here (and at the above degree structure link) | |
| Staff | www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/socialsciences/students/socialsciences/massdegreestructure/ | |
| Offer holder | All | If doing a joint honours course and then as usual we pick three for first year, what happends if we change our mind about the 2 we wish to carry on with is it possible to change this? As in the first and second year this does not have as much effect but of course this will change the degree title. Thanks |
| Staff | At the end of first year, you can decide which two of the three subjects you have studied that you'd like to continue with. We would change your plan (degree name) and you would pick a new level 1 subject to go along with your two level 2 ones in second year. | |
| Offer holder | Social & Public Policy | Hi, I have an offer for history/politics and im trying to pick a third subject. im really interested in the human, political side of geography, and a lot of that comes up in social and public policy. im torn over whether i should pick geography or social and public policy with that in mind? |
| Staff | Thanks for your question. It's great to hear you're interested in Social and Public Policy! Obviously I am biased, but we have some great level one and two courses that cover a wide range of issues - if you haven't already please do take a look at our prospectus (under 'Documents' tab on the main social science page). For example, in year one we look at the development of social and public policy from the 19th century until the present day. We study the origins and development of the welfare state, and cover contemporary issues relating to housing, eduction, poverty, unemployment, health and wellbeing. Our second year one course explores globalisation by looking at its impact on Glasgow. |
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| Offer holder | Social & Public Policy | thank you this was really helpful! is there much crossover with the politics course? |
| Staff | I can't speak directly about the content of the politics course, but in my experience of teaching joint honours politics/spp students there is sometimes some overlap where we cover ideological concepts and perspectives. But social and public policy is much more focused on social problems (e.g. poverty, homelessness, inequalities) and policy responses to them. | |
| Staff | www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue | |
| Offer holder | Economic & Social History | Hello! I have an offer for International Relations and was wondering if it would be possible to study Economic and Social History with a C in National 5 Maths? |
| Staff | If you have been offered an offer for International Relations, you can also take ESH. There is little maths involved in ESH. | |
| Offer holder | Economic & Social History | I'm also considering economic and social history for a third option, would there be a lot of overlap with the regular history course? |
| Staff | No it won't be any overlap. | |
| Offer holder | Economic & Social History | Another wee question, would you recommend taking both? or would it be almost too much history? |
| Staff | Many students take both, and really enjoy the diversity of courses | |
| Staff | There's a good number of students who take both. It very much depends on your interests. Have a look in the course catalogue for course descriptions. Don't just look at level 1 and 2, look at level 4 courses - these are the more specialist courses you would take in Honours. | |
| Offer holder | Sociology | Hi I have an offer for sociology/french, am I able to take a subject from the social science or the arts as my third subject in first year? |
| Staff | If you have applied for a joint degree in Sociology/French, then you will be admitted to the College of Arts to do the MA. This means that your third subject must normally be from the College of Arts - their requirement is that you complete 120 credits taught by them by the end of second year. | |
| Staff | If you study French to a degree level ( i.e. you want a degree with says French) you will be in the College of Arts. Please chat to the Arts advising team. | |
| Staff | Remember that all the language degrees are 5 years and not four. | |
| Offer holder | Sociology | Hi, I have an offer for English and Sociology joint honours and was wondering if I would be disadvantaged having never studied sociology before? |
| Staff | Sociology does not assume any prior knowledge, we start from scratch so go for it! We are broad based and welcoming | |
| Offer holder | Sociology | Hi, I’m looking at doing a joint honours in sociology and philosophy, the degree title has (SocSci) on the end but philosophy is not part of the social sciences i am just wondering why this is? |
| Staff | Sociology is part of the MA (SocSci) programme in College of Social Sciences. Philosophy is based in College of Arts. Don't worry about it, the key point is you can combine them with no problem | |
| Offer holder | Economic & Social History | Hi, I have an offer for sociology but i'm also interested in History. I was just wondering what social and economic history involves and how it is different from a history degree? |
| Staff | ESH is mostly modern history (from late 18th century onwards). It has a global (level 1) and British (level 2) perspectives. As it names highlights it focuses on economic and social perspectives of history. It includes industrialisation, first-wave feminism, Civil rights movement, and many others | |
| Staff | ESH is also in the same School of SPS and same College as Sociology unlike History so there is more cross-engagement between Sociology and ESH | |
| Offer holder | Social & Public Policy | Hi, Ive applied to do psychology and social and public policy and I was wondering if the third subject could be from any department, for example would I be able to take biology ? Also I was wondering what is best suited third choice for psychology and social and public policy? |
| Staff | Just a response to your second question, one overlap between the two subjects (Psychology/Social-Public Policy) is methodological. One thing that would thus work well as addition would be the quantitative methods stream that we offer through the Q-Step centre, this only starts in year 2, but is worth keeping in mind: Have a look if you like... | |
| Staff | www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/q-stepcentre/information/quantitativepathways/ | |
| Staff | If you have an offer for the MA (Soc) then you can choose a third subject from either Science or Arts. If you do level 1 and 2 Psychology, then you are exempt from taking QM1 and QM2, and can pick up the Q-step courses from your third year, due to the methodolgy covered in Psychology at level 1 and 2. | |
| Offer holder | Social & Public Policy | I have an offer for Social and Public Policy, with the other subjects we can choose, can this be from any humanities, language or social science subjects or are we limited to just social sciences? So for example could I take a language or History? |
| Staff | Hi I'm one of the staff who runs the SPP programme. What I would recommend is that you take another subject from the MA SociSci programme and follow that through the first an second years. That gives your two routes to honours or the possibility of joint honours. For your third subject you can take just about anything- it's a good opportunity to broaden your knowledge or to do something that you think might be fun. Choices beyond your core are sometimes limited by timetabling clashes or capacity however. Always a good idea to register your choices early. | |
| Offer holder | Social & Public Policy | Thank you! Is Politics in the Ma ScoSci programme? And can you join the Q step programme if you don't have an offer for it? Looking forward to studying SPP :) |
| Staff | Yes Politics is part of the MA SocSci and is one of the most often chosen subjects to go along with SPP. I don't know the entry rules for QStep sorry. | |
| Staff | This link might help you choose subjects, but you are allowed some change when you get to Glasgow, if spaces exist. Yes - you can take the Q-step courses if you don't have an offer - these courses are offer from second year onwards. | |
| Staff | www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/socialsciences/students/socialsciences/courseplanner | |
| Offer holder | Quantitative Methods | Thank you very much for the link. I was wondering whether the QM programme needed to be applied to directly through UCAS? Or whether this is something I can choose to access once enrolled at university? |
| Staff | Hi again, in the first instance you can apply through UCAS (have a look here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/quantitativemethods/#tab=degrees). But since we only start in year 2 of the degree (MA SocSci) you can also transfer later as far as I am aware. | |
| Staff | You can apply directly through UCAS which would put you onto the MA (Soc). However, because the QM courses are not picked up until second year, it doesn't matter too much if you don't do that. We strongly encourage students who don't apply directly to consider taking the courses in their second year. | |
| Offer holder | Sociology | Hi! If I was offered placement in the SocSci department for history and sociology am I apart of the humanities department as well? |
| Staff | If you are doing History and Sociology the responsibility for your classes will be split between two schools. Sociology is in Social Sciences and History is in Arts. If you are doing Social and Economic History- not History- and Sociology both subjects are in Social Sciences. | |
| Staff | The combination of History/Sociology is offered as both and MA and an MA (Soc). If you have an offer for an MA you would be in the College of Arts, if offered a place on the MA (Soc) you would be in the College of Social Sciences. We hope to see you in September. | |
| Offer holder | Sociology | Thank you! So if it states an offer of MA(HisSoc) I am apart of the ScoSci school? |
| Staff | No if it states MA (Hist/Soc) then you are in the College of Arts. If your offer says MA (Soc) Hist/Soc, then you would be in the College of Social Sciences. | |
| Offer holder | Central & Eastern European Studies | Hello, I have a conditional for Politics and CEES. Can I study CEES for the 4 years? |
| Staff | You certainly can. | |
| Offer holder | Quantitative Methods | Hi I was wondering whether there were any work placements/links with organisations to help with employment prospects, specifically linked to the Quantitative Methods course of study. |
| Staff | Yes there is a specific Q-Step internship programme for anyone who is on the "with Quantitative Methods" track that we run from the Q-Step centre, we are currently updating our webpage, but you should shortly find more information here: | |
| Staff | www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/q-stepcentre | |
| Offer holder | Quantitative Methods | Is there a way to pick up quantitative methods as part of the main subject you applied with, or is it a 3rd subject on its own? |
| Staff | Quantitative methods can be completed in junior honours as a core subject in any degree taken with our School of Social and Political Sciences. If you are interested in more in-depth training, our 'with Quantitative Methods' classes begin in second year, continue in third year with a final advanced class in fourth year. You make the decision about whether you want to be involved at the end of your first year, so plenty of time to hear more about what the degree 'with Quantitative Methods' offers. | |
| Staff | If you do the more in-depth option then the words 'with quantitative methods' appears on your degree certificate, alongside your main subject | |
| Staff | www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/q-stepcentre/information/quantitativepathways |
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| Offer holder | Economic & Social History | Is there any books that you would recommend for Economic and Social History in order to prepare for year 1? |
| Staff | Here is a selection of sources that can be useful to prepare for ESH level 1: Michael Graff, A.G. Kenwood, Growth of the International Economy 1820-2015 (5th edition, Routledge, 2014), Alfred Eckes, The Contemporary Global Economy: A history since 1980 (Wiley-Blackwell, 2011), Catherine Schenk, International Economic Relations Since 1945 (Routledge, 2011) |
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| Offer holder | Sociology | Hi, does anyone have book recommendations to prepare for Sociology? |
| Staff | We don't use a textbook in order to promote direct engagement with primary texts | |
| Offer holder | Sociology | Ok, any general books around sociology that are good for interest? Not neccessarily directly related to the course but good to read from a point of view being interested in sociology? |
| Staff | I would suggest to take a look at C Wright Mills The Sociological Imagination as a way in | |
| Staff | Also Zygmunt Bauman and Tim May Thinking Sociologically | |
| Staff | Erving Goffman, The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life | |
| Offer holder | Sociology | Are there any “core” modules that we have to do (as opposed to optional ones where we can pick which module we do), and by doing a joint honours do we reduce the number we can pick? And what are those “core modules”? I am looking at doing sociology and philosophy |
| Staff | Within Sociology courses for levels 1 and 2 everything is compulsory. But alongside sociology and philosophy you can choose one other subject as explained at start of the chat. | |
| Offer holder | Sociology | Ok, are there optional modules in years 3 and 4? If so will these be more limited by doing a joint honours compared to a single honours course? |
| Staff | At Honours level for Sociology as a joint degree, you would have to do a dissertation in one of the subjects, not both. But you would not have to do the Sociology general Paper. | |
| Offer holder | Sociology | Ok, sorry for so many questions, what is the sociology general paper? |
| Staff | General Paper is a very simple exam only course where students have to answer one very broad question in 3 hours, but that is not for joint honours | |
| Staff | In year 3 joint honours have to do one research methods course: Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences OR Qualitative Methods in the Social Sciences...which is good preparation for a dissertation in sociology | |
| Offer holder | Social & Public Policy | Hi I was wondering how well Social and Public policy would work alongside Business & Management as a potential degree |
| Staff | This is a good mix and and we have many students who undertake this combination of subjects. To see more information on what social and public policy entails see the webpage (this also includes career options!) | |
| Staff | www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/publicpolicy | |
| Offer holder | Social & Public Policy | Hi there! In terms of after university job prospects along side film and tv would you say that social policy would be a good fit? |
| Staff | Social and public policy students go on pursue to a wide range of jobs and careers in public, voluntary and private sectors, and in fields such as social services, planning, advocacy, commerce - you name it! During the degree you develop a range of different flexible skills that employers are looking for such as analytical skills and teamworking. There's more info on the webpage and we run careers talks as part of our programme. Hope that helps :) | |
| Offer holder | All | As well as lectures and seminars, is there also small group tutorials throughout the degree? |
| Staff | Small group teaching is called tutorial in the first two years, and seminar in the last two years. | |
| Staff | Most subjects will have one tutorial per week, in addition to other forms of teaching: lecutres, seminars or labs. Not all subjects use all formats. | |
| Offer holder | Sociology and Social & Public Policy | For both sociology & social and public policy, roughly how much face to face teaching takes place on average? Just wondering how heavy the timetable is likely to be. |
| Staff | In the first year, you take three subjects. Each subject would normally have 3 lectures and one small-group teaching called tutorial. That is about 12(+) contact ours. The same goes for the second year. In the last two years, you have about 6 contanct hours per week. | |
| Staff | Typically for year 1 and year courses in Social Sciences you will have 3 lectures per week per course and one tutorial most weeks per course, and you take three courses each semester in year 1 and 2. Not all courses have the same structure though. So roughly the face time will be 12 hours a week during the semester. This means that most of your learning time is for you to manage yourself- e.g. preparation for tutorials, researching and writing for assignments and following each week's recommended reading. | |
| Offer holder | All | Do you have any plans for the beginning of term if we are all still social distancing? Would you teach remotely or postpone the start of the course? |
| Staff | Thank you for your question. The University has FAQs online which we are keeping up to date with all information regarding the covid 19 situation, including a specific section for Offer holders. We will continue to update this as more information becomes available | |
| Staff | www.glasgow.ac.uk/myglasgow/news/coronavirus/faqs/#tab=tab-7 | |
| Staff | Thank you to everyone who joined us and thanks to all the academics for your answers. The chat has now ended for CEES, Economic & Social History, Social & Public Policy and Sociology. |
Chemistry
| User Name | Message |
| Staff | Good afternoon everyone! A very warm welcome to the Virtual Offer holder’s Day. Academics are here and ready for any questions together with Student Ambassadors and representatives from Admissions. Please put the program applied for at the start of the question and feel free to post questions now. |
| Current student | Hi! My name is Eileen and I'm a Student Ambassador at the University of Glasgow. I'm coming to the end of my 4th year in Chemistry. Over my time here, I have also studied Psychology, Biology and French Language. Feel free to send us any questions you have about the course/ degree structure etc. |
| Offer holder | Heya Eileen, I'm considering taking French for my 3rd subject, I did it for higher last year, so would you suggest doing it even with a one year break? I'm not sure what I'd use it for though! |
| Current student | Hi Daisy, I did French at L2 (so 2nd year french), mainly just for fun and to fill up credits since I already had enough credits from Science to progress to 3rd year. For your third subject, there are a lot of subjects to choose from so it's really up to you :) I had friends who graduated with Molecular Biology degrees who did archeology in 1st year! |
| Staff | Good afternoon, I am Justin Hargreaves and I am one of the academics from the School of Chemistry |
| Staff | Hi, I am Dr Frances Docherty, one of the lecturers from the School of Chemistry. Happy to try to answer any questions you have. |
| Staff | Hi, I'm David Jackson, one of the academics from the School of Chemistry |
| Staff | Hi everyone, I am Beth Paschke, I am a lecturer in the School of Chemistry. |
| Staff | Hello! I'm the Class Head of the Chemical Physics and Chemistry and Maths degrees. (Also, I done my BSc Hons degree and PhD in Chemistry here at Glasgow!) |
| Offer holder | Can you study maths if you have not done further maths at a level? |
| Current student | Hi Katrine! Yes, there are a few different maths courses (at different levels). Each course will specify the minimum attainment you need have to be enrolled in that course. You might not be able to pick it up as your main degree if you haven't done Maths at A-Level, but you'd have to speak to the 1st Year Head of Maths to ascertain that. |
| Offer holder | Hi, Can I know which part of Maths includes in Finance and Mathematics course? |
| Staff | Hi Hansila, great question. You can actually find every single class we offer on our course catalogue: https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/ |
| Offer holder | In light of current events, are unconditional places still assured? Are conditionals assured if the conditions are met? |
| Current student | This page has information for Offer holders, as well as information about the impacts of Covid-19. https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/offerholders/ I am not from admissions, but I don't see any reason why it would be different to prior years. The main difference you might see would be in the course start date. Does this answer your question? |
| Offer holder | Hi, when do we get to choose our other 2 subjects for 1st Year of university? |
| Current student | Hi Robyn. You can do this during the online enrolment which happens after you complete your registration and financial registration. |
| Offer holder | When would I be able to complete my registration\? Is that something I could do now\? Thanks |
| Current student | So this happens at the start of the semester. They will send you an email when Registration is open. |
| Offer holder | Hi - is there a recommended reading list for Chemical Physics? Thanks |
| Staff | Hi Ruth, if you enter at level-1, you will be required to take; Maths-1, Physics-1 and Chem-1. There are likely to be reading lists associated with all of these. I can let you know the recommended Chem-1 text if you give a few minutes. |
| Offer holder | Thanks - we thought it might be a good idea to start looking out for textbooks etc. |
| Staff | Hi, the chem-1 textbook is currently Chemistry3: Introducing Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry by Andrew Burrows; John Holman; Andrew Parsons |
| Staff | Hi again, Ruth. The essential text book is "Burrows, Holman, Parsons, Pilling, Price, Chemistry3, 3rd edition, Oxford University Press, 2017; ISBN 9780198733805." Another recommended text is "Cockett, Doggett, Maths for Chemists, 2nd edition, RSC Publishing, 2012; ISBN 9781849733595." |
| Staff | For Physics-1, the recommended book in 2019-20 was The textbook for the Physics 1 course is: "University Physics" 14th edition with Modern Physics – H D Young and R A Freedman, (Addison-Wesley, paperback, 2016). However, before purchasing it you should check with Physics in case there's any changes planned for next session |
| Offer holder | Hello, in the Chemical Physics degree, what courses are taken throughout the degree and can maths be taken still in second year? Cheers |
| Staff | Hi Eva! In 1st year you take Chemistry, Physics and Maths. In Level 2 you take Chemistry 2X, Chemistry 2Y, Physics 2, Maths 2A and Maths 2B. This allows you to go into Chemistry, Physics or Chemical Physics in Level 3. |
| Staff | Hi Eva, if you enter at level-1, you will be required to take; Maths-1, Physics-1 and Chem-1. In second year, Chem Phys students do continue with some level 2 Maths courses but not the full level 2 maths curriculum as you will also have to take Chemistry and Physics courses in 2nd year. Does this answer your query? |
| Staff | Hi Eva, Here is a breakdown of what you will study each year. You will still be doing some maths in second and third year. Programme structure Year 1 CHEMISTRY 1 PHYSICS 1 MATHEMATICS 1 Year 2 CHEMISTRY 2X CHEMISTRY 2Y PHYSICS 2 MATHEMATICS 2A: MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS MATHEMATICS 2B: LINEAR ALGEBRA Year 3 MATHEMATICAL METHODS 1 WAVES & DIFFRACTION QUANTUM MECHANICS THERMAL PHYSICS HONOURS PHYSICS LABORATORY INORGANIC CHEMISTRY 3 (HALF) PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY 3 Year 4 ELECTROMAGNETIC THEORY 1 SOLID STATE PHYSICS NUCLEAR & PARTICLE PHYSICS ATOMIC SYSTEMS PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY 4H INORGANIC CHEMISTRY 4H (HALF) CHEMISTRY SPECIAL TOPICS 4H HALF CHEMISTRY PROJECT 4H or PHYSICS 40-CREDIT H-LEVEL PROJECT |
| Offer holder | Thank you very much, that is fab |
| Offer holder | We look forwards to seeing you next semester Eve if you decide to come to Glasgow to join us. |
| Offer holder | I was also wondering what subjects you can take along side maths? Is there a list of options somewhere? Thanks |
| Current student | Hi Molly. What are your interests? Are you intending to study Maths or Chemistry or Physics? We have programmes that combine these all (depending on your passion). |
| Staff | Hi Molly, in 1st Year students usually take up to 3 different subjects; the choice to some extent is up to you and will depend upon what you are interested in, what will fit into your timetable and also the entry to some 1st Year courses depends upon a student's previous knowledge of that subject and grades. Do you have any specific subjects in mind that you would like to consider studying and I can perhaps give you an idea if it would be a workable combination? e.g. what other subjects are you studying at the moment and to what level? |
| Offer holder | I've studied in my sixth year advanced higher maths, advanced higher biology and higher chemistry (and a baccalaureate in science), I've got highers in maths, English, modern studies, music and human biology (A's). I have offers for maths, and maths and stats. I was wondering if taking anatomy along side them would be an option as that is one of my interests? |
| Current student | Hi Molly. I am not too sure about the Anatomy option. I would urge you to contact the Life science with this query. What I am familiar with is students taking chem-1, Bio-1 and then another course, eg maths or physics or earth science. Anatomy may be a choice in second year biology. So you still may have access to this if your take first year biology and gain acess to second year biology (with this option...check with them). You can continue with Chemistry in second year (60 credits to keep your pathway open in chemistry to continue into third year chemistry). AND if you do 60 credits in biology, and do well , you may apply to change to Biology for third year, dependent on your grades and say goodby e to chemistry and hello to biology. |
| Staff | Hi Molly, Anatomy is not a first year subject but you could take biology. |
| Staff | As Frances and Linnea have suggested, Molly, Anatomy is a degree subject where students can specialise in 3rd Year (and to some extent in 2nd year) but students have to take general level 1 Biology beforehand in 1st Year. |
| Current student | Hi Everyone. I am the Final Year Class Head of Chemistry and am here to try and help you! |
| Staff | Yeah what happens with the additional subjects you have to take? |
| Staff | Do you have any specific subjects in mind that you would like to consider studying and I can perhaps give you an idea if it would be a workable combination? e.g. what other subjects are you studying at the moment and to what level? |
| Offer holder | I will be doing chemistry with medicinal chemistry so will I take another science subject with that? |
| Current student | So at 1st and 2nd year, there are no additional subject requirements for Med Chem. The specialisation occurs in 4th year as you will do different courses than people enrolled in Chemistry (BSc). That being said it would be useful to study Biology in first year (Molecular and Cellular courses in 2nd year). |
| Offer holder | Does the third course need to be science related or can it be something completely different? |
| Staff | Yes, The third course could be something non-chemistry and non-science provided that it fits in with your timetable and does not have specific pre-requisites associated with it. Before our students start 1st Year, they are assigned a contact person in the School that their degree is based in and that person will be able to help find courses that would fit these criteria. |
| Offer holder | Thanks so much for your help! |
| Staff | We look forwards to seeing you next semester Rebekah if you decide to come to Glasgow to join us. |
| Offer holder | Hi, i was wondering if the campus is easy to navigate and if there are a lot of signs etc |
| Staff | Leanna, there are a number maps at strategic locations but also people on campus are very helpful in giving directions if you get lost. |
| Staff | Leanna, the campus is quite easy to navigate. There are signs, maps and an app for your phone that will give you directions to lecture theaters etc |
| Offer holder | Thank you |
| Current student | The app is very useful! I'm in my final year and I still use it to find some of my classes |
| Current student | Hi Leanna, like anywhere, it can be "interesting" to find your way around BUT we have quite a few distinctive buildings and you will become comfortable quickly. The room finder app is very helpful but what really works for me is just asking a stranger. ;-) people are friendly and understand that it takes some time to learn your way around a new place |
| Offer holder | Is there specific subjects that you have to take alongside Chemistry for just Chemistry degree\? |
| Staff | Hey Robyn, you will also study two other subjects in first year. You can find a video which explains the degree structure of this in the video section |
| Offer holder | Is there a list of subjects to choose from\? |
| Offer holder | Is it common for students to have to choose subjects they wouldn't necessarily have chosen because of a lack of space? |
| Staff | Hi Robyn, In first year you must take 120 credits, 40 of these will be chemistry, at least another 40 must be science subjects (for example biology, maths, earth science, physics, exploring the cosmos etc) and the final 40 can be more science or something else, like a language or philosophy for example, provided there are no timetable clashes. In second year you do 60 credits of chemistry and 60 credits of other subjects and after that it is 100% chemistry. |
| Staff | You will be given your options when you enrol, like Frances says, what is available to you as an option will depend on your timetable and what has places |
| Offer holder | Thank you, does psychology come under the science bracket or is it classed as humanities at Glasgow\? |
| Staff | Hi Robyn. Thanks for your question. The School of Psychology is in the College of Science & Engineering. |
| Offer holder | Perfect thank you\! |
| Offer holder | Is there any way to see the chemistry and physics labs (possibly photos or virtual tour) as this was not possible during the open day? Thanks |
| Current student | Hi Lawrie. That is a great question. I think Physics will have to chime in as well (and they may already have a video for this). We are planning do do something like this in Chemistry, when we regain access to teh School. If you are interested, please just email us and we will share it with you. |
| Staff | Hi Lawrie, Further to Linnea's reply, colleagues from Physics & Astronomy will be joining the session at 6pm this evening. I hope this helps! |
| Offer holder | Are all of the Level 7 maths modules studied in year 1 or is there any choice? |
| Offer holder | Are all of the Level1 (SCQF Level7) modules studied in year1 or is there any choice? |
| Staff | Hi Zoe, Do you have any specific subjects in mind? |
| Offer holder | For the BSc Maths degree, I have an unconditional offer accepted for September. |
| Staff | Hi Zoe, Do you have any specific subjects in mind that you would like to consider studying and I can perhaps give you an idea if it would be a workable combination? e.g. what other subjects are you studying at the moment and to what level? |
| Staff | For example; you could take a combination of Chem +Maths+Biology which would leave other potential degree options open to you moving forwards i.e. Chemistry or Biology or Chemistry and Maths (joint degree). (If you have studied Chemistry and have/will have Higher at grade B) |
| Offer holder | I have studies Computing Science at Higher level and would perhaps be interested in something cosmology related? |
| Staff | Hi Eve, Maths and Computing is a common combination. We also have courses in Astronomy or if you would prefer to take something a little lighter; Exploring the Cosmos is another popular course that fits into most timetables. |
| Offer holder | My maths teacher has recommended Exploring the Cosmos as a good course to take, is that 40 credits to fit as 1 of my 2 choices along with maths? And when do I make these choices? |
| Staff | Yes, Ex Cos is 40 credits if you take both ExCos 1X and 1Y (20 credits each). 1X is taken in semester 1 and 1Y in semester 2. Before our students start 1st Year, they are assigned a contact person in the School that their degree is based in and that person will be able to help find you with making your course choices. This usually happens in August. Does this help? |
| Offer holder | Yes! Thank you very much for all the help!! :):) |
| Staff | Thnaks for popping in for a chat. We look forward to seeing you next semester Zoe if you decide to come to Glasgow to join us. |
| Offer holder | Hey, I have applied to study for Chemical Physics at Glasgow and Edinburgh Uni. I’m pretty satisfied that both courses are amazing and offer the same level of qualification at the end. So, what can you tell me that will make me choose Glasgow over Edinburgh? Also, I am interested to know about opportunities you offer to study abroad, can you please tell me more about this? Thanks |
| Staff | Hi! I agree - edin is amazing too! But Glasgow has a better location for its Campus :-) loads of lovely restaurants, cafes, bars, parks, museums, etc all within minutes walk of our chemistry and physics buildings. Whereas the edinburgh science buildings are kinda in the middle of nowhere, and you need to get a bus out to get somewhere nice or to get to city centre. So if you've just finished a day's hard slog at uni, it's easier and quicker to get somewhere else to chill out or have fun if you're studying at Glasgow. |
| Staff | Hi Sam, my colleague, Smita is class head of Chemical Physics and will be able to tell you more about it. My other colleague, Frances graduated with a Chem Phys degree from Glasgow. What I can say is that there is the possibility of a workplacement as part of a students 4th Year on the MSci programme where students work in another university or with a commercial company e.g. we have had students working at CERN. |
| Current student | Hi Sam. Thanks for joining us for this chat! I agree with Smita, Edinburgh is also great and you can't go wrong with either choice. Speaking as a parent of a current student (who has friends that are both in Glasgow and Edinburgh), it is MUCH easier to find accommodation in Glasgow (and much cheaper). All of my son's friends spent a lot of time trying to find accommodation for second year...and they started at the start of first year. Glasgow is very friendly, the food is great, and the campus is lovely and easy to get to on the underground. Most students get accommodation in the West End so are within walking distance (ideal for enjoying the social life and sporting life and club life. ) |
| Staff | Hi Sam, I did chemical physics at Glasgow followed by my PhD in chemistry and physics at Glasgow. I then went away to work in other Universities and industry before returning to Glasgow as a chemistry lecturer. I cant speak for the Edinburgh course but the course at Glasgow is excellent and is taught by world class researchers in both chemistry and physics. Glasgow also has state of the art facilities and equipment. I also feel both the chemistry and physics departments are very nice places to study with many helpful and committed staff and a good community spirit and good student clubs like the Physics Society and Alchemists Society which run many serious and social events. As Smita mentioned the Glasgow campus is also right in the heart of the city with lots of restaurants etc as well as beautiful parks and gardens nearby for relaxing. |
| Offer holder | Thank you very much, this is all so helpful! |
| Current student | You are very welcome Sam. This is an exciting time for you and it seems like you already have some great options open for you. |
| Current student | You're welcome Sam! I look forward to meeting you one day - I'll be your Class Head here! :-) |
| Offer holder | are there required second subjects if i am going to study Chemistry/Chemistry with medicinal chemistry? |
| Current student | Hi Leanna, at 1st and 2nd year, there are no additional subject requirements for Med Chem. The specialisation occurs in 4th year as you will do different courses than people enrolled in Chemistry (BSc). That being said it would be useful to study Biology in first year (Molecular and Cellular courses in 2nd year). |
| Staff | No, you have quite a wide choice (you need to consider timetabling. Your Adviser of Studies can help you with your selection if you wish). |
| Offer holder | if i did not study biology for Higher, will i be unable to take it for first year? |
| Current student | Hi Leanna, you will have options with what you study, in addition to Chemistry in both first and second year. Many of our Chem and Chem with Med Chem students take Biology courses in both first and second year. In first year you have THREE courses that you take, so a "normal" combination is Chemistry and Biology and (Maths or Earth Sciences or.....) By the time you get to third year, you will be doing Chemistry for all of your courses. |
| Current student | I didn't study Biology in Secondary School but it was totally fine. My peers who studied Biology at A-Levels/ Advanced Higher said that 1st year biology was pretty similar to what they had already done. It's good because it evens the playing field going into 2nd year |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much! |
| Staff | Thanks for your questions everyone! We've had some great questions and equally great answers so make sure you look to see what everyone else has asked :) |
| Offer holder | Concerning lab work, how much previous experience is required for the chemistry course? |
| Current student | Hi Eva. Thank you for joining us today! With respect to lab work, we train our students from the ground up. We recognise that there are many different backgrounds of experience entering and we work hard to ensure that all students get trained and develop the same skills. This is part of our Royal Society of Chemistry accreditation. So, if you feel worried that you don't have any experience, welcome! That is the point of coming too university...to learn new skills! (If you already knew everything, there is no point in coming. ;-). |
| Offer holder | Will lab work be mainly independent or will we have a lot of help? |
| Current student | In 1st, 2nd and 3rd year you will nearly always have a lab partner (unless its computer based labs in 3rd year). This is also probably for safety reasons haha. We have Lab Demonstrators in all of our labs that teach and guide us though the experiments as well. |
| Offer holder | Leanna, Also, in your final year you would take a project and you will be closely guided by your supervisor and their research group. |
| Offer holder | Hi! I've applied for chemistry, but I also love physics, and would plan to take this alongside chem & maths if accept my place here. I was wondering if it's possible to study both chemistry and physics as a joint honours degree? |
| Current student | Hi Oria, So nice to hear you love all three (chemistry, maths and physics). We have a degree programme called "Chemical Physics" that combines all three. It is demanding but our students on this programme generally do very well. In first year you would take C, M & P. In second year, you would take 60 credits of Chem, 60 credits of Physics and 20 credits of Math (there is also maths incorporated into both Chemistry and physics). In third year you continue with Chemistry and Physics (you would stop with the organic chemistry portion and do half of the inorganic chemistry..this allows for room to study physics as well). We have another degree which is a Chemistry & Maths degree where you essentially do both, with some variations. Does this help? |
| Staff | Orla, in Glasgow you would be looking to take the degree in Chemical Physics which is a combination of some of the courses from Physics and Chemistry. If you need specific details of the course structure/topics available then please let us know. |
| Staff | Hi Orla, I studied chemical physics at Glasgow and can highly recommend it. The good thing is that you don't have to commit to this from the start. If you pick maths, physics and chemistry in 1st year you can then decide at a later date if you would prefer to do pure chemistry or physics or a combined degree later. Depending on which maths course you pick in first year you may also be able to incorporate this into your final degree, e.g. chemistry and maths or maths and physics. |
| Offer holder | Thank you for such detailed answers, they're super helpful. I'm particularly interested in organic chemistry, which is why I had been hesitant about the Chemical Physics course. Is it possible to continue with organic within the Chemistry & Maths pathway? |
| Offer holder | Is the Chemical Physics course one you have to pick at the start, or is it possible to switch over to it later from a pure Chemistry course? I'm liking the sound of it but unfortunately I only applied to the Chemistry/Chem with Medicinal Chemistry |
| Current student | Hi again Orla. With our degrees, you could start with doing Chem, Physics and Maths in first year, then Chemistry and maths in second yer, then (depending on your grades) doing only chemistry or only maths for your degree from third year onwards. This gives you some flexibility as you discover your real passions for study. If you want to continue with both maths and chemistry, you would continue with all chemistry (organic, inorganic and physical) while you are doing maths. Your third year of study in this degree is quite demanding. since you will take about half of the chemistry lectures but you need to keep up with most of the topics. In your fourth and fifth years of Chem&Maths, you essentially will do ALL of chem & Maths (eg- half of chem and half of maths in fourth reay and then the other half in fifth year. ) There is no study abroad with the Chemistry and Maths degree since you are essentially doing nearly two degrees in one. |
| Staff | Hi Michael, yes you can still switch to Chemical Physics - but you need to make sure you take Maths, Chemistry and Physics in your first year to allow this |
| Current student | Hi Michael de Beer. If you take chem, physics and maths in first year (tell your advisor of studies what you would like to pursue a chemical physics degree. They will help ensure the tyou select the correct Maths course for first year. Then, depending on your grades, you can request to change your degree programme to Chemical Physics. |
| Offer holder | Thank you very much! |
| Offer holder | That sounds really awesome. But are there ever issues with a lack of space in each course? |
| Current student | You are very welcome Orla! And Michael, we have space for our students. If you are earning the grades to apply for chemical physics, you would be accpeted onto the programme in second year. |
| Offer holder | Great! |
| Offer holder | Is there any flexibility in the year you take your placement for a masters degree ? |
| Current student | Hi Chloe, which course are you on? |
| Offer holder | Chemistry with medicinal chemistry |
| Staff | No not really. Glasgow has a broad entrance structure, 3 subjects, 2 subjects then specialisation. It is only reasonable to take the placement year in the 4th year of study. |
| Offer holder | If the placement is taken during 4th year, then how do students spend their 5th year in a masters degree (as most universities have the placement in the 5th year)? |
| Staff | In 5th year of the MSci, you'll return to UofG and take lectures and a 40-credit Research Project in one of our research labs |
| Offer holder | Is the placement in the 4th year of the masters degree a paid placement? |
| Offer holder | yes it is a paid placement |
| Offer holder | what support is there at Glasgow for autistic students, and what help is available for anyone struggling with mental health? |
| Staff | We have a very pro-active Disability Service and each School has a disability coordinator who is there to help. So there is support for all students who need it, whether the issue is physical or mental health. |
| Staff | Disability is assessed and taken into consideration by Disability services with appropriate support provided. For example; extra time in exams, separate rooms for exams, lecture material available in good time. It really depends on the individual case. |
| Offer holder | Hi, how much time is spent in the lab in first year? (I have applied for chemistry) |
| Staff | Hi Lauren, you will have one 3 hour lab a week in 1st year, either 2-5 or 10-1 once a week. |
| Staff | This is just for chemistry - you may also have labs in other subjects depending on what you choose. |
| Offer holder | okay thank you! |
| Offer holder | hi when you choose your 3 subjects in first year are you able to choose which specific modules within those subjects you'd like to study (to make up for the credits you need)? or would you have to just sit every module the subject offers? |
| Staff | Hi Candice, you just pick subjects, and have to do all the modules for each subject. |
| Staff | Note: our degrees are accredited by the Royal Society of chemistry, so that means there's certain topics we have to teach |
| Staff | What are the other other subjects you can take in your first year? (maths) |
| Staff | There is a lot of choice. Biology, Physics and Maths are all popular. |
| Current student | You might find it useful to study statistics, depending on what degree you're interested in |
| Offer holder | I have applied for Physics and am considering taking chemistry as my third subject. Are there limited spaces on the course or am i guaranteed to get the subjects I want as long as i have the entry requirements and they work with my timetable |
| Staff | There is normally sufficient space. |
| Staff | A strength of the system at Glasgow is that you can change your mind. You might decide to retain some chemistry going forwards and do Chemical Physics or decide it is enough chemistry and continue onto pure physics. |
| Offer holder | Are there any planned renovations besides the McCune Smith building to take place within the Science department and will the situation with COVID-19 affect the finishing time for these? |
| Staff | Hi Lawrie, great question! The new McCune Smith building is part of the development works taking place across campus. The College of Science & Engineering has several buildings across campus. For example, the Joseph Black Building for Chemistry and the Kelvin Building for Physics & Astronomy. So Science takes place across several buildings. I hope this helps. |
| Offer holder | When will our first set of exams be ? |
| Staff | They will be in December. |
| Current student | In first year you'll have Christmas exams for courses that take place over 1st semester. |
Computing Science
| User Name | Message |
| Offer holder | In terms of coursework and exams, how is Computer Science split up? Is it a majority practical course or do the practicals require a lot of write-up? |
| Staff | Hello Alfred, it's very mixed depending on the nature of the course. Some are 100% coursework (e.g. the Team Project), some are mostly exam based, but most are somewhere in the middle. Practicals are often oriented around developing some software to demonstrate understanding of theory in computing science. For example, you might be asked to implement a data structure or algorithm. For other parts of the programme, such as human computer interaction, you might be asked to develop a design using a wireframe tool or similar. |
| Offer holder | Thanks for that - that's very useful knowledge! |
| Offer holder | Hello, I am an Offer holder for CS, how is life studying Computer Science like? |
| Staff | we are doing online learning mostly right now ... but we are well set up for it. |
| Staff | CompSci is great fun! There is a nice lab for first years (check out our videos at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EufyJI1x-Q&feature=youtu.be&list=PLZg7vx6J9i0J1GGUuVXvyho7iT6mxlY_A for some details). Also lots of interactions with industry, hackathons etc. |
| Staff | Hi Leonida. Congratulations on your offer. What aspects of CS life are you interested in? |
| Offer holder | Well I'm really looking forward to teaming up with other students for projects, and joining CS events like hackathons |
| Staff | You'll definitely enjoy it then. Our student societies run several hackathons throughout the year (hopefully this whole covid-19 situation won't stand in the way), and group assessment is a major part of our curriculum. |
| Offer holder | For MA (SocSci) Computing Science/Politics, is there an overlapping method of which the courses are taught, or are they separate and count as individual subjects? |
| Staff | Hi Alfred, thanks for a great question. This is a joint honours degree, so you will be taught by staff from the School of Computing Science, and other staff from Politics. There are many combined degrees like this - it is an interesting option and gives you a genuine inter-disciplinary perspective. The main areas where your two subjects will overlap are your projects - your Team Project for Computing Science in third year, and your Individual (Dissertation) Project in fourth year. Here you can bring both elements of your degree programme together in the project work you choose. One more thing to say - we are very flexible - so you can start on a joint degree in first year, and switch to a single hons in Politics or Computing Science in second year ... maybe even in third year if you are flexible about your course selection. Cheers, Jeremy |
| Staff | Majority of overlap comes in the practical project work you might do in years 3 and 4. |
| Offer holder | Hello, are we supposed to have any prior knowledge to write in Java? |
| Offer holder | Java is used in year 2, its on the info sheet |
| Offer holder | Alright, thank you |
| Offer holder | Np mate |
| Staff | Hi Ahmad and Euan, Correct, you don't need to have prior knowledge of Java or any other programming language at that. Our first year is split in two routes, one for students with programming experience and for students without. |
| Offer holder | Thank you very much! |
| Staff | You are welcome. Please feel free to ask any other questions you may have. |
| Offer holder | Hello Tim, i have a few questions i was hoping you could answer. First, im am currently doing a python course and was wondering how much i should know about the language before starting? Second, what subjects do you recommend to take with computing and maths? Third, what is the timetable like? Finally, how are the assesments done throughout the year? |
| Staff | Hi Euan, 1. Our 1st year is split in two routes. If you're not that good at Python, you could opt for the route for students with little-to-no programming experience (in which case, you'd take courses that would teach you to think like a programmer). In the opposite case, you would probably go on the route for students with programming experience and get hacking at Python from day 1. 2. Our students take several different subjects in their first couple of years. It's totally up to you, subject to meeting our progression criteria. The latter can get quite complicated, but don't worry about that for now; once you join Glasgow, you will be assigned an academic adviser of studies to help you out with course selection (among other things) through to your graduation. 3. Typically you take the equivalent of 12 courses per year (6 per semester). Each course roughly consists of 2 hours of lectures and 1-2 hours of lab/tutorial work per week. Of course this is a generalisation as individual lecturers can tweak the timetable of their courses. 4. We do several different types of assessments. There are individual assessed exercises, group exercises, in-class quizzes, lab tests/exams, etc. Each academic has their own way of engaging with the students. |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much |
| Offer holder | Hi there, is this event just a Q&A or is there a presentation as well? |
| Staff | presentation for CompSci is up at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z9QZWjfh6o |
| Staff | but feel free to ask us questions too |
| Offer holder | Thank you very much! |
| Staff | Hi Ben, thank you for your question! There is a video in the start section and you can ask questions here. |
| Offer holder | BSc CS and maths // what do you think of getting 74% in the advanced higher coursework\? 67/90 |
| Staff | very impressive! Well done. Are you considering entry to Level 1 or Level 2 Computing Science (aka Faster Route)? |
| Offer holder | I only got a B at advanced higher so I don’t think I qualify for it\. I got an A in AH maths\. Since I’m thinking of doing maths and statistics as a second subject would you recommend me to try to switch to the faster route\? |
| Offer holder | Second and third subjects \*\* |
| Offer holder | Second and third\*\* |
| Staff | When you arrive, in the first week, you can talk to the "Faster Route" coordinator and they will be able to assess if you can switch. However, sometimes it is good to spend 4 yrs on the degree programme and study a wider range of topics (like Maths and Stats) - you would have less opportunity to do this on Faster Route. |
| Staff | Hello everyone. Nikos Ntarmos from Computing Science here. Looking forward to chatting with you. |
| Staff | Hi there, I'm Kitty Meeks from Computing Science - sorry to be a bit late but looking forward to talking to you now! |
| Offer holder | Hi I was wondering what the timetable is like for the MSci Faster Route for Computing Science |
| Staff | Hello Robbie, it's essentially a more focused timetable on CS topics to ensure FR students are ready for entry to CS honours. It's a good choice if you know for certain that you want to take CS at honours. The normal entry route gives more flexibility to study other disciplines in Y1 and Y2. |
| Offer holder | Thank you very much! |
| Staff | Hi folks! Matt Barr here, from the Graduate Apprenticeship programme in Computing Science. |
| Offer holder | Hi there. On the UofG website it says your course is quite programming focussed as you regard this as important skill. This differs from most unis, Edinburgh to name one, and so I wanted to ask if there are any other parts of the Glasgow CS course that you regard highly and that make Glasgow stand out against other unis? |
| Staff | we blend / balance theory with practice. Both are important. |
| Staff | Distinctives at Glasgow include: 1) giving you the skills and techniques to pick up new languages / systems / frameworks at speed, on your own 2) significant industrial input to our curriculum - e.g. from our industry advisory board, or via industrial placements, or guest lectures from practitioners |
| Offer holder | That's great. Thanks very much! |
| Offer holder | Is there much of a Maths-focussed side of the CS course? |
| Staff | We recommend students to take 1st year Maths alongside Computing Science (you have to study 3 subjects in 1st yr) |
| Staff | There are certainly mathematical aspects to the course - e.g. discrete maths used in algorithms courses. It's also recommended that you take maths as a second subject in the first two years. There's a lot of choice in the later years too, so for example you could choose to do a more maths-heavy project at Level 4 if this is something that interests you. |
| Offer holder | Thanks, that's great - I've taken AH maths so hopefully that'll give be a good base knowledge! |
| Offer holder | Hi - I was wondering what the key differences between Computing Science and Software Engineering are in the UoG, in terms of focus, topics, career choice etc, since all the core modules are the same? Why would someone go for one or the other? (Specifically I'm interested in Computing Science vs Electronic & Software Engineering) |
| Staff | Computing Science is more general in terms of subject course choice, particularly in years 3 and 4. Software Engineering has a mandatory industrial placement (either 3 months or 12 months) Software Engineering has a more constrained course curriculum (less choice - focus on practical software engineering skills) in years 3 and 4 ESE (Electronics and Software Eng) is a blend of hardware and software - partly taught by School of CompSci, partly taught by School of Engineering. |
| Offer holder | Thank you! Is it possible to do the industrial placement module if I'm doing Computing Science or is it just for SoftEng? Also would you say either is better suited to a different type of career? Currently I'm mainly thinking in Artifical Intelligence or Computer Graphics |
| Staff | Hi Stella, The full-year placement is only available for students on the MSci (5-year degree) in Software Engineering. All other SE students go on a 3-month placement typically in the summer between years 3 and 4. For SE students, these placements are mandatory and assessed -- pretty much like a course. Most CS students do go on placements, but for them that's an option they take on their own. |
| Staff | hi Stella, SoftEng placement is mandatory, and assessed. CompSci students can do a placement but it is not a formal module. However, it's fine to switch between SE and CS once you have started the degree ... depending on your placement possibilities. We support students to get placement interview s - CV writing workshops, interview training etc. |
| Offer holder | That's great thank you! Is it generally more of a sure thing to get a placement if you're doing SE vs CS, because it's mandatory and the uni will put more focus on helping those students? Or does everyone from CS usually end up getting a placement too if they want/put the work in? |
| Staff | In both cases the Uni will give you resources and links, and help with modules/events/workshops, but it is up to each student to secure a placement (prepare a CV, attend interviews, etc.). |
| Offer holder | Hi, Matthew. I applied for most Soft Eng apprenticeships. How long do you reckon employers take to reply and what's the competition like? Do they even accept EU students for Sep 2020 start? |
| Staff | Hi there! Employers are taking a little longer to reply right now, due to the current situation, but I know that some offers have gone out already (the first batch of Barclays positions have gone out, for example). |
| Staff | So long as you have the right to live and work in Scotland, you can be accepted on to the programme. However, you'll need to have an address in Scotland when you start the degree. |
| Offer holder | Sorry to jump in, but are we supposed to apply for apprenticeships/placements in advance of September if we're doing the BSc, or is this just for the SoftEng Apprenticeship course? |
| Staff | This is just for the Apprenticeship programme! |
| Staff | But there's no reason why folk can't apply to one of the regular degrees *and* the Apprenticeship programme. |
| Offer holder | How many positions are there left in total approx.? |
| Staff | Hmm, my previous reply to you, Stella, has disappeared. It is only for the Apprenticeship programme that you need to think about applying to employers right now. |
| Offer holder | Thank you Matthew! |
| Staff | I don't have exact figures from each employer but Barclays, BBC, Smarter Grid, Leidos and Very Connect are all still recruiting: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/computing/undergraduate/graduateapprenticeships/howtoapply/ |
| Offer holder | So how is the course going to look in general. How many days on campus and at work do you have for example? And also how much harder is it than a regular BSc? |
| Staff | Over the four years of the programme, you'd spend about 20% of your time at university. |
| Staff | Our model is somewhat unique, in that the campus-based teaching is 'front-loaded' |
| Staff | i.e. you have four eight-week blocks spent mostly on campus in the first 18 months. So, you get the full 'university experience' and you don't have to keep switching context from uni to work and back. |
| Staff | It also means that - in the long run - you are more useful to your employer, sooner. |
| Staff | I'd say it's challenging, but it's worth it! There is more information here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/computing/undergraduate/graduateapprenticeships/forstudents/ |
| Offer holder | What if I already had experience in say web development during my gap year and can confidently code in JS, HTML, CSS, some libraries and work with databases and server-side development.Is there an opportunity to advance faster? Say for example completing exams earlier if I feel ready. |
| Staff | I'm afraid not - we cover so much in the first year that direct entry to second year is not an option. Everyone who joins the programme is expected to have some experience or, if they don't, we ask them to attend a programming summer school. |
| Offer holder | Ok and the last question. I hold a Software Eng unconditional offer on UCAS but prefer a graduate apprenticeship. What's the possibility that I don't get a reply from employers until the UCAS deadline and what should I do in that case. If I firm the offer before the UCAS deadline will I be able to switch to the apprenticeship if I get an offer for one? |
| Staff | Yes, you will be able to switch - we had that situation last year. |
| Offer holder | Do you think I should wait until the deadline or just firm it now and switch later if I get an offer. Or is that just going to cause extra difficulties if I get an offer before the UCAS deadline? |
| Staff | I think, for your own peace of mind, you should go ahead and firm up the UCAS offer. It's not uncommon for folk to change their minds about taking up a UCAS offer. |
| Offer holder | Okay thank you very much for your time! |
| Staff | No problem! |
| Offer holder | Also is there anywhere where we can see what the optional modules for each year are, since the course pages only specify the core ones? And is there anything at all related to computer graphics? |
| Staff | Hi there, you can find the full course catalogue here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=COMPSCI&name=Computing+Science |
| Staff | Optional modules are in years 3 and 4. Some Graphics modules - e.g. https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/course/?code=COMPSCI4066 - check out the course catalogue links for details |
| Offer holder | That's perfect, thank you very much! |
| Offer holder | do we have any major choices in cs? like specializing in a field in cs e.g. cybersec? |
| Staff | Hi! Yes, there are options in third and fourth year. If you do certain combos, then you can get a 'specialism' on your degree certificate - i.e. BSc in Computing Science with a specialism in ... There are various specialisms including Systems, Theory, Human-Computer Interaction, etc |
| Offer holder | do we have a list of specialisms |
| Offer holder | Hi yeah, can we see the available specialisms and the topics that need to be selected to lead to those? (Unless you meant combos WITHIN 3rd and 4th year) |
| Staff | Currently there are 5 specialisms; namely: "parallel and distributed systems", "data science", "theoretical computing science", "human computer interaction" and "security" |
| Staff | Choosing one of these translates in to some courses in years 3 and 4 becoming mandatory while other become electives. Listing the exact courses now would be both unwieldy (due to the large array of options) and premature; the course selection might have changed by the time you get to year 3... |
| Offer holder | Sounds good, thank you! Are specialisms only for CompSci or also SoftEng? |
| Staff | Specialisms are currently available only for CS. Ditto with joint degrees; you can only do a joint degree in CS and X, but not in SE and X. |
| Offer holder | speaking of joint degrees, can i join my cs degree with psychology later on? |
| Staff | Yes! You'll need to take the appropriate courses in years 1 and 2, of course. You can see all available combinations at https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/computingscience/#tab=degrees |
| Offer holder | On the Economics page it says that if you want to combine with CompSci you need to meet the CompSci entry criteria, but then a CompSci-Economics combination option doesn't show up anywhere else. Is it possible or was that just an error on the Economics page? |
| Staff | As far as I remember that combination is not supported now. Could you possibly copy the link where this is mentioned? |
| Offer holder | Thank you! I can't find it right now but I will look for it and report it to Undergraduate Admissions when I find it |
| Offer holder | Would it be worthwhile learning C++ over the summer? Any other languages you'd recommend? |
| Staff | We teach: Python in first year, Java and Javascript in second year, C, C++ in third year, |
| Staff | Lots of other languages in Optional courses - e.g. Haskell, Go, Rust, Erlang |
| Offer holder | Thanks - very helpful! I've already done quite a lot of Python and some JS :) |
| Staff | |
| Offer holder | I want to get a laptop soon before starting so you have any specific brands you recommend\? I think I am pretty good at Windows 10 macOS and Ubuntu |
| Offer holder | Go for Linux for the OS or windows 10 |
| Offer holder | Do \*\^ |
| Staff | Personally, I would say Linux is the best (... although I am typing this on a macbook!) |
| Offer holder | Would 8 GB of ram be sufficient \? Brands charge a lot for it so I don’t want to waste £150 for 8 GB of ram |
| Offer holder | Id say 8GB is the best to go for. From personal experience less is too little and more is too much |
| Staff | Ah ... memory specs - always go for as much as you can afford ... it will seem laughably small in 3 years time :-) |
| Staff | my first machine had 64K RAM |
| Offer holder | Thanks Mr Singer and Euan |
| Staff | Heh, I still have and use an HP Jornada 720 with 32MB of RAM as a tiny web/time server... :) But yes, as Jeremy said, the more the better but keep an eye out for diminishing returns. When the pound-per-GB goes up, it's time to stop... |
| Offer holder | Hello! The uni's website states that you can complete the 4 year Bsc in 3 by joining extra classes. Anyone knows how that works? |
| Staff | you would need to transfer onto Faster Route Computing Science - this has higher entry requirements than the standard 4 yr BSc |
| Offer holder | I applied to the faster route but got an offer for the standard Bsc instead. Is there a way for me to still complete my 4-year degree in 3 instead? |
| Offer holder | How far in the programme can you switch to a faster route, given that you meet the requirements? Or is it something that needs to be switched in advance? |
| Staff | well, it might be possible to persuade the Faster Route coordinator that you can switch - but you would have to do this in the first week you arrive and start your studies, in Sept 2020. |
| Offer holder | Do you require any kind of CS knowledge in order to do so? |
| Offer holder | Hi again. How does the year in industry work? Does the pricing differ from the other years (I am an English student), and what links do you have to companies in terms of placements? Also, to avoid spamming, I'd like to ask the qualities that are looked for in a CS student, and how compatible it is with other subjects. For instance, I am really interested in philosophy and politics, although I know maths is important too. Thanks for any answers to any of those questions. |
| Staff | Hello Alfred, the university applies a 50% reduction in fees for the year in industry. We still need to charge a fee because the year in industry is monitored and assessed. The placements tutor visits twice, holds workshops and lean coffee sessions with the placements students and sets a variety of other coursework. This all contributes to a year that receives 120 credits from the University towards an MSci degree. We have strong links with a range of local and international companies (Microsoft, Skyscanner, Leidos, ARM, ...) but our students also often take placements with startups and scale ups too. Placements can be anywhere in the world (recent examples are Spain and Japan). Note: we don't **allocate** you to a placement, but we do work really hard to help you secure one. We adopt this policy because we want both sides (student and employers) to value the placement. Placements all have to be paid, and often paid very well. |
| Offer holder | Is it possible to pick up computer science with no past knowledge or is it recommended that you have studied it in the past? |
| Staff | There are two different first year routes, depending on whether you have seen much programming before or not - so it's definitely possible to get into CS even if you haven't studied it formally before coming to university |
| Offer holder | Do you think it would be very difficult or is one of the routes suited to beginners? |
| Staff | The route for people without previous programming experience is designed for exactly that - people who are beginners when it comes to programming. If you like thinking logically and are keen to learn, then you should be fine! |
| Offer holder | Hi, something related, I studied Pascal and a bit of C++ in school, but as I am a mature student, by September I won't have practiced coding at all in around 4 years. If it makes a difference I never had any difficulty picking up coding, and I do still remember the basics, but which of those two routes would you recommend for my case? |
| Staff | Hi Stella, this might be a conversation that it's best to have with your adviser of studies when you arrive - it's possible to switch between the two at the start of the semester |
| Offer holder | Makes sense, thank you Kitty! |
| Offer holder | What is the process of applying for the faster route scheme like? |
| Offer holder | That is, after being offered a place for MSci how easy is it to transer to the faster route? |
| Staff | Hi Gilleasbuig, You'd need to meet the entry requirements for the faster route in order to switch to it. You can find the current entry requirements on the respective degree programme webpages. If you do, then you'd have to talk to the coordinator of the Faster Route within the first couple of weeks of the semester. Typicaly he/she will assess your background and skills, before deciding whether to allow the transfer or not. |
| Offer holder | Thanks Nikos |
| Staff | You are welcome. |
| Offer holder | How is and how far in is it possible to switch from Computing Science to Electronic & Software Engineering or a joint honours? |
| Staff | ESE needs very specific course choices in first year - 40 credits CompSci, 40 credits Electronics, 40 credits Engineering maths ... no flexibility at all. So you can switch ESE -> CompSci ... but _not_ the other way |
| Offer holder | And how far into the course is it still possible to do that? |
| Staff | You can switch to CS or SE till the end of year 2 of studies. Up to that point the CS-side of the curriculum of the three options is identical. |
| Offer holder | Is it possible to switch from CompSci MSci to E&SE BSc by the end of the first week of studies? (Given that I meet the entry requirements for both) |
| Staff | If you meet the ESE entry requirements, I don't see why not. You'd have to act quickly, though, and apply on arrival at Glasgow (or even better, request to be transferred before even coming here) |
| Offer holder | Sounds good, thank you Niko! |
| Staff | No worries Stella, glad to be of assistance. |
| Offer holder | Hi! I have received an offer to Msc faster route programme. I was wondering if we'll skip the entire year one course or would we be taught some of it in year two, when we join the university? |
| Staff | you catch up on a couple of modules in Year 2 - covering databases, computer systems, etc. It is expected that you already have extensive programming experience in an imperative or object-oriented language. |
| Offer holder | I think that should not be a problem for me. I'm aware of basic programming in C++. Thanks for the help! :) |
| Offer holder | Hi again. Ive applied for the BSc and after looking into it am thinking of switching to the MSc. Is there a way of doing this, and if so when would it happen and how difficult would it be to switch? |
| Staff | We are _very_ flexible. Yes you can switch from 4 yr BSc to 5 yr MSc any time up to 4th year. |
| Offer holder | Glad to hear that. Thank you so much |
| Offer holder | Not sure if I'd take this opportunity if it were to exist but I'd just like to know my options. I have an offer for BSci Computing Science, If I wanted to change to the MSci Computing Science course would that be possible? |
| Staff | yes ... easy to do once you have started. You get a personal 'adviser of studies' who will help you with choices like this. |
| Offer holder | Thanks! |
| Offer holder | What opportunities are there for work experience while at Uni? |
| Offer holder | For CS in particular in my case. |
| Staff | Yes, Ben, definitely! We have specific programmes in Software Engineering that require students to have taken a paid placement within a software development organisation. We also find that almost all of our students in honours have an experience of placement, regardless of whether they are in the SE programme or not. We have strong links with a range of tech employers to support this. We are also developing programmes to support students who are wanting to create their own startup. We recently recruited Mark Logan as a visiting professor, for example, who is leading on the introduction of courses specialising in tech entrepreneurship (Mark is a former COO at Skyscanner, one of Scotland's real tech success stories). |
| Staff | Also, we have our own software development company, GUSS, which takes on (again, paid) software work from research projects in other disciplines. |
| Offer holder | That sounds really interesting, thanks! |
| Offer holder | Hi there, I am going to study computing science and was just wondering if it touched on cyber security or are there other classes that i can take that do so ? |
| Staff | Hi Greg, cyber security is certainly covered - lots of options to specialise in third and fourth year. |
| Offer holder | Thanks Matthew that's perfect |
| Offer holder | I understand Electronics & software is a joint programme and I can see from programme structure there are compulsory and optional courses from both disciplines. I was wondering how the department will help students to combine and apply the knowledge they’ll learn from both discipline ? |
| Staff | Hello Mohammad, that's a really good question. As you'd expect, a course across two schools often risks slipping between them both! To address this, both schools have a dedicated point of contact (in CS it is Derek Somerville and in EEE it's Calum Cossar). There are also courses that bridge the gap, e.g. in the summer placement ESE students are encouraged to apply to companies with an embedded focus. We also have the Team Project, in which we ensure there is a project topic that has elements across both discipines. |
| Staff | This blending of experience and theory comes in the project work - you do a team project in Year 3 and an individual project in Year 4 . |
| Offer holder | Many thanks for your reply, could you name these companies with an embedded focus? |
| Offer holder | Hi, as part of the BSc what other subjects do computing students commonly take and is there a list of available subjects for next session? |
| Staff | Hi Robert, we encourage level 1 maths, but there are lots of options as well, such as another science subject, entrepreneurship or a language. |
| Staff | Other than maths, please consult our course catalogue at https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/browsebysubjectarea/; the array of options is frankly staggering but don't worry about that for now; once you join Glasgow you will be assigned an academic adviser of studies to help you out with course selection (among other things). |
| Offer holder | So, do we choose our additional subjects in Sep? |
| Staff | Yes, indeed. You can choose and switch your subjects till the end of week 2 of the semester. That gives you enough time to get a taste of each course, before making your final decision. |
| Offer holder | That's great Nikos thanks |
| Staff | No problem Ben. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I have offers from both Glasgow and Edinburgh and I was wondering why should I choose Glasgow over Edinburgh? what about studying computing science at Glasgow is more appealing than studying at Edinburgh? |
| Staff | Hi Ewen, I'll jump in here (although I really know most about the GA programme!) |
| Staff | I think the Edinburgh course is more theory-focused. At Glasgow, we aim to offer more of a mix of theory and practice. Which we think is better! |
| Staff | Just to follow up on Matthew's comment (and speaking as a "theory" person myself!): I think that one of the special things about Glasgow is that theory and practice aren't considered to be almost separate subjects as they are in some institutions - lots of us are really interested in applying rigorous theory to solve practical problems. |
| Staff | That is a much better way of putting it! |
| Offer holder | Thank you for your responses, what about the general feel of the place. Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend either open day and was relying on the offer day to get a feel of the place :(. What can you tell me about the campus and computing facilities? |
| Staff | I think the first word I would use to describe the university is "friendly" - compared with other universities where I studied and worked, everyone (staff and students) is very ready to chat with others, which I really like. Computing science is growing fast, which I think makes it an exciting time to study here - we've had a lot of new staff join in the last few years who all bring their own enthusiasm and experience to their teaching. In terms of the campus, there are major building projects going on at the moment, so there should be some shiny new teaching spaces for you to enjoy soon... |
| Staff | Was there anything else in particular that you wanted to know about? |
| Offer holder | How many people are in a class? How is the subject taught? are their large lectures and then smaller practical classes? |
| Staff | Yes, there are both large lectures and practical sessions / tutorials - the exact breakdown of different kinds of teaching varies between the individual courses |
| Staff | The classes get smaller as you progress through the course - compulsory courses will have everyone in the cohort who's studying CS, whereas later on you'll be doing optional courses which might have much smaller groups |
| Offer holder | How is the course assessed? mix of practical and theory? |
| Staff | Again each of the different courses has slightly different assessment arrangements - these include both coursework and written exams (coursework often includes writing code), as well as more substantial project work in later years (in Level 3 there is a team project, and in Level 4 you do an individual project) |
| Offer holder | Ok thanks |
| Offer holder | Hello, is there any current Computer Science student I can talk with? |
| Staff | Hello Giulia, I don't know if we have any students for you to chat with tonight, but you could try contacting our student Tech Society - https://gutechsoc.com/. They are a great bunch and normally come along to open days, but I guess we overlooked them tonight :-(. Is there anything I can help you with? |
| Offer holder | Thank you. I would like to ask some questions about the course. |
| Staff | Go ahead :-). |
| Offer holder | Thanks. :) I've already seen the modules,but I was wondering if there's also a mathematical approach. Moreover, can students use labs at each hour of the day? I've applied for a joint honurs course (Computing Science and Physics), will I be able to chose a third subject which is part of the engineering field? |
| Staff | A good chunk of computing science is maths in fancy clothes. Whether you'll bump into that side of CS depends on your course selection and choice of specialisation. As a 1st-2nd year student, you hvae access to the labs from 8am till 8pm (or thereof). The Library is open till much later (~2am) and there are CS labs there as well. From year 3 onwards you have access 24/7 to the labs with your student card. You can choose courses from a third subject in year 1, but I'm afraid we only do joint degrees of 2 subjects. |
| Offer holder | Is there some sort of checklist of what you need to have taken care of/learnt/organized/brought before starting the course? |
| Staff | hi Sofia, thanks for the great question. I think you should come with lots of enthusiam. You might or might not have prior experience with programming - we have two streams for these two different kinds of students. You do _not_ need your own laptop in first year, although many students do have their own machine. |
| Offer holder | Hi there, I have applied for the MA undergrad psychology degree. I wondered whether I would be able to study Computer science (which falls under the Bsc bracket) and History (MA bracket) alongside the degree. I know this would not usually be the case but this would be my ideal degree subjects. If this is possible would I be able to change from the MA degree to the Bsc degree and study Bsc Psychology, Bsc Computer science and MA history? |
| Staff | you should certainly be able to combine Psych, Hist and CompSci in Level 1 (first yr). Then maybe at the end of first year look at your grades ... work out which subjects you prefer, and think about changing your degree programme. You will be assigned a personal 'adviser of studies' who can help you and discuss decisions like this. You are not 'locked in' to a particular degree right away in Level 1. |
| Staff | This flexibility is one of the big advantages of studying at Glasgow |
| Staff | Hi Joshua, just wanted to clarify that Glasgow doesn't do double/triple degrees. We offer either single-honours degrees (i.e., one subject) or joint honours degrees (50-50 mix of two subjects); for the latter, you can see the list of currently supported combinations at https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/computingscience/#tab=degrees |
| Offer holder | How does UCAS adjustment affect applications for accomodations etc? If I were to book accomodation then receive an offer to a different Univeristy through adjustment, is the process of cancelling accomodation easy or am I locked in once I apply for accomodation? Thanks |
| Staff | hi! this is a tricky question ... I don't know the answer! I suggest you contact uni accommodation services at https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/accommodation/ and ask them for details. |
| Offer holder | Okey dokey thanks |
| Offer holder | Is it a requirement to take extra subjects in the first year? |
| Staff | Hi Robbie, as part of the regular undergraduate degrees, yes, you'd pick up two other subjects in your first year. |
| Offer holder | Thanks Matthew |
| Staff | Yes, everyone takes three subjects in the first year - very often one of these will be maths alongside CS (we recommend this) |
| Staff | The exception to this is the Graduate Apprenticeship programme. |
| Offer holder | Is there an opportunity to choose politics or economics as a course choice in first year, alongside computing science? |
| Staff | yes, very much so ... lots of students do politics or economics courses in Level 1 |
| Offer holder | thank you |
| Offer holder | Not in my plans, but if I found CS was not for me and another subject suited me better, is there an opportunity to switch - or do a joint degree? |
| Staff | Yes, you can switch to a different subject or a joint degree until the end of year 2 of studies, under the precondition that you have taken the appropriate courses in those first 2 years |
| Offer holder | what are the subject choices for us to take in the first year? |
| Staff | Lots of choices ... you are assigned a personal 'adviser of studies' when you start, they help you choose courses based on your experience etc |
| Offer holder | are they listed someone here on the university website? |
| Staff | Hi Toby, please have a look at https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=REG30200000&name=School+of+Computing+Science for computing courses, or https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/browsebyschool/ for a list of all courses across all levels and schools. |
| Staff | https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/ but it might be quite difficult to navigate ... you are looking for Level 1 courses. You need 40 credits of CompSci, and 80 credits of 'other' subjects |
| Offer holder | thanks for the information! will sure check them out :> |
| Offer holder | Are there any requirements such as taking two subjects for a second year entry? |
| Offer holder | Maths ahah |
| Staff | If you are on the Faster Route, you will do 70 credits of CompSci. You will need to fill 50 credits with other subjects - (non CompSci). |
| Staff | (You do 120 credits each year. Normally each course module is 10 or 20 credits). |
| Offer holder | Is there such a module that deals with CPU architecture? |
| Staff | yes! We like hardware stuff ... 1st yr Computer systems covers a 16-bit abstract architecture called SIGMA-16 4th yr Computer Architecture goes into more details - https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/course/?code=COMPSCI4007 |
| Staff | Hello Alfred, take a look here for a full list of courses: https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=REG30200000&name=School+of+Computing+Science. CPU architecture is taught right from L1 in foundational courses, but there are more advanced course too like Computer Architecture. |
| Offer holder | Fantastic! Thanks for this. |
| Staff | Popping in to say that the 1st year course is really exciting for new students, as it gets you from logic gates to the design of a fully functional RISC CPU, and teaches you assembly programming in the meanwhile! In year 4 you then take this CPU to the next level, with all modern CPU goodies. |
| Offer holder | I've not done much hardware before - do you think these courses are ok for beginners? |
| Staff | Yes, absolutely. The course focuses mostly on the logic and architecture, and only cursory includes aspects pertaining to the actual hardware implementation of the discussed designs. |
| Offer holder | My offer was for philosophy, can I study psychology in year one even though it has higher entry requirements? (My condition was summer school) |
| Staff | Hi Clare, the psychology chat has now ended and we're in Computing Science - so you would be best to get in touch with psychology by email |
| Offer holder | Hi there, I was wondering if it is possible to choose additional optional courses during year 4 of the MSci software engineering course along with the year long industrial placement or is the industrial placement the only course you complete in year 4 of the MSci course? |
| Staff | Hello Matthew, the SE placement is the only course you take in the fourth year and is worth a full 120 credits. Trust me, it keeps you busy enough! |
| Offer holder | That's great thanks |
| Offer holder | What is the process for studying abroad? Do you apply once in your course? |
| Staff | yes, normally we recommend students to their 2nd year as a study abroad option. We have a study abroad coordinator who will be able to recommend universities and courses (you need to make sure your courses in your exhange uni match up with what you would have learnt if you stayed in Glasgow :-) |
| Staff | recent exchange students have gone to Canada, USA, Singapore, Ireland etc... |
| Offer holder | Is there a list of universitites that glasgow does exchanges with? |
| Offer holder | How early can you/do you need to apply for Study abroad 2nd year? Is it the earlier the better? |
| Staff | No, we can arrange exchanges on an ad-hoc basis. The Study Abroad coordinator will advise on the suitability of the various courses. The earlier you get started with Study Abroad admin, the better ! |
| Offer holder | Awesome thank you! |
| Offer holder | How easy would it be to switch from a computing degree to a software engineering one? |
| Staff | Hello Niamh, it's straightforward to swap *to* SE right up until the start of the placement, as there is no coursework that is different until this happens (at the start of the summer at then end of Level 3). Swapping back to CS is also possible up to this time. After this time, swapping back to CS is still possible, but you have to do the coursework associated with the placement programme. |
| Offer holder | That's perfect thank you! |
| Offer holder | Hello there. I noticed on your website that the labs have specific opening hours, I am wondering - it is possible for CS students to access the labs outside these hours? |
| Staff | Starting in year 3 of your studies, you should have access to the labs 24/7 using your student card. |
| Staff | 3rd and 4th yr students get 24 hour access to labs 1st and 2nd years have 8am-8pm access (or thereabouts) The library is open much later (till 2am) and there are CompSci machine rooms in the library. |
| Offer holder | I see, thank you both for the clarification! |
| Staff | You are welcome. |
| Offer holder | Hi! I am studying CompSci as my second degree so I haven't done maths or computing in around 4 years in school. Would you recommend I go over the A level syllabus for the subjects to practice and remind myself of certain things so I don't have too much trouble with this degree, or is the first year just repeating most things from A levels anyway? And if you recommend I revise do you recommend any particular topics in either Maths or CompSci? |
| Staff | hi Stella, first year Maths is probably equivalent to A-Levels - so maybe it's a refresher rather than introduing new material |
| Staff | first year CompSci - you have a choice between an intensive beginner programming course or a less intensive programming course for people with prior coding experience. |
| Offer holder | Great thank you! |
| Offer holder | Do you happen to know if the same is the case for first year Engineering Maths? (As I'm considering doing Electronics & Software Engineering) |
| Staff | You can see what is covered in the Eng Maths course at https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/course/?code=ENG1063. Sorry, I'm not sure what is in A-Level Maths these days. |
| Offer holder | Hi there, as an international student will I be entitled to SE placements, in the final year, with just a student visa as I will not be holding a work permit by then. |
| Offer holder | I have applied for the Bsc in CS but I'm interested in the CS/Psychology degree. How does this degree work? Do I have to join Psychology classes alongside my Cs ones? And, at the end will I achieve a degree in both subjects? |
| Staff | Hello Rhythm, you study CS + Psychology + 1 other in L1, then CS + Psychology courses in L2. In L3 if you continue with the joint degree you study 50% course from each subject. You end up with a single joint degree in CS + Pyschology. |
| Staff | Yes and Yes. A Joint Honours degree in CompSci and Psychology is a popular option. |
| Offer holder | I visited the university a few months ago and was very intrigued by the Sir Alwyn Williams building, I was wondering if this is where undergrads spend a majority of their time studying including lectures and tutorials - or will it be another like the Boyd Orr building? |
| Staff | Hello Jack, I would say students spend most of their time in other buildings, particularly the Boyd Orr for labs. However, students visit the SAWB *a lot* to meet with academic supervisors, course coordinators etc. |
| Staff | Sir Alwyn Williams was the University's boss in the 1980s and he sunk lots of money into CompSci because he thought it as the future. So we named our building after him. You would have a few courses in SAWB - mostly the smaller final year options. Also there are student society meetings in here sometimes. Also the student support office, where you go for advice ,to hand in coursework, etc. Most CompSci staff have their offices in the SAWB. |
| Staff | CompSci student labs are in the Boyd Orr building - right next to SAWB. John Boyd Orr was the last Glaswegian to win a Nobel prize ... if you win one we might name a building after you too! |
| Offer holder | Not in my plans, but if I found CS was not for me and another subject suited me better, is there an opportunity to switch - or do a joint degree? |
| Staff | Hello Ewan, yes if you take the normal route of entry then you will have two other subjects that you can swap to after L1. Note that this is conditional on being accepted by those other schools, but it isn't usually a big problem. I did my degree in a similar structure at St Andrews and started in Chemistry before switching to CS. |
| Offer holder | Are CompSci and SoftEng each more suited to different types of careers? How/which ones? (I am particularly interested in Artificial Intelligence and/or Computer Graphics) |
| Staff | Hello Stella, we find most of our students go on to software development roles of one kind or another in industry. The main difference between the two programmes is that there is more exposure to industry practice in the SE degree and consequently a little less time for other advanced courses. However, there is still quite a lot of flexibility to take some optional courses. |
| Offer holder | I see, thank you! |
| Staff | Thanks for your questions, everyone! We have had fantastic questions raised and have had some equally fantastic answers form our staff and student team. We do only have 10 more minutes before this chat will close so make sure to get your final questions in. |
| Offer holder | This has been really helpful, thanks! |
| Staff | cheers for that Ben, glad you've enjoyed it :) |
| Offer holder | Thanks for taking the time to do this out of your usual isolation agenda. |
| Offer holder | Thank you for answering all the questions |
| Offer holder | very informative - as a dad great o see so much energy and enthusiasm and great discussion - big help - cheers |
| Staff | Thanks for all your kind words - stay safe everyone and we hope to meet you for real before too long |
| Offer holder | Hi there, as an international student, would i be allowed to undergo industry internship/ work placement in the final year with a student visa only? |
| Staff | Hello Anshika, this will depend on your visa, but in most cases students can take an internship or work placement during the summer vacation or if the placement is part of their studies (e.g. the SE MSci with WP programme). |
| Offer holder | Okay, thanks for the update. Also, those who can't do the placement, what are they supposed to do in the final year then? |
| Staff | I don't think we've ever had a student who wasn't permitted to (I was placements tutor until recently). In this case, we would move a student to a degree programme that wouldn't require a placement. |
| Offer holder | Okay, thank you very much. I appreciate the help. :) |
| Offer holder | Are there modules in artificial intelligence for computer science? |
| Staff | https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/course/?code=COMPSCI4004 |
| Staff | also other useful modules in Machine Learning, Recommender Systems, Data Science, etc. |
| Staff | Yes! For example: https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/course/?code=COMPSCI4004. There are many different aspects of artificial intelligence, and you'll find that a large number of the modules relate to this in some way - from the algorithms that can be used to make automated decisions, to looking at how humans interact with computers and robots... |
| Offer holder | thanks! |
| Offer holder | Can you retake exams throughout the year? |
| Staff | There are resits in August ... but hopefully you will pass your exams first time :-) |
| Staff | Hello Rhythm there are resit diets in August after the main diet in April/May. However, you want to generally avoid needing to retake exams as it can affect progression into later years. |
| Offer holder | How many hours of lectures would you have in a normal week as a first year CS student? |
| Staff | In year 1 you'll take 4 CS courses (2 per semester). Each one of those typically has 2 hours of lectures and 1-2 hours of lab/tutorial time per week. |
| Staff | 2-4 hours programming lectures 2 hours fundamentals/systems Then labs and tutorials for CompSci - probably another 4 hours per week. You will need to multiply this number by 3, for the three subjects you take in first year. |
| Staff | And no further questions please, we will endeavour to answer those who have asked so far. cheers |
| Staff | Excellent, thanks all for joining us for our Question and Answer session. If you have any further questions, please feel free to email them to student.recruitment@glasgow.ac.uk. |
| Offer holder | From what I understand 1st year Maths is very much revising A Level topics rather than introducing new ones. Do you happen to know if the same is the case for first year Engineering Maths? |
| Staff | Hi Stella, Please see https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/course/?code=ENG1063 for the content of Eng. Maths. |
| Staff | Hi everyone. In case there are any questions that go unanswered, please email them to info@dcs.gla.ac.uk or compsci-advice@glasgow.ac.uk and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. |
English Language, English Literature, Scottish Literature, Theology & Religious Studies
| User Name | Subject | Message |
| Staff | Hello! Thank you for joining us this afternoon for our Critical Studies chat. The subjects included in Critical Studies are English Literature, English Language, Scottish Literature, and Theology & Religious Studies. If you have any questions about our degrees please let us know, we have academics, staff and students ready to chat. | |
| Offer holder | How often do the lectures of the students studying English Language & Linguistics occur and also what's the duration of the lectures? | |
| Current student | Hello! For English Language in first year you will have 3x 1 hour lectures a week and a weekly 1 hour seminar. The difference between the two is lectures are for the full cohort of the subject (for Eng Lang that's around 300+), whereas seminars are only about 8-12 students and a tutor. |
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| Offer holder | I'll be studying English Literature and Film & TV Studies come September, I was wondering how the workload is balanced between the two since it's two different subjects? Sorry for the silly question haha | |
| Staff | English Literature | Hi Brid. In your Honours years (3 and 4), the balance will be 50/50 between the two. At first and second year, it's a more open pattern. You'll do 80 credits/year equally divided between Eng Lit and Film & TV; and then you'll have 40 left over for other subjects. |
| Offer holder | Good afternoon! I would like to know: What are the modes of assessment for English Literature and how often are they administered? And also, Where may I find the reading list? Thank you! |
|
| Current student | Hi Reaghan, you will usually have one presentation and seminar contribution weighted at about 10%, one essay weighted at about 30% and an exam making up the rest of your marks. These will be given to you for each module. In your last two years in EngLit you would not have an exam, but instead write a longer essay in a topic of your choice that is relevant to your module | |
| Offer holder | Hi , is there a recommended reading list for first year English literature students ? | |
| Current student | Hi Keziah, you will get an email link to the online platform your subject uses prior to starting university and that will include your reading list (: | |
| Offer holder | thank you :] | |
| Staff | English Literature | In the first year you study poetry in the first term and novels in the second term. You can start on some of the novels in advance if you like, though the final readling list won't be confirmed until nearer the time. But it's never a waste of time to read a novel! Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, The Translator, The Crying of Lot 49 - all currently on the course |
| Offer holder | thanks :] | |
| Offer holder | For English Literature what types of texts would be studied? | |
| Current student | You would study mainly a mixture of poetry and novels, and I would say that at UofG they really give you a great range in the first two years so you will get to see a mix of genres, genders of authors, themes and time periods for both. In your last two years you will get to choose your modules freely and so will be able to choose what you read a lot of! | |
| Staff | English Literature | Hello Claire. All kinds of texts! The first two years are bedrock years, covering everything from Chaucer to Shakespeare to modern-day, and all genres. Then in honours you can really specialise according to your interests. We have more details on the EngLit stands and a sample timetable if that's helpful.. |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much!! | |
| Staff | English Literature | what kinds of texts do you like Claire? |
| Offer holder | I can read anything. I'm more into novels that challenge feminism - or have strong female characters. Emma, The Colour Purple.. Etc but I am a fan of classics too like Wuthering Heights. Poetry wise I can read anything but I am used to Scottish poets mainly. :) | |
| Staff | English Literature | Ah this sounds good, as there are plenty of authors and texts like this on the course. Jane Eyre features in the first year, but also Leila Aboulela's The Translator. You could take Scottish Literature as well as English Literature: a perfect combination!! |
| Offer holder | Ah okay! Thanks for the help! | |
| Offer holder | How often do the lectures of the students studying English Language & Linguistics occur and also what's the duration of the lectures? | |
| Staff | English Language | In first and second year there are three lectures per week, for ten weeks per semester. The lectures are an hour each |
| Staff | English Language | Hello, out Level 1 course is comprised of three weekly lectures, one hour each, and there is a 1h seminar every week which picks up material from one of these lectures |
| Offer holder | Hiya, I got an example set list at an open day which included Jane Eyre and Frankenstein as well as poetry, should we read these texts? Also should we buy for example Sylvia Plaths Ariel or will we get for example printed copies of poems? | |
| Current student | Hi Wiktoria, as someone who studied the course I recommend buying the books as it helps during exam time to find your own quotes to analyse in an essay however, with poems they'll either have one main poetry anthology or the poems will be available on the online platform the university uses which is moodle (: | |
| Current student | Hi Wiktoria, Being ahead of the game is really handy and the semesters I had read the books in advance I felt far more prepared. | |
| Offer holder | What is the English language and linguistics course like ? | |
| Staff | English Language | Hi, the course covers all the different aspects of studying the language such as its historical development, how its grammar works, how the sounds of speech can be studied, and what the 'rules' of conversations are. 1st year tries to give you a good intro to a really broad range of subjects so you can choose later what you might enjoy going into in more detail |
| Offer holder | Thanks, how many classes weekly ? | |
| Staff | English Language | There are three hours of lectures a week at Levels 1 and 2, plus an hour's seminar |
| Offer holder | Hi, I’m going to be studying English language and linguistics with philosophy this year and I was wondering how to English language and linguistics course is balanced between more historical study and more scientific study? | |
| Staff | English Language | Hallo Holly - we're very much balanced between historical and modern, arts and science, and everything in between. I can provide you with more specifics if you'd like? |
| Staff | English Language | Anyway here's the short version: you'll look at around 1000 years (really!) of the English language, from the Old English times to the present day. In terms of scientific study, as you likely know, linguistics spans both more arts type approach and more science type. So in our subject area, you will study phonetics which is quite sciencey - how do our brains send the signals to our mouths to make X sound. If you study Medieval English, and then it's more arty - what were the social contexts in which sth was written? What did the writer mean? You might also do this with e.g. the language of adverts - how do writers persuade us to believe a certain thing. So we cover all aspects of ELL. Which areas are you interested in? |
| Offer holder | Thank you for that response, it was jam-packed! During my time in high school I definitely preferred more historical and arty areas, like history, drama, English etc however, I am also quite interested in how our brains work with language and how accents develop and what not. So I'm pretty excited that there is an even spread! | |
| Staff | English Language | Ok great. So basically in first year you get a taster of all sides of English Language and Linguistics, so then you can decide from there which areas you'd like to continue with. You can mail us if you have any other questions - you'll find all our mails on the website. Happy to help at any point. |
| Offer holder | Thats great, I'm really excited to start exploring all the different sides of the degree. Thank you for all your help and I'll email you if I do think of anything else. Thank you! | |
| Offer holder | I was just wondering how first year would work with English Language - the areas of study. Thanks! | |
| Staff | English Language | Hallo Claire! You'll study the English language both from a historical and modern day perspective. In fact, you'll cover around 1000 years of English! We also cover both the more arts type side of linguistics e.g. how were texts written in the medieval times, and the more science type side e.g. how do our brains work to produce this amazing language. Is there any area you're specifically interested in? |
| Offer holder | Okay, thanks! The science side does sound quite intriguing. Would you also look at the impact the texts would have on society. Both of the time and now? | |
| Staff | English Language | Most definitely. So the language of adverts for example - how do writers persuade us to, well, buy something? And how about historical texts? What did Shakespeare do linguistically that was so powerful? I'm a sociolinguist, so I look at spoken data. Why is that as soon as someone opens their mouth to speak, we pretty much know where they're from, if they've been to university, if they like us. How can we tell? You'll know the answers to these and other questions by the end of the course! |
| Offer holder | That sounds very fascinating! Thanks for your help. :) | |
| Staff | English Language | You're welcome Claire. You can mail any of us if you have any more questions - emails on our dept website. We're happy to help. |
| Offer holder | Hi I've applied for English Literature and I'm just wondering is there a mix of older and newer works withing the course? Also if I were to take English literature to joint honours with a language and I took part in studying abroad would English be affected and if so how? Thanks | |
| Current student | Hi Olivia, there are a mix of newer and older texts within English literature as they work with a range of literary eras and it depends whereabouts you want to go but when it comes to studying abroad they usually give you options which are compatible with your joint degree (: | |
| Offer holder | Hi thank you so much for replying, that sounds great, and I understand thank you thats a lot clearer for me, thank you I appreciate it! | |
| Offer holder | What modules are included in English lit? | |
| Current student | Hi Wiktoria, here is a link to the modules included in English Literature going from 1st year (level 1) up to honours. Hope this helps :) https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=ENGLIT&name=English+Literature | |
| Offer holder | thank you! | |
| Offer holder | I'm doing eng lit, when i do my compulsory eng lang elective what will i be learning? | |
| Current student | Hi Esther, the English language elective consists of 2 modules each year. Here is a link to the courses covered :) https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=ENGLANG&name=English+Language | |
| Offer holder | thank you! | |
| Offer holder | Does anyone have advice for which subjects to study alongside English Language and Linguistics? | |
| Staff | English Language | Hi, if you're taking single honours ELL, you're required to take Level 1 English Literature either in your first and second year. Beyond that, students take a wide range of courses! Scottish Literature is a popular option as well, or many students also take a language alongside it (either modern or Classical). But you can do anything really. |
| Current student | Hi Carolynn, I would personally recommend studying English Literature as it is a subject requirement to take English literature first year level in order to do English Language at honours level (: | |
| Offer holder | Thank you. I did not know about that requirement | |
| Offer holder | Hi, i've already accepted my offer for MA maths and philosophy and this year i studied advanced higher RMPS. I was wondering if this would serve as good preparation for me to also take theology and religious studies in my first year? Thank you :) | |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | Yes, definitely. It would be a very good preparation. |
| Offer holder | Okay, thank you so much. I was initially torn between applying for philosophy or theology to do with maths and this helped me so much :) | |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | Dear Kira, yes that is a great starting point. If you have a look at the video on this open day platform you'll see the range of courses we have on offer. I think you'll see your philosophy and RMPS will have prepared you well. |
| Offer holder | okay, thank you :) is there much crossover between philosophy and theology? | |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | Not directly, although in our intro to theology courses, a philosophical background will provide you with a strong foundation. Also, we'll be running an Aquinas course at honours level for instance, while there is no equivalent in Philosophy. |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | It depends a bit which options you take. The Christian theology options from level 2 more so. (Maths and thelogy/philosophy is a great combination.) |
| Offer holder | I saw on the theology and religious studies video that there is a chance to study the Greek language. Would this be worthwhile doing and how does this link with the degree? | |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | Hi, Kira, generally students take Greek for one of two reasons. Either, because their principal interest is Biblical studies (in particular the New Testament), or, they are training for ministry. |
| Offer holder | Ok, thank you! I was not sure if it would potentially link well with maths due to usage of the Greek alphabet and symbols and learning some Greek does sound interesting to me as i enjoyed learning a language at school :) | |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | I certaily found learning Greek much easier because I already knew the letters from maths. Greek is really helpful for helping you to think about how differently ideas work in another language. |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | I wouldn't do Greek to help your maths, but I will tell you my colleague Charlotte Methuen has degrees in both Maths and Theology. She is a fan of both! |
| Offer holder | Ok! Thank you so much :) | |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | Learning Greek was much easier because I knew the letters from maths. |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | The advantage of Greek or any other language is that you start to understand how language shapes ideas. |
| Offer holder | Hello! I was wondering how many contact hours there are each week for the English Lit course? I was also wondering what form these would take (as in are they all lectures or are there smaller classes too?) | |
| Current student | Usually you get 4 one hour lectures and a one hour seminar as well, in the seminars you will have one tutor and up to twelve students | |
| Offer holder | Thank you! | |
| Offer holder | how many people will typically be in a english lit lecture and seminar in first year? | |
| Current student | The lecture will probably have over a hundred students, but the seminars will be capped at 12 people, so you will still have quite personal contact with a tutor for each module! | |
| Offer holder | ooh ok thank you! are the lectures in proper lecture theatres? also, how do tutors work? will i get one for my time at glasgow? |
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| Staff | English Literature | yes the first year lectures are in large lecture theatres. You will have tutors for small group seminars in each year, but they're likely to be different each year. There are also special Advisors of Studies who can help you throughout your course. |
| Offer holder | oooh thanks what is an advisor of studies? |
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| Staff | English Literature | Someone who helps you choose what courses to take., and gives you advice on your academic work. |
| Offer holder | I have some questions about the BD theology course which someone can hopefully answer...! (sorry it's such a long message!) 1. How linked are BD students with MA students? Do we have some of the same modules/lectures? Or do we spend time with Trinity College ordinands? 2. What's the cohort size? (across TRS each year and on the BD) 3. With the BD do you choose other subjects to study, like MAs? 4. What's the situation with the church placement in 1st year? Do you choose a church or get allocated one? What does it consist of and how many hours er week it is? |
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| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | 1. The BD courses include some of the MA courses but there are also a few dedicated BD courses at level 1. You can take outside courses too. |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | 2. Cohort size varies form year to year, but the BD is usually fairly small. Classes might be 5-10 students. the level 1 MA courses will be larger (80-100). Not all will be doing the TRS MA. |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | 3. You can take up to two outside courses in year 1 and year 2. |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | 4. We no longer have the placement course in the first year. There are placement courses later in the programme that you can choose to take, and we would help you to find a placement. |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | I hope that helps. |
| Offer holder | That's really helpful, thank you! So can you just focus on TRS, or do you have to do courses from other departments in Y1 and 2? | |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | You can take all courses with TRS but you would need to take one outside course either in first or second year. That is because we currently have 11 courses at level 1 and level 2 and you need 12 in total. |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | Trinity College is a separate entity but does not run courses. We have Trinity worship and lunch on Tuesdays and any student can attend that. We also have some options for trips through Trinity College in conjunction with New College (Edinburgh), mostly for ministry candidates. |
| Offer holder | Oh okay thanks, that makes sense! Do we register for courses when we start uni, or will we choose online in advance? | |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | You can register from August, I think. |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much for all of your help!! | |
| Offer holder | Hi, I just wondered if there were any recommended texts or a reading list before starting the English Literature course? Thanks! | |
| Current student | Hi Sophie! Whilst the reading lists aren't available for 2020/2021 yet, you can access past reading lists. I always found this useful during the summers before classes started so I could get a sense of what I might be reading that year. Here is the link: https://glasgow.rl.talis.com/index.html Hope this helps! |
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| Offer holder | Thank you for your help! :) | |
| Offer holder | For Theology and Religious Studies how many lectures are there a week/how long are they? thanks | |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | Hello Daniel, for each TRS course at level one there are three one-hour lectures and a seminar tutorial. So they meet four times per week. |
| Offer holder | Thanks! | |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | There are also language options which meet for 3-4 hours per week all year (Greek and Hebrew). And Liturgy and Worship which meets 2 hours per week all year. |
| Offer holder | If I take English lit and Spanish would English linguistics count as an additional subject or would it combine with literature to form one subject? | |
| Current student | English linguistics is a separate subject so it would count as a third subject | |
| Offer holder | how many essays per term will i get for english lit? | |
| Current student | you will write one essay per english lit module in the first two years, as well as give a presentation and have an exam for each module. In your last two years you will probably write 2 essays or longer written works, as one of them will replace the exam in EngLit | |
| Offer holder | What is there in terms of societies for English Lit? Like is there maybe a Shakespeare society? | |
| Current student | Yes, there is a Shakespeare society! | |
| Offer holder | Oh neat! I'll probably be joining that lol. Thanks :) | |
| Staff | Hi Katie, there is a Shakespeare society among others! A full list of clubs and societies is available here: https://www.glasgowstudent.net/clubs/. Hopefully one of our students can give you more information. | |
| Offer holder | Thank you! | |
| Offer holder | I know this comes out as very vague but is the study material hard? (English language and literature) | |
| Current student | You will be taught the content they will assess you on and there are lots of resources available to help you that the subjects provide online, the seminars are also a huge help to get further clarification on concepts that are harder to grasp (: | |
| Staff | English Literature | There's a lot of really good introductory material for the subject and the courses and reading lists point you in the right direction for supporting reading. Plus, the lectures are aimed at students assuming you haven't studied the subject before. |
| Current student | There are certainly some challenging texts but there is loads of support! A big part of seminars in talking through and discussing peoples ideas about what they have read so that helps! Lectures and tutors also will answer any questions you have if you email them or go to their weekly office hours | |
| Current student | I think that they are definitely made to be challenging, but you also have to remember that they are made so that everybody coming from school will be able to be successful, so I would not worry too much about it | |
| Offer holder | Thank you. | |
| Offer holder | Do students get to choose between modules for english literature? | |
| Current student | The first two years will be mandatory/foundational modules so you would not have a choice, however in your last two years (called Honours years) you would get to choose from a vast range of modules! | |
| Offer holder | Thank you! | |
| Current student | Hi Aisling, here is a link to the courses covered in 1st and 2nd year and also to the courses offered at honours level :) https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=ENGLIT&name=English+Literature | |
| Offer holder | Hi, i was wondering if there are any recommended texts to read prior to starting English language & linguistics? | |
| Current student | Hi Ellie! The reading lists for 2020/2021 haven't been published yet but you can access previous years reading lists online to give you an idea of what you may be reading. Here is the link: https://glasgow.rl.talis.com/index.html Hope this helps! |
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| Offer holder | Great, thank you! | |
| Offer holder | Hi, how many hours of lectures/seminars would I get for English literature? | |
| Current student | This varies between years, but in your first year you would get about 4hrs of lecture a week and 1hr of seminar | |
| Offer holder | Would you be able to recommend any online courses for English literature prior to the start of the first year? | |
| Staff | English Literature | Your best bet is just to read plenty of literary texts. But there are quite a lot of online courses available. On this site there are some which cover some of the texts that we study in first year, such as Great Expectations https://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/explore-our-english-literature-free-courses Be careful though, as sometimes they might encourage approaches that are rather different from what you will be doing when you get to university. At the same time, they get you thinking about the books, which is great! |
| Offer holder | thank you :] | |
| Offer holder | what kind of support is given for dyslexic student in the English an Scottish literature course? | |
| Staff | Hi Charlie, there is lots of support available to you. Please see our website for details on our Disability Service - https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/disability/contact/ | |
| Staff | Scottish Literature | Hi Charlie! There is an office dedicated to supporting students' learning needs, especially around access and ability. You'd register with the office on arrival and your needs would be assessed and supported. Usually that would mean things like extra time in an exam, or access to resources to help with note-taking in lectures, etc. |
| Current student | Glasgow Uni has an excellent disability service who help out with all manner of things such as dyslexia. I would recommend contacting them as early as possible during Freshers week and they will help you get the support you need https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/students/disabled/#disabilityservice | |
| Offer holder | thank you :) | |
| Offer holder | How would studying abroad work studying English Lit/Film & TV? would I study both or one of them? | |
| Current student | You would have to continue studying both of them, as your credits and marks will be transferred to your grades at the UofG. However, you would work together with your advisor of studies and the study abroad team to make sure that you don't come across any problems with this. | |
| Current student | Hi Brid, when choosing to study abroad they would give you university options that have both of your subjects available first and if you don't like the look of them then they look into further options with you (: | |
| Offer holder | Thanks so much guys! This was super helpful | |
| Offer holder | What do you study at comparative literature? I don't know what to choose, comparative or English literature | |
| Current student | this gives you some more information on comparative literature: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/comparativeliterature/ I would also consider trying them both out, as you can always take them as part of the flexible degree program and then decide later which you prefer, or keep both! |
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| Staff | English Literature | Comparative Literature is based in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures, so the emphasis is on looking at literatures from different countries and language traditions. With English Literature, you mainly focus on writing from anglophone countries - America, Australia, South Africa etc etc . Occasionally you might also study a text in translation. I guess you speak several languages? |
| Current student | Hi Carmen, you have to take comparative literature as a joint honours degree but it is relatively flexible to what you can take with it. You could take both English Literature and Comparative Literature along with another subject in the first year and see what you prefer :) https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/comparativeliterature/ | |
| Offer holder | Are there many opportunities to study drama in the Eng Lit course? | |
| Current student | You can study Theatre Studies, this is however from an academic not a practical standpoint. The practical side you could do in extracurriculars with some excellent drama societies, but not actually as a practical course at university | |
| Staff | English Language | English Language & Linguistics runs an Honours course on Early Drama, which is about medieval mystery plays etc. |
| Current student | On the back of what Kirsty said I would recommend looking into both STAG and the Cecilian Society. https://www.glasgowstudent.net/clubs/listings/cecilian-society/ http://www.studenttheatreatglasgow.com/ |
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| Offer holder | Thank you all so much for your responses! This has been extremely helpful :) | |
| Offer holder | will i need specific editions of books for english lit? | |
| Current student | Hi Esther, in some cases you do such as with the book Frankenstein the different editions have completely different info so to keep everyone right they recommend having a specific edition but they will always highlight this if they need you to have a specific edition (: | |
| Staff | English Literature | Courses will quite often recommend a particular edition, but generally this is a recommendation, and other editions are usually fine. The exceptions are very specific volumes, like Norton Anthologies of Literature/Criticism/etc. |
| Current student | Usually this is quite flexible - if there is a specific edition they require you to have then that will be clarified in the reading list! | |
| Current student | Hi Esther, all books needed for the english lit course are specified at the start of each year including which editions. And often the university book shop has these available in bundles :) | |
| Staff | English Literature | sometimes particular editions are recommended but usually you can use any edition that you have. |
| Staff | English Language | English Language & Linguistics runs an Honours course on Early Drama, which is about medieval mystery plays etc. |
| Offer holder | I'll be studying Theology and Religious studies, are there any books which would help at the start of the course? Also how large are the class sizes? | |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | There are reading lists on the information pages for the first year courses which might be a help. You should be able to access them via the course catalogue. The class size varies, depending on which courses you choose. |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | Hi Tamzin. Each course has its own recommendations. Which subjects are you interested in taking in year 1? |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | Hello Tamzin, TRS actually offers two options in each semester. These are described on the video we've uploaded on tis platform. If you let me know which courses you are likely to take, I can send you the core reading list. |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | The larger classes are 80-100 but you will be in smaller groups for tutorials. Languages (Greek and Hebrew) and liturgy & worship would be smaller (8-10). |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | Not all courses are textbook dependent, but have lecture specific readings. Although for a course like Search for Meaning 1, on the Christianity section which I sometimes teach, we use the Linda Woodhead Short Introduction to... |
| Offer holder | Would I need to buy any books in advance of September for English literature? | |
| Current student | When the reading list comes out I would personally recommend buying some of the books in advance and starting to read them, that juts gives you a bit more time to enjoy them! | |
| Offer holder | Great, would I know which I study first to read them in order? | |
| Staff | English Literature | Amber wrote earlier: "Whilst the reading lists aren't available for 2020/2021 yet, you can access past reading lists. I always found this useful during the summers before classes started so I could get a sense of what I might be reading that year. Here is the link: https://glasgow.rl.talis.com/index.html |
| Staff | English Literature | Also have a look at the reading lists for the current year on the Library website: https://rl.talis.com/3/glasgow/lists/95963525-77B1-B30D-D112-0383C6F01E05.htm |
| Offer holder | Hi! I'm unsure whether to study English Lit, Scot Lit or both in my first year! My sister has studied a bit of both in her degree so far and deff has a preference, but I'd love to hear from students studying them or staff! | |
| Staff | Scottish Literature | You can study both Scottish Literature and English Literature - it's a common combination, either as a Joint Honours degree, or with people signed up for as much literature as possible across the board. Full disclosure - I lecture in ScotLit. There are resources (course descriptions and wee talks) on both subjects available elsewhere on the site - go through 'presentations' or 'subject areas'. Thanks for your interest! |
| Staff | English Literature | They complement each other perfectly! you can develop the same skills in both courses but read completely different texts. |
| Offer holder | Thanks for your replies! I've already read some of the books on both courses and enjoyed them lots! | |
| Staff | Scottish Literature | You'll be well set up for your first classes! |
| Offer holder | Hiya for English Literature, roughly how many secondary texts will we be expected to study on top of the primary ones? | |
| Current student | Usually you will be given between one and three secondary texts to read on top of the primary source every week, but this is always done so that it is manageable, as they are often just essays or chapters in a book! | |
| Current student | Hi Amelia, there will be recommended secondary texts for each text that you study on the moodle which is the online platform the university uses, it is always good to branch out and use other credible secondary sources as well that can further your argument (: | |
| Offer holder | Since I'm mainly focusing on the English language and linguistics course, which other courses would be the easiest in combination with this? | |
| Staff | English Language | If you're aiming for single honours ELL as a degree, you need to take English Literature level 1 in either first or second year. Beyond that, students often choose a subject such as Scottish literature or comparative literature. You might also want to take a language (either modern or classical), but really you can try anything that appeals to you. |
| Current student | I would say English literature is the easiest to combine as it is a required subject but I also took philosophy and loved it, there was also a lot of parallel between the ideologies explored which i found interesting! Friends of mine also studied languages such as French and Spanish and it worked for them too so it truly is up to you (: | |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much, to the both of you. That was really helpful. | |
| Offer holder | Is there a reading list for Scottish lit that we could use now? | |
| Current student | Hi Jess! The readings lists won't be published yet, but you will be able to access past years reading lists via this link: https://glasgow.rl.talis.com/index.html Hope this helps! |
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| Offer holder | Is it necessary for an English literature to write a lot? Is it very difficult for a Spanish student? I find writing very difficult | |
| Staff | English Literature | We certainly use written assessment a lot. I'd say though that I regularly have Spanish students in my 3rd and 4th year classes, and they have excellent English... |
| Offer holder | Thanks! I guess then than I need to hurry up in improving my writing skills! | |
| Staff | English Literature | Remember that you'll be living, working, reading, and talking in English continually - your language competence will improve enormously through all the informal learning as well as through doing your official classes |
| Offer holder | Hiya, I have accepted my offer for English literature with Scottish literature! Was wondering if anyone has studied both and would let me know if the workload is a lot and if they have any advice on how I could manage this? Also is this course a massive jump from Advanced Higer English? | |
| Staff | Scottish Literature | Congratulations, Hannah! We're looking forward to your joining us. It is a step up in terms of the intensity of the reading (one core text a week in each subject, for example, rather than a sustained treatment of one text like you might do in Higher or Advanced Higher). |
| Staff | Scottish Literature | But, there are lots of supports (learning support, support from tutors and lecturers) in place, and the pace gathers gradually. The level one courses have been designed with precisely this transition in mind. |
| Staff | Scottish Literature | You'll get a sense of the reading-load if you have a look at the subject talks and the course description documents. In ScotLit level 1A, for instance, you'll read the work of several poets, two plays, two novels and a novella. But, that's over the course of 11 weeks. |
| Offer holder | That’s great thank you, I think one of the only things I disliked about higher and advanced was the restriction of only having a few texts when there are so many out there! I’m just a bit afraid of a massive jump immediately. | |
| Staff | Scottish Literature | You're really not alone in that - one of the lovely things of teaching level one is seeing students adjust to the pace. You see students bursting with enthusiasm for something they've just read, and keen to talk it all out; and the same all over again the following week. |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much for your time, I’m excited to start. | |
| Staff | Scottish Literature | ScotLit 1A has things like Peter Pan, and Jekyll and Hyde on it. So we get to measure everyone's preconceptions against the original text. Being familiar with the popular cultural currency of those stories sets us up for great discussions. |
| Staff | Scottish Literature | And one of the advantages of studying more than one subject and encountering a range of texts and lecturers is comparing and contrasting different approaches and kinds of appreciation. And being free to think about them in new ways! |
| Offer holder | Hi, if I’m doing English lit will I have to do English language as a compulsory elective | |
| Staff | Hi Melissa, if you want to take English Literature as a single honours subject you will need to take the first year English Language course in either your first or second year. | |
| Offer holder | If I am doing a joint honours of English lit and Spanish would that still be necessary ? | |
| Current student | Hi Melissa, most people in my year took it in second year however,took it in first year just to see if i wanted to stick with it throughout university so that could be an option for you too | |
| Offer holder | Hi Melissa, no, you won't need to take English Language if you intend to take English Lit as part of a joint honours degree. Sometimes we recommend people take it anyway just in case to keep your options open. | |
| Offer holder | Hiya, was just wondering if English Literature lectures tend to be recorded and available to students or not? | |
| Staff | English Literature | We don't record all of our lectures at the moment, but there are facilities for it and I think there will be a lot more recording from this year. We also put lots of material online, so you will almost always get slides (powerpoint) from every lecture and links to lots of resources. |
| Offer holder | Brilliant, thank you! | |
| Offer holder | In my UCAS account I have chosen two subjects, is it possible to choose a third one in your first an second year isn\'t it\? And how and when will you be able to do this\? | |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | Hi Carmen, you'll be able to do this when you register. |
| Current student | You will be choosing your extra subjects when you begin to enroll in classes. This will all be explained to you in good time via emails etc.! | |
| Current student | Hi Carmen! Yes you can, it is mandatory to do 3 subjects in first and second year. You will choose the others at registration which happens online sometime in August | |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | You will have to choose a third subject (unless you are doing Theology in which case you can take four TRS courses). You choose when you register for your first year courses. You will generally take two subjects of thsose three subject through to level 2 and chose another subect alongside them |
| Offer holder | Hello. I was taking a look at the course catalogue for English Lit and didn't understand to which (school) years the levels correspond to. Also, how many modules of English Lit can I take take per semester as a joint-honours in the third and fourth year? |
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| Current student | You would be taking exactly 50% of your modules in English Lit, and 50% from your other subject in your last two years. | |
| Current student | Hi Alexandra, Level 1 and 2 are compulsory 1st and 2nd year courses and 4 and 5 are generally the courses you can pick at honours level :) | |
| Staff | Theology & Religious Studies | Level 5 is Masters (post graduate) in most cases. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I've applied for English Lit/English Lan what is the weightings of each year towards your final grade? | |
| Current student | Your final grade is decided only by the Honour years, that is your last two years. That said, your marks in the first and second year have to reach a certain standard, which will be communicated to you, to progress into Honours. In your first year, it is usually only expected that you pass, and in second year you are generally expected to get a B, although this may be changed. | |
| Staff | English Literature | Hi Molly, your final degree class is calculated only on the last two years (3rd and 4th year). In English Lit, we weight your 4th year a little more heavily than your 3rd. This is because students generally do better as they go through the degree, and we want their final mark to show this. |
| Offer holder | Do a lot of people usually take the English Language and Linguistics course? Cause as an international student visiting the UK for the first time, i don't wanna feel lonely or out of place. | |
| Staff | English Language | There are certainly a lot in the first years course - usually around 300 students. Everyone is together for lectures, and then you're split into seminar groups of around 12 students for a tutorial once a week |
| Current student | Hi! I did not take the course you will be taking, but can tell you now that you'll not feel lonely or out of place. By joining societies and getting involved in sports or charities opportunities you will definitely be able to meet a lot of friendly people! I am also not from the UK and thought Glasgow and especially the university was very welcoming right from the start. | |
| Current student | Hi, when I took the first year course there were about 300 students. A lot of them were international students too | |
| Staff | We also have a mentoring scheme for International students in the College of Arts (which includes English Language) where you can meet other international students and UK students. More information on this can be found here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/arts/international/ismp/ | |
| Current student | Hi, I had plenty of international students in my larger lecture overall and in my smaller seminar group in both semesters at least half of the group was international out of 12 people so dont worry youre not alone (: | |
| Staff | English Literature | We have a really friendly and fun Glasgow University Linguistics Society LingSoc - they organise events, film viewings, study time in our lovely old building, and nights out in town! You'll find them on Facebook :) |
| Offer holder | Thank you, that's very reassuring and helpful as well. | |
| Staff | English Language | Check out our wonderful LingSoc (Glasgow University Linguistic Society) on Facebook, they're a lot of fun and organise study groups as well! |
| Offer holder | Hi how many modules in English lit or English language can you choose to do in the honours years? | |
| Current student | Usually a module is weighted at 20 credits, and you would have to take 120 credits in total. That usually adds up to 3 modules each semester (if you take a joint honours you would split it evenly over the year). In your final year, you would be doing a dissertation that is worth 40 credits, so you would end up taking a few modules less. | |
| Staff | Scottish Literature | Hi Molly, if you're doing single Honours, you'll do 6 courses per year in one subject. If joint, it's split 50/50, so 3 from each subject over the year. This is the basic pattern. It's complicated by the dissertation, which counts for twice as much. So in your final year you'll do 4 courses, and 1 independent dissertation. |
| Staff | That's our English Literature, Language, Scottish Literature and Theology chat finished! Thanks all! |
Film & Television, History of Art, Music, Theatre
| User name | Subject | Message |
| Staff | Hello! Thank you for joining us this afternoon for our Culture & Creative Arts chat. The subjects included are Film & Television, History of Art, Music and Theatre. If you have any questions about our degrees please let us know, we have academics, staff and students ready to chat. Our chat today will run from 6.15 – 7pm. | |
| Offer holder | Hi, I was wondering what kind of theatre UofG specialises in? | |
| Staff | Theatre | The programme is weighted towards contemporary theatre and performance, but there are courses where you will study aspects of theatre over time. |
| Staff | Theatre | There are lots of types of theatre studied and we are known for providing modules on most of them. |
| Offer holder | Are there any specific practioners we study? Such as Artau'd and the 'Theatre of the Absurd', Frantic Assembly, DV8, Brecht, Berkoff? | |
| Staff | Theatre | Yes, all these practitioners would be covered in one way or another and at different time .Different courses with different types of focus. |
| Offer holder | Hi there. I would like to ask you about the assessments and reading lists for history of art and theatre studies? |
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| Staff | Theatre | There are of all varieties - essays, practice, presentations |
| Staff | History of Art | Hello Jan. There are different assessments for History of Art courses but most focus on eg essays and visual tests. Reading lists are suggested on a course by course basis. |
| Offer holder | I would like to know more about the contents of an MA of music | |
| Staff | Music | You have two 20 credit courses a year for years 1 and 2 - introductions to analysis and culture of music and some techniques and, if you go on to honours you can specialise in composition performance, sonic arts, music and culture etc. |
| Offer holder | So how many hours of lectures per week is that? | |
| Staff | Music | Hi Carmen, In your first year of the Music MA you'll take 40 credits of Music and 80 credits in other subjects (ie. 2 other subjects + Music). These are Listening in Culture and Listening Through Analysis. Then in year 2, you will take a course in harmony and counterpoint (Musical Techniques), plus a course of your choice, which could be something like Composition, or something focussing on a genre or historical topic (eg. music of Bach). Then if you proceed to honours, you can shape quite a unique curriculum (either 120 credits as a single honours student, or 60 credits in music and 60 in something else, as a junior honours student). |
| Staff | Music | In level 1 and 2 courses, each 20 credit course has 30 contact hours (ie teaching hours). Honours courses, there are 20 contact hours for a 20 credit course |
| Staff | Music | For example in Musical Techniques (the course you take in year 2), you have one lecture a week, and a seminar (where you do more hands-on exercises in class) every second week. This is spread over a year. You can see more detail about each course in the course catalogue: https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=MUSIC&name=Music |
| Offer holder | Hello! I was wondering if anyone knew anything about contact hours and class sizes for Music/Theatre Studies students please? Since we have so much free time on our hands now, I was wondering if there was also a reading list for such students please? Thank you! | |
| Current student | For all courses you will have a combination of lectures and seminars. You will have several lectures a week per module, and one seminar a week per module. In the seminars the groups are smaller, only 10-12 students | |
| Staff | Theatre | Same pretty much for theatre. Things change in the second year, when you will have more practical seminars and workshops. |
| Offer holder | I have not studied Music at school, but am grade 7 in Euphonium and Drums. Would you recommend taking music as a subject? Would I find it difficult? What does it involve? Is it more playing, theory or composition? | |
| Staff | Music | Hi there, you could definitely consider the MA in Music, although the BMus is not out of the question. The relation between the different components can vary, depending on your interests.In the MA programme, no performance or composition is required at all (but possible). |
| Offer holder | What are lectures/seminars like for Film & TV studies? | |
| Staff | Film & Television | Two lectures and a seminar and a screening each week for first and second year. Seminars give you the opportunity to discuss your own response to the material you've seen and the issues covered in lectures and reading in a small group. |
| Offer holder | What is the MA music course like ? Do you need to do any performance in years 1 and 2 ? | |
| Staff | Music | No, there's no performance in years 1 and 2, but if you pass an audition you can do it in years 3-4. First two years give you basic introductions to techniques, analysis and cultures of music and after that you can specialise more in composition, sonic arts, performance, culture and music, history etc. |
| Offer holder | Is it too easy or difficult for a last year of conservatory student? Are there performance classes in first and second years? | |
| Current student | Hi Carmen, if you are particularly interested in just music or performance, I would recommend looking at the difference between an MA in Music, where you will be doing other classes as well, with a BMus at the UofG, where you would focus only on music from the start. You can find all of the relevant information on the difference between them on the website | |
| Staff | Music | hi - just for note: there are indeed performance classes: it's compulsory for BMus1, optional thereafter. 'easy' or 'difficult' depends on your own strengths: we are a univeristy, with equal emphasis on academic and compositional/creative study - a conservatoire is far more performance focused |
| Offer holder | What are the opportunities like in terms of auditioning for acting/singing/getting gigs/ signed with record labels ? | |
| Staff | Music | That's not something we provide as part of the programme. There is a lot happening in Glasgow, but we're not directly involved. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I hold an offer to study History and Theatre Studies and wanted to know a bit more about theatre studies at Glasgow. I've always loved theatre and have experience in the practical and performance side but hold a great interest for the theoritical side and background of it all. I'm also highly interested in possibly teaching drama in the future, is theatre studies the course for me? | |
| Staff | Theatre | Hi Eve, Totally, we offer a good range of theoretical and practical moduels, looking at all aspects of theatre. |
| Offer holder | thank you! I don't have much knowledge around directing and writing - would this be vital? | |
| Offer holder | About theatre studies - is preparing the play a part of assessment? Do you have student theatre? | |
| Staff | Theatre | yes to both questions and also devising work. |
| Offer holder | Are there many extra curricular music groups to join? | |
| Current student | Hi Fraser, there are loads of extra curricular music groups to join on campus. I will leave a link to our music societies below :) | |
| Staff | Music | Yes. Lots. Symphony Orchestra, choirs, big band, windband, fiddle group, musical theatre etc. |
| Current student | Yes, there are very many societies that have to do with music! You can find a full list here https://www.glasgowstudent.net/clubs/ | |
| Current student | https://www.gla.ac.uk/events/musicintheuniversity/studentensembles/ | |
| Offer holder | Is it possible to use music tech recording facilities if you aren't taking music or music tech as a subject?? Or a piano we can play anytime somewhere on campus | |
| Current student | There are pianos in the mian library of the university that everybody can access | |
| Staff | Music | hi - if you join Music Club I believe you can gain access to practice facilities. But it is worth asking our secretary, Davina Smith , about the details |
| Offer holder | Hello I'm a theatre studies Offer holder. Would be there any chance for theatre students to perform as assessment? |
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| Staff | Theatre | not in the first year but after that yes. In years 3 and 4, most of the courses have a 50/50 split in terms of assessment. Some are mostly practice. |
| Offer holder | What connections does UoG have with local theatres? | |
| Staff | Theatre | Hi Jan. We have very strong connections with theatres in Scotland - Traverse and Lyceum in Edinburgh. Citizens, the Tron, Tramway and CCA (Centre for Contemporary art) in Glasgow. + Many non building based companies and artists |
| Offer holder | If you are taking Music/Theatre Studies, are instrumental lessons included as part of your tuition and what is the set up in terms of booking practise rooms please? | |
| Staff | Music | hi - please be aware that music/theatre studies would be an MA programme, and you will not have subsidised instrumentatl lessons until third year, when admission to peformance is by audition. AS a music student, you have access to all the practise rooms, however, |
| Offer holder | Can I ask about how a joint degree works? I’ve accepted my offer for theatre studies/film and television studies and would like to know how it works in terms of lectures and timetabling? Thank you! | |
| Current student | They will make sure that you can do both subjects, so you do not have to worry about clashes in timetable. In your first two years you will be doing 3 subjects, and your time spent on each will be split equally. If you decide to do a joint honours in the last two years, you would split your time (and grades) equally between your two subjects! | |
| Staff | Film & Television | The timetables are designed so that there are no clashes between FTV and Theatre and typically for FTV you'd have two lectures a screening and seminar each week. |
| Offer holder | Okay thank you! That’s really useful! | |
| Offer holder | How many students are typically in the Film/TV course? | |
| Offer holder | Film & Television | In honours years 3/4 we have between 20-30 for a courses. We do offer practical film making path and a theoretical critical path through the Honours years. We also aim to maximise the advantages of Glasgow as a location for Film and TV production with a course in fourth year that invites industry professionals to present to the students on the issues affecting their role and institution so that when students graduate they have an up to date grasp of the issues facing the industry. |
| Offer holder | How many contact hours would I get a week as a Joint honours student for Spanish and Theatre Studies? | |
| Staff | Music | hi - as in all subjects, you will do 40 credits in music in year 1. this involves two hours' lecture + one hour seminar - in one course per semester |
| Staff | Music | And just to clarify, in year 1 and 2 courses, there are 30 contact hours per course (1.5 contact hours for each credit) |
| Offer holder | How many contract hours a week is the music MA course ? | |
| Staff | Music | In year 1 the courses you take are Listening in Culture in semester 1, which is 2 lectures a week and one seminar a week, then in semester 2, you take Listening Through Analysis again, two lectures and one seminar a week. That's just the Music courses in your first year. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I applied for politics and am thinking of taking art history as a 2nd/3rd subject. What sort of content is studied in 1st and 2nd year? I.e. any specific artists, periods of time, etc.. | |
| Current student | Hi Alexandra, first year provides an introduction to history of art in two courses, Art History and its Materials and Techniques and Art History in Action, these cover works by some of the best known artists, designers and architects of all time and also introduce you to key issues in the HoA. In year 2 you will study two further thematic groups, with more of an emphasis on theoretical and contextual issues, and be introduced to a range of approaches and methods and also backgrounds relating to the consumption and production of works of art | |
| Staff | History of Art | The first year gives you an overall introduction to history of art looking with a broad chronological focus and looking at materials and techniques, |
| Staff | History of Art | Across Year 1 and 2 a broad range of artists and approaches to HoA are covered by a variety of teachers who highlight developments in the areas of specialisation. The topics slot together seamlessly, but they are pretty diverse. For instance, I teach a session on culture and conflict in Y1. |
| Staff | History of Art | If you look at the course catalogue for History of Art you can see examples of the types of course that may be offered. https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=HISTART&name=History+of+Art |
| Staff | History of Art | Hi Alexandra, Levels 1 and 2 are about laying down knowledge and skills and are organised thematically. You will be introduced to a wide range of artists and different types of art production - but within thematic contexts. |
| Offer holder | So are there any opportunity for a MA of music to have practice lessons? Or are there any music society in which we can play? | |
| Staff | Music | You can certainly join all music societies, although you will only be able to take Performance formally as part of your degree from year 3, subject to a successfull audition. |
| Offer holder | In Film Studies, are there any practical aspects to the programme, or is it primarily a theory based degree? | |
| Staff | Film & Television | Hi William, there are practical elements to the course in junior and senior honours (3rd and 4th year). There are also societies you can get involved in such as the student television station (which I did back as a student). Many graduates I know from the Film/TV course and from the student television station have gone on to work in film/tv production and journalism. |
| Staff | Film & Television | We've also been offering Scriptwriting in addition to film making options in 3& 4th year. |
| Offer holder | Do you get to carry out acting within the theatre studies degree? | |
| Staff | Theatre | Hi Molly - this is not an acting degree programme because we are not a conservatoire. However at Honours there are a numbers of courses which are assessed through performance. You will and can acquire acting skills across levels 3 and 4 and we have a new course which looks at character acting. If you only want to act then you should probably go to a drama school. |
| Offer holder | Is there any performing chance for theatre studies students? How many practical hours included in the course? | |
| Current student | Theatres studies is in essence a theoretical course, so whilst there is some opportunity for practical projects, even these are grounded in theory. However, there are a lot of excellent extracurricular acting opportunities to get practical experience | |
| Staff | Theatre | Yes, but not in first year. Most of our classes from second year on are split 50/50, with some almost all practical. The hours depend on what courses you do. |
| Offer holder | If I'm correct, the practical courses are designed for directing and writing. Then isn't there any lectures for performing area? | |
| Staff | Theatre | Yes, there is a course called Performing Character and most of our courses in hons have a 50/50 split where some form of performing is required. |
| Offer holder | Hi are there many internship opportunities in the Glasgow area? Does the university have any connections to film and tv in Glasgow? | |
| Current student | Hi Meg! We have an internship that is designed and curated purely for Glasgow University students that you'll hear a lot more about in first year! | |
| Offer holder | How do internship opportunities affect a joint honours degree? | |
| Current student | A lot of the time William, this won't really matter. A lot of internships are available for specific subjects but also, just as much their are internships available that are advertised to all degrees. I hope this helps! |
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| Offer holder | Hi there! I don't know if I was mistaken when I attended the talk during your open day but it was mentioned there is a separate building to the campus which holds a cinema where some lectures are held,is this true? | |
| Staff | Hi Eva, the Gilmorehill Halls is on campus and includes the Andrew Stewart Cinema where you'll have lectures and screenings. Bear with me and I'll find you a link :) | |
| Staff | https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/cca/specialistspaces/theatrefilmtvfacilities/ | |
| Offer holder | How does the university support theatre students with career prospects and opportunities | |
| Staff | Theatre | By the time you reach years 3 and 4 there are many courses which directly and indirectly prepare you for your professional practice. Work placements do this and we have a new course called'Shaping futures' which absolutely focuses on preparing you for life in and around theatre after university. |
| Offer holder | i want to do history of art as an elective, is it very competitive? | |
| Staff | History of Art | Hi Esther, Level 1 History of Art is normally a large cohort - we have space for 200 students at this stage - so you should be able to secure a place. |
| Offer holder | Where can I find the course catalogue for Film and Television Studies? Also, to which school year do the levels correspond to? In addition, how many modules per semester can I take in the third and fourth year as a joint-honous degree? Where can I find the reading list for this course? |
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| Current student | https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/filmtelevisionstudies/ You would take 3 modules a semester in your third year per subject. In your fourth year you would split the credits, so it depends in what you decide to write your dissertation, so either one module and a dissertation, or three modules and no dissertation |
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| Offer holder | what subjects do you recommend you pick alongside Film and TV studies in the first two years, i want to go into broadcasting | |
| Staff | Film & Television | English literature, history, Digital Media are popular and successful combinations. A good postgraduate course would also help you. |
| Staff | Hi Megan, here is a guide to picking your subjects - https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/choosingyourdegree/ Literature classes would complement Film well | |
| Offer holder | thank you very much for your help | |
| Offer holder | Hallo! How can I apply to the drama Society at UofG? Thank you very much! | |
| Current student | Hi Finya! The societies will run taster sessions during freshers week so the best way to get involved is to show up to the taster sessions :) | |
| Staff | Theatre | They are really dynamic too. |
| Staff | Hi Finya, here's some more info on the Student Theatre at Glasgow (STaG) society: https://www.glasgowstudent.net/clubs/listings/student-theatre-at-glasgow-stag/ | |
| Offer holder | Hello, I don't have much knowledge around writing and directing theatre. Is this what the course is solely focussed on? I do however hold practical and performance experience and love theatre and would love to maybe teach drama in the future! is theatre studies for me? | |
| Current student | Hi Eve - there is a wide range of modules offered. From history to autobiography, Beckett, ecology etc. | |
| Offer holder | Hi what would the first year of film and television look like? | |
| Current student | This should hopefully help you get an overview https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/filmtelevisionstudies/ | |
| Offer holder | 1) I was wondering how many possibilities (both on Theatre Studies course and societies) would I have to work practically, e.g. directing a play? 2) What connections does UoG have with local theatres? | |
| Staff | Theatre | Lots of opportunities for both. We are very well connected with lots of theatres, including National Theatre Scotland and we run very good work placements. |
| Offer holder | What modules would i do if if did his of art in an elective? | |
| Current student | You would do the ones described here as first year modules https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/historyofart/ | |
| Staff | History of Art | HISTORY OF ART 1A HISTART1002; HISTORY OF ART 1B HISTART1003. If you like these, you may decide to do more, |
| Offer holder | I was wondering how Theatre Studies was assessed in terms of practical aspects/essays/exams please? | |
| Staff | Theatre | There are exams in first year, after that it's about practical assessments and essays for most of second year and then in honours (yrs 3 and 4). We don't have exams in hons. |
| Offer holder | So would year 3 and 4 be back to essays and practical assessment please? | |
| Offer holder | Casey - in years 3 and 4 we deliberately have a variety of assessment modes - performances, presentations, research trails, essays. Depends on which courses you do. | |
| Offer holder | Hi, I have a question for Carl Lavery. On the website it says that you teach "Space, Place and Landscape." What does this entale? | |
| Staff | Theatre | Hi Hedda, It means making theatre outside of the auditorium and putting it in real place and landscapes. Eg. houses, rivers, abandoned factories, etc. |
| Offer holder | That's so cool! So is it like Promenade theatre? | |
| Staff | Theatre | So much of that for sure. |
| Offer holder | That sounds right up my street!! Is there any work I could find on youtube? | |
| Staff | Theatre | I'd maybe look for a Welsh company called Brith Gof - I'm sure there will be stuff there. Also maybe Wrights and Site, and Janet Cardiff and Georges Bures Miller who do lots of audio/phone walks. You may be able to find an article I wrote called 25 Scores for Performances in Cities. That may be useful to you. |
| Staff | Theatre | Its actually called 25 Instructions for Performances in Cities! I wrote it in 2005! |
| Offer holder | Thank you very much for your time! | |
| Offer holder | Hi what are the film and tv modules? | |
| Staff | Film and TV - Course Modules - https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=FTV&name=Film+and+Television+Studies | |
| Staff | Film & Television | we offer theoretical critical courses and practical courses as electives in 3rd & 4th year |
| Offer holder | Hi, what kind of musicians does the music course tend to attract? As in instruments and genre. Also how big is the cohort on average? | |
| Staff | Music | It varies really widely. I'd hate to stereotype. The BMus cohort is around 15-20, MA around 30. |
| Staff | Music | Hi Zach - let me try with this: historically, the course [actually: three courses, BMus, MA, and BENg] attracts quite a wide variety of students, across the genres from classical through traditional and pop and jazz. The cohort is also a bit complicated: say 70-80 students doing music as part of their MA, 16-20+ doing BMus, a similar number doing BEng. |
| Staff | Music | ... to explain the difference between the two answers: it seems to me that Bjorn is talking about 'finishing' or 'honours' cohort for the MA, which is a much smaller number than the number in 1st year. |
| Staff | Music | Wonderful, are there lots of opportunities for extra curricular activities and societies as a guitarist/drummer at the uni? |
| Staff | Music | This is a complex one, since we're running three programmes which share quite a few courses: the MA, BMus and BEng. The BMus is all-music so that tends to attract musicians with some degree of skill in performance, composition or historical/cultural study. MA is much more varied - some are skilled musically but others are excellent in cultural areas of music or in combining musical study with other subjects. On the MA you can only do performance from year 3 if you get through audition - any examinable genre is possible! Our musicians tend to range from classical, trad, jazz and rock, so it can be quite a varied cohort. Courses try to cover as many genres as possible although there's more classical than other areas perhaps. Cohort: entire body is up to 100 in first year, dropping slightly in second to about 40 combined in MA and BMus in years 3-4. |
| Offer holder | Is there any prior reading/learning which would be useful to do before starting the MA Music course? | |
| Staff | Music | Lots of things could be useful. There is a book by Nicholas Cook in the Oxford Very Short Introduction series. That could be quite useful. But we like to meet students where they are, and interests can vary. |
| Staff | Music | We try to cover or at least allow students to study a wide range of genres. The main thing about reading is that you choose books that are academically thought through - rigorous and involving critical thinking. We can help if you email us specific interests. |
| Offer holder | Are there any clubs or societies that would be good for someone with an interest in film? | |
| Current student | There are a lot of different societies that look at films, so you should definitely not have a problem with that. There is also a TV station run by students called GUST that might interest you... Here is a list of all societies you can look through for films, including documentary society etc. https://www.glasgowstudent.net/clubs/ | |
| Staff | As someone who used to be in GUST I highly recommend it - I learned a lot about filming/editing, and made lifelong friends. | |
| Staff | Film Society - https://www.glasgowstudent.net/clubs/listings/film-society/ and i'm looking for a few more... | |
| Staff | Also - https://www.glasgowstudent.net/clubs/listings/gu-queer-filmmakers/ | |
| Staff | And - https://www.glasgowstudent.net/clubs/listings/war-film-society/ | |
| Offer holder | In music MA do you do any performance in year 1 and 2 ? | |
| Offer holder | only year 3, according to their video | |
| Staff | Music | Correct. |
| Staff | Music | You can do 'peformance' as a course, with subsidized lessons, only starting in year 3. This does not mean you cannot do 'any' performance - there are plenty of ensembles, and you are welcome to play with peers through Music Club |
| Offer holder | how much does the lessons cost? for the student | |
| Staff | Music | If you get into performance for years 3-4, then your lessons are paid for as part of the course. |
| Offer holder | I was actually planning to do the theatre studies course as a prologue to my education focused solely on drama directing. Do you think it is a good idea regarding the content of the course? | |
| Staff | Theatre | Yes, I think so. We have Honours courses which engage with directing, and there are others where you will have the opportunity to direct within a group project. |
| Staff | Theatre | Hi Jan, The course is probably best described as half academic, half practical. You will certainly get the opportunity to direct and do courses in directing in hons. We also have professional directors on the team. But it's an academic course. |
| Offer holder | What are the modes of assessment and how often are they administered? |
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| Staff | Film & Television | Combination of essay, exam, presentation and participation. Typically three assessment components per course that would run for ten weeks. https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/filmtelevisionstudies/ |
| Offer holder | Is there any good books, presentations, courses that would be useful for film and TV studies. Also is there any mandatory reading or learning before beginning the Film and tv studies course | |
| Current student | There is no mandatory reading before the course, usually the courses are set up to be manageable during the semester, so I would not worry about it. If your course does expect you to do some reading shortly before classes begin, they will communicate this with you! Reading lists are usually available once you enroll in the courses | |
| Offer holder | What kind of opportunities does the graduate of theatre studies have after the course? (any kind of jobs, further academic carrier?) | |
| Current student | A lot of our students work in theatre production,and cultural management. They become practitioners, dramaturgs, directors, they work for the community in theatre and arts projects, and some of them decide to follow an academic career. | |
| Current student | A couple examples of our most celebrated alumni is Jackie Wylie, who is the Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the National Theatre of Scotland and John Tiffany, the director of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. | |
| Staff | Theatre | Various opportunities - some graduates maybe 30-40% go on to make a career as theatre professionals, some go into teaching drama/theatre, some into community arts practices and we always have a significant proportion who extend their studies into postgrad courses. |
| Staff | Theatre | Hi Jan, In the profession, obviously, working as a dramaturge, part of arts admin, teaching, lecturing, tv, scriptwriting, advertising, film work- I think that Theatre graduates are also great at seeing projects through from start to finish. It's a very practical degree. |
| Offer holder | Where can I find the reading list for Film and Television Studies? | |
| Current student | Hi Alexandra, the reading lists for 2020/2021 arent available right now, but you can access past reading lists via this link to give you an idea of what to expect: https://glasgow.rl.talis.com/index.html Hope this helps! |
|
| Offer holder | Before the semester begins, what books are recommended for theatre students to read? | |
| Current student | Hi Minji, there is no mandatory reading before the course, usually the courses are set up to be manageable during the semester, so I would not worry about it. If your course does expect you to do some reading shortly before classes begin, they will communicate this with you! Reading lists are usually available once you enroll in the courses | |
| Staff | Theatre | Yes, that's right. Not to worry now. Just try and see as much theatre as you can. That would probably be on line for now. I always think that Peter Brooks' The Empty Space is a great book to start with. |
| Offer holder | Hi, what would the first year of film and television studies consist of? | |
| Current student | have a browse through this, it should give you a good overview: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/filmtelevisionstudies/ | |
| Offer holder | Regarding internship opportunities for Film Studies, how does an internship impact on a joint honours degree? | |
| Staff | Theatre | It works very well, William. It's not so much an internship though as a work placement and we offer them on the degree in years 3 and 4. |
| Offer holder | Since we study 3 courses in the first year (yes?) to what level are we expected to be at for the subjects we'll be taking that we haven't applied to? Is there anything we should do in preparation for these courses and also at what point do we choose our extra subjects? Cheers | |
| Current student | All of the courses you take will be set for the level of people coming from school. If you have to have done the course previously (such as for some languages entering them at a non-beginner level) then proof of that will be necessary. But in general, you will be fine taking any course as an extra subject!! | |
| Staff | Theatre | Zach - your first year is divided equally between all three subject. You will either be offered some pre-course reading or you can directly ask for some. You are not expected to have studied your 2nd and 3rd choices necessarily. Does that make sense? |
| Staff | Music | Hi Zach - Simon is basically right, but in Music we have historically tried to be as open as possible to all abilities while also recognising that some musical background will be very helpful if you want to cope with the 1st year Music courses, even as a third subject. We do our best to provide 'remedial' materials with e.g. basic literacy, but it will of course be helpful if you have some amount of perofrmance experience, and a bit of note-reading skill, for at least one of the core courses. |
| Offer holder | will this put us at a disadvantage to students who are studying that as their first subject? | |
| Staff | Music | I wouldn't worry too much about 'disadvantage'. It is very possible to thrive and succeed in the first year Music courses with minimal 'official' background - indeed the Listening and Culture course is expressly designed to encourage culturally imaginative, non-specialist listening - and some musicians find this hard for different reasons! If you're prepared to work a bit, you should be well placed to succeed, and maybe even continue in Music. |
| Offer holder | How are the exams and assessments structured for film& television? | |
| Staff | Film & Television | Assessments are typically a combination of essays, exam, and seminar participation/contribution. Essays are short and long with emphasis on analytical and critical insights, knowledge accumulated from lectures, reading and discussion. |
| Staff | Film & Television | you watch a film or television programme weekly for each course and so you have material that you have watched to draw on in your assessments too. |
| Offer holder | Is there anywhere on the UofG website where I could look at theatre modules in depth? | |
| Current student | Hi Hedda, You can have a look here:https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/theatrestudies/ | |
| Offer holder | How much time of classes per week for Film and Television Studies? | |
| Staff | Film & Television | during first and second year two one hour lectures one screening approx 90 minutes and a one hour seminar. |
| Offer holder | Do I have to decide the now if I want to do joint honours? | |
| Staff | Theatre | You would decide after the 2nd year, Kayley. So not now. |
| Current student | No, as long as you do both year one and year two for both courses, you can decide to do a joint honours at the end of your second year (as long as your marks are high enough for both subjects) | |
| Current student | Not quite yet Kayley! Theres a lot of flexibilty! Here is a link explaining everything you need to know about the flexible degree structure: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/choosingyourdegree/understandingthedegreestructure/ Hope this helps! |
|
| Staff | Thanks for joining us this evening and for all your great questions! We look forward to welcoming you to Glasgow in future! |
Dentistry
| User Name | Message |
| Offer holder | Is there a possibility that the starting date for the academic year will start in January if covid 19 persists? |
| Staff | At this moment in time I am unable to answer that. We are following the Governments guidance with regards to the lock down, we are hopeful that the Semester will start as normal in September 2020 but this is obviously out with our control. |
| Offer holder | Hiya! just wanted to ask where we would be based mostly for the first year? |
| Staff | The majority of teaching will take place in the Dental Hospital located on Sauchiehall Street, around a 25 minute walk from the main campus. There will be times, particularly in BDS1 where teaching will take place on the main campus. Anatomy teaching in BDS1 and BDS3 will take place on the main campus. Clinical teaching will take place in the Dental Hospital. |
| Offer holder | How flexible will the university be knowing the situation around the world? |
| Staff | Our COVID-19 FAQs for prospective students can also be found here: www.glasgow.ac.uk/myglasgow/news/coronavirus/faqs/#d.en.716256. We are updating these pages regularly and will of course be in touch as and when we have more information. |
| Offer holder | Hi I was just wondering what the timetable is like for a first year dental student |
| Staff | BDS is a full time course and you can expect to be timetabled from 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday. At the Dental School induction you will be given an induction timetable which will cover the first couple of weeks of term. You will be advised on what courses/classes to enrol on, this will generate an electronic timetable which you can access in your student centre. It is very important that you enrol in the exact classes you are advised to. |
| Staff | Hi Josh you should plan to be in university from 9-5 most days except Wednesday afternoons which are reserved for sports. There is some flexibility depending on the time of year but that's what you should plan for. |
| Offer holder | Hello! Which accommodation is recommended for dentistry students, if any? |
| Staff | Quite a lot of our students choose Kelvinhaugh, the accommodation team are available to chat with, if you are looking for more details. |
| Offer holder | Hello! Is there a specific dress code for clinics? |
| Staff | Yes we ask you to wear scrubs -you will get more information about this before the start of the course. |
| Staff | We also have some information on scrubs in the document section back out in the subject lobby area. Hopefully that PDF should help! |
| Offer holder | Hello, Is there any clinical work in the first year? |
| Staff | Students will have limited clinical exposure in BDS1, however, they will not be treating patients. Students will start to see their own patients from the end of BDS2. |
| Staff | You will be on some clinics but not seeing your own patients in 1st year - you will be paired up with senior students |
| Offer holder | Hi how often would we be in clinics in first/second year? |
| Staff | Not too much in 1st year and then in second year you start in phantom head working up to treating your own patients by the end of 2nd year-clinical exposure increases throughout 2nd yr to get you used to being on clinics and talking to patients. |
| Offer holder | Hi, just wanted to ask if there would be any changes to conditional offers due to A-Level grades being calculated by teachers? |
| Staff | To make sure it’s a fair reflection of your performance¸ your grade will be based on information from your teachers’ judgement, using: • previous attainment, including GCSEs and mocks • non-exam assessment (course work) • the grade your teachers believe you would have been awarded should exams have gone ahead The government has said its aim is to provide these calculated grades before the end of July, and there will be an option to sit an exam later if you do not feel your grades reflect your performance. The government has said this will happen at the earliest reasonable opportunity. |
| Offer holder | Is this the same for advanced higher grades? |
| Staff | For highers and advanced highers to make sure it’s a fair reflection of your performance¸ the Government has said your grade will be based on information from your teachers’ judgement, using: • any units and coursework that are completed, and estimated grades provided by teachers, drawing on the available evidence gathered throughout the year • prior attainment information, where available • They are aiming to have results with students no later than 4 August. |
| Offer holder | Hiya, once grades have been announced, will there be any chance to visit the university again (like an induction day) once this COVID situation has cleared? |
| Staff | There is a 2 week induction at the start of term. |
| Offer holder | Hi! How many students will there be in this course? |
| Staff | There will be around 80 students in 1st year. |
| Offer holder | Hi, what projects do students typically do during their elective study period? |
| Staff | A huge range of things and it really depends on what you are interested in - students in the past have looked at things ranging from the history of dentistry to health care systems in other parts of the world to lab based science projects - there is no set thing you need to do. |
| Offer holder | How many hours of independent study would you be recommending per week? |
| Staff | We would always recommend keeping up with lecture and tutorial topics as you go along and not leaving everything till the last minute. The university LEADS department can provide advice on study techniques. |
| Offer holder | Hello, what would be the additional costs during the dentistry course? E.g. equipment, books |
| Staff | You are required to do a PVG check, and buy scrubs and a lab coat. There is no reading list. |
| Staff | We have a very well stocked library with multiple copies of a lot of books along with a lot of online materials-you should only need to buy books if you want to have your own copy. |
| Offer holder | Hi is there a reading list for dentistry? |
| Staff | There is no reading list. |
| Offer holder | Where are the community outreach centres usually based in the final year? |
| Staff | We have quite a few, residential and non residential, including Campbeltown, Dumfries, Carronshore, Vale of Leven |
| Staff | Various places around Scotland including Campbeltown, Dumfries, Kilmarnock, Coatbridge, Paisley |
| Offer holder | Does the course include cadaver dissection or is it just the practice on phantom heads? |
| Staff | There is morbid anatomy included in the course. |
| Staff | There is no direct cadaver dissection however you would get to see prosections (cadavers that have been dissected by someone else). These are much better for seeing the anatomy than the ones you might do yourself (speaking from personal experience). |
| Offer holder | Are lectures recorded? What sort of academic help and support do students receive if they feel like they are being left behind in class? |
| Staff | Yes the vast majority are recorded and available to view later along with the powerpoint, we would expect students to attend the lectures as well though. |
| Staff | Some lectures are recorded using the universities Echo 360 system. There are Moodle pages (online VLE) for your courses where lecture notes etc are posted and there is lots of academic help available to students. You will be able to talk to advisers, course coordinators, course secretaries and support staff. The university also has a Learning Enhancement and Academic Development Service available to students to help with their studies. |
| Offer holder | Being an EU student, is it possible to do the PVG check in my home country? Or will it be done just before the beginning of the year? |
| Staff | If you have never lived in the UK you will not be required to do a PVG check, you will however need police clearance from your home country. |
| Staff | We are currently working on a process to facilitate the required police and health checks and will provide more guidance on this as soon as we can. |
| Offer holder | Hello, are we all attending lectures and clinical workshops at the same time or are we split in to groups? |
| Staff | You attend lectures all as one group most of the time - clinics and tutorials are split into groups. |
| Offer holder | Hiya, should we expect any emails back from the university after firming out offer? |
| Staff | You will receive further details from the university and dental school in due course. |
| Offer holder | Are all of the recordings and notes available for microsoft and apple operating systems? |
| Staff | Yes you should be able to view them on either. |
| Offer holder | Are there chances to work with older year groups of dentistry students or are all years kept quite separate? |
| Staff | Yes there is, particularly with 3rd and final year students. |
| Offer holder | Hi, how easy is it to ask for help from the professors? Are there dedicated times to ask questions outside of lectures? |
| Staff | Our academic staff are very approachable if you have specific questions and you will also have an adviser whom you can discuss matters with. |
| Offer holder | Is there anything you would advise us to do or read before starting the course? |
| Staff | Not in terms of course work, you will be sent material before the course starts about scrubs, PVG and health checks you should read and complete all of this |
| Offer holder | Hi I was just wondering if the dentistry course is separate from other courses or would we say be having lectures or things with other courses? |
| Staff | You would have some joint teaching with the BSc in Oral Health Sciences but otherwise the dental course is largely separate from other courses. |
| Offer holder | Is there any chance to have a part time job, or do you think that Dentistry would be your main focus with little time for jobs etc.? |
| Staff | Many people do have a part time job but you need to bear in mind this is a largely 9-5 course and you have to attend everything. |
| Offer holder | Is there a virtual tour of the dentistry school? |
| Staff | We do not have a virtual tour available, sorry. |
| Offer holder | Are we required to purchase any books or study material beforehand? |
| Staff | You are required to do a PVG check, and buy scrubs and a lab coat. There is no reading list. We have a very well stocked library with multiple copies of a lot of books along with a lot of online materials-you should only need to buy books if you want to have your own copy. |
| Offer holder | Hiya, throughout the course would we have the time to join a sports club? |
| Staff | Absolutely! Wednesday pm is reserved for sport. |
| Staff | Yes many of our students are members of clubs and societies. |
| Offer holder | Are there any sports clubs/societies specifically for dental students? |
| Staff | Yes we have a very active dental school student society you can find out more information about them on our web pages. |
| Staff | The GDSS-the dental student soc does have some teams that take part in tournaments with other dental schools on field days. |
| Offer holder | Where can i find details for the app? |
| Staff | It's called Be a Dentist and you can download from itunes/play store. |
| Offer holder | Hi, what type of events will the dental student society hold throughout the year? |
| Staff | https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/dental/glasgowdentalstudentsociety, will give you an idea of whats on offer. |
| Offer holder | What forms of examination and assessment are used during the first few years? |
| Staff | There are exams in every year of the course, you will be assessed in various formats throughout the course including, multiple choice, short answer and clinical exams. |
Education
| User Name | Message |
| Staff | Hello everyone, I am Roisin Coll the Director of the St Andrew's Foundation for Catholic Teacher Education and looking forward to answering any questions you have about the Catholic Teacher's Certificate. |
| Offer holder | Hi Roisin, I have received an offer from Glasgow and have an interview coming up for Strathclyde to study PGDE Secondary French teaching. I am hoping to gain my Catholic Teacher's Certificate whilst studying my PGDE and am wondering if you could tell me if this is integrated as part of your classes at the University of Glasgow and the University of Strathclyde or if this is just at Glasgow? |
| Staff | Thanks for the question. It is integrated into the PGDE at Glasgow and if you have the choice then I would recommend Glasgow because of this. At Strathclyde we offer the CTC there too however this is in addition to the PGDE and is timetabled as such around that. So you would have to come to additional classes and do additional online work at Strathclyde. Does that help? |
| Offer holder | Hi Roisin, I have received an offer from Glasgow and signed up to do the Catholic teaching certificate- does this entail an examine at the end? |
| Offer holder | Hi Roisin, yes thanks that is very helpful. If I am to accept my offer with Glasgow is there an option to sign up for the Catholic Teaching Certificate before starting the course? |
| Offer holder | Hi Roisín, I am from Ireland and I am unsure of how the certificate works\. Is it that you can only teach in a Catholic school if you have this or that the school prefers if you have it\? Or does the certificate allow you to teach Catholic Religion in that school\? I suppose could you tell me the advantages of having it\. Thank you |
| Offer holder | Hi Roisin \- I have accepted my offer for PGDE Secondary\- Business Education and am very keen to sign up for the CTC \- will this happen before I start in August\? Also, in terms of assessments, is there a requirement to teach an RE lesson as well as your subject matter\? Thanks |
| Staff | Hello everyone, a few questions to answer here. |
| Staff | You will be able to enrol on the CTC course when you register for the PGDE programme - it will be integrated into your timetable. |
| Staff | So, if you do the UG MEDUC course, the CTC is integrated into it. You will be assessed on certain courses throughout the degree. For example in first and second year you will do Theology in Education as a core course and will have an exam to do for that each year. Then in other years when you cover particular curricular areas you will focus on RE in a Catholic school. There is no assessment for that as such but you may wish to write about it in the general Curriculum assessment. Each year there is a Catholic Teacher Formation class to attend. Again, no assessment as such but you need to attend it. You will be observed teaching RE in 4th year as part of your assessed visit. Hope that helps the UG students! |
| Staff | PGDE - Yes, you will sign up of this at the start of the course. |
| Staff | We have a great relationship with the Irish Bishops' Conference. Ireland has always accepted our Catholic Teacher's Certificate and at the moment the Bishops are reviewing all Certificates and so we are in conversation with them. This is unlikely to change but if it does it would simply mean doing one additional 'top up' course to familiarise yourself with the Irish RE curriculum, |
| Staff | We have many Irish students completing the CTC course. If that helps. |
| Offer holder | Sorry Roisin I should have specified- during the PGDE is there a lot of assessment for the CTC |
| Staff | When you are in school on placement in the secondary sector, you will teach your own main subject but also get the chance to teach RE by working with the RE department. The RE department will assess you and send us a report. All PGDE students will submit a portfolio at the end of the year as part of the assessment of the CTC. |
| Staff | All Primary PGDE students will be assessed teaching RE by their tutor and teacher. |
| Offer holder | Many thanks Roisin |
| Staff | It is required to teach in Catholic schools in Ireland and so is in your interests to have it. It enables you to teach RE in the Catholic school. |
| Staff | There is an assessed portfolio at the end of the year and an assessed RE lesson. Primary - by your university tutor and class teacher. Secondary - by your RE department. Does that help? |
| Offer holder | Thank you for the information\! |
| Staff | Look forward to signing you up. The Catholic Teacher's Certificate is brilliant. There are lots of additional opportunities. You should look at our FACEBOOK page https://www.facebook.com/spiritualandpastoralformation/ You will see all the trips and events and other things we have been up to. The staff are superb and we enjoy supporting students through the year. |
| Staff | https://www.facebook.com/spiritualandpastoralformation/ |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much! |
| Staff | Follow us on Twitter too to see some of our activities. Just now we are helping schools and families keep RE alive during the lockdown. @StAndFoundatio1 |
| Offer holder | Hi thanks again for your help with this Roisin, I really appreciate it and will have a look on the facebook page you suggested! I am also just wanting to clarify that if completing the CTC at Glasgow you will be completing your placements in Catholic secondary or primary schools (depending on what you are studying). If so, is this with any Catholic secondary or primary or are there a select number of schools that Glasgow work with? |
| Staff | Yes, spot on. We have schools associated with the UoG. Normally you will get at least 2/3 of your placements in a Catholic school but more often than not 3/3. |
| Offer holder | That's great thanks again for all your help, can I ask where (if possible) I could find a list of the schools that Glasgow work with? |
| Staff | The GTCS organises placements so you could contact them? |
| Offer holder | not a problem, thank you for letting me know. This has been really helpful. |
| Staff | Only a minute or so left. Looking forward to welcoming you to UoG! It really is a wonderful place to be. Let me know if you have any further questions. Feel free to email me directly roisin.coll@glasgow.ac.uk |
| Staff | And good luck! |
| Staff | Have a lovely Easter and I hope you and your loved ones keep well. |
| Staff | Hello everyone. I am Clare Fodey, the Admissions Officer for the MEduc. Very happy to answer any of your questions. I also teach on the Theology and Religious Education courses. |
| Offer holder | Hi there, I was wondering if my previous studying at the university would affect me in beginning the Meduc this September? |
| Staff | I presume you have completed studying at the university and so studying the MEduc would be a new degree. If you have received an offer, there should be no problem. Best wishes. |
| Offer holder | I have not completed studying sorry, I withdrew from my course in December of last year. |
| Offer holder | Hello, I was just wondering what I should be doing in preparation for the undergraduate primary teaching course? |
| Staff | I would have suggested you get some extra school experience, but that's not a possibility. You might like to go on the Scottish Government Curriculum for Excellence website and have a read at the curriculum. |
| Offer holder | Thank you, this is really useful information, I will do that |
| Offer holder | Hi there. Can you give me a little more information about the structure of the PGDE Primary course? Also, I am aware that it is very demanding. It would be good to know what support are offered to students at the University of Glasgow, and especially those students who have family commitments. Many thanks in advance. |
| Staff | It's good to hear from you and thanks for your question. The PGDE Primary is split into 4 courses: Understanding Learning & Teaching; Professional Enquiry; Learning & Teaching in the Primary School and School Experience. There is also the Catholic Teacher's Certificate. Yes, it is a demanding course but support is in place for those with caring/ family responsibilities. Your adviser of studies and our student support officer in the SoE will be able to work with you to access these resources. I hope this helps. |
| Staff | Hi, could please clarify re the support you will be required? i.e. financial etc? Thank you |
| Offer holder | I think it will be more in terms of workload than financial. I am fully prepared to be work very hard but have heard from some previous students that they work from first thing in the morning until last thing at night. I am slightly concerned that this is not realistic for me. |
| Staff | it is an intense but highly rewarding course. Speaking to other teachers is a good idea to support you through the decision making process. Take care. |
| Offer holder | Hi there, I am starting the PGDE History in August and was wondering if there is a reading list somewhere for me to access? Thanks |
| Staff | This will be provided at Induction day. More information will follow. Thank you |
| Offer holder | Is there no way whatsoever to see the readings prior to Induction Day? I was hoping to do some reading in advance given the intensity of the course. Several other universities offer their reading lists in advance, therefore I felt there would be no harm in asking. |
| Staff | There is no harm in asking at all. At this stage, I recommend that you familiarise yourself with the Curriculum for Excellence documentation in relation to history/ social studies. Have a close read of the Principles and Practice document and the Experiences and Outcomes and focus on what sort of learner is being constructed/ promoted by the CfE. I would also recommend that you spend some time on the SQA website to look at the sorts of texts/ topics and tasks set there. You could start to read around these. I hope this helps and please be assured more information will come soon. Best wishes, Jennifer |
| Offer holder | Hello, is there anyone who could point me in the direction of preparatory reading for my PGDE business studies? |
| Staff | You will be give a list of reading material at induction |
| Offer holder | Hello, I was wondering if we are always based in the St Andrew's building and are we ever in the main building? |
| Staff | Welcome to the chat! We are all over the university which is wonderful. Some classes are in the St Andrew's Building but others up in the main building so remember to bring your trainers! |
| Offer holder | Hi, I just wanted to ask about the elective opportunities with the primary education undergraduate course. Is this mainly in years 3 and 4? I'm keen to use modern languages so just wondering about the opportunities available? |
| Staff | In first year, you also have elective opportunities. This year, we have expanded the electives and you can choose Polish, Italian, Gaelic, as well as lots of other non-language choices. Hope that helps. |
| Staff | HI, I'm programme administrator for UG Years 3 and 4. You will have 6 or 7 Elective options to choose from in Year 3 and 4 - Modern Languages is one of the Elective choices within this course. |
| Offer holder | Hi, thanks for your replies. Sounds great, glad that there are these opportunities! |
| Offer holder | Hi, for undergrad Education with a Teaching degree course, when will our placements begin? And how many days will we be there per week? |
| Staff | The start dates and pattern of placements are being looked at the moment, in view of the potential changes with school term dates because of the Corona virus. |
| Staff | Welcome to today's chat everyone, glad you could join us! We have colleagues from the School of Education here to answer your questions until 6pm GMT. We will try and post common ones through the chat. |
| Offer holder | Hello, I’m just wondering which local authorities the university works with for placements on primary PGDE\? Thanks\! |
| Staff | We work with authorities all over Scotland |
| Staff | However, our partner local authorities are in the west of Scotland and that is where students would primarily be placed. |
| Offer holder | Great, thank you both\. |
| Offer holder | Hiya how many weeks is the undergraduate course? |
| Staff | We normally start in September and continue until May, with the usual holidays at Christmas and Easter. |
| Offer holder | Thank you! Do you know it it’s like 44 weeks or anything? Just for accommodation purposes ☺️ |
| Offer holder | Hi, I was just wondering if you'd be able to clear some of my doubts regarding the PGDE secondary, I'm from northern Ireland and want to know if the PGDE is recognised in rest of UK given that the Scottish education system is different? |
| Staff | the PGDE with Full Registration is recognised internationally. I hope this helps. Jennifer |
| Staff | Hello everyone, I am Vanessa Loison, Placement Officer for Initial Teacher Education programmes. |
| Offer holder | just wondering if you know are there many placements in Glasgow itself for secondary modern languages or are they primarily based outside of Glasgow? |
| Offer holder | just wondering if there are any placements available for modern languages for the primary education degree? |
| Staff | availability of placements can be limited. Students can be placed up to 90 mins by public transport from their term time address. |
| Staff | no there are no modern languages placements for primary education students. Will you be coming to study MEduc or PGDE? If MEduc, you can spend a semester abroad. |
| Offer holder | I will be coming to study MEduc. Is the semester abroad in third year for primary education? |
| Staff | Yes in Year 3, either Semester 1 or Semester 2 |
| Staff | Hello I am Mark Breslin I am the programme leader for the Maser of design and technology course which is an integrated undergraduate course that leads to a Master course: |
| Offer holder | hi, how is the timetable structured? Is it possible to take other subjects like Spanish and French alongside primary education? |
| Staff | There are some language choices in first year, but these courses do not continue throughout the rest of the degree. You will, however, have modern languages as part of curriculum studies from third year onwards. |
| Offer holder | Also, would it be possible to see a provisional timetable for the PGDE course? Additionally, what method is used to assign PGDE students to secondary schools? Will all the secondary schools be within Glasgow City Council's vicinity? |
| Staff | Your timetable will be available when you enrol in August. The PGDE programme is full-time so you can be timetabled any time, Monday to Friday, 9-5. With regards to placements, students can be placed up to 90 mins by public transport from their term time address. Our partner local authorities are in the west of Scotland and that is where students would primarily be placed. |
| Offer holder | Thanks! |
| Offer holder | Within our Primary school placements, will we join the lower primary years first and then go higher? or is it random? |
| Staff | In year 1 you will complete a placement in the lower years and in a nursery setting. Year 2 is normally middle-upper stages (P4-P7). Year 3 consists of two placement blocks. Block A: we aim for students to undertake their placements in lower stages (P1-P3) and in Block B: we aim for students to be placed in middle-upper stages (P4-P7). In year 4 students can state what their preferred stage would be and we will accommodate as much as we can. Does this help? |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much! |
| Offer holder | What elective subjects do we have the opportunity to take as an undergraduate? |
| Staff | In first year, there are two kinds of electives. First: you can choose theology or a course called 'What's the Point of Education'. Second: you can choose from a range of courses, which include languages, politics, sociology, the Cosmos, the God Question, literature, and so on. Hope that helps. |
| Staff | Overview of the MDTecEd |
| Offer holder | Hi, how many lectures and seminars do you normally get a week, for the education with teacher qualification course\? |
| Staff | It depends on the course. For example, the theology option has one lecture and one seminar per week. The sociology elective has about three hours of lectures and a seminar. Some days will be busier than others and everyone gets a Wednesday afternoon off, so that you can participate in sports. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I have a conditional offer for undergraduate with primary teaching qualification, my condition is that I achieve an A in any of my three higher subjects this year\. In the event that I do not meet this condition, would I still be considered with perhaps two B’s as oppose to one A\. Thank you\. |
| Staff | It would very much depend if we still had places available. Fingers crossed you get an A. Best wishes. |
| Offer holder | I understand, thank you for your reply\! |
| Offer holder | Do you have the examples of the elective courses you can study in third year? |
| Staff | HI I am programme administrator for Yr 3 - currently examples of the Elective courses offered are Children's Lit, Health & Wellbeing, Tech, Social Studies, Science & Arts, Religion, Mod Lang. Hope this helps. |
| Offer holder | Hello, do you already know when the courses will begin for the PGDE Modern Languages (French)? |
| Staff | These dates will be confirmed with you as soon as possible. Under usual circumstances, the PGDE starts in August and runs until June. You can find more information from the University here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/news/coronavirus/faqs/ |
| Offer holder | Hi, for the Education with Primary Teaching qualification, do we know any dates for placement for first year? |
| Staff | Hi Olivia, unfortunately due to the current situation we cannot give you a specific answer to this question. |
| Offer holder | That's understandable, thank you. |
| Staff | Hello Olivia, Placement Dates are still provisional for the time being due to covid-19 and school closures. We plan for these to be announced at induction. |
| Offer holder | Hi Mark, do you take electives as part of the MDTechEd course or is it just the structured subjects? |
| Staff | You are able to select a specialist area in year 4 of the course |
| Staff | Overview |
| Offer holder | So it’s just the structure subjects with no additional classes like in other courses? I’m just double checking. |
| Staff | Just the structure of the course no additional courses |
| Offer holder | Ah okay, thank you! |
| Offer holder | Hi, At the interview, we were told that they were changing 1st year and that instead of only being able to pick from the three subjects they were expanding it and you would be able to pick from a bigger selection. I have had a look on the website but it hasn't been updated and I just wondered if this was still the case? |
| Staff | Hello, yes that is the case! There is a larger selection of electives. |
| Offer holder | Perfect thank you! Do you know where I could find a list of them just to have a look. Also is there such a thing as a first year reading list? I've looked online but can't find anything. |
| Offer holder | Hi there, I would also be interested in finding out about the additional electives too if that's possible? |
| Offer holder | Hi, I just wanted to ask about the elective opportunities with the primary education undergraduate course. I'm wondering if using modern languages is an option. |
| Staff | Hi Emma. Thanks for joining us - check out the thread under Jonathan Smith's question below - lots of Modern Language options! |
| Offer holder | Thank you |
| Offer holder | If I stay on and do masters do I still get a probation year after the fifth year |
| Staff | Hello Jennifer, nice to hear from you. Yes of course, that is a good question and the answer is yes! We encourage all students to stay on for the Masters 5th year and most do. After that you would start the induction year. Hope that helps! |
| Offer holder | if I was to leave after my fourth year and do a probation year would I be able to return to do my masters |
| Offer holder | Do you know what the specialist areas are in year 4? |
| Staff | Hi Eilidh, current year 4 electives include topics such as Culture & the Arts, Childhood, Leadership for Learning, Families & Communities. |
| Staff | Lots of questions about electives: In first year, there are two kinds of electives. First: you can choose theology or a course called 'What's the Point of Education'. Second: you can choose from a range of courses, which include languages, politics, sociology, the Cosmos, the God Question, literature, and so on. Hope that helps. |
| Offer holder | Hi \- I have an offer for PGDE Business Education for this year and wondered what contingency plans would be in place should the current COVID\-19 restrictions continue for longer than we all envisage \? Thanks |
| Staff | Hello Yvonne, Please be assured that this is being planned for and if the current situation is ongoing some of the course may be online with ZOOM lectures etc. We are planning for this so be assured that your course will still go ahead! |
| Staff | Hi Yvonne, you can find some information here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/news/coronavirus/faqs/. We will be in touch with students as soon as the information becomes available. Jennifer |
| Offer holder | Many thanks \- hopefully it won’t get to that stage\! Looking forward to my new adventure starting in August\! |
| Staff | Great, Yvonne - look forward to seeing you soon. |
| Offer holder | At any point would there be an opportunity to be able to take computing science as an elective? |
| Staff | Hi Jessica in Year 3 one of the Elective options is: Creative Learning in Technologies & Maths |
| Offer holder | Hi, I was wondering the same in regards to taking music or art as an elective at any point during the course, would this be possible\? |
| Staff | Music and Art are curricular areas within the course throughout the undergraduate degree |
| Offer holder | Brilliant, thank you very much |
| Offer holder | Hi. I have an unconditional offer for PGDE Primary beginning in August. If the current COVID-19 situation is still ongoing by the time we get to August, would the course start date be pushed back? If we got to a point where the course was unable to proceed due to the short timescale of the programme, would Offer holders be deferred automatically to 2021 entry? Sorry for the hypothetical (worst case) scenario! |
| Staff | we are working hard on this right now and are planning for the courses to go ahead. As Roisin has commented below, it might be that some teaching occurs online until we are in a position to meet face to face. You can find more information here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/news/coronavirus/faqs/ . Look forward to meeting you soon. |
| Offer holder | Hi there, I have a question regarding the primary teaching qualification. Before receiving my offer I had been doing a years volunteering at an additional needs school and its an area of teaching that I have become interested in and possibly wanting to pursue in the future. My question is, I am aware there are placements each year, however do we have the opportunity to do these placements in an additional needs school? And if so, how much exposure do we get to this? Also as this is something that interests me, would I need to do additional training for this once I have achieved my degree? Thanks. |
| Staff | The placements are organised centrally, and we don't decide on the school that you're sent to. There are, however, lots of children with additional needs in mainstream schools, and many mainstream schools have particular units attached for the likes of autism, etc. In fourth year, you usually have the opportunity to spend some time in either special needs schools or mainstream schools with a specific unit attached. Great that you're interested in special needs. |
| Offer holder | Great, thank you. |
| Staff | Several questions about what contingency plans there are for Covid 19 disrupting term start dates etc. See https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/news/coronavirus/faqs/. The School of Education will keep everyone informed. |
| Staff | Specific advice for Offer holders here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/news/coronavirus/faqs/#tab=tab-7 |
| Offer holder | Do you know what the larger selections of electives are for the changing first year course? |
| Staff | There are a variety of courses. For example: Italian, Polish, Gaelic, politics, sociology, social/public policy, the God Question, the Cosmos, literature and so on. Hope that helps. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I’ve heard that for other courses some lectures are recorded to help you when revising\. Just wondering if that applies to this course\? |
| Staff | , we have an online learning environment and all materials for each of the courses' weekly inputs are uploaded there so you will always have everything you need at your fingertips! Hope that helps. |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much, that will be really helpful for studying |
| Staff | Anything else, just ask. |
| Offer holder | Hi\. I have an offer to study the course at Dumfries and am wondering if this applies to the Dumfries section of the University aswell\? Thanks |
| Staff | , the University uses MOODLE our online learning environment so yes, it will be the same there. |
| Offer holder | Ok\. Thanks for your help |
| Offer holder | How many hours a week in the timetable of class do PGDE modern language students have? |
| Staff | lovely to hear from you. You will attend Modern Language lectures and seminars alongside your core courses and will have classes most days, with some days more intense than others! But it will be a great experience and our Modern Language subject specialists Fran and Hazel are wonderful. |
| Offer holder | In which countries is the PGDE recognized ? |
| Staff | is there a specific country you have in mind? |
| Staff | Each country will have its own teaching qualifications, it will depend on the country, for example in Australia you would need to sit a few other modules to qualify you |
| Staff | The PGDE is recognised in many countries outside Scotland. Do you have a particular country in mind? If so you should check with their national teaching professional body (their equivalent of the General Teaching Council here). |
| Offer holder | I am thinking about Canada and Australia (I know it recognized in some parts of Australia but I don't know which ones) |
| Staff | For Canada and Australia it will vary according to regions so you will need to check with their education bodies. |
| Offer holder | On the PGDE primary course, how often are your lessons observed during your 18 weeks of school placement? Are you observed by your mentor, your tutor from the university or both? |
| Staff | Hi Beth, You will be assigned a School Experience Tutor from the University who will work with your class teacher to assess you. A formally-assessed observation place once per placement and you will be observed in more formative ways on an on-going basis. Your Class Teacher will observe the majority of your lessons. You also get the chance to watch your peers teach while on placement - a fantastic experience! |
| Staff | the lessons are observed by both the School Experience Tutor and the mentor. |
| Offer holder | Thank you for your response. Do students tend to be placed in schools together or can you find yourself as the only student teacher in a school? |
| Staff | it really varies and depends on the size of the school. Sometimes you will find that there are students on placement with you from other Unis or Colleges and our students often find that supportive too. |
| Offer holder | That is really useful to know. |
| Offer holder | Hello :) At my interview I asked what type of things 5th year includes (for masters course, primary qualification) I was told there are opportunities for substitute teaching and I was was wondering if this is actually the case? Or if you have any information about this or where I could find out more. Thanks! |
| Staff | Hello, Not sure I understand the question but after year 4 you will be a fully qualified teacher and so when you do the 5th year of the programme you would be able to teach in school the days you are not in university. Does that answer your question? |
| Offer holder | Yes that’s perfect, thank you! |
| Offer holder | I've been trying to get in contact with GTCNI however due to circumstances no one is replying - does anyone know for sure if PGDE is accepted? |
| Staff | Hello Jade, yes it is in Northern Ireland. Hope that helps you. |
| Offer holder | Perfect thank you so much Roisín! |
| Offer holder | Hello, I was wondering if you would be able to give us a rough idea of what the timetable for Primary Education will be like in reference to lectures etc, thanks. |
| Staff | Hi Danielle, your timetable will be available when you enrol. Our programmes are full-time so you can be timetabled any time, Monday to Friday, 9-5. |
| Offer holder | Okay, thank you so much :) |
| Staff | Hi Danielle, you will have some free time to study. We ensure that is built into the programme |
| Offer holder | Okay, thank you so much for your help. |
| Staff | You're welcome! |
| Offer holder | I have read that we have a job for sure for one year in Scotland after the PGDE. Does it only apply for Scottish people ? |
| Staff | Hi Loreen, the probation year will be in a Scottish school as the registered body we are connected to is the General Teaching Council Scotland, this will be for students studying the PGDE course at GU |
| Offer holder | With regards to the Catholic Teaching Certificate - does it entail a lot more work and exams on top of the PGDE? |
| Offer holder | Regarding the Catholic Teaching certificate - does it entail a lot more work and exams on top of the PGDE? |
| Offer holder | Regarding the Catholic teaching certificate, I have signed up for it during my PGDE, will it entail a lot more work and assignments on top of the PGDE? |
| Staff | The CTC on the postgrad course involves taking Religious Education (everyone does this.) Also, a separate Catholic teacher course, which is about two hours a week. To obtain the CTC, you have to complete a portfolio of tasks which are related to the teaching of RE in school. You will also be observed teaching an RE class. All the people on the postgrad usually find the CTC an enjoyable course. |
| Offer holder | If you don’t do the masters do you just leave with the BA honours? ☺️ |
| Staff | that is correct. You will graduate with BA Honours after four years. Year 5 is the year for masters. You will be qualified to teach by year 5. |
| Offer holder | Are you qualified to teach by year 4 too? |
| Staff | you would exit with MA (Hons) with Teaching Qualification if you completed all the elements in 4th Year and School Experience placements |
| Staff | If you exit in year 4 you leave with a MA (hons) with TQ (the MA is equivalent to the BA) If you stay on for year 5 you exit with an integrated masters qualification Master of Education |
| Offer holder | Okay thank you! So you leave after fourth year with an MA? |
| Staff | Yes - As previously mentioned the MA is equivalent to the BA. |
| Offer holder | Are there are exams in the subjects and electives you choose in first year as well as the education exams? |
| Staff | Yes. You will have some form of assessment for the electives, though not necessarily exams. For example: theology has a two hour exam. Other subjects may have an assignment. |
| Staff | Yes there are exams and assessment in both |
| Offer holder | Thank you! ☺️ |
| Offer holder | I'm due to start the PGDE Primary course in August. Do you think this will go ahead no matter what, either on campus or online? I just wonder about those on the PGDE this year, will they be able to complete their course or would that roll into next year too? Thank you. |
| Staff | Hi, unfortunately we cannot give you a specific answer at the moment , please see htttps://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/news/coronavirus/faqs/ for information, The School of Education will keep everyone updated. |
| Staff | We are fully committed to running our courses for next year and are working hard on a range of contingency plans at the moment. No, our current PGDE students, who are an amazing bunch, won't be rolled into your cohort. Hope this helps. |
| Offer holder | Thank you, I appreciate it is really difficult to confirm anything in these unprecedented times. I will keep an eye on the website for any updates. Thank you for providing this Q&A opportunity, it has been very helpful. |
| Offer holder | Roughly how many people are in your lectures and seminars\? |
| Staff | this would depend on the course however our seminar groups are around 25 to 30 |
| Staff | On the MEduc, there will be about 134 in your lectures, and about 20 in your seminars for the education courses. |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much\! |
| Offer holder | Is there a reading list for the French PGDE ? |
| Staff | You will be given a reading list at induction, Loreen. |
| Offer holder | Thank you |
| Staff | In the meantime, you could have a look at the CfE in relation to your subject area. Look at the Principles and Practice papers and the Experiences and Outcomes and the sorts of skills you will have to teach. You could also spend some time on the SQA website, looking at the requirements of the exams, while thinking of how you might approach them in teaching terms. Happy reading! |
| Offer holder | Are there any things that are recommended to help us prepare for starting our courses? |
| Staff | What course are you looking at ? |
| Offer holder | MDTechEd |
| Staff | All the course material will be available once the course starts, we have no reading list prior to the course starting as we wish all students to be at the same level |
| Offer holder | Okay, thank you! |
| Staff | If you are applying you will also need to go through an interview, these will obviously be done via zoom due to the current COVID-19 situation |
| Offer holder | Hi, I was wondering if when getting given a placement on the PGDE course, does this take into account whether you can drive or not? COVID-19 has of course stopped me from doing any lessons and it is unlikely I will be passed by August. Also, we were given provisional dates for the placements at the interview day, is it likely that these dates will roughly stay in place? Thank you. |
| Staff | we take into account whether a student will be driving or taking public transport to their school placement, the travel time either way will be within a 90 minute journey. We cannot give you any specific answer regarding placements dates at this time due to the current situation. |
| Staff | You're only asked about driving and the availability of a car for school placements. You don't need to be able to drive. |
| Staff | this is taken into account when planning for placements. And yes, as yet, we cannot confirm the placement dates but we will let you know as soon a possible. |
| Offer holder | Thank you both for your responses. I understand that it will be difficult to make decisions during this time! |
| Offer holder | Is it true that all written assignments for the PGDE Primary course are due in April/May? |
| Staff | No there are submission dates throughout the year not all in April/May |
| Staff | Thanks for all your fantastic questions everyone, hope you are finding the chat useful. Just a reminder we have ten minutes left. |
| Offer holder | Having never studied anything like sociology, Latin etc in school, are the courses really full on? |
| Staff | There is a very high pass rate in the elective areas only a very few struggle |
| Staff | Hello, all the courses are challenging as it is University. I imagine you would be bored if they well all easy ! But when you are enjoying a subject I am sure you would find it all manageable. |
| Staff | And it is all part of the wonderful University experience! |
| Offer holder | Having absolutely no background to these subjects at all would it not be very difficult? |
| Staff | There are courses you will take within the SoE that help you make links from sociology to education, for example. |
| Offer holder | Hi. If you work at schools on a supply basis in 5th year, would you still complete the probation year afterwards? |
| Staff | Yes, you would go into your probationary year in year 6 |
| Offer holder | Thank you! |
| Staff | But remember you can work as a supply teacher in year 5 making good money, on your probationary year you start on over 27 K |
| Offer holder | Hi, thanks for your time tonight. I am attending in August for PGDE in Chemistry can I just check if we are required to do anything for our PVG or will information be sent to us prior to starting our course? |
| Staff | Hi, yes we will contact applicants who accept our offer. As you can imagine we are having to review that process but PVG remains a requirement. |
| Staff | All of that information will be given to you when you start with us. Thanks for thinking ahead though! |
| Staff | you don't need to do anything until information is sent to you. |
| Offer holder | Thanks everyone - really looking forward to starting. |
| Staff | You're welcome! |
| Staff | Great! Look forward to meeting you! |
| Offer holder | Hi, do you have the new extended list of the electives that we are able to take in first year? |
| Staff | there are great many options - as we are running out of time let me give you a flavour - Gaelic, Italian, Polish, politics, literature, the God Question, the cosmos, sociology, social public policy and soon. The list will all be available when you register to start with us. Best wishes |
| Offer holder | Perfect, thank you very much for time. |
| Staff | Only five minutes left to ask questions to our staff everyone, we will try our best to pick up on any posted before 6pm GMT. |
| Offer holder | Hi, this year I have taken a course with the Open University which I think is worth 30 points- are these credits transferable to Glasgow University? Thank you. |
| Staff | That is something that admissions can answer it would depend on the courses you have taken and their relevance etc |
| Offer holder | Okay, thank you for your help. |
| Offer holder | Hi, if you're already a member of the PVG scheme will you have to apply again before starting the course? |
| Staff | yes we will send you all the information that is required at the start of the course |
| Offer holder | Ok thank you both |
| Staff | You're welcome! |
| Staff | Two minutes left everyone! |
| Offer holder | Are all modules on the PGDE Primary set at level 11 (Masters)? |
| Staff | Yes as this is post grade |
| Staff | Lovely to speak to everyone. Take care! |
| Staff | Thank you everyone for attending this evening's chat with our School of Education staff, we hope you all found it useful! Check out other parts of our Virtual Event on the platform or our social channels #HelloUofG |
| Staff | Hope to see you all soon |
| Staff | Well done everyone, see you alter |
| Staff | Look forward to meeting you soon! |
| Offer holder | Thank you! :) |
| Offer holder | thank you everyone it was informative |
| Offer holder | Thank you! |
Engineering
| User | Message |
| Staff | Good afternoon everyone! A very warm welcome to the Virtual Offer holder’s Day and the Engineering Chat Booth. Academics are here and ready for any questions together with Student Ambassadors and representatives from Admissions. Please state the area of Engineering you have applied to and then ask your question. Thanks! |
| Staff | Hi, Calum Cossar here, Senior Adviser for Electronic and Electrical Engineering |
| Staff | Trevor Davies. Hi, I'm the Academic Admissions Officer for Engineering. |
| Staff | Hello, I am Craig White, lecturer in the Aerospace discipline. |
| Staff | Hi all! I'm Pedro a 4th year AeroEng student, happy to help out in any questions you might have :) |
| Current student | Hi! I'm Ilse Jansen, a first year Biomedical Engineering student. I'm happy to answer any questions! |
| Staff | Hello, I am Henrik Gollee, Head of Teaching for Biomedical Engineering |
| Staff | Hi, Tom Shire here, Lecturer in Civil Engineering |
| Staff | Hello, Craig Whittet, Head of Product Design Engineering - I hope this has found you all well and safe. |
| Staff | Hi, I'm Fiona Bradley - Head of Civil Engineering Teaching |
| Staff | Hi. I'm Eileen Scott. Industrial Scholarship officer for the School of Engineering. |
| Offer holder | Hi I’m alex and I applied for mechanical engineering |
| Staff | Hi Alex, lovely to virtually meet you - do you have any Mech Eng related questions? |
| Offer holder | Is there a webinar going on? |
| Staff | Hi Mohammad, we are all here waiting to answer your questions! fire away |
| Staff | Hi Mohammad, thanks for your question. There is a chat booth here where you can ask all your questions. Check out the content on the Engineering booth - lots of videos, documents and great information. |
| Offer holder | Hi Ilse, how much of the course is biomedical based in the first year, and how much is combined engineering? |
| Offer holder | Hi, I applied to biomedical and was wondering how much of the first year course is biomedical itself and how much was all round engineering? |
| Staff | Hi Calum, most of 1st year Biomed are engineering courses ("Common curriculum"): Math, statics, dynamics etc. There are two Biomed courses (Intro to BME and Biomolecular processes), and a BME project in Skills 1. BME contents is ramping up in later years. |
| Current student | Hi Calum! In the first year of Biomed, most subjects are all-round Engineering. There is one subject in the first semester, Introduction to Biomedical Engineering, and in the second semester there is another one, Biomolecular Processes in Bioengineering. There is also a project of a few months that is biomed specific! This is more or less the same for every engineering course! In the second year and third year, the subjects will go to focus more and more on biomed itself |
| Current student | If you want any additional information, maybe this link will be helpful! https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/biomedicalengineering/#tab=structure |
| Offer holder | Yes, is there anything you recommend reading before the start of the academic year\? |
| Staff | Hi Alex, The main recommendation that we give is to make sure that you are familiar with all aspects of your studies in Mathematics and Physics. The other thing you could do is look online for reports on any branches of Engineering and the challenges that Engineers overcame during those projects. A good palce to start would be the website of the Institution of Mechanical Engineering. |
| Offer holder | Hello I'm Angus and I hold an offer for Product Design Engineering. |
| Staff | Hi Angus Craig Whittet, is here to answer any questions you may have regarding PDE - fire away |
| Current student | Congratulations Angus! Do you have any questions on the course or life at UoG in general? |
| Staff | Hi Angus, well done with your offer. If you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer them. |
| Offer holder | Thank you everyone. What can I do to prepare for the course? and is the current pandemic going to interfere with starting dates. |
| Staff | Hi, I'm Donald Ballance, Head of Mechanical Engineering, and able to help with questions on Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering with Aeronautics, Mechatronics and the University aspects of Product Design Engineering |
| Offer holder | Hello Everyone! Any Mechanical Engineering students here? |
| Staff | Hi Filippos, Do you have any questions about studying Mechanical Engineering at UofG? |
| Offer holder | Thank you for your responses. Dr. Ballance, I just sent you my question on a private message. |
| Staff | Filippos, I'm not seeing your private message, so perhaps you could try again or ask the question here |
| Offer holder | Hi I'm Treasure and I applied for Mechanical Engineering with Aeronautics, my degree is 5 years and I heard on the information evening that the fourth year is free. Is this true? |
| Staff | Hi Treasure, It depends on where you are coming from to study Engineering. The person who would be able to answer your question would be Trevor Davies, the Admissions Officer for Engineering. |
| Offer holder | I'm currently living in England/ a British Citizen. |
| Staff | My understanding is that currently the 4th year of the tuition is free. I believe that this is the case for current entry in 2020. I am not sure whether the University has confirmed this or subsequent years |
| Offer holder | Hi there, I have an offer for Product Design Engineering, I was wondering how many students there are on average in the course? |
| Staff | Hi Alexandra, well done with receiving an offer. We have approx. 30-35 students in Y1. PDE Year1 is usually a 50/50 gender split. You are part of the entire Y1 cohort for the School of Engineering and this is considerably larger. Hopefully Alison Purdie-Gore could help with the total number for Y1. |
| Offer holder | Hi guys! I got an offer for Electronics and Electrical Eng. Anyone else studying this course? |
| Offer holder | Hello, I'm Craig and I have accepted an offer for Electronics and ELectrical. Is there anything you would reccommend to read in preparation for starting the course? |
| Current student | Hi Craig! My personal recommendation is to work on maths during the summer, in first year a full 33% of the course is just that subject! Modern Engineering Mathematics by Glyn James is the book they used when I was a fresher, it works great, also any material from your Highers/Advanced Highers/A Levels would do you great |
| Staff | Hi Craig - I cant think of anything in particular but I think if you refresh your maths and physics knowledge that would be useful |
| Staff | The other thing I would suggest is buying some embedded processor project kit (like a Rasberry pi) and start to get into embedded system/real time programming - this will stand you in very good stead when it comes to practical project work (and it alot of fun!!) |
| Offer holder | I've accepted my offer for EEE |
| Offer holder | Thanks for the replies. I'm looking forqward to starting the course! |
| Staff | that's great Craig - look forward to seeing you in September |
| Offer holder | I saw a reading list on their website, just gotta find the link. |
| Offer holder | Hello! My name is Maria Eleni Kapetanaki and I have applied for Biomedical Engineering. I was wondering about possible options of housing that are available. Do I have to stay in the University campus or possibly even rent an apartment for myself? |
| Current student | Hi Maria, there are many options within university accommodation for first years, but renting your own apartment is always also an option (though I would recommend halls for first year!) for any more questions on accommodation, there is an accommodation booth; https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/accommodation-87 |
| Offer holder | Thank you very much! |
| Offer holder | What can I do to prepare for product design engineering ? and is the current pandemic going to interfere with starting dates. |
| Staff | Hi Angus, please refer to the FAQs in regards of Co-vid. I'd suggest developing skills that will help in the studio components of PDE. For example, sketching and desktop modelling. We also have an excellent relationship with Autodesk, have a look at https://academy.autodesk.com If you are looking to develop CAD skills, this is a good place to start. |
| Staff | Hi all, there will understandably be a range of question related to the coronavirus, COVID-19, including the TERM START DATE. At this point in time the University is planning for a start date of 21 September, however, if this changes, all information will be communicated to Offer holders. You can also keep abreast of all updates at: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/news/coronavirus/faqs/#tab=tab-7 |
| Staff | The main recommendation that we give is to make sure that you are familiar with all aspects of your studies in Mathematics and Physics. The other thing you could do is look online for reports on any branches of Engineering and the challenges that Engineers overcame during those projects. A good palce to start would be the website of the Institution of Mechanical Engineering. PDE at the Art School it is useful to develop skills that will help in the studio components of PDE. For example, sketching and desktop modelling. We also have an excellent relationship with Autodesk, have a look at https://academy.autodesk.com If you are looking to develop CAD skills, this is a good place to start. |
| Offer holder | Hello, I'm Abdellatif. I hold an offer for Electronics and Electrical Engineering |
| Staff | Hi Abdellatif, that's great - do you have any particular questions? |
| Offer holder | Hi, I've received an offer to do Electronics with Music. I have seen that if you start out with this course you can't swap to other fields of engineering unlike other engineering courses. Why is this? |
| Staff | Hi,You can swap into Electronics but because EwM is a specialist course and you do not follow the Year 1 curriculum, then it is very difficult to then go into Year 2 in another unrelated discipline. |
| Staff | Hi Kerr, this isn't strictly true - we have had EwM students transferring to straight Electronics & Electrical for sure. But beyond this it would be difficult as you will have missed a lot of the core engineering courses in first year due to you doing Music courses instead |
| Staff | Core enginering principally affects Year 1. The specialist course EwM contains a substantial Music element and so students never take those core elements. |
| Offer holder | Thanks, Does this mean the core Engineering is spread out differently throughout the degree? |
| Staff | Yes there is some differences between core Mech/Aero/Civil and Electronics |
| Offer holder | Hi, I was just wondering what the main difference is between studying mechanical engineering with aeronautics and aeronautical engineering. |
| Current student | Hi Purvi! Dr White might be able to clarify this better but Mechanical Engineers take particular versions of courses in their degrees specific to mechanical vs the aeronautical engineering cohorts. Subject choices through the courses are different too, would recommend you check the website for specifics. The great thing too is that in the early years, specially the first few weeks, switching between them is very easy. |
| Staff | Hi Purva, I am a lecturer in Aerospace. The Aeronautical Engineering degree is more focused on the Aerospace sector, as you would imagine. This means that there will be more focus on fluid mechanics and aerodynamics, with a small amount of other subjects such as materials and dynamics. In Mech with Aero, there will be more of a focus on thermodynamics, dynamics, materials, etc, with a smaller amount of fluid mechanics and aerodynamics. In final year projects, quite a few Mech with Aero students work on an Aerospace project. |
| Offer holder | Thankyou! |
| Offer holder | Hiya, I’ve got an offer for mechanical design just seen the example timetable, i know with some universities they give Wednesday afternoon off for sport is it the same here\? |
| Staff | Hi Katherine, we try as best we can to keep Wednesday afternoon free - check out the example timetables in the documents |
| Staff | Hi Katherine, we keep Wednesday afternoons free as much as possible as the sporting afternoon and encourage participation in sporting activities and a wide range of other societies. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I was hoping to find out about the accreditation for the MEng in mechatronics, on the website it describes the accreditation as being sought, is this course expected to be accredited and if so who by? |
| Staff | Hi Craig, every Engineering programme has to be reaccredited on a regular basis, we have just gone through that process and it was accredited by the IMEchE and a couple of other institutions - so you would be studying a fully accredited programme dont worry! |
| Staff | The accreditation visit was last October and we completed the post-visit paperwork in January. Normally we would have heard from the various professional institutions by now that we were accredited, but things are not normal now! |
| Offer holder | Ah ok, thank you |
| Offer holder | I habe an offer to study Aeronautical Engineering with you at MEng and BEng and was wondering how our electives would work and when do we get to decide which to take\? Thank you |
| Staff | Hi Abigail, until your final year, there are no real choices, the timetable is set for you. In your final year, you get to choose your final year project and some of the classes, so you can 'customise' your degree at this stage. |
| Staff | Hi Abigail, The degree programmes are organised such that the first three years are mainly a fixed curriculum that all students take. Main options start in year 4 and continue in year 5 for those taking the MEng. Choice of those options is made at the beginning of year 4, in August, when you register for the forthcoming year. |
| Offer holder | Okay thank you for making this clear\! |
| Offer holder | Hi! I'm an Offer holder for B.Eng Aerospace Systems. Would it be possible to switch over to the M.Eng program? could you please shed some light on this? |
| Staff | Hi Shreya, providing you attain the required level at the end of year 3, you will be offered the opportunity to switch onto the MEng route yes!! |
| Staff | As Alison says, if your GPA is high enough in your 3rd year exams, you will be offered to opportunity to switch to the MEng stream. |
| Offer holder | thank you! |
| Current student | Hello everyone!! I am Daniel Lai, a 3rd Year Mechanical Engineering student from Malaysia. |
| Current student | Heya. that would be me! Will be happy to help out If you have any questions |
| Offer holder | Hi, Due to ongoing situation, will there be any entrance exam or anything similar for Engineering? |
| Staff | Hi, No - we have no plans in that regard. We will probably base our admissions decisions on incomplete assessment, wherever that is possible. |
| Staff | Hi there, there is also an Admissions booth if you want to ask detailed questions about your own offer. The Admissions booth is at: https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/admissions-43 |
| Offer holder | Hi im devansh , i am an Offer holder for mechatronics . is there anyone who can guide me on the course and accommodation ? |
| Staff | Donald Ballance will be able to advise regarding your programme, as for accommodation, check out https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/accommodation-87 |
| Current student | Hi Devansh, here are some links that might help you out: https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/accommodation-87 - Accom. chat https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/mechatronics/ - Mechatronics overview. https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/accommodation/ - Accom. website Hope that helps! |
| Offer holder | Thank you , i have already gone through this . By when would you advise me to apply for on campus accommodation ? |
| Current student | I would say the sooner the better. It is first come first served basics. |
| Offer holder | In our first year can we take elective courses from other departments? |
| Staff | Hi Sadie, not for engineering students I'm afraid. its a full time programme in its own right |
| Staff | Hi Sadie, our first year involves a common curriculum which is compulsory but students do have the opportunity to take additional language courses if they wish. |
| Staff | Hi Sadie, you will most likely find this to be the case for a lot of Universities, as the programmes are all accredited we have a lot that we HAVE to teach you, which doesn't leave a lot of time for other classes I am afraid |
| Offer holder | During my time doing advanced higher graphics i used Autodesk Inventor and Fusion 360 a lot. I will keep working on it. Will we be using 3D Max |
| Staff | Hi, we won't be using 3D Max in Y1, but it is a good skill to have for future years. |
| Offer holder | Thank you that should be useful\. Is there any aspects of the further maths syllabus that I should make myself aware of\? I have heard from a friend who studied mechanical engineering that my a\-level maths and physics should suffice\. |
| Staff | The A-level maths syllabus is mainly sufficient, although some parts of the first year maths course are covered in Further Maths. Details of the courses are available on the University's Course Catalogue at http://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue |
| Offer holder | Hi Pedro, I applied for AeroEng and I know that in the final year students do 6 months in Industry and I was wondering how the application process for that is and what sort of choices there are? |
| Offer holder | Hi is there a Industrial year, study abroad or work abroad option available for mechanical Engineering BEng Hons and if so more details about it for International non EU students please . I'm a GIC student progressing to the 2nd year in GU for the 4 years degree. Thank you! |
| Current student | Heya. there is not industrial year or work abroad option for BEng students. However, you can apply to study abroad. |
| Staff | In addition, all students have the opportunity to take a Year in Industry during their studies. Students would put their studies on hold for a year, work in Industry for the year, and then recommence study the following year. The year in industry is not a formal part of the course but many students find it very useful in determining which branch of industry they would like to go into and also they gain considerable insight into industrial engineering challenges. |
| Offer holder | Hi there, I’m Jack and I’m an Offer holder for aeronautical engineering. Are there a lot of opportunities for practical work throughout this course (MEng)? |
| Current student | Hi Jack, I study the course myself and can say there is! Every single year you have an aero specific design project, they range from making a reusable rocket (Elon Musk style!) to redesigning your own aerofoil and even a BAe-146 aircraft. There are a few societies too which are fantastic practical work opportunities depending on what you like: Design Build Fly, JetX, Hyperloop are just a few of them. A lot of our students also engage in internships with industry during the summer! |
| Current student | Hi Jack, there will be a lot of practical work, especially in your third, fourth and fifth year. For instance, group projects and individual projects. |
| Staff | Experimental projects are offered by some of the lecturers in your final year too, so there is the opportunity for practical work at that stage too. |
| Offer holder | Hi, Treasure again, I was wondering if you could also tell me a little bit more about work placements for Mechanical Engineering with Aeronautics? |
| Staff | Hi again, For BEng the options for work placements within the degree are limited. The main way in which students gain industrial experience is by undertaking internships during the summer vacation. In addition, all students have the opportunity to take a Year in ndustry during their studies. Students would put their studies on hold for a year, work in Industry for the year, and then recommence study the following year. The year in industry is not a formal part of the course but many students find it very useful in determining which branch of industry they would like to go into and also they gain considerable insight into industrial engineering challenges. |
| Offer holder | Thank you, does this also apply for MEng students? |
| Staff | All of the above applies to MEng students but they also have an additional option. The first half of year 5 is a full-time project. This project can also be taken in industry and many students organise 6-month placements in industry starting in June and finishing in December of their final year. They undertake their project during the industrial placement. |
| Staff | Work placements, be that as a year in industry, or as a summer placement, are organised by the student themselves. Many Engineering companies have internship schemes and students apply to those in the same way as for permanent jobs. In addition the Careers Service at UofG also runs an Internship Hub which aims to help students find internship opportunities in smaller companies. |
| Offer holder | With the current pandemic, is there any new news on what will be happening in regards to entry requirements and/or conditional Offer holders? |
| Staff | Hi all, there will understandably be a range of question related to the coronavirus, COVID-19, including the TERM START DATE. At this point in time the University is planning for a start date of 21 September, however, if this changes, all information will be communicated to Offer holders. You can also keep abreast of all updates at: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/news/coronavirus/faqs/#tab=tab-7 |
| Staff | Hi, No decisions have been made. Where possible we will rely on incomplete assessments. |
| Offer holder | ah, okay, thank you |
| Offer holder | So it would not be possible to take Electronics and Electrical and computer science? |
| Current student | Sadly, no.. :( |
| Offer holder | Okay thanks |
| Offer holder | Thank you |
| Offer holder | Hi! Sorry if this sounds oddly specific, but will first year Electronics&Electrical Eng students learn how to solder? |
| Staff | YES ABSOLUTELY Meriam - we are keen to develop your practical as well as academic skills right from day 1 |
| Staff | I TOTALLY agree Meriam - Electronics is a practical subject and practical skills are VERY important. We have project work in all years of the degree to allow you to develop these skills |
| Offer holder | That's great! I'm really excited about the practical side of what we'll be learning. All the more reason to brush up on the theory before getting to uni :D |
| Offer holder | Which year is the study abroad option available for? And what's the procedure for the international students. By when should I apply for it. |
| Current student | Usually in the 3rd year. This will be useful for information. https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/students/goabroad/ |
| Offer holder | hiya, I am an Offer holder for biomedical engineering. I was wondering how most people cope when they start the course after S5. |
| Staff | Hi Robyn, we always recommend that if possible students continue on to take 6th year as Engineering is a demanding course and it helps if you have an additional year at High School under your belt. |
| Offer holder | thanks for your help Fiona |
| Offer holder | Hiya, I am also in the same boat I have an offer to study Aeronautical Engineering, glad to know i am not the only one\! |
| Offer holder | its nice to know i'm not the only one Abigail :) |
| Offer holder | I am an Offer holder for Aeronautical engineering and was wondering what the estimated class size for 2020 was\? Also what are the opportunities for practical projects throughout the course |
| Current student | Hi Abigail, I do not know details on the class size for this year, but usually in first year all of the Aero disciplines in my class added to 100+. As you'll have engineering classes with the rest of the engineers some class sizes will be 500+, there are usually various lecture slots for those, so don't worry about being cramped |
| Staff | Hi Abigail, a typical class size for Aeronautical Engineering has been around 100 students for the past few years. However, there will also be some Aerospace Systems students in a lot of your classes, along with Mech with Aero students, and even Product Design Engineers until 3rd year. In your first year, it is common curriculum and there will also be Mechnical Engineers, Biomedical Engineers, Civil Engineers, Electrical Engineers in some classes. |
| Offer holder | Thank you its good to know i will be in classes with a range of students\! Thank you |
| Offer holder | Thanks... I have another question. Can the university change my Civil Eng. with Architecture offer? |
| Offer holder | And also whats the predicted class size for the course ? |
| Offer holder | In product design engineering, how many credits is the course delivered by the glasgow school of art worth? |
| Staff | Hi Louis, in year 1 the GSA credits are 20 out of 120. The number of credits at GSA increases throughout the years. |
| Offer holder | Thank you, are you able to tell me what the course contents are for this course? |
| Staff | Hi, the course structure can be found here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/productdesignengineering/#tab=structure The Y1 at GSA focuses on studio skills, including: Design Engineering Process Desktop Modelling Sketching and Concept Generation There are also a number of team projects and activities planned throughout the year. All students also complete a workshop induction. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I'm an Offer holder for Aeronautical Eng and I was wondering how much freedom there is in the group/solo projects we do throughout the course? |
| Staff | Fiona B or Alison PG might you be able to answer this? |
| Staff | The amount of freedom you have for each assignment depends on how the individual academic has set up the course, but creative thinking will always be encouraged. The most freedom you will have is in the your final project, where you will pick it yourself (or agree a topic with a supervisor) and then it is truly your own project where you have the freedom to evolve it under guidance from an academic. |
| Offer holder | Thank you! So what sorts of projects have people worked on in Final Year? |
| Staff | We have students doing a very wide range of final year projects. These will typically be more aligned with an academic's research interests, so we have students doing experiments in our wind tunnels, students working on numerical simulations using computational fluid dynamics or structural mechanics techniques, and students working on control systems for drones and flight simulators. It is really very broad with a large choice. |
| Offer holder | that sounds really cool, thanks :) |
| Offer holder | Would you say the classes are more lecture based or discussion and practical based ? |
| Current student | I wouldnt be able to say completely for Mechatronics, but for Mech Engineering, it is slightly more lecture-based. |
| Offer holder | Thank you ! |
| Offer holder | Hi, I’m an Offer holder for Aeronautical engineering\. I was wonder what could be done to best prepare for 1st year of this course\. And how many hours a week is this course\? |
| Staff | Hi Stan. The best thing to prepare is to be as familiar with your maths and physics school work as possible, these will be the key subjects for your first year. A typical first year timetable can be found in the example documents. |
| Offer holder | Just wondering if there are enough electrical, electronics and control engineering courses in the biomedical engineering programme to deal with advanced medical devices i.e. MRI in hospitals? |
| Staff | You'll have electronics in 1st and 2nd year, and Control in 3rd year and as an elective in 4th year. In addition, you'll have courses on medical imaging (3rd year and electives later) which will help with this. |
| Current student | Hi Mohammed, there are quite some electronics related subjects, and in later years there are electives where you can choose to focus on advanced imaging, for example. If you want a more specific breakdown of the course you can check the website! https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/biomedicalengineering/#tab=structure |
| Offer holder | Hi I am Civil Eng. with Architecture Offer holder and was wondering if anyone else is going to UofG from London? |
| Staff | Hi Taufeeque, I'm not sure about this coming year but we have normally have at last 2-3 Londoners in every year and quite a proportion of students from England more generally. |
| Offer holder | Thats great. Have you got a number for the size of PDE for Year 1? |
| Staff | approx 30-35 and 50/50 gender split |
| Offer holder | Hi, just so you guys know the Product Design Engineering applicant handbook is not uploaded in the documents file unlike everything else :) |
| Staff | Hi Anna Maria - it isn't uploaded like the rest of the documents - its just a link, did the link work ok? it should take you to a page on the Glasgow School of Art webpage, as they own the document! |
| Staff | Hi Anna, if it helps I can send a copy of the current Y1 Handbook. |
| Offer holder | I was able to view it by clicking on the eye beside it |
| Offer holder | Hi guys, I was hoping to be able to download the document, but I will just save the link :) Thankyou! |
| Offer holder | Is the link the same as the Y1 Handbook? |
| Staff | Hi Anna yeah - its the link to the year 1 handbook that Craig will send over to you. I'll also try and get my hands on a copy and upload it for you all and replace the link |
| Offer holder | Thanks for the help! |
| Offer holder | Thanks, I'll do that. I have a couple of analogue electronic kits that I enjoy playing around with and I was going to ask if it would be worth getting something like that as well. |
| Staff | Absolutely Craig - if you end up very good at analogue electronics you will earn a lot of money post Uni !!!! |
| Offer holder | Will there be any exams to sit for the online summer school? |
| Staff | Hi Mohammad, might be best to check in with the WP team who organise the summer schools, you can find them here: https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/admissions-43 |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much\! That’s really helpful\. Right now I am having a dilemma because I really badly want to study aeronautics however I also would really enjoy and find practical work engaging\. Would there be any work placements as such earlier on in the years\? |
| Offer holder | Hi, I am an Offer holder for electronic and software engineering. Is this course likely to obtain accreditation in the next few years |
| Staff | Hi Fraser, yes we fully expect this to be the case |
| Staff | I need to find out details so if you want to email me at calum.cossar@glasgow.ac.uk then I will get back to you with a more definite answer asap |
| Offer holder | When do we find out if we've gotten into programmes such as summer school? |
| Staff | Hi Chelsea - it might be an idea to ask the WP team that handle the summer schools you can find them at this link: https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/admissions-43 |
| Offer holder | Hello, I was just wondering is it possible to study Biomedical Engineering at Glasgow without physics A level? or can u transfer from another degree studying at Glasgow for example Finance into Biomedical Engineering after year 1? |
| Staff | Hi, Physics is essential for Engineering: Finance doesn't help, I'm afraid. This is why we stipulate Maths * Physics in our requirements. |
| Staff | Biomed Eng is primarily an Engineering course, so you'll need Math and Physics. |
| Offer holder | That's the kind of career I'm hoping to get into in the future. What industries do Glasgow graduates typically end up in? Does they tend to be more focussed on electronics as opposed to electrical? |
| Staff | Yes I would definitely say that more of our graduates go into the electronics sector. There are actually a number of electronic chip design centres in Scotland (ST Microelectronics, Analog Devises, Dialog, Cirrus etc) who employ a number of our graduates (and offer placement opportunities) |
| Offer holder | That sounds great. What year do industry placements start? |
| Staff | the only 'official' work placement is in the 5th year of the MEng program BUT I would seriously encourage you to have a look at the UKESF scholarship program which Glasgow is involved in - this gives scholarships every year and also guarenteed placements after 2nd and 3rd year - Ive known quite a number of our students who have got this opportunity and its really great by all accounts |
| Staff | https://www.ukesf.org/ |
| Offer holder | This looks really interesting. Would you recommend applying as soon as I start the course or waiting until 2nd year? |
| Offer holder | Hi, I applied for Aerospace engineering BEng, am I able to change to the MEng course during first year? |
| Staff | Hi Annabel, the MEng and BEng courses are identical for the first three years. Depending on what degree you are offered, you won't have to make any final decision on which path you follow until after your 3rd year results. |
| Offer holder | Thanks Fiona |
| Offer holder | hello, ive recently recieved 2 offers; biomedical and mechanical with aeronautics and im not sure which offer to accept is there any advide you can offer me, thanks. |
| Staff | Hi Simran, The good news is that 1st year is a common curriculum so you can choose one course that you really think you will enjoy just now and if it turns out at the end of 1st year that you'd prefer to swap to the other then as long as your results are good, you'll be able to swap. |
| Current student | Hi Simran, I would say it really just depends on what subjects you like more! |
| Staff | Hi Simran, The degree structure here is that there is 100 credits out of 120 that are common between the two degree programmes you have applied for. If you wish to change at the end of year 1 then it is simple to change. |
| Staff | My advise is to study what you are more interested in, since this way you'll be more engaged and probably end up with a better degree at the end. In terms of engineernig contents, BME is broader. |
| Offer holder | Thank you |
| Offer holder | What kind of academic support is available outside class hours ? |
| Offer holder | Hi, I’m Eilidh and I have an offer for PDE. I was just wondering what the balance between the creative and the engineering elements of the course was like? Also I was just wondering what the continuity between the art school and the university is like? Thank you. |
| Staff | Hi Eilidh, well done on receiving your offer. The structure for PDE can be found here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/productdesignengineering/#tab=structure In Y1, the credits at GSA for studio are 20 out of 120. These increase as you progress through the course. The time spent at GSA is either full days, mornings or afternoons. This is to ensure that you don't have to spend too much time going between GU and GSA. |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much |
| Offer holder | By when should I apply for the year abroad in the 3rd year? As I'll be starting my 2nd year of the 4 year course (BEng) this September. |
| Staff | The usual requirement is to apply for the year abroad during the first semester of the year for study overseas the following year. For a Year in Industry there is no formal application process as it relies on the student finding a job in industry and then saying to us that they wish to defer the next year of their studies by a year. |
| Offer holder | Thank you for the info. Which year is the industrial year happening and by when should we apply? Whats the criteria for international students and the work opportunities available including the companies? |
| Staff | The year out in industry could take place between your year 2 and year 3, or between year 3 and your year 4. You organise the year in industry and tell us that you wish to defer your future studies by a year. For study abroad you would make an application in the first semester of the year before you wish to take the year abroad. |
| Offer holder | Also , what kind of academic support is available outside class hours ? |
| Current student | You could message your lecturers/tutors if you have any questions, but usually, after hours, you will only have the library and your notes on Moodle. |
| Offer holder | Thanks I'll make sure to do that. I was also wondering what kind of work placement opportunities are available through this course |
| Staff | Hi Fraser - after third year there is an industrial software placement during the summer and then if you do MEng there will be a 6 month industrial placement in 5th year. These tend to be very rewarding experiences for our students |
| Offer holder | that's great thank you! |
| Offer holder | Hi, I'm Katy and I've got an offer for Electronics with Music. Is there anything in particular I should do to prepare for this course? Also what performance options are there in year 1? |
| Staff | Hi Katy, I'm Head of Civil Engineering - not Electronics but if you don't get a reply today please write to Dr Euan McGookin as he is the Head of EEE and will be able to give you some specific advice |
| Offer holder | Thank you for your reply, would I find his contact information on the UofG website? |
| Staff | euan.mcgookin@glasgow.ac.uk will reach him |
| Offer holder | Thank you! |
| Offer holder | Hello, I am an Offer holder for postgraduate taught Structural Engineering from the United States. I was wondering if anyone had any tips or advice on how to best prepare for the transition. Such as which structural analysis programs to be familiar with, which societies to join, etc... |
| Current student | Hi Briana, I wouldn't be able to answer the first point, but as for societies, there are many societies to join! There are sports related, course related and just random societies. You can check if anything suits you at https://www.glasgowstudent.net/clubs/ |
| Staff | Hi Briana, this event is for undergraduate Offer holders I'm not sure that there is anyone here to answer that question for you but I'm sure someone will if they can. |
| Staff | Brianna - if you email me Alison.gore@glasgow.ac.uk I can put you in touch with the programme co-ordinator |
| Offer holder | Hi! I am a Civil Eng. with Architecture Offer holder, I was wondering are the students able to talk with the professors one on one if they have questions regarding the material and the lectures? |
| Staff | Hi Marta, do you mean before the term starts? |
| Staff | I'd be happy to do a quick zoom chat or phonecall if you'd any questions. Just email me at Fiona.bradley@glasgow.ac.uk |
| Offer holder | Hi, thank you for answering, I mean during the term, after the lecture or before an exam |
| Staff | Hi Marta, yes, you can contact us at any time and we are always happy to meet with students to discuss work. In addition there are regular tutorials to discuss your work |
| Offer holder | Thanks, I also read in the course description that there is a possibility of industry placement with the EwM degree. could you give some examples of where students have gone in the past for this? |
| Staff | Sorry thought I had replied to this but cant see it here - off the top of my head EwM students have done placements in NXP, Jaguar Landrover, Leonardo, Bright Green Hydro, a software music plugin company (sorry name escapes me) - basically a wide range of electronic companies which highlights that you are an accredited ENGINEER after completing this degree |
| Offer holder | Hi, I have an offer for the Advanced Electronics with Management program\. Deadline for initial payment was April 14. Due to the prevailing situation, can I get this date postponed to a later date\?\?\?\? Also what kind of job opportunities are available for this course\?\? |
| Staff | Hi Maria - I take it you're a PGT applicant. ill see if my colleague Kate will be able to answer your question |
| Staff | Hi Sanjay, this is from Admissions: For applicants planning to pay for programme deposits via bank transfer, we appreciate they may be experiencing difficulties doing so with bank/office closures. We are therefore extending the deposit deadline for all applicants to 30 June 2020. |
| Staff | The admissions booth is here: https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/admissions-43 should you wish to ask direct questions about your application. |
| Current student | Hi Sanjay, regards to job opportunities, the sky's the limit! Close to all UoG graduates find a job/go into further education in the first 6 months after graduating. UoG is a very prestigious institution, member of the Rusell Group, top 100 universities worldwide, and employers will value that throughout your career! |
| Offer holder | Hi, I am an Offer holder for mechanical engineering, I was wondering In what year do you get the opportunity to do the formula student competition or is it open to all year groups. I was also wondering generally how many students are there in a mechanical engineering lecture? |
| Staff | Hi Laura, uniquely we offer students the opportunity to compete as part of FS from year 1 |
| Current student | Hi Laura, maybe Daniel can help out, think he's in the team! |
| Staff | Hi Laura, every year can do the Formula student competition. Lecture sizes will vary from just over 100 to approx. 250 but you'll also have lots of smaller groups in labs, tutorials etc and undertake small group projects. |
| Current student | Heya! As for Formula Student, it is open to all years. I was in it from my first year, but I have new teammates that join in there 3rd year. And for lectures, there are times where you will be joined with students from other engineering courses (biomed, civil etc.) So it does vary. Usually, I would say... from as small as 30 to as big as 200 |
| Offer holder | That’s great, thanks everyone !! |
| Offer holder | Hi! Sorry to jump in, I was wondering what the application process for the FS team is like? |
| Current student | Application starts off online. You have a form to fill with information about yourself, what department you are interested in and why you should be picked. The usual. Then if you pass the first stage, you will be called in for an interview and if you pass that to, you will be able to join the famous UGRacing |
| Offer holder | Fantastic! Thank you |
| Offer holder | Thank you for taking the time to answer all our questions |
| Offer holder | That’s great, thank you everyone !! |
| Offer holder | Thanks, I also read in the course description for EwM that there is a possibility of industry placement. could you give some examples of where people have gone for this? |
| Staff | Yes 5th year placements for MEng students - EwM students off the top of my head have worked in Leonardo, Bright Green Hydro, Jaguar Landrover, NXP |
| Offer holder | Hi, How beneficial is the Advanced Electronics with management program\?\?\? I was indeed interested in the management sector, meanwhile also sticking on to my root of electronics\.\.\. For what kind of a job role and industry will this course be a big advantage or benefit\?\?\? |
| Staff | Hi Sanjay - is this an MSc program? sorry Im not so clued up in postgrad courses |
| Offer holder | Hi, for the PDE course i was just wondering how much support there is for internships or working with companies throughout the year. Thanks |
| Staff | Hi Jamie, we have an excellent network and alumni and this is of great value for internships and live projects. We post all internships on the PDE virtual learning environment to ensure that all students are aware of opportunities. The programme also runs live projects with industry, recent examples include Dyson, NCR, Airbus and Autodesk. |
| Offer holder | thats great thanks very much, have recent graduates typically gone specifially into product design jobs or is there an opportunity to move to other engineering related fields? |
| Staff | That's a great question and is one of the key benefits of the degree. It provides you with options and students tend to follow the path that interests them the most - whether that's design or engineering. However, we are obviously more interested in companies that integrate both and we also have a number of grads that have started their own companies. |
| Offer holder | That's really helpful, cheers |
| Offer holder | hi, typically how many people are in a electronics and electrical engineering class? |
| Staff | Hi Chelsea, I'm hoping Calum Cossar may be able to help you with this question. |
| Staff | Hi, Typically 40, but you can find yourself in some much larger classes: Maths 1 has over 400 students. However, even there there will be sub-groups for teaching purposes. |
| Offer holder | Hi,I am Ashwin Ruben from India\. I have an offer for aeronautical engineering \.I just wanted to enquire about the complexity of the subject and the life of students at Glasgow |
| Staff | Hi Ashwin, all Engineering degrees are intellectually demanding and require a lot of hard work but we also make them as enjoyable as possible. If you are very interested in the subject and study hard - you'll do well. Glasgow's student life is fantastic. See the student section in the website. There are more than 250 clubs and societies and it is a cosmopolitan and very friendly city to live in. |
| Current student | Hi Ashwin, I personally think Glasgow is great for student life! For clubs and societies, you can check this link; https://www.glasgowstudent.net/clubs/ for any more questions on student life, check out the Student Lounge! https://uofg.online-event.co/networking-lounge/student-lounge-3 |
| Offer holder | Hi I am an Offer holder for Biomedical Engineering, I was wondering what kind of jobs do people tend to get once they have completed the course? |
| Current student | Hi Robyn, for as far as I have met people on networking events, it is super broad! There are people in academics, but within industry, there are many options, also depending on what you are interested in (ie imaging, rehabilitation, tissue engineering), but since it is so broad you are definitely not limited to a job in biomedical engineering specifically. I personally found networking events very helpful to get insight into options and explore my interests! |
| Offer holder | Thank you ! |
| Staff | Graduates from BME tend to get jobs in the biomed field, although some go for jobs related to other engineering areas (which is perfectly possible, since you'll have an engineering degree). BEng graduates often add an MSc in a complementary area. In terms of jobs, we have people working in biomed materials or engineering companies, engineering consultancies, NHS clinical engineering (requires additional studies), PhD to go into R&D. Some use it as graduate entry into Medicine. We are using a linkedin group to keep track of what jobs people get, and to organise networking events. |
| Offer holder | thanks for your help, I'll definitely be looking out for the network events . |
| Offer holder | I am an Offer holder for mech eng with aeronautics, will my degree be spent in lectures with both mech eng students and aeronautics students or is this a separate? |
| Current student | Hi Cormac, especially in the first year, the general engineering courses like Engineering Mathematics and others will be held with multiple engineering courses, so you will be mixed! there will also be subjects specific to your course |
| Offer holder | cool thanks for your help and answering questions i appreciate it ! |
| Staff | Overall there are no courses which are only the Mech with Aero students. At all time you are with other Aero students, with other mech students, or both. Much of the first three years is shared between Mech and Aero anyway so you will be with both cohorts of students for those courses |
| Offer holder | Hi, for product design engineering what would the final project in year 4 involve? |
| Staff | have a look at pdedegreeshow.com for examples of final year projects. The programme focuses on projects where the application of technology improves the quality of life. We also have students that work on live projects with industry in their final year. |
| Offer holder | Thanks, this is very useful, also how many similar projects would you usually do throughout the years before the final project? |
| Staff | It all depends on the year. Y1 3-5. Y2 3-4. Y3 2-3 and the final years have one major project, but also project from taught courses including Human Factors and Design for Manufacture. |
| Offer holder | Are you staying in accomodation or at home\? \:\) |
| Offer holder | at home, how about you? |
| Offer holder | At home, do you know anyone else going to glasgow this year\? \:\) |
| Offer holder | no sorry :) |
| Offer holder | Hello, i'm an Offer holder for EEE. Is there a recommended self- study hour program per week? |
| Current student | Hi Athina, staff members might be able to clarify this better! From a student perspective the credits a course is worth is a fantastic guideline for the time commitment you should step in. 10 credit courses are worth 100 hours of work, so if you subtract your taught hours that's your self study! This information is in all courses' specification documentation. A rough guideline that will make you do very well is to try to put in what you would for a full time job in total. If you do that, you'll do great and won't stress before exams (I wish I was that type of person personally |
| Staff | Hi Athina, I think Pedro is completely right in his reply |
| Offer holder | Well for now it doesn't sound that bad! Thank you! |
| Staff | Good attitude Athina - :) |
| Offer holder | I have been accepted to your MEng program in Mechanical Engineering with advanced entry starting in September 2020. I wanted to ask if it would be possible to give me access to the material from Year 1. It has been a few years since I covered many of these topics and I would like to review them before the beginning of the new term. |
| Staff | Unfortunately the University system for online learning, Moodle, requires students to login to the system. You will receive an email from the University about registering at some point in early August. At that point you should register immediately and then contact the School of Engineering Teaching Office to request access to the Moodles from the first year of the degree programme. |
| Offer holder | Thank you, Dr. Ballance |
| Offer holder | What industry partners can PDE work with? I remember hearing someone working for Apple so how does that opportunity arise? |
| Staff | we currently have student on a year long internship at Apple. Other companies that we regularly have projects and workshops with are Dyson, NCR and Autodesk. We have also had a project with the University of Glasgow Hunterian Museum for the past 2 years and it was an excellent experieince close to home. if you have not been to the Hunterian, it is well worth a visit. |
| Staff | To all the Product Design Engineering applicants - I have now uploaded a copy of the student handbook, which is ready for you to download! |
| Staff | I should have also typed that we have a number of grads working at Apple. |
| Staff | thanks Alison! |
| Offer holder | Thats really interesting. Its a bit far right now but do they come to you looking for internships or would we have to apply for one? |
| Staff | We tend to be approached by companies and grads. We also look to offer internships as part of live projects. We recently had two Y4 students on internship in New Zealand as part of live project prize! |
| Offer holder | Thats really cool. Thank you for letting me know. |
| Offer holder | hi, what makes your PDE course stand out from other unis as your one is a year longer. |
| Staff | Hi Dominic, the Scottish system is different to the rest of the UK and we have two undergraduate degree programmes - the BEng is 4 years and the MEng is 5 years. Have you looked at the information on the GSA and GU websites? |
| Staff | Hi Dominic our PDE programme is such a unique course, for me its one of the most unique features is that fact that its jointly offered by the School of Engineering at UofG and the Glasgow School of Art! |
| Staff | Hi, sorry I hit reply before finishing! The main difference is that PDE is taught across two institutions and you have access to all the resources and facilities at both. We also have an excellent reputation with industry, are accredited and benefit from a very active alumni network. |
| Offer holder | Thanks for the reply. very helpful |
| Offer holder | Thank you, what type of support will we be given in choosing industries for our projects? |
| Staff | Many staff have contacts with industry and will make these known to students. The Engineering Society also runs a Dinner with Industry event and a Drinks with Industry event where contacts can be made. |
| Offer holder | Great! Thank you so much Donald, really appreciate you answering my questions. Enjoy the rest of your day |
| Offer holder | hi, I was just wondering what companies the PDE course is partnered with? |
| Staff | Many thanks for all the questions received so far! There are 10 minutes left before the end of this session so there is still time to ask any burning questions! |
| Offer holder | Hi, I have an offer for Biomedical Engineering. Would you be able to give me some more information on any opportunities to work with/in hospitals as part of this course? |
| Offer holder | hey emma im the same! would you like to be friends on ig? we can add any other students you would like as well! my ig is @shanj69 |
| Staff | Hi Emma, we work closely with the spinal regeneration unit with one of the hospitals in Glasgow. Henrik might be able to give you some more information on this |
| Staff | A number of academics from BME have good clinical links and offer the possibilities for internships, for example over the summer. I have good links with the Spinal Injuries Unit and have often some students working with us on projects there. Other links with the Beatson cancer centre and clinical imaging. |
| Offer holder | Thank you! |
| Offer holder | What would be your top reason for choosing university over other school\-leaver’s options\? Is university worth it\? Thanks |
| Staff | Personally I would say its the quickest route to well paid, stimulating employment |
| Current student | Hi Jack, I think this is a very complicated question and one that is very personal and particular to everybody's situation. What I would say is that the opportunities you will have coming to University are enormous, it opens career paths that you maybe would have never seen yourself in, and let's you really peer at the forefront of what is being done in your field. Granted you have to take time off and it's not easy but I personally think it's worth every minute! |
| Staff | Hi Jack, it really is down to personal preference. It gives you time to explore your subjectn depth. Meeting a range of peers and you then have a degree for life which can be used in a variety of careers. |
| Offer holder | Thank you\! I’m just nervous about making the wrong choice and leaving myself with limited options\. You’ve all been so helpful thank you |
| Staff | Hi Jack - an interesting question! Firstly University is a wonderful experience which introduces you not just to your course but a new way of life. You'll meet a very wide range of people from a range of backgrounds and countries and can participate in a large variety of clubs and societies. Glasgow is also a fantastic city to live in! Furthermore, if you look at all the statistics, because of the life skills you gain as well as your academic qualifications, graduates tend to earn more on average across their career compared with non-graduates. Obviously some of that will depend on career choice etc. Hope this answer helps a wee bit :) |
| Offer holder | Hi, I have an offer for Mechanical Engineering. I was wondering if there was any books we would be required to buy for first year? Thanks |
| Current student | The reading list will usually be published onto moodle when you join the university and complete registration. It defers from year to year, but all the required books, if any, can be bought from the University's bookstore, John Smith Bookstore. During my first year, all I was required to buy was a Mathematics textbook. |
| Current student | Hi Grace, most lecturers have books they recommend you to use. However, lecturers will always post their material on the online platform as well. The only compulsory book to buy would be for Engineering Mathematics, as it includes an access code to an online maths platform where certain assessments need to be completed. For the rest, most books are available in the John Smith book store in the university, and the SRC also has a second hand book shop! In addition, most books are available in the library, so personally I have only bought the mathematics book, and used the library if I wished to use others. In any case, you don't have to buy any until your lecturer has advised you on which book to use, which is usually in the first lecture! |
| Offer holder | Thanks for your help! |
| Offer holder | hi, I'm an Offer holder for biomedical engineering, how much of the course is to do with medical imaging? |
| Current student | Hi Robyn, congratulations on your offer! Think there is a thread below in the chat Dr Gollee answered in detail about this :) |
| Current student | Hi Robyn, on any further inquiries, you can check the subject break down of the course here; https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/biomedicalengineering/#tab=structure |
| Staff | There are medical physics and Microscopy and Optics (for imaging cells etc) in 3rd year, plus optional course in 4th/5th year (e.g. Advanced imaging). Glasgow also has a very strong ultrasonics group, so we also have courses on ultrasound (imaging) as electives for BME. |
| Offer holder | In pde is there preset choices on the final project or is there more freedom to choose? |
| Staff | The final year project in the BEng programme is organised such that students choose from a list produced my academic members of staff. For MEng projects the options are for this to be done, or students can undertake their project in Industry or at an overseas university. |
| Staff | Hi, we also ask PDE students to provide 3 project proposals at final year. |
| Staff | Sorry, I missed that you have applied for PDE. The projects are very much your won choice, vetted to ensure that they are realistic, feasible and achievable. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I have an offer for PDE, I was wondering on average how many students you get that are 17 in the first term? |
| Staff | Hi, it depends on the year of entry, I'd say 10-20% |
| Offer holder | Thanks you! |
| Staff | Hi Alexandra, I haven't checked the exact numbers recently, but every year there are a considerable number of students who arrive at University when they are 17. If you are concerned about it then you may wish to consider taking a gap year, but you should try to do something useful during the year rather than just taking local job. If I had to guess I would think that perhaps 10%-20% are 17 when they arrive. |
| Staff | I expect that we aim to base some decisions on incomplete assessment: the situation is too fluid now to say with certainty. |
| Offer holder | Hi, Alasdair Mcnelis here, applied for mechanical engineering. I have a conditional offer based on gaining a HNC in mechanical engineering and an A in the graded unit, which I was very much on track to do until recent circumstances. I was wondering if my condition will change at all, or require me to gather evidence of work I've done throughout the year? Apologies if this is already covered in the covid-19 FAQs, but both my college and the sqa have been quite unclear with what's happening regarding HNC courses. |
| Staff | There are just five minutes remaining before this session will come to an end. There’s still time to ask those questions! |
| Offer holder | Will the chat be deleted after the session if over? |
| Staff | We can leave this one up for a while as no other subject areas will be using this chat booth. |
| Offer holder | Are the work placements offered in the MEng aeronautical engineering course with major companies such as Boeing or airbus\? |
| Offer holder | I know RollsRoyce offers placements and Jaguar |
| Offer holder | Roughly how much extra \(outside of lectures and tutorials etc\) study time would we have\? |
| Staff | Hi Jack, Yes, for the final project in MEng students can arrange placements with industry in the UK or overseas. They can also arrange to study at an overseas University for their project. We do not specifically place students in industry, in our view it is important that students apply for placements and internships and that the companies have the final say on who they pay to undertake these activities. |
| Staff | Hi Greta, It is expected that over the year you will study for approximately 40 hours per week in total. This includes lectures, labs and tutorials, but you are expected to study on your own in all courses. |
| Staff | We have a few students take a year out during their studies to work at companies such as Rolls-Royce. In the 6 month final year project, students usually organise the placements themselves, with some help from academics, so the range of companies (and overseas universities) worked at can be very broad. |
| Offer holder | Hi I am Diya Sharma from India I have got an offer for biomedical engineering. Due to COVID. Our board results may be delayed so how do I apply and accept my offer . And when are the courses expected to start |
| Current student | The current date is still 21st Sept but is under review, please keep your eye on the webpages, and all Offer holders will also be emailed with any update to this |
| Staff | Hi Diya, you can find the answers to those questions on our FAQ page - https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/news/coronavirus/faqs/#tab=tab-7. We will be keeping them up to date so check regularly for updates. |
| Offer holder | Thankyou |
| Offer holder | Hello Mr Henrik, I\'m an Offer holder waiting to join in Sepetember\. I would really appreciate it if you could go tell me where I could find some books that are involved in the Biomedical course so that I can prep for my first year\. |
| Offer holder | Hello!I would like to talk to anyone from the aeronautical engineering school |
| Staff | Hi Ihab, I may be able to help |
| Offer holder | What is the difference between aeronautical and aeronautical with mechanics |
| Staff | The main difference between Aeronautical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering with Aeronautics is that the Mech with Aero students cover more of the mechanical discipline area including structure, materials and manufacturing, while Aeronautical Engineering students do more in the way of Fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, and space systems. The first year of the two degree programmes are almost identical so choose which one you think would allow you pursue your goals and if you wish to change at the end of the first year this is no problem. As far as going into year 1, yes, that is certainly possible and we would encourage students to consider this if there are any areas that they feel uncertain in. Just let us know once you have received your registration details, before you register, and we can make the change to year 1 entry easily. |
| Offer holder | Helllo pedro i would like to know what kind of modules are done in aeronautical engineering |
| Offer holder | right now I am in GIC i would like to know if it's possible to goto first year instead of second |
| Staff | Yes - that's no problem. Simply email me a week or so before the semester begins. trevor.davies@glasgow.ac.uk |
| Offer holder | thank you, also is there anything I could be studying to increase my understanding of biomedical engineering before the academic year restarts? |
| Offer holder | Thanks for getting through all the questions!! |
| Offer holder | Ok, thank you. |
| Offer holder | Thank you for the info. |
| Staff | And that’s the end of the session for today. Thank you to everyone for participating and making this such a success! If some wish to stay on and chat, the booth will remain open. And feel free to explore all the great resources on the Engineering stand. Don’t forget our FAQ for Offer holders and Prospective Students at: https://gla.ac/cvfaqs |
| Staff | Now that the chat has ended, please feel free to email any questions to me direct: Alison.gore@glasgow.ac.uk |
Geography, Earth Science, Archaeology
| User Name | Subject | Message |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hello, I'm Stephen Harrison from Archaeology, and I'm here to try to answer any questions you may have about the BSc programme in Archaeology |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Hi, what is the course structure like for archaeology? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Nicole, Thank you for your question. Your question will be answered shortly |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Nicole, apologies, I didn't see this comment among those of my colleagues!! |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | So, in first and second year, you take one 'big' course / module each semester. This should give you a solid grounding in the basics, and let you make an informed choice in third and fourth year. In third and fourth year, you have far more options, and can pick courses that reflect your interest. Does this help, or would you like some more details? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Welcome everybody! Have your questions ready forArchaeology, Geography, Geology and Earth Sciences. |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hello, my name is Dr Nicki Whitehouse, I am an archaeological scientist. My work is concerned with understanding the landscapes, ecosystems and climates within which people in the past lived in to understand the archaeological record but also to look at modern climate and biodiversity challenges! I am especially interested in early agriculture and what we can learn from this to understand places in the past. |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hiya, I'm Emma Laurie a Lecturer in Geography! I am looking forward to answering any questions about our Geography degree. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Hi there, I currently hold unconditional offers for MA Geography, MA (SOCSCI )Geography and MA (SOCSCI) Geography/Sociology. Could you please outline the main differences/similarities between the MA and the MA (SocSci). I understand the main core Geography elements are the same, however could you please inform me of the difference in choices for the optional elements of each degree . Also, I am interested in studying Psychology and wonder if both types of degree would allow me to choose Psychology as an option. Thank you. |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Jennifer, Thank you for your questions. Cheryl has responded to your earlier question, which you can find further up this chat. |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi everyone, I'm John MacDonald and I'm here to answer questions about the Environmental Geoscience (Earth Science) BSc and MSci programmes |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Hi John, in the prospectus it says the second course in Year 1 will include evolution of life and environments, changing climate and biogeochemical cycles which sound really interesting, but on the online course catalogue these aren't included. Could you confirm what's included in the year 1 course? Thanks |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Robbie, thanks for your question. The online course catalogue doesn't give as much detail as the prospectus and the presentation from Amanda Owen. In first year, our students study a wide range of topics to do with geoscience quite broadly - everything from how volcanoes and earthquakes work to what fossils can tell us about past climate to how pollution affects the environment. |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | We try to cover a wide range of topics in the first and second year and then go into detail in 3rd and 4th year with a particular focus on the skills and knowledge you would use in a graduate career in environmental geoscience |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi everyone, just to introduce myself, I am Dr Amanda Owen and I teach on both the Geology and Environmental Geoscience (was Earth Science) degrees. Happy to answer any questions you may have :) |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hello Everyone, my name is Cheryl McGeachan and I am a Lecturer in Geography! Happy to answer any questions :-) |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Hi there, I currently hold unconditional offers for MA Geography, MA (SOCSCI )Geography and MA (SOCSCI) Geography/Sociology. Could you please outline the main differences/similarities between the MA and the MA (SocSci). I understand the main core Geography elements are the same, however could you please inform me of the difference in choices for the optional elements of each degree . Also, I am interested in studying Psychology and wonder if both types of degree would allow me to choose Psychology as an option. Thank you, Jennifer Hepburn |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Hi, I have currently applied to study Geography Bsc and was just wondering does the course contain human geography topics throughout the 4 year course or simply in year 1? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Jennifer, nice to hear from you and congratulations on your offer! When you come to Glasgow, you can come to study Geography in 3 different Colleges - Arts, Social Science and Science and Engineering - and there is no differences in the course the study. If you come through Arts to study Geography then Geography can be your only subject outside of Arts so you would have to pick two other arts subjects. In Social Science you can pick another 2 social science subjects or another subject from another college. Psychology sits in the College of Science and Engineering and you wouldn't be able to pick this if you come through the college of Arts. Psychology and Geography can be taken together up until second year but then their timetables clash and you would have to pick one or other. Does this help? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Heather, nice to hear from. You can study many human subjects from development, historical, cultural, social geographies - is there something particular you are interested in studying? |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Thank you for your help ! Would you be able to tell me a list of subjects that can be studied through the social science degree And the Arts degree as i was unable to find it on the website !! Also does the type of degree affect job prospects ? |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Thanks for the reply, It was more that i prefer the physical aspects of geography and so wondered if in year 2 you are able to focus more on the environmental side of the subject? |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Hi, I am an Offer holder interested in human geography, What is the ratio between human/physical/environmental for the compulsory modules? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hiya Isabella, in year 1 and 2 all students take the same course getting a broad balance between more human, physical, environmental courses (and the integration between all of them). In year 3 and 4 you then select your preferred options allowing for specialism. There are some core courses which are often skill based (research skills etc,), or cover the broad aspects of the discipline. You will also choose your own dissertation topic, and sign up for preferred core group projects etc. so lots of choice in these honours years having built from the broad foundations in year 1 and 2. Ta, E. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Thank you, would you say they were split pretty evenley three ways in years 1 and 2? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Yes, we try to balance as evenly as we can and also see the connections between them, as well as consider key skills that cross cut such as GIS, Statistics, Essay Writing, Critical Reading etc. Ta, E. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | For archeology, what books will we need? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hello Hope. For Archaeological science none really. We have all the books in the library and most of the references will be in journal articles. Glasgow Uni has a fantastic library! For some of the basics of archaeology I would recommend an intro to archaeology textbook such as Kevin Green and sam Turner's book (easy to find online) |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Thank you so much! |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hello Hope, just to repeat what Dr Whitehouse has said, there are no books you are required to buy. Of course, if you'd like us to recommend one or two so that you can get a head start for first year, we'd be happy to do so! |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Dr. Whitehouse recommended books by Kevin Green and Sam Turner, but are there any others you would suggest? I want to try and get as much information as possible. Thank you! |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Renfrew and Bahn's 'Archaeology in Theory and Practice' is a very good introduction to 'international' archaeology, and to archaeological methods and theories. It's a very useful reference book too. |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | If you're interested in the archaeology of these islands, then Hunter and Rawlston's 'Archaeology of Britain' is a very useful introduction, and places Scottish material in its broader context! |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Thanks! |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Hope, apologies, i'm having some trouble with my internet connection a the moment. I thought that I had also mentioned Hunter and Rawlson's 'Archaeology of Britain', which is a very good introduction to the archaeology of this island, including Scotland. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Hi. I'm a human based geographer and was wondering if in year 2 at Glasgow, there is an opportunity to steer away from more physical focused subjects or does physical and environmental geography remain mandatory throughout. Thanks |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Mimi, in year 1 and 2 all our students take the same classes, then in year 3 and 4 you select your preffered 'option classes' as well as things like your dissertation topic, field class topics etc. so a lot more specialism in you honour years building upon the broader base from year 1 and 2! Ta, E. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Hi for geography do you go on any field trips in the first year and where are they to? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Heather, we run 2 lab projects in first year that are based around fieldwork - they are both ru straight from the University to Glasgow's West End - one using environmental monitoring techniques and the other looking at community identity. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Hi I was wondering wether summer school programs are specific to each subject\? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hello Mathew, in archaeology we run a summer excavation school each summer and we also offer other opportunities for working on colleagues research projects. I for instance take students on some of my research projects that have fieldwork. Many of my colleagues offer regular field opportunities |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Matthew - d you have an offer that includes Summer School? As well as the subject exprts yuo can also speak to Summer school staff here:https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/admissions-43 |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Ok thank you |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | For archaeology is the course more exam based or does it have a more coursework based form of assessment? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hello Lana, its a bit of a mixture really. My own modules are about 50/50 coursework/exams. Most modules have a strong coursework component - usually 2 pieces of coursework plus one exam. I am not aware of any modules with 100% exam but maybe Stephen can advise? (I am a new member of staff!) |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hello Lana, most of our course are a mixture of exams and coursework. It varies from course to course. At level 1 and 2, most assessment is a mixture of exams and essays but in third and fouth year, there's more variety. Practical exercises, information posters, presentations. It depends on each course (or 'module' as they call them in some universities). |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Sorry, just to clarify, the overall degree is the programme, which is made of different courses, some compulsory and some optional. |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | At the moment, no course is assessed entirely by exam, but there are several which only use coursework (in third and fourth year) |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Thanks, what's the typical number of people studying a module and at lectures? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Lana, that varies a lot. First year classes can be quite big, with over 200 people, but by second year numbers are usually less than a hundred. In third and fourth year, where people are choosing options, there are rarely more than 20 in a class, and often fewer. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Thanks |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Lana, I run an honours module with just 10 students at the moment! Its a very nice opportunity to get to know the students well and understand their interests. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | What opportunities do geography student have to study a semester or year abroad? Do many current students choose to do so or is there a limited number of students who can study abroad? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Mohammed, yes many of our students study abroad and we have a staff member who will assist in choosing suitable universities and classes within it. The application process is handled at university level and it is highly competitive but large numbers of our students are successful on it each year. Usually the application process begins in 2nd year for students to study abroad in the 3rd year. Canada, New Zealand and Australia are our most popular destinations, but we have students studying all over. Ta, E. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Is a year abroad the only option? I've seen semesters abroad at some universities? |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | thanks for the reply emma! |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Isabella, Overwhelmingly our students go for a year. We match the courses you would be required to do in Glasgow with like-for-like classes at the other institution and because things run in different terms this is best done for a full year to ensure students don't miss out on anything key. If you are looking for shorter international experience many of our students arrange to do their dissertation research internationally in the summer between year 3 and year 4, sometimes taking part in university wide initiatives such as Expedition Society to do so! Ta, E. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Thank you! |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Cheryl, just checking you are still online? There are questions under your first post. It states that you are typing but I'm not seeing anything appearing. Email me if you need anything, |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Just ignore that!! |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi, I'm Hannah a lecturer in Geography & Earth Science, happy to answer any Qs - I'll have a look what you've been posting now... |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Hi, I have applied to do Geography Bsc but was wondering if there be an opportunity to move forward with earth sciences as a degree instead if i preferred the content over the geography course and what are the main differences between the Geography Bsc and the Earth Science course? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Heather, the structure of a degree at Glasgow means you can take both Geography and Earth Science for the first 2 years (this is a really common combination for our students). That then gives you a choice between 3 degree programmes for honours - Geography, Environmental Geoscience and Geology |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Thanks so much and within the Geography course, do you take other geography modules of your choice or do you just study the compulsory modules that are listed? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Heather, When you get to 3rd year you can choose option courses. If you have also studies Earth SCience to 2nd year these can be across Geography and Environmental Geoscience. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Hi There I was wondering what Modules you would suggest to do alongside a Geography Bsc degree\? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | If I may interject - I would encourage you to take some archaeology, especially archaeological science! There are considerable overlaps. Indeed, I came to archaeology from a geography department very recently where I taught physical geography! The two subjects go well as they provide the human dimension to our warming 'anthropocene' world |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Matthew, many of our current students take Earth Science if they are doing a BSc in Geography. Archaeology and Chemistry are other popular choices |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Matthew, it is really up to you, it depends what interests you the most. Earth Science, Archaeology, politics, history are popular. Do you have a preference to either human or physical Geography? |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Ok Thank you I’m aware from the geography applicant holders video that one module must be a science subject I’m sure I’ll explore my options\. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Hi, are there any specific requirements needed to do Earth science alongside Geography? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Jessica, no you are free to do one or both. We find its a common combination of subjects for our students but no requirement to do so! |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | thank you :) |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | What are some of the differences between pursuing a Bsc versus an MA in archeology? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hello Hope, there is a stronger science component typically and you might be steered towards a science dissertation. But there is a lot of flexibility across the two programmes. Stephen may be able to add more in terms of whether there are any courses that distinguish the two. I offer two arch science courses at Honours level and also teach the science components at second year |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | That's a tricky question! Essentially, it reflects what other subjects you want to do in first and second year, and / or which other subjects you want to combine with archaeology in third and fourth year. Archaeology straddles the divide. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Thank you. I'm also going to be doing history, so I'm leaning more to an MA. |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | With both the MA and the BSc, you have to combine archaeology with other subjects in first and second year. BSc students usually pick subjects in the sciences (including earth sciences) while MA students usually pick subjects in arts (like history, for example). |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Thank you for clarifying. |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | You're welcome! |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Is anyone from Geography able to answer Heather's question in the chat below about field trips? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Thanks Hannah! |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | I am a Geography applicant who is yet to receive a decision, but firstly I would like to ask how a first-year student's week might look like? How many contact hours, independent study etc.? Secondly, what do Geography students usually combine Geography with in their first two years? Are there any sustainability related modules? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Milan, in 1st year, the first teaching week for Geography starts by intrducing you to lectures then we add your tutorials and labs in during your second week. You have 3hrs of lectures a week and then 1hr tutorial per fortnight and 1 x 3hr lab per fortnight. |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | What you choose to combine witg Geography will depend on your College so there will be sciencey Geographers with Earth Science and maybe Chemistry or Biology, |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Thank you! |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | But in first year there is a lot of variety in courses you can can combine with - we just suggest that you have 1 other subject that you are happy to carry on to 2nd year. In first year we have a very diverse student body with students from across Arts, Science and Social Science and exchange students too. |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Sustainability is a big theme cross-cutting the whole degree so I am sure you will find lots of opportunity to investigate it further! |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Milan, nice to hear you! In your first year you would take 2 subjects alongside Geography. In Geography you would have 3 lectures a week, one 3 hour lecture a fortnight, a one hour tutorial a week. You will have the opportunity to work in groups in your practical classes and you will work alongside staff in the form a lab leader and tutor. You will do a variety of independent work alongside your course too |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Very helpful, thank you very much! |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | It is nice to hear that the weekly schedule is fairly balanced and there would be an opportunity to study Biology alongside Geography! |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | is there any recommended pre-reading material for geography? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Mohammed, nice to hear from you. What areas of Geography are you most interested in? |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | I take great interest in both economic geography and climate change |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Great topics! I would recommend reading around your subjects before you come to class in any format as we are really interested in bringing your interests to the class |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Mohammed, I'd say keeping interested in and up to date with the news, reading material from different viewpoints and political persuasions. YOu may find that some academic journals also have Open Access content that is available without an academic subscription. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | I'm going to study geography, but haven't decided what two other subjects to study alongside it in first year. Could I study earth science and a social science, or do they both have to be life sciences/ social sciences? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Robbie, are you wanting to take the BA route rather than the BSc? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Robbie, its quite flexible. If you're more interested in physical geography then typically you would take Earth Science alongside but the third subject is flexible - it could be another science like chemistry or a social science subject too |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Hi, I haven't really decided yet as interested in all of it, would I have to decide which route to take before I choose? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Robbie, the advantage of the Glasgow model is you get to try them before you take them to honours level. You can, for example, take 2 social science/arts based subject and then one science based one (Earth Science or Archaeology are popular choices alongside Geography) or vice versa. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | So could I study Geography + Earth Science + Economics in the first year? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Robbie, yes that is in theory possible although there are always timetabling constraints to consider which we would not know until nearer the time. Geography and Earth Science definitely works but there is usually enough flexibility in the timetable to make these combinations work |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Thanks, I applied for the Bsc geography course, does that restrict my options or could I still in theory do those I said above |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Robbie, you should be able to (in theory) still the courses you want as long as the timetable permits. There can be many different ways we get around this and staff can help you when you enroll. |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Robbie, as long as you do another science such as Earth Science then you are OK to take a non-science subject such as economics |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Thanks very much! That's not a problem as helps me make my mind up. I'm guessing if I wanted to choose Geography + two social sciences I would have to change course, which isn't guaranteed? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | that's correct yes |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | that would be Geegraphy MA(SocSci) |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | hi, I have studied geography up to AH and really enjoyed the human side of things. I have an offfer for history/politics and was wondering if I would enjoy the glasgow uni geography course as an option for my third subject in first year, or if social and public policy would cover more of the human geographical issues. |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Caitie - I think so! But maybe I am biased :-) But many of our students do history and / or politics and there are lots of intersections between those displines. In Year 2 for example you will take blocks in Historical Geography and Political Geography. There will be some physical in there too, especially things like climate change which of course is always deeply political. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | thank you! |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | What are the trips in years 2 and 3? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Isabella, which subject are you wanting to find out about? |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Sorry - Geography! and I am leaning towards human and environmental in my third and forth year |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hiya, Yes for Geography currently, in year 2 those staying with us for honours go on a field class which is UK based (it has shifted the last few years). Then in 3rd year as part of dissertation training the whole year goes to Mallorca and you conduct a group project for the week and you would sign up for your preferred project. Many options will run one day field classes as well more locally! In 4th year you also do a research project in Glasgow so get some fieldwork there too. Ta, E. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | What other subjects can i study in first year when studying a BSc degree? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Maria, is this alongside Geography or other course? What are your interests? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | You can do Archaeology, Chemistry, Geography, Earth Sciences... |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | For Geography is there any equipment we shall need to bring for the likes of fieldwork\? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Matthew, nice to hear from you. There is no need to bring any specialist equipment for the fieldclasses. It would be helpful to have sturdy shoes and a waterproof jacket then that would be helpful. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Ok Thank you was making sure |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | All the other equipment for the fieldclasses will be provided for you |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Is there any recommended pre-reading material for psychology? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Katrina. The Psychology chat will start at 5pm,. Do you wnat to have a look around the virtual event and head back here at 5pm? NB you could study Geography or Earth Science or Archaeology alongside Psychology in 1st year so maybe you want to ask those experts (who are in this chat now) about their subjects?! |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | for geography if you applied for a Bsc can you change to an BA and vice versa |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | HI Heather, you can do this, by changing College, if you need access to a different range of courses, however it is not guaranteed and depends on existing student numbers in College courses. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | What jobs do your Psychology Students typically go onto do? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Jasmne, this is the Geography, Geology, Earth Scince , Archaeology chat. The Psychology chat will start at 5pm. But you can study these subjects with Psychology so maybe you'd like to ask questions about them?! |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Anyone who is joining for the Psychology chat please be aware this will start at 5pm. Remember, you study three subjects in your firt year att Glasgow so please do askk questions about Geography, Earth Science, Geology, Archaeology - all of which could be studied alongside Psychology! |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Are there any particular sites that students would have the chance to excavate on the archaeology course? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Lana, our major concern is that students get lots of heritage experience, rather than work on specific sites. So we'll keep you informed of lots of opportunities. But there is usually a summer school at the end of second year / beginning of third year, where all our students work on the same excavation or heritage project. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Thanks |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hello Lana, most of the field schools we run are usually in Scotland, but staff do also excavate abroad and often look for volunteers to join. Our current excavation for student training is at Cucno. Staff are also often looking for students to join them so it really depends on what sites are being excavated. Other types of field work are also on offer; I do a lot of landscape and geo archaeology and always looking for students to join. We don't excavate but do coring work across the landscape which is amazingly fun! That project is in south Yorkshire. Staff are usually very well connected though and if you are very keen to work on an active excavation that you have set your heart on then its often possible to make contact with the director and see if you can be taken on. Many colleagues also work abroad too. So, there is usually no shortage of excavation opportunities. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Thanks, just wanted to see if there was a variety of practicle experience on offer to learn as much as possible, glad to see there is! |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Hi for Geography I visited the Uni 2 years ago where shall the Geography and Environmental Science take place\? |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | \*lectures |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Matthew, GES is a split-site School so we have offices, labs and tutorial rooms in both the Gregory Buikding and Main (Gilbert Scott) university building. Lectures often take place in large lecture theatres like the Boyd Orr Building. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Ok Thank you |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | For geography Bsc, what careers do most graduates go into and are there any opportunities to do a work placement during your degree? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Heather, graduate careers from Geography are quite broad - we have alumni working for SEPA and the Environment Agency, some go into research, the Scottish Parliament, local authorities, teaching, science communication...Many students take up opportunities for internships during the summer between degree years - you can find info about these from UofG Careers internship hub. Some research assistant opportunities are also provided by staff on an ad-hoc basis. Is there a particular part of geograhy you are interested in? |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Im most interested in the environmental side, particularly sustainability, climate change etc. |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Check out Zoe and Sandi on this page for some inspiration we also work really closely with Careers Services throughout the degree program especially in final year to get you really prepared for life after graduating! https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/ges/community/careersalumni/ |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Thank you! |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Heather, if you're particularly interested in environment/sustainability/climate then I'd recommend taking Earth Science as one of your other subjects - its adds an extra physical dimension to environmental aspects of geography and could help you find the right career with a geography degree |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | There are only 10 minutes left for the Geography, Geology, Earth Science and Archaeology chat. Please make sure you get any final quesions in to our wonderful experts! If you asked a question a while ago in a chain of questions and answers and it hasn't nbeen answered yet then please do post it again just in case it has been missed. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | What are the lecture sizes like for geography - i.e. how many students per lecture. |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | HI Mimi, in first year the lecture class is quite large ~200-250 students. In the new teaching hub there will be accommodations to allow students to find more sheltered spaces. |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | There are usually around 200 people in Geography-1 but we also have smaller practical classes of 35 and 12 for labs and tutorial classes. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | do any students struggle with the large sizes? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | It's not something we have had specific comment on but we try to make content and classes as accessible as possible. Some students find they make friends easier in the smaller classes. |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Our Equality and Diversity team is always keen to hear from students as to how we can improve accessibility for all. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | Would you be able to tell me a list of subjects that can be studied through the Geography social science degree And the Geography Arts degree as i was unable to find it on the website ?! Also does the type of degree affect job prospects ? |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Jennifer, Geography is highly compatible with lots of social science and arts subjects: economics, politics, social policy, philosophy, some languages. The degree name just relates to how much art/soc sci or science content has been in your degree. You should choose your degree route (College) according to the subjects you'd like to take with Geography. The geography you study will be the same whichever degree type - it will just be tailored by your interest. |
| Offer holder | GES & Archaeology | I am hoping to study psychology in combination with politics. I was wondering how much of each course I will study |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Hi Hannah, this chat is currently in use for Geography, Earth Science, Geology and Archaeology. If you could resubmit your question at 5pm when Psychology staff come online they will be able to answer any questions you may have. You can study the above subjects with Psychology so if any are of interest to you please ask any questions you may have |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Five minutes to go for the Geography, Geology, Earth Science and Archaeology chat. If you're here for teh Psychology chat it will be starting at 5pm. |
| Staff | GES & Archaeology | Geography, Earth Science, Geology and Archaeology lectureres and Offer holders: this chat booth will be switching over to Psychology at 5pm. If you are midd-conversation please head to the following link to answer those vital last few quesions.https://uofg.online-event.co/login?r=/stand/arts-humanities-and-modern-languages |
| Staff | Geography | Welcome to the staff members from Geography, who will be joining this chat room for the next hour. They will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. Colleagues can you please introduce yourselves to those in the chat room? |
| Offer holder | Geography | Hi there I was wondering what opportunities of work expierience is available for a Geography Bsc course\? |
| Staff | Geography | HI Matthew, thanks for your question. Careers start being discussed right from 1st year and there are specific career-related sessions in 2nd, 3rd and 4th year. Many students take up internships in the summer holidays - these can be found through the Career Service's Internship Hub. Some students also take up research assistant positions helping with lab or fieldwork, on an ad-hoc basis with staff in the summer or Easter holidays. |
| Offer holder | Geography | Hi there. I'll just type my three questions together. What are the assessment methods for the course? Is there a field trip overseas or do you only travel through study abroad? And finally, is teaching mainly through lectures or small groups (e.g. 'tutorials'). Cheers! |
| Staff | Geography | HI Josh - I'll answer the first year course structure bit. |
| Staff | Geography | Hi Josh, great to hear from you. In terms of the teaching methods for the course throughout the whole degree programme we always like to mix the teaching styles to give you the widest learning opportunity. In first year for example you will have large group lecture teaching, practical "active learning" in your smaller lab groups and small group teaching in your tutorials. A key part of geography is learning through practice so there will be lots of opportunities to learn with others throughout the degree! |
| Staff | Geography | Teaching in first year is through lectures (~200 students in a class), labs (~30 in a class) and tutorials ~12 students in a group. In first year you are assessed through 2 x essay-based exams, 2 x coursework essays and 2 x lab projects assessed through group projects. |
| Offer holder | Geography | Thank you very much! Very helpful. |
| Staff | Geography | Hiya - I'll answer about travel overseas. Yes, currently, our 3rd year course undertakes a week long fieldclass in Mallorca, where you would sign up for your preferred topic and work with your classmates to research the topic. But there are also study abroad opportunities, this application is dealt with at the University level but we we have a staff member in Geogrpahy, Lazaros, who would guide in terms of universities that previous students have been to and good courses to take there. It is a competitive program, but each year many of our students are successful on getting on it. As well, many of our students choose to do their dissertation research internationally, for example many take part in the Exploration Society trips and conduct their field work as part part of that. So lots of opportunity for international experiences throughout your degree program! |
| Offer holder | Geography | That all sounds great! I want to work abroad after university so the international experience is very important. Thanks again! :) |
| Staff | Geography | That's a great ambition - good luck! |
| Staff | Geography | Many of our students work internationally afterwards, have a look at what Zoe has got up to since graduating: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/ges/community/careersalumni/zoecuthbert/ |
| Staff | Geography | Another student who graduated the same year as Zoe, Emma, works for International Medical Corps and has been involved in bilateral meetings in the New York and the UN, and European Commission. So the world is your oyster with a Geography degree! |
| Offer holder | Geography | Hi there, If i pick to study geography as a Social Science rather than as an Arts i was informed that for my other two subjects in first year i would be able to pick subjects from the social science category, the arts category and the science and engineering category such as psychology. I was just wondering if if i chose to study geography as a social science would i have to pick one subject from the social science category Such as sociology or public policy or would i be able to pick one subject from the arts As well as psychology from the science and engineering. |
| Staff | Geography | Hi Jennifer, great to hear from you! If you come through the College of Social Science you will have the opportunity to pick Geography alongside two other subjects. One of these subjects will be a social science subject, such as sociology but you could also pick an arts subject or a subject from science and engineering, such as psychology. This is dependent however on timetables and on limits on course numbers (psychology can have limited places). Some courses also have prerequisites, such as Maths, so this is something that has to be taken account of too. Details of courses can be found in the University course catalogue and it is good to have a look through this to see what courses you think are interesting. The great thing is that lots of courses across arts, social science and science complement geography! |
| Offer holder | Geography | Thank you for your help ! |
| Offer holder | Geography | Hi, I just wondered how many lectures, tutorials etc there would be each week for the geography module in first year. Also, will my other two subject choices be similar in the amount of time that I would be attending university? Thanks |
| Staff | Geography | HI Tom, thanks for your question - you'd have 3 x 1hr lectures per week in 1st year plus a three hour lab (discussions, group work, presentations, fieldwork) and one small gropu (tutorial) session every fortnight. |
| Staff | Geography | The amount of contact time for other subjects will vary depending what course components they have and how much reading etc they expect you to be doing outwith class. |
| Staff | Geography | Other courses will have similar timetables but may have more lectures as they don't have labs or maybe more seminars, but you will not have a completely full timetable for first year as you need to factor in out of class study time but also other interests such as clubs and societies |
| Offer holder | Geography | Thanks for your help. |
| Offer holder | Geography | I have done higher geography but not advanced higher, would it still be possible/manageable for me to take geography as a second subject at uni? |
| Staff | Geography | Hi Hazel, absolutely! Come on board! No previous geography experience required, just interest! |
| Staff | Geography | Hi Hazel, lovely to hear from you! Higher is a great starting point for level Geography and there is no need to have advanced higher - some people in the class may never have taken geography before and will be just trying it out for the first time! |
| Offer holder | Geography | excellent, thanks so much! |
| Offer holder | Geography | Hi, if you go onto do a joint honours degree then do both subjects have to be science/social science/art or could you do a joint honour in geography and business for example. Also do employers tend to favour single honours degrees over joint honours or does it depend on how each of the subjects relate to the job? Thanks in advance |
| Staff | Geography | Hi Max, great to hear from you! Many students take a joint honours degree and it is particularly popular in Social Science/Arts. You can do a joint honours degree in Geography and Business but it would be important to apply for this on your UCAS application. You would have to be in the correct college to undertake your joint degree - for example if you wanted to do joint Geography and Politics you would have to be in Social Science. |
| Staff | Geography | Both single and joint honours degrees have a great deal of appeal to employers. The great thing about the Geography degree is how wide ranging the training is and you will leave with a lot of core skills that employers are looking for - such as group work, presentation, independent learning alongside a whole host of specialist skills depending on your choice of interests during the degree |
| Offer holder | Geography | I've applied for geography as a science and I'm thinking of picking maths and possibly business so if it turned out that I preferred the business to maths then would it be possible to drop the maths and continue the business, effectively changing my degree to a social science instead of a science? |
| Offer holder | Geography | Hi, just wondered whether the flexible degree structure is specific just to Glasgow or is the same across all Scottish universities\? Also, are the costs for the field trips Included in the tuition fees or are they separate costs\? |
| Staff | Geography | Hi Heather, lovely to hear from you! In terms of degree flexibility Glasgow, like many other Scottish universities, has a great deal of flexibility in terms of course choice. In your first year at Glasgow you will get to pick 3 subjects and either one of them could end up being your degree. The 4 year system allows for this flexibility and is a real strength of the Scottish system. |
| Staff | Geography | Hi Heather, what do you mean in terms of flexible degree structure? Hopefully I can help with a little more info from you. 4 years with a choice of 3 subjects in the 1st year is pretty standard across Scottish unis. In terms of fieldwork costs these are a separate cost - we try to keep them as low as possible and students pay in installments to spread the costs. 2nd year and 3rd yr resiential trips (1 each yr) are compulsory and there are exciting fieldwork opportunities attached to some of the Honours courses but fewer of thesee are residential and therefore costs can be lower. |
| Offer holder | Geography | Hi, when do you choose the other two subjects you are going to study in first year\? Also what kind of careers do graduates tend to go into\? Thanks\! |
| Staff | Geography | Hi Sophia, great to hear from you! You choose your other 2 subjects when you arrive at the university. I would advise having a look through the university course catalogue before you arrive just to see if there are any subject that you like the look of and you will then discuss this course choice with your advising team! |
| Offer holder | Geography | Great will do\! |
| Staff | Geography | In terms of careers they are really diverse, because the degree! In recent years we have had students go to work at Scottish and UK Government; Scottish Water; RSPB; International Medical Corps; Brewgooder; Prince and Princess of Wales Foundation. We have a real focus on Graduate Attributes throughout the degree program and many of our graduates get back in touch to say the focus on group work; problem solving; presentations etc. have really helped in their careers. Have a look at Zoe and Sandie's career stories to get a sense as to where students have went and how they use their degree: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/ges/community/careersalumni/zoecuthbert/ https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/ges/community/careersalumni/sandiemann/ |
| Offer holder | Geography | Thank you |
| Offer holder | Geography | what are the class sizes like for geography? |
| Staff | Geography | Hi Liam, the entire 1st year class is normally about 200 students. You see all these people in lectures but then labs are smaller (~30) with a designated friendly lab team and then tutorials (normally with the same tutor all year) are ~12 students. |
| Staff | Geography | Hi Liam, great to hear from you! The average class size for Geography 1 is 200 but you won't always be learning in such a large class you will also have smaller classes of 30 and 15 students to work with in your lab and tutorial classes so it will be easier to meet people from your class! |
| Offer holder | Geography | Hello, I have a place for "Business & Management" and now that I'm aware you have to also choose two other subjects to study, I was just wondering if you need to have obtained a certain grade in Maths (SQA Exam) to choose Psychology as Subject as well? |
| Staff | Geography | HI Brooke, Thank you for your question. Currently this chat room is being used to discuss Geography. However staff from Psychology will be in this chat room at 5pm. Please resubmit your question then |
| Offer holder | Geography | Hi, I've applied for English Literature but have a keen interest in Geography and studied it at A-Level. Would it be possible to continue Geography as a second subject as I know the Scottish degree structure initially allows for two additional subjects alongside the English? Thanks :) |
| Staff | Geography | Hi Sophie, great that you are interested in Geography! It can be a great combination with literature. You should be fine to take Geography as long as your third subject is from Arts to fulfil that College's requirements. |
| Offer holder | Geography | Great! Thank you for your help :) |
| Offer holder | Geography | What Geographical societies can you recommend to join in our free time\? |
| Staff | Geography | Hi Matthew, there is a dedicated UofG GeogSoc who organise a load of fun events and socials as well as inviting speakers. You could also join the Royal Scottish Geographical Society who have strong links with the university and have a talks programme in Glasgow. Is there any particular strand of geography you are more interested in? |
| Staff | Geography | Hi Matthew, we have an active society called GeogSoc that many of our undergraduates run and are part of! |
| Offer holder | Geography | Hello, i have applied to study economics and geography and i was wondering whether i would only be able to take modules in human geography as that is related to economics in a sense, or would i be able to take a combination of both human and physical? |
| Staff | Geography | Hiya James, in 1st and 2nd year all our students take the same degree program covering a mix of more human, physical, and environmental topics (and crucially connections between the two), as well as key skills required across the discipline such as critical reading, essay writing, GIS, statistics etc. From this broad base, in 3rd and 4th year you will then choose different honour options depending on specific interests alongside some core skill classes. You would also choose your own dissertation and groups projects etc. so a lot of flexibility and freedom in honours years after fundamental aspects are in place from years 1 and 2. Many students think they have a preference for one or the other and end up loving the aspect they weren't expecting so good to try it all!! |
| Staff | Geography | Hi James, great to hear from you! When studying Geography you will get a mixture of human, physical and environmental courses no matter what college you are in. In your 3rd and 4th year if you stay with geography and economics you can pick certain options that you want to pick and these can then be all human or all physical depending on your interests. Economics and Geography go really well together so you will find lots of nice overlaps! |
| Offer holder | Geography | Amazing, thank you both very much for the replies, I'll start to look into it. |
| Offer holder | Geography | what two subjects are most commonly picked alongside geography? |
| Staff | Geography | Hiya Liam, this is a tricky question to answer because the options are so vast and this is represented in our student body. You can take Geography in Sciences, Arts, and Social Sciences meaning our students are taking everything from biology to philosophy, computing to film and tv! For those in the sciences taking Earth Science is popular, while in Social Science subjects like Sociology or Politics are popular but you aren't restricted at all. What sort of subjects are you interested in? |
| Staff | Geography | Hi Liam, this really does depend on people's interests. Lots of our students study Earth Science/Geology alongside Geography but also many students may study politics, English Literature, Business, Social and Public Policy, Spanish and many more! |
| Offer holder | Geography | subjects of interest would probably be biology related, but earth science/geology does seem of interest. thanks |
| Staff | Geography | You can enter Geography from Sciences, Arts, and Social Science and while it doesn't effect the Geography at all it effects the subjects you can take alongside it so it sounds like you would be best entering via Science to take these sorts of subjects. Check out Cheryl's answer to Brian on the thread around that combo, you might find it helpful! |
| Offer holder | Geography | if you have applied to geography (socsic) then would you primarily be taught human geography or would there be a mix of human and physical? |
| Staff | Geography | Hi Lottie, lovely to hear from you! All students - whether they are from Arts, Social Science or Science and Engineering study the same course so everyone gets a mix of human, physical and environmental in their first year and then when you get into year 3 and 4 you can pick a range of options that are based on your own interests. At this stage some students may pick only human or physical options but most people do a mix as they enjoy both! |
| Staff | Geography | HI Lottie, everyone is taught the same Geography (human, physical and environmental) regardess of degree plan in 1st and 2nd year. At Honours you have a chance to specialise and of course there are opportunities to tailor projects and assessments to your interest throughout the degree. |
| Offer holder | Geography | I've applied for geography as a science and I'm thinking of picking maths and possibly business so if it turned out that I preferred the business to maths then would it be possible to drop the maths at the end of first year and continue the business, effectively changing my degree to a social science instead of a science? |
| Staff | Geography | Hi Max, you can certainly drop a subject at the end of 1st year continue with the others if you have the right set of grades to do so. We would look at what your choices are at the end of 2nd year to see whether a change of College is required and if so you can then apply to do so if that is needed. |
| Offer holder | Geography | Hi, similar question to others regarding how flexible degree operates. So for BSC Geography, thinking of options of Earth Sciences and Biology as additional 2 subjects in year 1. Would it be possible in theory to continue with 2 of these right through to a joint degree ultimately, say BSC Geography and Earth Sciences/Environmental Geoscience or even joint BSC in Geography and Biology? |
| Staff | Geography | HI Brian, If you take Geography and Earth Science up to the end of 2nd year you will then have the choice of 3 degrees: Geography, Environmental Geoscience or Geology. Under each of these degrees it is then possible to choose option courses from across the geosciences. If you are interested in Biology and Geography you might like some of our environmental geography or environmental geoscience modules at Honours level. We have lots of courses looking at conservation, aquatic ecosystems and climate change.Unfortunately a joint Biology-Geography degree is not currently available. |
| Staff | Geography | Hi Brian, in terms of Geography and Earth Science there is no joint degree programme here so this would have to be a selection that you made at the end of 2nd year - although as we are the same School there are options that are available in your third and fourth year that work across both programmes. In order to take Biology beyond 2nd year you must have chemistry and there is no joint programme with Biology/Geography. A small number of our students do pick Geography and Biology in their first year and find that Biology really helps them with some of the physical geography work in level 2. |
| Offer holder | Geography | ok many thanks |
| Offer holder | Geography | Hi, I've applied for the F800 for geography. Is it equally balanced for Human and Physical and am i able o do more of one than the other? |
| Staff | Geography | Hiya Matthew, In 1st and 2nd year all our students take the same course which is a mix between topics that are more human, more physical, environmental and the links between them all. As well as covering in tutorials and labs key skills such as critical reading, essay writing, GIS etc. Here you will get a flavour of the different staff and their interests so that in 3rd year you then select 'options' or 'modules'. 3rd year is worth 120 credits, and you select classes to make up 60 of these. You can keep things broad or focus on one side of the discipline more than the other. The other 60 credits each year are 'core' in 3rd years a lot of these are skills based around research and even in the core classes there can be choice, so for example what research topic you select on the field class. It is the same in 4th year, so 60 credits are core and 60 are the classes you choose, although in 4th year the 'core' credits come from your dissertation and a class Geography Beyond the Academy. You choose your dissertation topic and sign up for a topic for Beyond Academy, so although they are 'core credits' actually you choose the area. Hope that helps! |
| Staff | Geography | HI Matthew, human, physical and environmental geograohy are evenly balanced in the degree in the first 2 years. Once you get into 3rd year you can tailor the courses you take to your interest - keeping it broad or speialising in one area. What are you particularly interested in? |
| Offer holder | Geography | Thankyou! |
| Offer holder | Geography | Sorry, also had a question about the Environmental Science and Sustainability degree at the Dumfries campus. That course seems to have a very practical slant with work experience opportunities with a number of excellent organisations. Do Geography students at Glasgow campus have the opportunity to similarly access summer/work exoerience with these organisations? |
| Staff | Geography | Whilst our Geography students do not have direct work experience built into the degree programme a number of our students are supported into summer placements through the University's career service and we work closely with the careers team to advertise any opportunities to our students |
| Staff | Geography | Some great questions being asked here! There are 10 minutes left to get your questions into staff members from Geography. Please submit any questions you have for them. |
| Staff | Geography | It has been lovely chatting with folks, and sorry it hasn't been in person! Some great questions, but if you have questions after this people can contact Geography on ges-general@glasgow.ac.uk and your email will get passed on to the member of staff who can answer your question! |
| Offer holder | Geography | If i was to study Economics and Geography, in the first year, as taking 3 subjects is required, could i take environmental sciences as that 3rd subject? As i am sure its on a different campus all together. |
| Staff | Geography | Hi James, there isn't currently Env Science on the Glasgow campus as far as I'm aware. You could take Earth Science or Environmental Biology? |
| Staff | Geography | Hi James, all students will do 3 subjects in their first year so you would pick something else to do alongside Economics and Geography. Environmental Sciences is not available as an option as it is only studied at the Dumfries Campus which is a separate programme. There are plenty of other subjects that have an environmental component you can study, such as Earth Science that might of interest. |
| Offer holder | Geography | I will definitely look into the Earth Sciences, so thank you very much for the replies again! |
| Staff | Geography | You're very welcome - do get in touch with any other questions. |
| Staff | Geography | Members of staff from Geography will be here for 5 more minutes. Please get any further questions in. If you have asked a question and you are still awaiting a response, can you please repost your question now. |
| Offer holder | Just one more please. I see some universities seem to use the terms Earth Sciences and Environmental Geoscience interchangeably and I know in Glasgow it's referred to as Earth Sciences. Is there actually a difference between the two? | |
| Staff | Geography | Good question! Yes, there is a difference - Earth Science is focussed on all Earth components and processes - it is perhaps easier to think of it as Geology with an environmental slant. Environmental science will tend to be more biology/ecology-orientated. Does that clarify things? |
| Offer holder | Geography | perfect, thank you! |
| Staff | There are only 2 minutes left to speak to staff members from Geography, so get any questions you may have for them in just now. | |
| Staff | Geography | Thank you for taking part in the live chat with Cheryl, Emma and Hannah from Geography. We hope that you found this session informative. If you have questions after this people can contact Geography on ges-general@glasgow.ac.uk and your email will get passed on to the member of staff who can answer your question |
Archaeology , Celtic & Gaelic, Classics, History, Information Studies, Philosophy
| User name | Subject | Message |
| Staff | Hello! Thank you for joining us this afternoon for our Humanities chat. The subjects included in Humanities are Archaeology, Celtic & Gaelic, Classics, History, Information Studies and Philosophy. If you have any questions about our degrees please let us know, we have academics, staff and students ready to chat. Our chat today will run from 5.35 – 6.15pm | |
| Offer holder | Hi, I’m going to be studying History and was wondering what other 2 subjects you would suggest for me to take in my first year? | |
| Staff | Information Studies | you can take a choice of subjects from across Arts and some Social Science - why not look at subjects you may not have studied at School? |
| Current student | Hi Caitlin, I would recommend you look through the options and see what interests you, most of the courses will be quite complimentary. I chose sociology and Central Eastern European Studies and thought both were interesting and very useful!! | |
| Offer holder | Is there anywhere that I could get a list of potential subjects I could study alongside history? | |
| Staff | History | Hi Caitlin, thanks for the question. There is no right answer. It's best to do what two subjects you're interested in. We have students who take all different paths with their other two subjects. |
| Offer holder | For History, what books will we need? | |
| Staff | History | Hi Hope, The level 1 History courses will have wide reading lists, with journal articles and book chapters specific to your lecture and seminar topics. Much of this will be available online. Very few books need to be purchased. In History we read widely and avoid 'textbook' views. |
| Offer holder | Was wondering roughly how many contact hours there would be a week for Philosophy, also what referencing style is used? | |
| Staff | Philosophy | Referencing-wise, you can use whatever style you're comfortable, so long as you're consistent. |
| Current student | Hi Alannah, you'll have an hour seminar and 4 one hour lectures a week (: also they don't mind what style you use as long as you're consistent | |
| Offer holder | Perfect thanks! | |
| Offer holder | hi i have an offer for history and i was just wondering if it is possible to study abroad in america in my third year, or can you only study in europe? | |
| Staff | Hi Erin, you can see what destinations there are for studying abroad on our Go Abroad pages: www.glasgow.ac.uk/myglasgow/students/goabroad | |
| Staff | History | Hi Erin, we have partners all over the world including South Korea, Europe, North America and Australia. We would encourage you to go abroad. |
| Offer holder | hi, is there a reading list for history? if so will we be sent it before uni begins? | |
| Current student | Usually you will get a reading list early on. The way it generally works is that you will be recommended to do certain readings (usually just of chapters in books or essays in journals) for each week, and you are given enough time to do this during the semester. You will be fine using just the library from my experience, so no need to buy anything! | |
| Offer holder | Hi there, I'm planning to study history, is there a proportional mix of exams and essay assignments during 1st year? | |
| Current student | Hi Louis! There is one essay and one exam in each semester. However, seminar work is crucial for history too. | |
| Offer holder | Hi, was wondering what sort of things you cover in your first year, is it strictly medieval in first year? | |
| Current student | Hi Nicole! In 1st semester you will have : HISTORY 1A: SCOTLAND'S MILLENNIUM: KINGDOM, UNION AND NATION C 1000-1999 and in the second one HISTORY 1B: EUROPE RISING. THE MEDIEVAL WORLD, 500-1500 . Both of them are really good. So, it's rather a mixture. | |
| Offer holder | For Classics, is there an opportunity to study abroad? and what way are the classes structured? as well as exams and essays? | |
| Staff | Classics | If you do straight Classics you *have* to go abroad in year three for a project visiting sites in Greece and Rome - you design the trip and get money from the faculty to visit sites you love. it's a great programme (Core Travel). Courses are normally a mix of lectures and semianrs (about 10-15 students), with more lectures and fewer seminars in year 1, and about half and half by year 3-4. We tend to assess by a combination of exams and essays - a typical course will have one essay and one exam, but it varies a lot |
| Offer holder | For history, what are the modules we will be covering in first year? | |
| Staff | History | Hi Hope, in first year you will study Scottish History and Medieval European History |
| Offer holder | is there a fair amount of modern history in the first year course? | |
| Staff | History | HI Catie, the first year includes medieval to modern history. We take a broad view in the first two years and then get more specialised in place and time at Honours level. |
| Current student | Hi Catie! The first year course is very braod so you study from a whole range of periods and then in third year you can really narrow down on what periods you're particularly interested in! Hope this helps! |
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| Offer holder | For History, how are lectures/lessons taught? Will resources be available online somehow for us after or before classes? | |
| Current student | Almost all of the resources will be available online beforehand, including recommended reading etc. You will usually have a few lectures every week, and then seminar groups with up to 12 students. In the lectures there will usually be a presentation (that you can find online as well) for all of the students on the course, so about 300, and time for a few questions. In the seminars, you will discuss the readings you are supposed to have done as well as the lectures; this is also the time to ask questions! | |
| Staff | History | Hi Caitlin, we offer large lectures and small seminar groups. All have recommended reading via an online reading list. Most readings will be digitised eg a journal article or ebook. Seminar sources are all available online. |
| Current student | Hi Caitlin! History usuallyy runs on a basis of 3 lectures a week on week and a seminar the following week and any materials you will require are told to you in advance via moodle | |
| Offer holder | Anyone able to give me some information on Archaeology and what topics we cover? | |
| Staff | Archaeology | Hi Nicole, we cover a wide range of topics in Archaeology. In first year, we cover Scottish Archaeology, and also a module on how we practice archaeology in contemporary society. Then in second year we look at a range of key artefacts, and also the methods, theory and practice of archaeology. In Honours, there's a great variety to choose from! From Near Eastern archaeology, Neolithic Britain, the archaeology of ritual and religion, digital archaeology... Is there a particular topic you're interested in? |
| Offer holder | Hi, would you say the modules are interesting and would you recommend taking it as a subject alongside, Ancient History? | |
| Staff | Archaeology | Hi Nicole, I definitely think the modules are interesting, but I'm one of the lecturers so might be a bit biased...! The first modules you'll do cover a really interesting range - the Archaeology of Scotland from prehistory to the present day (so about 12,000 years in 12 weeks!). And then in the second semester, in archaeology in the modern world, we debate some interesting topics and how they relate to archaeology - nationalism, metal detecting, how we dig sites, who owns the past... It would definitely be a good combination with Ancient History - I think the two subjects would have nice complementary approaches to thinking about the past. |
| Offer holder | Is there any modules that specifically cover the Mediterranean? and what type of modules can we choose ourselves? | |
| Staff | Archaeology | Yes, we cover Mediterranean archaeology as part of the second year course, and there are also some modules you can choose at Honours that look at Mediterranean archaeology. Some of our staff actively research Mediterranean archaeology too. Everyone will do the same archaeology modules for the first two years, and then you can choose based on your own interests in Honours (3rd and 4th year). There are a lot of types of modules to choose for honours - some focus on a particular period or geographical region, others look at particular methods or techniques. |
| Offer holder | For archaeology, what modules are there for first year? | |
| Staff | Archaeology | Hi, we have a course called Archaeology of Scotland, everything about our past from 10000BC to today. |
| Staff | Archaeology | Then in semester 2 we do Archaeology int he Modern World, about the relevance of archaeology, TV and films archaeology, issues to do with repatriation of materials from museums, how we deal with the dead, climate crisis etc. |
| Offer holder | Hello everyone, I have a question regarding the differences between Celtic Civilization and Celtic Studies course? | |
| Staff | Celtic & Gaelic | Hi Tracy, these are different degree programmes at Honours level rather than diffferent courses. The main diffferences are: Celtic Studies allows you to include language, and can be a Single or Joint degree. Celtic Civilisation doesn't include language study and can only be taken as one half of a Joint degree. |
| Offer holder | I have two offers that I am considering.both are Scottish History with either Celtic Studies or Celtic Civilization. | |
| Offer holder | Would it be advisable to choose Scottish history Celtic Studies and have Celtic Civilization as my third subject? | |
| Staff | Celtic & Gaelic | They're not different subjects, Tracy. In 1st and 2nd year there are four Celtic Civilisation modules you can take (you'll find details of what they cover, assessment, etc, on the Powerpoint). After that, if you want to study a Celtic language you go for Celtic Studies, if you don't you go for Celtic Civ (with another Subject). As far as I know, everyone in History does some Scottish history at Level 1 or 2. I'd encourage you try something new for your 3rd subject in 1st year. |
| Staff | Celtic & Gaelic | Also remember Tracy - your degree plan isn't set in stone until you reach 3rd year. You may end up doing a different combination than you first intended, if you find you enjoy a new subject so much you want to include it in your degree. |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much for your help. | |
| Offer holder | Is there any recommended reading for Philosophy? | |
| Current student | Hey, they will have a reading list before teaching any module up on the online teaching platform called moodle, seminar tutors will also email you about any specific reading they want you to do for the week ahead (: | |
| Offer holder | Great thank you :) | |
| Staff | Philosophy | To get more of an idea of what philosophy is, see also here: http://www.davidbain.org/whats-philosophy |
| Staff | Philosophy | That page also has further recommendations, e.g. Simon Blackburn's intros. But there is no required reading before you turn up! |
| Offer holder | Great thanks! I will take a look :) | |
| Offer holder | Hi was wondering what areas of Hustory are studied, if they're different from school or further education and what reading would you recommend for the modules? Thanks | |
| Staff | History | Hi Olivia, in History we take a broad view in years 1 and 2 with medieval to modern history of Scotland, Europe and global history. This gives a strong foundation for Honours. In Honours you have a wide choice of specialised topics. Glasgow has strengths in gender history, war studies, Scottish History and American History, to name a few. All modules have online reading lists. |
| Offer holder | Hi, guys. DMIS is my first choice, but I was wondering if it would be possible to choose Software Programming as a third choice? |
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| Staff | Information Studies | Hi there - you can choose two other subjects in first year, so a computing science course could work |
| Offer holder | Hi. I’m looking at DMIS for next year. Is there any reading you would recommend? Many thanks. Dan | |
| Staff | Information Studies | Hi John, Great to hear your considering DMIS next year! I'd recommend having a look at our online reading list for DMIS Level 1A here which are organised by teaching weeks/content (https://rl.talis.com/3/glasgow/lists/8760EA35-7295-B3D8-8C7A-F9F97C94FD9E.html; or by Googling "Reading Lists @ Glasgow"). The Companions to Digital Humanities offer an excellent starting point, while "Cultural Heritage Information" helps provide some useful context on digital cultural heritage, digitisation etc; many items listed are available to read online. Hope this helps, and hope to see you in DMIS L1! :) |
| Offer holder | Hi, I was wondering if origins of life and the universe are topics studied in philosophy and whether there are any opportunities to debate philosophicla questions? | |
| Current student | Hi Faith, in first year I studied the meaning of life and under what philosophical ideologies we should live and what that means. There is plenty of space for debates about philosophical questions in seminars as well (: | |
| Offer holder | sounds great, thank you :) | |
| Staff | Philosophy | Hi Faith, the origins of the Universe - in the sense of why there is something rather than nothing is a topic in metaphysics. This is a topic that you might cover in more specialist courses in third and fourth years. The origin of life isn't a topic central to philosophy - but rather biology - but it is something that does get some thought in philosophy of biology, including the question of what life is. That might be something that you could pursue in a dissertation in later years. There are lots of opportunities to debate philosophical questions. Courses consist of a mixture of lectures and tutorials and the tutorials are exactly for that debate. There are also other opportunities at the Philosophy Society and other informal events. |
| Offer holder | Is there any way we could prepare for our first year for history? Any books we should read, areas we should look into if we have spare time? | |
| Staff | History | Hi Caitlin, on the website you can find the convenors for History 1A and 1B and they can suggest some readings. Any good textbook on Scottish history and medieval Europe would give you some background. |
| Offer holder | Are 3rd and 4th year courses for history only the ones from the website or are there generally more options/mandatory courses? | |
| Current student | Hi Irma, I am currently in my third year of a history degree and can confirm there are no compulsory courses at this stage. Options change year to year depending on what courses lecturers are running | |
| Staff | History | Hi Irma, courses on offer vary every year depending on who is on research leave. New staff might offer new courses. The lists we provide are indicative of the range of topics you might study. |
| Offer holder | Hi there, I am considering joint course with philosophy. Is it a humanist-friendly philosophy or should I be really good at maths and physics? | |
| Current student | Hi Jan, you only need to know maths in the logic sessions but with the way that the course is laid out you have a choice to answer on two out of three sections in the exam so if you don't like maths/science much like me then you're going to be fine (: | |
| Staff | Philosophy | We do analytic philosophy - which requires the use of argument and reason at all times. Those bear a close resemblance to logic and maths - but they are not technical in the same way. Many people who are not good at maths do well in philosophy. |
| Offer holder | I've accepted my offer for MA maths and philosophy, and I was wondering if there was a big jump in level from Advanced Higher RMPS? I was also wondering if there was any recommended reading for philosophy before the course begins. Thank you :) | |
| Current student | Hi Kira, with philosophy they give you any recommended reading before they start teaching on the online platform moodle, also the modules explored (if they haven't changed a lot since I did it) are arguments, logic, ethical philosophy and what comes after life and that is just a few of what I remember (: | |
| Staff | Philosophy | There are two first-year philosophy modules. The first is called "How Should I Think?" and is a general introduction which covers some metaphysics, some philosophy of mind, some epistemology. The second semester module, "How Should I Live?" is more ethics-based. You do some moral theory, and some political philosophy. |
| Staff | Philosophy | On the question of whether there is a big step up - I would say that we do expect more from people than at higher or A-level - but at the same time we don't presuppose that people have done any previous philosophy study. Most people find it very manageable. |
| Offer holder | Ok, thank you :) how many essays are there in the first year and is the workload manageable? | |
| Current student | There is one essay per semester and a short seminar quiz worth 1% at the start of every seminar class, I found the workload very manageable (: | |
| Offer holder | Ok, thank you so much :) | |
| Staff | Philosophy | See also http://www.davidbain.org/whats-philosophy |
| Offer holder | what topics are covered in first year philosophy? | |
| Staff | Philosophy | Hi Abbey. There are two first-year philosophy modules. The first is called "How Should I Think?" and is a general introduction which covers some metaphysics, some philosophy of mind, some epistemology. The second semester module, "How Should I Live?" is more ethics-based. You do some moral theory, and some political philosophy. |
| Staff | Philosophy | The first semester is mainly about developing critical thinking and basic logic skills, as well as some epistemology and philosophy of perception; the second semester covers questions like personal identity, friendship and morality, and nationalism and cosmopolitanism. The particular content changes from year to year and depending on the people teaching parts of the course, but those are the general thrusts. |
| Offer holder | Hello, for history is the focus mainly on Scottish history or does the course also cover England and other countries? | |
| Staff | History | Hi Susannah, in your first semester the focus will be on Scottish history, but after that you'll get history from around the world: American history, European history and Global history are some of our strengths. |
| Staff | History | You can take a degree in Scottish History but most people study History. Glasgow has a very wide ranging History dept. |
| Offer holder | Is classics a competitive subject for an elective? | |
| Staff | Classics | Generally people can get onto the third subject that they want - our first and second year courses are big, but we rarely turn people away. of course there are grade requirements for getting from first year to second year or second year to honours, but we can disucss those. In short, if you wanted to come to glasgow and take classics as a third subject, you'd be able to |
| Offer holder | Hi, for Classics, I was wondering how many contact hours there are in a week? | |
| Staff | Classics | Hi Danielle, In the first two years it's something like three lectures and one seminar a week (and something similar for your other two subjects). |
| Offer holder | Are history lectures recorded? | |
| Staff | History | Hi Hope, in special circumstances, it is allowed, but it is not standard practise to record lectures. |
| Offer holder | What does studying History involve, what is covered, how is it assessed? I am thinking of taking it as an extra subject. | |
| Current student | https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/history/ this will give you an overview of what is covered, an assessment will compromise of a presentation, essay, and exam per semester. | |
| Staff | History | Hi Fraser, you'll study Scottish History and Medieval Europe in First Year. You'll be assessed through a variety of ways: presentations, essays, and exam. |
| Current student | Hi Fraser! First year involves 1st semester = HISTORY 1A: SCOTLAND'S MILLENNIUM: KINGDOM, UNION AND NATION C 1000-1999 2 semester = HISTORY 1B: EUROPE RISING. THE MEDIEVAL WORLD, 500-1500 There is one essay and one exam in each semester, but the seminar work is crucial too. |
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| Offer holder | Is there much group work involved in History? Is there lots of personal reading to do? | |
| Staff | History | Hi Fraser, yes there will be group work and personal reading. But it is offered in a way that will be manageable for you. |
| Current student | Group presentations for instance start only in 2nd year. But presentations in general are for 2nd years. | |
| Offer holder | For Ancient History there isn't modules available on the University website would i be able to speak to someone who can give an insight into the course itself? | |
| Staff | Classics | Hi there - Ancient History is a part of the Classics subject area and so it draws on a lot of the same modules. It's better thought of a stream within Classics than a totally distinct subject in its own right, and so the Classics course catalogue is a good first port of call. What sort of things are you interested in? |
| Offer holder | okay, thank you. Im mainly interested in Greek and Roman History. The role of woman in roman history and also i have previously learnt about Hannibal as well as Herodotus so quite interested in them specifically. | |
| Staff | Classics | Well, Herodotus is also covered in our second year programme, and I teach both Herodotus and Hannibal in my Honours course Ancient Warfare. |
| Offer holder | what is the difference between ancient history and classics? | |
| Staff | History | In the first two years you do the same courses: early Greece & republican Rome; then in your second year Classical Greece and Imperial Rome. They cover history, art & archaeology, and literature. Then in Honours you can specialise more, e.g. in Ancient History |
| Staff | Classics | Hi there - ancient history gives you a narrower focus on 'historical' subjects (i.e. the wheres, whens, and whos) whilst classics goes for a broader approach that also bring in literature, philosophy, and art. so if you are interested in straight history, ancient history may be the way to go, but if you want something a bit broader, you may prefer classics |
| Offer holder | What IT requirements are there for Studying Archaeology? | |
| Staff | Archaeology | Nothing specific. We specialise in things like GIS from 3rd year onwards if you want to, but before that just being able to use basic microsoft stuff is all you need. |
| Staff | Archaeology | Hi Cameron, no particular IT skills needed beyond word processing etc....there's great opportunities for digital archaeology if it's something you're interested in (e.g. mapping, gaming) - but we'll introduce you to everything you need to know, there are no prerequisites. |
| Staff | Archaeology | Archaeology is a great option for a 2nd or 3rd subject. You don't need to have done any archaeology before, of even history. It is as much fun as you would imagine! |
| Offer holder | Are there many job prospects if someone takes philosophy? What kind of fields do graduates tend to go into? | |
| Staff | Philosophy | You will develop many transferable skills and attributes which will be valuable in your future career. These include the ability to evaluate arguments and interpret texts, the facility to be analytical, the skill to think and write clearly and precisely, and the capacity to question assumptions. Some of our graduates go on to study for postgraduate degrees in Philosophy and some of these progress to teach in universities. Others go on to a wide range of careers. Examples of recent destinations for Philosophy graduates include: Hydrogen Group, recruitment consultant Beijing School, English teacher Hopscotch Films, TV researcher Guardian online, audience editor Civil Service fast track (treasury and MoD) Solicitor Water Industry Commission, regulation analyst International Organisation for Migration Iraq, project support officer. |
| Staff | Philosophy | I recommend taking a look at the video that our colleague, Robert Cowan, has made (https://youtu.be/zlUp0bnX-J8) . he discusses the jobs some of our recent graduates have gone into. In short, it's very varied! |
| Staff | Philosophy | See also: http://www.davidbain.org/teaching/employability-of-philosophy-students |
| Staff | Philosophy | Here too: http://dailynous.com/value-of-philosophy/ |
| Staff | Philosophy | Few employers are looking for knowledge of Socrates' thought, say; but LOTS are looking for articulate, smart people who can communicate clearly, analyse complex issues, and present good and compelling arguments. Philosophy is perfect for teaching those skills, as many employers these days realise. |
| Staff | Philosophy | http://dailynous.com/value-of-philosophy/ |
| Offer holder | Hi there, I have an offer for Gaelic and History and was wondering what is covered in the Gaelic course in first year? | |
| Staff | Celic & Gaelic | Hi Catherine it depends what level of Gaelic you have. A bheil Gaidhlig agad mar-tha? |
| Staff | Celic & Gaelic | To explain: we have three Gaelic courses in 1st Year, one for total beginners, one for students with a Gaelic H, and one for students with Higher Gaidhlig. |
| Staff | Celic & Gaelic | You'll find info about each course on the C & G Powerpoint on this website. The info is less detailed than for Celtic Civilisation courses because the actual content for teh Intermediate and Advanced courses can vary from year to year. |
| Offer holder | Tha Gaidhlig agam! I have higher gaidhlig | |
| Staff | Celic & Gaelic | But Intermediate and Advanced both have a language skills component and a literature component (contemporary fiction/drama/song/poetry). THere's also a background course on Gaelic culture and Society through the centuries, for all three classes. |
| Staff | Celic & Gaelic | Oh math fhein! Bidh thu faighinn da chlas canain gach seachdain agus da chlas litreachais cuideachd (ficsean & drama; agus Bardachd/orain). Chi thu beagan fiosrachaidh abharrachd air a' PPT againn. |
| Offer holder | With the first semester I know that you have to study Scottish history. What sort of things would be covered in this and what are the date range? Also post the first semester are there a wide range of modules available to choose from and again what date range would this be? Would Nazi Germany be offered as a module? | |
| Current student | The date range in semester one would be roughly the last 1000 years and would therefore also include very modern subjects. Modules in history are compulsory, as in all subjects, for the first two years so that you have a strong foundation in the subject. If you look at this website it will give you a good overview: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/history/ In your last two years (Honours) you will get to choose from a huge range of modules, including topics that will touch on modern history and genocide. |
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| Staff | History | Hi Joshua, I've attached a document which details the vast array of subjects you can study, as well as detailing what is covered in First Year. |
| Current student | Hi Joshua, it ranges from Middle Ages up to 2008. You don't get choice in modules until your third year; all first and second year history modules are mandatory | |
| Offer holder | I really enjoyed arguments in action in higher philosophy. is this covered as part of the course? | |
| Staff | Philosophy | Do you mean arguments in action in the sense of applied philosophy? |
| Staff | Philosophy | Arguments are a crucial part of philosophy. How to make a good argument and how to evaluate arguments is a focus in our first semester module. |
| Staff | Philosophy | If you meant in the more technical sense that m'colleague Joe suggests above, then yep, as he says, we do that too! |
| Staff | Philosophy | Yes, we do little else but argue (nicely!). Logic is the study of what makes good and bad arguments; there's plenty of that, but also much more informal arguing about all the other things philosophy can be about. For a sketch of just some of the things we argue about, see http://www.davidbain.org/whats-philosophy |
| Offer holder | I'm doing history and archeology but I'm a little unsure of what to do for my third subject choice. what are some good ideas? | |
| Staff | Information Studies | Can I suggest Digital Media and Information Studies :-) |
| Current student | Hi Hope! In my 1st year I did Classics, and in my 2nd Latin. | |
| Staff | Information Studies | Hi Hope, I'd recommend Digital Media and Information Studies - offers you many useful digital and theoretical skills applicable to History and Archaeology! :) |
| Staff | History | Depends on your interests! Classics is good, as there's a fair bit of overlap (e.g. Classical archaeology). If you like modern history, then Economic and Social History is worth looking at. Some people go for something quite different, like a language. There are no requirements about particular subjects. |
| Staff | Archaeology | Lots of archaeology students do Classics and Celtic, but any subject in Humanities has a connection to archaeology. I suggest choosing something that looks interesting and fun. |
| Offer holder | What topics are covered in Ancient History? | |
| Staff | Classics | We have a really broad range of Greek and Latin history and now a little Egyptian history as well, so we cover a pretty broad array of topics on Middle Kingdom Egypt, Classical Greece, the Hellenistic World, the Roman Republic, the Roman Empire, and Late Antiquity. What are your interests? And have you taken a look at our online course catalogue? |
| Staff | Classics | In the first two years you do the normal Classics courses: early Greece & Republican Rome; then Classical Greece and Imperial Rome. They cover history, literature, art and archaeology. There's more choice at Honours, and you can specialise in a range of ancient history courses, e.g. Athenian democracy, history of medicine in Greece and Rome (but note that I'm in Archaeology; I do a bit of teaching in Classics but don't know their curriculum well) |
| Offer holder | I wasn't able to find the course catalogue for ancient history only classics. thank you! i studied mainly greek and roman history in school. How is the course structured in terms of essays and exams? Do you have optional modules in first and second year or is it chosen for you? | |
| Offer holder | Im quite interested in the role of women as i learnt about Agrippina. Is there any modules that cover that period of time? | |
| Offer holder | Would you recommend doing archaeology alongside ancient history? | |
| Staff | Classics | So yes to both - our second year course covers the imperial period and we actually have specific seminars on Agrippina (and I'm currently supervising an undergraduate dissertation on her). And archaeology is a very natrual pairing with Classics. We have some very archaeologically focussed modules, and of course lots of archaeology's syllabus is grounded in the classical world. |
| Offer holder | thats great, thanks so much. Is there opportunities to study abroad? and how is the course structured in terms of classes a week, exams and essays. thanks | |
| Staff | Classics | If you do straight Classics you *have* to go abroad in year three for a project visiting sites in Greece and Rome - you design the trip and get money from the faculty to visit sites you love. it's a great programme (Core Travel). |
| Staff | Classics | Courses are normally a mix of lectures and semianrs (about 10-15 students), with more lectures and fewer seminars in year 1, and about half and half by year 3-4. We tend to assess by a combination of exams and essays - a typical course will have one essay and one exam, but it varies a lot |
| Offer holder | what kind of job prospects come with a joint honours in history and Spanish. thanks | |
| Staff | History | Hi Melissa, History graduates are recognised as proficient at analysis and writing, and go in to a range of jobs in civil service, business, journalism, heritage. With Spanish you can work abroad in these areas or work in international businesses. |
| Staff | Hi Melissa, languages are always useful and the great thing about Arts/Humanities subjects are that they give you lots of transferable skills in writing, analysing, persuading and communicating. We have videos from some of our past students who are all doing great and varied careers on our website. In your case I'd definitely watch Gavin (who did French and History) and Rosie's videos (French and Politics): https://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/arts/students/wwyb/ | |
| Offer holder | Thanks that sounds great :) really looking forward to the courses. | |
| Staff | Philosophy | In philosophy you will develop many transferable skills and attributes which will be valuable in your future career. These include the ability to evaluate arguments and interpret texts, the facility to be analytical, the skill to think and write clearly and precisely, and the capacity to question assumptions. Some of our graduates go on to study for postgraduate degrees in Philosophy and some of these progress to teach in universities. Others go on to a wide range of careers. Examples of recent destinations for Philosophy graduates include: Hydrogen Group, recruitment consultant Beijing School, English teacher Hopscotch Films, TV researcher Guardian online, audience editor Civil Service fast track (treasury and MoD) Solicitor Water Industry Commission, regulation analyst International Organisation for Migration Iraq, project support officer. |
| Offer holder | How big is the jump from Advanced Higher History to first year history at uni? | |
| Current student | History at university is done so that everybody can be successful at it. If you do find it difficult, there are a lot of ways in which you can find support, so I would not worry about it! | |
| Staff | History | Hi Caitlin, you will be well prepared by Advanced Higher in terms of skills. The main change is that we ask you to read more widely because you have access to a major research library whereas your school won't have as many books. |
| Offer holder | Do we have to write dissertations in first year? | |
| Current student | No, you will only write a dissertation in your final year at university and will be well prepared for it by then! | |
| Staff | History | Hi Hope, dissertations are written in fourth year. They allow you to draw together your learning from all 4 years. |
| Staff | Archaeology | No, this will happen in 4th year. Essays in first year are usually 1000-2500 words long. |
| Offer holder | I hold an offer for history - I studied advanced higher in my sixth year and wondered if the course difficulty is similar to that of first year uni? | |
| Staff | History | Hi Eve, you will be well prepared by Advanced Higher in terms of skills. The main difference is that you will be able to read more widely since we have a very well stocked library. This allows you to think more about debates in History. |
| Staff | History | Hi Eve, you will be well prepared for University-level History if you have studied History at Advanced Higher. |
| Offer holder | Are there many trips to archaeological sites during the archaeology course? | |
| Current student | Hi Sophie! There two field trips in 1st year. And in 2nd year there is a weekend trip. | |
| Staff | Archaeology | Yes Sophie, we do two fieldtrips in first year to sites from prehistory to Roman to medieval. We will also encourage and support you in doing excavations and getting heritage work experience. Then trips get longer and cooler from 2nd year onwards. |
| Staff | Archaeology | In first year there are two day-long trips; in second year a weekend trip; then three weeks fieldwork before you go into Honours, plus a 4-day fieldtrip. You do a minimum of 25 days of fieldwork/heritage experience |
| Offer holder | Hi, any books that you would recommend readying for philosophy? Not necessarily required reading but more good books to read out of interest? | |
| Current student | The Big Think Book is fun | |
| Staff | Philosophy | Hi Amelia. I think it depends what you're interested in really. The main text we use in our first year ethics module is by Julia Driver. It's called "Ethics: The Fundamentals". |
| Staff | Philosophy | If you've got a particular topic you're interested in, let us know, and we can think about recommending something. |
| Staff | Philosophy | Simon Blackburn's 'Think' is pretty well regarded as a general intro/broad interest book, though I always recommend Ursula LeGuin's 'The Disposessed' as both an excellent work of fiction and also a sneaky piece of political philosophy |
| Staff | Philosophy | I like this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Does-All-Mean-Introduction/dp/0195174372 |
| Staff | Philosophy | This is a more in-depth classic: https://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Western-Philosophy-Routledge-Classics/dp/0415325056 |
| Offer holder | That’s great, thanks! | |
| Offer holder | hi, i studied advanced higher history over the past year and was wondering if there was a huge jump between that and first year uni level. in terms of the depth of content and quality of essays etc | |
| Current student | Hi Caitie, advanced higher may be somewhat similar to the level expected in 1st year but you will cover a wide variety of subjects in your first two years so will still be learning new material. However, don't worry as there is lots of help offered in the first two years to help with the transition as they just want you to do well :) There is also an optional writing department at university dedicated to helping with essay writing and critical thinking. | |
| Offer holder | How many teachers/lecturers are there for history? | |
| Staff | History | Hi Caitlin, I can't comment on the exact number, but by the time you get to 3rd year, you will have over 40 courses to choose from. |
| Current student | As well as Doctors and Professors you will also be taught (primarily in seminar settings) by doctoral candidates | |
| Staff | History | We have about 30 historians teaching at Glasgow. |
| Offer holder | When will we recieve the reading lists for history and archeology? | |
| Current student | Hi Hope! The reading lists wont be published til later on but in the mean time you can access past years reading lists to give you an idea of what to expect via this link: https://glasgow.rl.talis.com/index.html Hope this helps! |
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| Staff | Archaeology | Hi Hope, usually you'll get the archaeology reading lists at the start of the semester. |
| Staff | Archaeology | Our reading list will be available a few weeks before the course starts, But you can email us over the summer and ask earlier if you want. Our contact details are here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/subjects/archaeology/staff/ |
| Offer holder | Thank you! | |
| Offer holder | In high school, I wasn't offered a philosophy course, yet I plan to study it here, do I need to make any preparation? | |
| Current student | Hi Phoebe, nope no prior knowledge necessary! Just an open mind and willingness to learn as that is all I had (: | |
| Staff | Philosophy | Our courses don't presuppose that you have done any philosophy to date. But it is worth doing a bit of reading on the subject if you haven't done any. You might try some introductory books like this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Does-All-Mean-Introduction/dp/0195174372 |
| Staff | Philosophy | Also, here's a very brief sketch of some philosophical questions plus a bit of further reading (to whet your appetite, but none of it required): http://www.davidbain.org/whats-philosophy |
| Staff | Philosophy | One of the philosophers, Robert Cowan, has made a video for prospective applicants which tells you about philosophy in general and philosophy at Glasgow in particular. You can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlUp0bnX-J8&feature=youtu.be |
| Offer holder | I've sat a night course at glasgow before and I had a lot of trouble writing notes whilst keeping up with the lecturer. Any tips? | |
| Current student | Only take down what is absolutely necessary! I also like ot download lecture slides, if possible, before hand, and then write/type on top of those. | |
| Staff | History | Lectures are only ever to give you background information in History. They are not what you will be assessed upon. So maybe just try to enjoy them and take down key points that you think are important for you to remember rather than a transcribe the whole lecture. |
| Staff | Archaeology | Hope, you don't need to worry as our 1st year lectures are recorded so you can watch back and take notes at your own pace. |
| Offer holder | Ah, thank you so much! | |
| Current student | Hi Holly, most subjects put their slides online before or after the lecture so I recommend writing whatever the lecturer is actually saying and then getting the notes from the slides later (: | |
| Staff | Philosophy | There are often hand-outs available with the key points listed. But your skills quickly build up over time at taking notes fast. And it is a useful skill to have. If you become a professional academic then you listen and respond to a lot of lectures from other academics and being able to take note is very useful. It's also very useful in other jobs, when listening to presentations on any subject. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I've applied for joint sociology and philosophy and was wondering if DMIS is anything close to higher media studies or would film and television studies be more closely linked? | |
| Staff | Information Studies | Hi Faith - we're a mixture of digital media and Information studies - so you do get transferabll skills from DMIS but also knowledge ot the theory of information. many students take DMIS joint with FTV. |
| Offer holder | Is there an option to continue Latin, Greek and my 3rd choice such as Italian for the full 4/ 5years, or do I have to drop one after the first 2 years? Also what are the options for studying abroad with classics, and would it clash with my obligatory year out for a moden language such as Italian? |
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| Staff | Classics | We have a travel programme in third year for Classics (Core Travel), but this is *only* for people doing straight Classics (i.e. not Latin and Greek). That said, you can do the Classics programme and still take *some* language modules. Carrying on with three subject beyond year one is tricky but not always impossible. |
| Offer holder | Are there any books, essays or articles anyone would recommend for history students before starting in September? Specifically for Scottish history as that is the focus in 1st year! | |
| Staff | History | Hi Susannah, If you want to make a start you can read any good textbook of Scottish or medieval European history to get a grounding. We will provide plenty of specialised reading for each lecture and seminar when you start. |
| Offer holder | Are there opportunities to talk to history lecturers about anything you might not understand out of timetabled class hours? | |
| Current student | Hi Caitlin! Your lecturers and tutors will have set office hours that anyone will be able to see them during, and it is probably the most helpful way to get your questions answeredd. Hope this helps! |
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| Current student | absolutely! Every lecturer will have an office hour scheduled every week, where you can talk to them about anything you might be struggling with or want some advice on. You will also have seminars every week covering the topics you are doing in lectures, and there are only 12 students in each, together with a tutor, so this is the ideal place to address questions to your tutors as well! | |
| Current student | Yes! They all have a weekly office hour and you can contact them via email. You will have a tutor for seminars and they are usually your first port of call if you need anything but you are free to contact specific lecturers too | |
| Staff | History | We also are happy to answer questions after a lecture or by email. |
| Staff | History | Hi both, yes you definitely will. I, and many of my colleagues, enjoy getting to know students throughout their academic journey. |
| Offer holder | i really want to do classics as an elective (i have an offer to do english lit) but i've never one it before. am i still able to do it/will i find it really difficult? | |
| Current student | Hi Esther! I did Classics as my 3rd subject in 1st year. I don't think you will have any problems with the course if don't have a prior knowledge. | |
| Staff | Classics | We (Classics) take lots of students who have never studied the subject before and we're always very happy to have you - we want to convert you and make you one of us! |
| Offer holder | (this may be a silly question) but does history at Uni only involve essays, or is source work incorporated too like studying history at school? | |
| Current student | Hi Eve. No such thing as a silly question! Assignments in your first two years will be essays and exams tend to be a mix of source and essay questions | |
| Staff | History | Hi Eve, we study primary sources closely in seminars and you might be asked in some courses to write source analyses. These can include objects, images and documents. Essays draw on your readings and your own primary source analysis. |
| Offer holder | For archeology, I know we're required to do a set amount of field work. Does that only consist of digs or can it also be heritage work like with records? Also, will we be given contacts and opportunities to find places to get these hours or will we have to find these on our own? | |
| Staff | Archaeology | It can be anything. Work in a museum or heritage centre, lab work, post-excavation, digital heritage stuff. We will provide loads of opportunities, put you in touch with the right people, write references for you, and support you through the whole process from the start of 1st year. |
| Staff | Archaeology | Hi Hope, it could be a range of experience and definitely not just digging! It could include for example, museums work, community outreach, working with artefacts or soil samples...all kinds of things! We will help you to find contacts and opportunities. |
| Staff | Archaeology | Lots more about our fieldwork here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/humanities/studentstaff/informationforcurrentstudents/archaeologycurrentstudents/practicalexperience/ |
| Offer holder | Is there anything to do in preparation of coming to Uni to study History? | |
| Staff | History | Hi Fraser, when you get here we will give you plenty of readings. If you want to make a start, you can read any good textbook on Scotland or medieval Europe, as the first year focuses on these topics. You can contact the course convenors (see History website) for more specific suggestions. |
| Offer holder | Is the Scottish Advanced Higher Religious Moral and Philosophical Studies course good preparation for studying philosophy at university? | |
| Staff | Philosophy | Kira, I understand from colleagues who know the Advanced Higher better than I that it is indeed good preparation. (Some colleagues have been involved in writing course materials for the Advanced Higher etc.) In short, in first year we presume no advance knowledge of the subject but, that said, having had some introduction to the sorts of questions philosophers think about, and to the ways with which they engage with them, can indeed be very helpful. |
| Offer holder | Is there any reading we could do for DMIS\? | |
| Staff | Information Studies | Hi John - here's a few for starters https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=B_frCgAAQBAJ |
| Staff | Information Studies | https://medium.com/1st-draft/fake-news-its-complicated-d0f773766c79 |
| Offer holder | What is the classics course like in first year? I was thinking of doing it as an elective and was wondering if you need a basic understanding of Latin and Greek? | |
| Current student | Hi Susannah! Classics in 1st year is about the the history and culture of archaic Greece and Republican Rome, using a wide variety of source material, including buildings, coins and artefacts and literary works such as epic poetry and plays alongside historical texts. | |
| Offer holder | Where can we find out if classes will clash? | |
| Current student | Hi Hope, you will find out whilst registering and you will register before the semester starts, the university will send out an email with all of the steps (: | |
| Current student | You will find this out as soon as enrollment opens in August, as classes have not been scheduled yet! | |
| Staff | Archaeology | We try to make sure 1st year classes don't clash and we have flexible timetables for small ground and practical work. |
| Current student | Your timetable will show this after you are fully registered with the uni and have enrolled to your other subjects | |
| Offer holder | Hello, I have an offer for Maths and Philosophy, I was wondering how the assessment takes place in the side of the course involving Philosophy. And also, I hoping to get some recommendations for books/texts to reads before the start of the course in case anyone has any ideas. Thank you! | |
| Current student | Hello, Philosophy assessment is based on seminar participation, an essay and an exam (each semester) | |
| Current student | Hi Pia, in Philosophy there is one essay per semester which counts as 40% of your grade and 1% seminar quizzes at the start of each seminar class and there are 10 of them overall so it counts as 10% (: | |
| Staff | Philosophy | Hi Pia, our film on Glasgow philosophy is worth a look. It's here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlUp0bnX-J8&feature=youtu.be |
| Staff | Philosophy | As for reading, my own brief intro to what philosophy involves is here http://www.davidbain.org/whats-philosophy. That also recommends a few book-length introductions. No preparatory reading is required before you start the course, though. |
| Staff | Philosophy | What Emaan says is right for pre-honours. For each course, 40% is the essay, 10% participation, 50% exam. Things are more varied at honours (years 3 and 4). Junior honours courses in philosophy tend to be 40% essay 60% exam; at Senior Honours it varies from course to course -- some courses at SH don't have exams, some do, etc. There's also a dissertation at SH. |
| Offer holder | I was also wondering, how many hours of lecture would we be taking per week? | |
| Staff | Philosophy | There are 4 hours of seminar per week, and a one hour seminar per week. That's for years 1 and 2. At JH and SH (3rd and 4th years) about 20 contact hours per course, a mix of lectures and seminars. |
| Offer holder | Great! Thanks so much! | |
| Offer holder | If you wanted to do Latin as an elective, and you had studied it at Advanced Higher, would year 1 Latin be largely repetition of material you had previously covered? | |
| Current student | Hi Esme, while advanced higher will help with the jump to university, languages in the 1st year are still at a level that will have you learning new aspects not covered in the AH course. | |
| Staff | Classics | Not a repetition - to start with you might find you were covering old ground, we go beyond Higher relatively quickly and ask a lot more of you, so it would be very doable. There's also the option (depending on your level) to go straight into our year 2 programme |
| Offer holder | Thank you. | |
| Offer holder | Hiya, I was wondering what the contact hours are like for first year philosophy? And where abouts the lectures are taught :) | |
| Staff | Philosophy | There are four one-hour lectures and one one-hour seminar a week; the lectures are held in whichever lecture theatres will fit, and run twice (once at ten and once at two). |
| Staff | Philosophy | Lecturers and tutors will also run office hours weekly, for any further questions that come up in the course of readings, lectures, tutorials etc |
| Offer holder | would you say having your own faith makes it easier or harder to study a TRS degree? | |
| Current student | Hi Hazel, I took TRS this last semester as someone who is Muslim and studied the God Question in regard to Christianity and I found it extremely insightful and interesting. I think having an open mind in terms of any type of learning material is important and that having your own faith doesn't really affect how hard it is (: | |
| Offer holder | thanks so much! | |
| Staff | Hi Hazel! I have a TRS degree from UofG and I don't think having a faith makes it easier or harder. It certainly makes conversation in seminars more interesting! I always found there was a diverse mix of faiths, which provided insight for people. | |
| Offer holder | Celtic & Gaelic - are there any requirements for beginners? | |
| Staff | Celtic & Gaelic | Hi Caroline, no previous experience required for Beginners Gaelic or Celtic Civ 1 modules. |
| Offer holder | Tapadh leibh. My children attend the Gaelic school. Tha beag Gaidhlig agam. Thank you | |
| Staff | Celtic & Gaelic | Oh gle mhath! |
| Offer holder | thank you :) | |
| Offer holder | How large are the history and archeology classes? | |
| Staff | Archaeology | In Archaeology, we usually have around 230 students in first year - for lectures, but you'll also be in smaller groups of 15 or so for practical classes and seminars |
| Offer holder | what is a practical class? | |
| Staff | Archaeology | Archaeology in first year is c. 220 - so the lectures are pretty big; but you also get weekly tutorials in a group of about 15 students. In second year the whole class is c. 80, but again there are tutorials and labs in much smaller groups. |
| Staff | Archaeology | In 1st year archaeology we usually have 200-240 students, For small practical classes and seminar, there will be less than 15 in each class. |
| Staff | History | Hi Hope, History is a popular subject and we have 450 in our Level 1 lectures. Alongside that we have seminar groups of 12. |
| Staff | Archaeology | It's a bit like a lab - a chance to do a bit of hands-on work, for example looking at artefacts |
| Staff | Archaeology | Practical classes take place in our lab. This could be hands on sessions with artefacts, or working in groups to solve problems. These are much more interactive than lectures. |
| Offer holder | are history lectures recorded? | |
| Staff | History | Hi Caitie, in special circumstances they are recorded, but it is not standard practise to record history lectures at present. |
| Offer holder | If I do classics do i have to learn latin and ancient greek (as an elective/joint honours) | |
| Staff | Classics | No - you have the opportunity to, but you don't have to, and we're the only Uni in Scotland that offers Classics without requiring language skills. |
| Offer holder | Can you recommend any online courses that would be useful for history students prior to the start of the first year? | |
| Staff | History | If you go to Futurelearn just now you can enrol in a Glasgow MOOC on the Highland Clans. Highly recommended! |
| Staff | History | Hi Keziah, since you will be studying Scottish history in first year, you might enjoy this Online Course on Scottish clans - https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/the-highland-clans |
| Offer holder | Hi, could anyone tell me what history is like? As in how the lessons are structured and what you learn about? | |
| Current student | Hi Meg. In first year you will have 3x 1hour lectures (approx 400-500 people) and 1x 1hour seminar (smaller groups with 10-12 students). In seminars you will look at a lot of sources and be able to chat through idea etc. First semester is Scotlands Millenium and Second is Medieval Europe | |
| Current student | I would take a look at this for an overview of what you will be doing throughout the degree: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/history/ Especially in the last two years there is a range of modules so you will be able to find a lot of things exactly fitting your interests. The course is set up so that you have a few lectures every week, and then one seminar a week as well. The lectures will be in a big room with a lot of students (everybody on the course) and a single lecturer presenting. The seminar will match the topic of the lectures, but there are only 12 people per seminar, and one tutor for each seminar. In the seminars you will discuss the recommended readings for the week, and also be able to raise any questions you may have! |
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| Staff | History | Hi Meg, the first year courses are popular with large lectures of 450 and seminar groups of just 12. in seminars we discuss primary sources and you write an essay for your seminar tutor to mark based on wide reading and source analysis. Second year has a similar pattern, adding seminar presentations. In third and fourth year the courses are smaller (36) and the assessment more varied. We have a Special Subject in fourth year where you study a subject closely through primary sources. And you write your own dissertation in fourth year. for topics, you study wide time periods /topics including Scotitsh history, medieval and modern European history and Global History in the first two years and then choose more specialised topics in years 3/4. |
| Offer holder | also is classics a competitive subject for an elective? | |
| Staff | Hi Esther, you'll pick your third subject just before the semester begins and it will depend on your timetable. Classics is a good third subject! | |
| Offer holder | thank you! i think i'll be doing the online one as i also want to do history of art annoyingly, will i still get the same experiece? | |
| Staff | Yes - you'll still have access to the same materials and will still get to meet students on the course. | |
| Offer holder | how many philosophy students are there likely to be in the first year? | |
| Staff | Philosophy | Hi Abbey. It's hard to say. The first year classes tend to be quite large (200+). But seminars are much smaller (10-12 students) |
| Staff | Philosophy | I think the average over the last couple of years has been 350-450; the first year lectures are repeated, though, so you won't be in a lecture theatre with four hundred other people. |
| Current student | Hi Abbey, the philosophy classes in first and second year are quite big however, the seminar numbers are capped at 15 so you still have one on one time with a tutor (: | |
| Offer holder | ok thats perfect thanks :) | |
| Offer holder | What jobs can a history degree lead to? | |
| Staff | History | Hi Isam, History graduates are valued for their ability to read closely, analyse, argue and write. They go into law, business, civil service, heritage/museums, teaching and journalism. |
| Staff | History | Because history is a non-vocational degree (i.e. you don't tend to pick it with a clear career in mind) it can lead you into all sorts of employment, businesses, government, and charities value the presentation, analysis, and writing skills you gain. |
| Staff | History | Hi Isam, you might be interested in this video from one of our History graduates, Gavin, who now works in the energy industry: https://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/arts/students/wwyb/ |
| Offer holder | how many contact hours are there a week for philosophy and how are they split between lectures and seminars? | |
| Current student | Hi Abbey, you have four one hour lectures a week and one hour seminar a week too | |
| Offer holder | Thank you, on top of this are the lecturers available if i have any questions or issues | |
| Staff | Philosophy | Yes - lecturers and tutors are available at other times to talk to and really like it if you go to them with questions. Not enough students do and we love it when you are keen! |
| Offer holder | ok that is great thanks :) | |
| Current student | Philosophy has their own building as well so if your tutor or lecturer isnt available then there are plenty of others who can answer your questions, they love it! | |
| Offer holder | Are all history students in the same lectures? | |
| Current student | For lectures yes, seminars are groups of 10-12 | |
| Current student | Yes! Lectures are for everybody on the course, and then you will be split into smaller seminars with 12 people, and meet once a week in these seminars. | |
| Offer holder | Okay thank you :) | |
| Staff | History | History students all study the same courses in years 1 and 2. In years 3/4 you have a wide choice of topics. |
| Staff | History | For those interested in doing history, here's a video on what studying at Glasgow is like, how your degree is structured and what kind of career choices it might open up for you. - https://youtu.be/C3VOKeN0YRg |
| Offer holder | Anything you recommend in doing in preparation for philosophy (or just university in general?) | |
| Current student | Hi Amelia, I recommend watching some first year level philosophy lectures on youtube just to get a vibe for it and also reading some beginners level philosophy books. I also watched the Netflix show 'the good place' which mentions lots of philosophical thoughts which might seem unconventional but was how I got into the subject (: | |
| Staff | Philosophy | Yes - read some introductory books in philosophy. Someone asked what to read in this chat earlier and a lot of us listed introductory books that we liked. You can read this further down the chat. |
| Staff | Philosophy | http://www.davidbain.org/whats-philosophy |
| Staff | Information Studies | one of our lecturers made this video about DMIS, for programme context and career options https://uofg.online-event.co/auditorium/presentations-20# - enjoy! |
| Offer holder | Will we be required to do many solo presentations in the history course? | |
| Current student | Hi Sophie, not until second year. | |
| Staff | History | Hi Sophie in year one we ask you to contribute your thoughts informally to seminar discussion. In year 2 we develop presentation skills with an assessed seminar presentation. Most courses in years 3/4 include an assessed presentation. These skills are crucial for jobs after uni. |
| Staff | History | Hi Sophie, you will do presentations. You will be given good advice and not expected to have perfect delivery though! It will be a skill you really develop throughout your degree and one which is enormously beneficial. |
| Current student | Hi Sophie! Yes usually you will be asked to do presentations in the course, in first and second year this is usually only a five minute presentation usually increasing to twenty minutes by fourth year | |
| Offer holder | Okay, thank you! Could I ask how big a group we would normally present in front of in second year onwards? | |
| Staff | History | You present to your semianr group, 12 in all. |
| Staff | History | No more than 11 other students and your seminar tutor. |
| Offer holder | Thank you! | |
| Offer holder | How long roughly are history lectures and seminars? | |
| Current student | Hi Caitlin, one hour each | |
| Staff | History | Anyone wondering about preparation for History might like to join this online course on the Highland clans offered by Glasgow: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/the-highland-clans |
| Staff | History | Hi Caitlin, the lectures and seminars generally last 50 minutes each. This will change in Honours, when you might have some longer classes. |
| Offer holder | How many students study History in first year | |
| Staff | History | Hi Fraser, around 400-500. Lectures will be the full cohort |
| Current student | I think there are usually about 400-500 students... You will see everyone in lectures! But seminars will be split into groups of 12 so you will still get enought contact time with tutors! | |
| Offer holder | Is history a competitive elective, what are the chances of getting into it | |
| Staff | History | All students are welcome in Level 1 History. From there you need a D for Level 2. For Honours you need a B and a C in Level 2. |
| Staff | History | I should add that most students do qualify for Honours so this shouldn't be a worry. |
| Offer holder | Okay great, thanks. If it isn’t my major but I want to sign up to study it as an elective is that likely to happen or will it be over subscribed ? | |
| Staff | History | If you mean you want to take it as a second or third subject in year 1, you will be fine. There are no capacity limits. |
| Offer holder | What are the exams like for history and philosophy? | |
| Staff | History | Exams for History at Level 1 are 90 min with an essay (choice of questions) and short commentaries on primary source extracts. |
| Staff | Philosophy | First year philosophy exams have a set of essay questions from what you've covered over the semester, and you pick two. |
| Current student | For history there is always a list of questions, you choose two and answer them in 2 hours | |
| Staff | Philosophy | In Philosophy you get a selection of questions that are based on what you have studied during the semester and you have to pick usually two questions to answer in the form of a short essay. |
| Current student | In Philosophy the exam is split into three sections and you answer two of them (: | |
| Staff | History | Hi Meg, exam formats vary, but most commonly you will have essay-style questions and source analyses. Some courses in later years have no exams at all. |
| Offer holder | Thanks guys! | |
| Offer holder | Who are the history presentations in front of on second/third/fourth year? | |
| Current student | Presentations are always held in your seminar groups, so in front of your tutor and your 10-11 classmates | |
| Staff | History | Hi Catherine, at most 11 other students in your class and your seminar tutor |
| Offer holder | Hi, concerning a course in philosophy, I was wondering how the week is structured work-wise; how many hours of lectures and so on would we normally have per week? | |
| Staff | Philosophy | In first year, four lectures and one seminar a week. |
| Staff | Philosophy | Hi Pia, in first year philosophy you get four lectures per week and one tutorial during the semester time. |
| Staff | Philosophy | One of the philosophers, Robert Cowan, has made a video for prospective applicants which tells you about philosophy in general and philosophy at Glasgow in particular. You can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlUp0bnX-J8&feature=youtu.be |
| Staff | Thanks for joining our Archaeology, Celtic & Gaelic, Classics, History, Information Studies and Philosophy chat today! |
Law
| User Name | Message |
| Staff | WELCOME TO THE SCHOOL OF LAW CHAT. OUR ACADEMICS ARE ON HAND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. PLEASE STATE WHETHER YOU HAVE APPLIED TO SCOTS LAW OR COMMON LAW AS YOU POST YOUR QUESTION AND ENJOY THE CHAT! |
| Staff | Hi! I’m Bobby Lindsay, a lecturer in private law. I started my LL.B at Glasgow in 2009 and pretty much have been here ever since. I teach a subject called Obligations and organise the Introduction to Legal Study Course, and I will be one of the first lecturers that first-ear students will come across! I look forward to answering your questions. |
| Staff | Thanks for joining us, Bobby. There's a few questions in already you might be able to help with below - just reply direct. |
| Staff | Hello, Stephen here. I'm a lecturer in private law and generally teach on the Scots Law programme. I do a lot of first and second year teaching too! |
| Offer holder | Hi I'm a future Scots Law Student and I was wondering about the reading lists: - When will the preliminary reading list come out and when will the on-course reading list be released? - Do both reading lists differ much from previous years? |
| Staff | Hey Vanessa, welcome to today's chat and thanks for your question! |
| Staff | Hello, Stephen here. You'll generally get your reading list within the first few days of the semester. Ahead of starting you'll receive a letter from us with some suggested reading for preparation purposes. |
| Offer holder | Brilliant, thank you both for clarifying! |
| Offer holder | Hello, I am a Common Law applicant, and I have a similar question: What books are recommended preparatory to the course? |
| Staff | Hi there! You'll generally get your reading list within the first few days of the semester. Ahead of starting you'll receive a letter from us with some suggested reading for preparation purposes. |
| Offer holder | Ok, thank you for your help. |
| Offer holder | Hi I’m a prospective Common Law student and was wondering how your graduates tend to perform post study in England\? Thank you |
| Staff | Thanks, Tara. The Common Law degree at Glasgow has only been running for 2 years so far and we don't have that sort of information yet. However, our Scots Law programme is very successful. Here is some information about what we do support you with the next steps of your career after the degree: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/law/employability/ |
| Offer holder | Can I get an example of a timetable for Scots Law and will their be a law talk today? |
| Staff | Hi Glen, there won't be a Law talk today. However, there is a presentation in the videos section of this booth. Have a look and also at the other great resources… |
| Staff | Dear Glen, We can't give you the actual timetable on line as it is too complicated. In fact, the timetable is not particularly important to the decision whether to study at Glasgow. You will have about 12 contact hours per week in first year in lectures and tutorials. This means that you can use your time flexibly. However you should think of your working week as at least 40 hours most of which is private study. |
| Staff | Also... In first year you have about 12 contact hours per week during the semester. The rest of your week is spent on private study. Staff- student ratio is about 18:1. There is a wide range of courses at level 3 and 4. It would take too long to list them all, but they include courses in private law, international law, EU law, constitutional law, legal theory, criminal law and medical law. |
| Offer holder | Hi Kate, would there be additional hours involved for a joint law course, like mine with Scots Law and Politics? Thanks! |
| Offer holder | Hi, I've applied for Scots Law, and I was wondering whether you have any suggestions of books we should be reading before we start? |
| Staff | Hi Gowan. You'll generally get your reading list within the first few days of the semester. Ahead of starting you'll receive a letter from us with some suggested reading for preparation purposes. McBride's "Letters to a Law Student" is a good start! |
| Offer holder | Thank you, I'll have a look at that! |
| Offer holder | Do Common Law students have the same chances of employment as a Scots Law student? |
| Staff | Thanks. Can I clarify what you mean? Are you wondering about where you will be able to practice law? |
| Offer holder | Would doing a common law degree give good opportunities for a training contract through an English firm? |
| Offer holder | Hi, I was wondering what the proportion of Scots academics to common law academics is in the faculty? |
| Staff | About a third of our staff are "neither" as they teach international law; we are roughly 75% Scots and 25% Common Law for the rest, but most have some expertise that crosses the divide (so you will have Common Law students taught by Scots law staff, and vice versa - the two differ only in a few notable places) |
| Offer holder | Thank you! |
| Offer holder | I am a scots law student and was just wondering if Glasgow has an equivalent to the Aberdeen University Legal Clinic that students can get involved in? Thanks |
| Staff | Hi Erin! While we do not have our own on-site clinic, we have lots of links with local law centres and Citizen's Advice Bureaux; we also run the GOJustice programme through which we team up with charities and NGOs and get our students to help solve big policy problems that they come to us with. |
| Staff | Here's the link to GO Justice - https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/law/gojustice/ |
| Offer holder | Perfect, thank you! |
| Offer holder | Hi, would you be able to pick up law as an extra subject? Would you recommend this? |
| Staff | Hey Fraser! Law needs to be part of your application to UCAS, either as a single or joint honours degree programme. It cannot be taken as an extra/third subject. |
| Offer holder | If I decided I wanted to take Law instead, would I have to do this as a post grad? |
| Staff | Yes, you could either do the two year graduate programme or alternatively opt to apply to study on the undergraduate programme next year. |
| Offer holder | Hello I am a prospective Graduate LLB (Common Law) student. I want to learn the programme structure more. |
| Staff | Hey Mahmut, the programme structure can be found here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/commonlawgraduateentry/#tab=structure |
| Staff | Hi, Tom Mullen here. Professor of Law and specialising in Constitutional Law. I am also the LLB admissions officer. |
| Staff | Welcome to the chat, Tom - questions coming in now! You should be able to reply below. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I'm an applicant for the Scots Law LLB. I am deliberating between studying at Glasgow or Edinburgh. Are there any unique aspects of studying at Glasgow/any notable differences? |
| Staff | Thanks, Jack. We are really lucky in Scotland to have some brilliant law schools each with its own strengths. To be honest, this is really a question for you to decide. We are very proud at Glasgow for having an extensive and unparalleled study abroad scheme and no matter what the future might be, that will continue to be one of the key objectives for our UG programme. |
| Offer holder | Ah, thank you so much! :D Studying abroad is quite appealing for me |
| Offer holder | Hi there, I am doing Scots Law with Politics with yourselves this year. I was wondering if I could have more information on how this will affect the law modules I am able to take? Thanks |
| Staff | Hey Josh - everyone on Scots Law has a minimum set number of courses to take to satisfy Law Society requirements. There is less flexibility with electives when you are on a joint honours but the added benefit is the mix you get with adding Politics courses in. |
| Offer holder | Thank you! |
| Staff | Josh - you would do 80 credits of law and 40 of politics in each of year 1 and year 2. In year 3 and year 4, credits are split equally between the two. |
| Offer holder | Hello, I am a prospective Common Law student. I just wondered what the student/staff ratio is? What are the contact hours during the course of a week? And finally, what modules are on offer for years three and four? |
| Staff | Hi Elizabeth, In first year you have about 12 contact hours per week during the semester. The rest of your week is spent on private study. Staff- student ratio is about 18:1. There is a wide range of courses at level 3 and 4. It would take too long to list them all, but they include courses in private law, international law, EU law, constitutional law, legal theory, criminal law and medical law. |
| Offer holder | Hi, The Scots Law LLB course is my first choice for undergraduate entry in September, and was curious how our offers will be affected, if at all, by calculated grades |
| Staff | The university has not finalized it's policy yet but we are likely to accept the grades that come from SQA. |
| Offer holder | If I have accepted an offer to study the LLB in Common Law at Glasgow, could I switch to the LLB in Scottish Law or would i have to completely reapply? |
| Staff | Permission to switch without reapplying is somewhat exceptional, but is possible if sufficiently good reason! It would be best to get in touch with us before you arrive to let us know! Thanks. |
| Offer holder | Hello, I am a prospective Scots law student here, however I have a Scots and commons joint degree offer in Dundee\. Glasgow is my first choice but would having a joint degree be of better use for the future\? |
| Staff | The route into the legal profession in England is changing, which means that there will no longer be any strict need for an 'English law degree' to access the legal profession there. There are lots of Scots lawyers with Scots LLBs working in London! |
| Offer holder | Hello, I am a prospective common law student from England. I have two questions: 1. What kind of networking opportunities does Glasgow offer, specifically with reference to London and Magic Circle firms? 2. What do you recommend a prospective law student read, watch, listen to during the quarantine? |
| Staff | Thanks, Anatasia. We have excellent connections with law firms throughout the UK and have alumni working all over the world, including in Magic Circle firms. We offer numerous opportunities for chats with prospective employers throughout your degree, including all the big firms. You can read a little more here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/law/employability/ |
| Staff | Hey Anastasia, there is an annual law fair where firms from all over the UK attend, including those from London and Magic Circle. As for recommended reading etc, it's always good to keep on top of current affairs, particularly in the business world if you are looking to get into corporate law. Big firms appreciate a good commercial awareness, so tracking how companies are performing with regards to mergers, takeovers etc is useful. |
| Offer holder | Great, thank you very much! |
| Offer holder | Hi, I'm an Offer holder for the Graduate LLB (Scots law), is the course structured differently from the undergraduate Scots LLB or is it entirely separate? |
| Staff | Hi Fergus - this FAQ might help - https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/law/uglaw/faq/#scotslawllb(graduateentry) |
| Staff | Briefly - graduate students have their own introductory legal skills course tailored to reflect the fact that they will be facing the job market sooner, and for most courses, we have graduate-only tutorial groups. But you will follow the normal lecture programme relative to the first two years of the LLB. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I have accepted an offer for Scots Law at Glasgow University, what kind of timetable would it be, tia |
| Staff | Hi Sophie - this was the answer to this question earlier by Tom Mullen Dear Glen, We can't give you the actual timetable on line as it is too complicated. In fact, the timetable is not particularly important to the decision whether to study at Glasgow. You will have about 12 contact hours per week in first year in lectures and tutorials. This means that you can use your time flexibly. However you should think of your working week as at least 40 hours most of which is private study. |
| Offer holder | Oh sorry, didn't see that thank you so much! |
| Staff | Also... In first year you have about 12 contact hours per week during the semester. The rest of your week is spent on private study. Staff- student ratio is about 18:1. There is a wide range of courses at level 3 and 4. It would take too long to list them all, but they include courses in private law, international law, EU law, constitutional law, legal theory, criminal law and medical law. |
| Offer holder | Hi i am a prospective applicant for common law with joint degree in English lit. I was wondering about the prospective placement after graduating. |
| Staff | Hi Aarushi, Not sure what you are asking about. Do you mean getting a job or something different? |
| Offer holder | Yes and internships between the course |
| Staff | There are law internships available between third and fourth year. These are offered and organised by the law firms themselves. However, the School of Law does offer a range of other placement schemes. As for getting a job, employment prospects for our law graduates are good. |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much! |
| Offer holder | My offer requires condition of me giving my lnat exam again,specifically, but there are no dates to be found. Can you help me with that? |
| Staff | They are taken separately, as they are for different jurisdictions / legal systems. The first two years in Scots Law is very much prescribed by the Law Society, and the Common Law programme has similar courses but from a common law perspective (around property, tort law etc.). |
| Offer holder | Thanks |
| Staff | Hey Emily, are you holding offers in both from Glasgow? The first two years of the Scots Law degree is very much dictated by the Law Society of Scotland's requirements to become a solicitor. The Common Law programme has variants on main areas of Law (property, tort etc) for common law jurisdictions. They are separate tracks. |
| Staff | Hi Emily, You need to make up your mind which one you prefer. It is not easy to switch from Common Law to Scots Law and impossible to switch from Scots law to common law as Common law has many fewer places available. |
| Staff | You can compare the structure and content of both programmes here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/scotslaw/#tab=structure https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/commonlaw/#tab=structure |
| Offer holder | Hi there, what are the prospects of going abroad in third year whilst studying Scots law? Thank you |
| Staff | Very high! I think it's one of our most popular programmes for going abroad - last stat I heard was 60% of our students go abroad in this year, all over the world. |
| Offer holder | Fab! Thanks very much...looking forward to it. |
| Offer holder | Hello, I would like to know the job opportunities and prospects available for international graduates within the UK |
| Offer holder | Hi, I have the same question too. Look forward to receiving the answer :) |
| Staff | Employability pages - https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/law/employability/ |
| Staff | Our graduates have gone on to work in international courts, the European Commission, banking and finance, international law firms, governments, and academic institutions around the world. |
| Offer holder | Can I get an example of the Common Law LLB (Graduate entry) timetable? Also what is the student intake of this programme, in terms of average numbers of students and also the ration of students to teachers. |
| Offer holder | Hello, what do you know about the structure? I mean do Graduate LLB students attend common law LLB lectures or do they have seperate? |
| Staff | Hi there - this was the answer to this question earlier by Tom Mullen We can't give you the actual timetable on line as it is too complicated. In fact, the timetable is not particularly important to the decision whether to study at Glasgow. You will have about 12 contact hours per week in first year in lectures and tutorials. This means that you can use your time flexibly. However you should think of your working week as at least 40 hours most of which is private study. Also... In first year you have about 12 contact hours per week during the semester. The rest of your week is spent on private study. Staff- student ratio is about 18:1. There is a wide range of courses at level 3 and 4. It would take too long to list them all, but they include courses in private law, international law, EU law, constitutional law, legal theory, criminal law and medical law. |
| Offer holder | How many students are estimated to be in our year for Common Law? |
| Offer holder | Just to follow this question, how many students are estimated to be in the cohort for Scots Law too? |
| Staff | This year we have 60 on the Common law and 220 on the Scots Law - roughly! We do not expect there to be much change next year. |
| Offer holder | Brilliant, thank you for clarifying! |
| Offer holder | Does this include graduate entry or not? |
| Offer holder | Hello, I am an applicant to the accelerated law program. How many students do you normally have in this cohort and are they integrated into the UG tutorial classes?Also wondering whether the course will run online in September due to current circumstances, and whether a discount to tuition fees will be offered if this is the case |
| Staff | Start dates are currently being discussed and we should hopefully be in a position to announce this in coming weeks. We are hoping to offer a full tuition programme. |
| Offer holder | Would it be possible to get some titles to read during this time to prepare for the Common Law degree? |
| Staff | McBride's "Letter's to a Law Student" is a good read! |
| Staff | I read that one prior to studying Law, agreed! |
| Offer holder | Thank you! |
| Offer holder | Could you give some statistics in regard to the average number of students getting a First or a 2:1 in common law? |
| Staff | It is too early to have the figures from common law students - but we expect the figures to be broadly equivalent to that on the Scots (20% first; 65% 2.1, roughly!) |
| Offer holder | A practical question... does this thread stay on line / is it accessible after the chat? |
| Staff | Hi Neil, we should be able to make the transcript available post chat and there may be option for access via this platform - just working out logistics on the latter. |
| Offer holder | Thank you. There is a lot of useful information and don't want to miss it. |
| Offer holder | Thank you! That would be so helpful. |
| Staff | Definitely - some great questions coming in! |
| Offer holder | Hello, I have an offer for Scots Law LLB and was wondering if you have any information on the new 2021 transition process to get qualified in England with a Scots Law degree. Will it be possible to do the GDL and LPC equivelant exams in one year since it doesn't have to be course based? Thank you. |
| Staff | You will be in a very good position, Robert. After obtaining your Scots LLB you'll have the option of continuing to qualification in Scotland or following the SQE route in England & Wales. |
| Offer holder | Thank You! Since I would still have a Law degree (just a Scottish instead of English one) would some of the modules of the SQE already have been covered in my Scots law degree meaning that I could potentially qualify quicker than someone with a non law background by doing the SQE1 and SQE 2 in a shorter period of time? Thanks |
| Offer holder | Are there a lot of internship opportunities for Common Law students? |
| Offer holder | And would these be in Scotland or would they take place elsewhere? |
| Staff | We have a lot of links to English firms who send representatives to our yearly law fair. We have a good number of students do summer placements in London. |
| Staff | We have had a few question requesting example timetables - School of Law staff, is this something we are able to provide in an attachment or point our visitors to? |
| Staff | Working on it, Chris. Bear with me. |
| Staff | Thanks Stephen! |
| Staff | Chris, here's a link to a presentation I gave in the autumn, which includes a sample timetable: https://gla-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/stephen_bogle_glasgow_ac_uk/ERBzMxMfz-9MsutthHqWHP8BFXvKRz1Wxv1beF0xMOqouQ?e=9FdYVn |
| Staff | Please share! |
| Offer holder | Thank you very much for this! |
| Staff | Hi Stephen, what slide? I don't see it in the pres... |
| Staff | 10, 11 and 12 |
| Staff | Ah ok, thanks - I suspect they might be looking for a typical week in terms of lecture/tutorial time. |
| Offer holder | Hello, I am a prospective Common Law student. I was wondering if the university has contact with London law firms for work placements or post-graduate opportunities? |
| Staff | We have a lot of links to English firms who send representatives to our yearly law fair. We have a good number of students do summer placements in London. |
| Offer holder | Thank you that's reassuring. Is there a list of the firms that attended your previous law firm online? |
| Offer holder | Hi, I am a prospective Scots Law student and was wondering when studying abroad in Third Year, will we still get to study law-related modules even if we are studying in other jurisdictions? What kind of modules have past law students studied abroad? |
| Staff | Yes, plenty of opportunities to take law courses. You could take courses which compare the law in your host country to that in Scotland; you could study international law or Roman law which does not belong to any one system; or you could study in detail a part of the law of the country you are visiting - US Military Law is one example I can think of! |
| Offer holder | Sounds very interesting! Looking forward to it, thank you for your reply. |
| Offer holder | Hello, I am an Offer holder for Scot’s Law with English Literature and Scot’s Law with Spanish and I am wondering how the format of those courses would differ from the regular Scot’s Law course\. |
| Staff | You would study the same core courses in both programmes, Scots Law with Spanish would require you to spend your third year studying Law in a partner university abroad. |
| Offer holder | Thank you\! So for English Literature will the only difference be additional classes\? |
| Offer holder | Hi, I was wondering the ratio of international students for Common Law. |
| Staff | Does it depend on what you mean by international? We generally make a distinction between the EU, UK and international. To answer very roughly, it might look something like 10% international, 15% EU, 75% UK |
| Offer holder | Thank you for your help. |
| Offer holder | Since the system in england is changing, would studying common law instead of scots law be a waste of time? |
| Staff | No. And you should try to choose on the basis that you will be gaining a deep knowledge of either Common Law or Scots Law depending on what programme you choose. If you are hoping to practice in England, Wales or in another Common Law jurisdiction you will have obtained a very solid and sure foundation if you have done the Common Law programme and equally if you intend to practice in Scotland, you will gain the foundations you need. Of course, studying the Scots programme gives you lots of opportunities, which could include doing the SQE after you have finished the degree. |
| Offer holder | Thank you for your reply, that makes sense |
| Staff | A lot of people have been asking for example timetables. This isn't the timetable but it does lead to the many many course modules. Have a look - Course Modules - https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=LAW&name=Law |
| Offer holder | I have read about the summer internship at Burness Paull & Williamsons and Cloch Solicitors for LLM students. Is this program still available in the next academic year? What's the process? |
| Staff | There are lots of placements offered every year but are organized by the law firms themselves, so you'll need to check with them to be sure. |
| Offer holder | So the process should be contacting the firms myself, not through the school? |
| Offer holder | Hi, I have an offer for Scots Law with French, and was just wondering if I have to do modules from the actual Law course later in my studies in comparison to those just doing straight law? |
| Offer holder | I was wondering the same with Scots Law and Politics |
| Offer holder | Me too with common law and spanish |
| Staff | Hi Anna - you may have to take some of the modules you would study in Scotland in France on your year abroad, but you will be able to cover all modules you need to be a solicitor in Scotland in the four years. This is a very popular programme and we are good at getting people through it! |
| Staff | Lucy - the same applies to you. Josh - your timetable might look a little different but the answer is essentially the same - you will be able to take all of the necessary modules, but might have to cover some of these abroad. (Our partner institutions have equivalents for some modules which are recognised) |
| Offer holder | Perfect, thank you for clarifying! |
| Offer holder | Thank You! |
| Offer holder | Hi, I'm a prospective common law student and I was wondering if you had any book recommendations specifically for Modules including Law and Artificial Intelligence/ Technology and/ or Comparative Corporate Law? |
| Staff | Hi there! Those are subjects which you would normally study from third year onwards, so you may wish to do more introductory reading on law first! As recommended to a few people already, Nick McBride's "Letters to a Law Student" are worth a read. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I am going to be an international student from the United States. Over here we do undergraduate and then go to law school. If I wanted to take a law course while I am at Glasgow, am I going to be woefully behind, because I am not a law student at my Univeristy and am not from the UK? |
| Staff | This depends on what your present position is, Callie. Are you coming as an exchange student, if so, some individual law subjects, might not be the best option? However, if you are applying for the Scots Law or Common Law UG programmes, then they are taught as if you have not studied law before. No matter whether you are doing the course as a graduate or as a school leaver. |
| Offer holder | What are the opportunities for Common Law with French in terms of which French universities we are able to study at in our 3rd year\? Thank you for any help you can give |
| Offer holder | I was wondering the same but for Spanish |
| Staff | My colleague Stephen is posting a list of our partner institutions presently! |
| Offer holder | Thank you, will it be posted on here or elsewhere\? |
| Offer holder | Thank you, do you know where this will be posted to see\? |
| Offer holder | Hi there, I have an offer to study Scots law. Could you tell me, approximately, how many students are in each class and year group ? |
| Offer holder | 220 in each year group from what's been said |
| Staff | We have 280 first year students this year - 220/60 Scots to Common Law. The numbers don't decrease much year to year. Sometimes you will be taught as one in lectures (280 or 220, depending on if Scots and Common law students are being taught together, which happens in some courses), and then there also are tutorials (groups of 10-20). |
| Offer holder | With a Common Law degree would you have to then convert to Scots law to work in Scotland? |
| Offer holder | I think Scots Law is hard to convert to, as you need a Scots Law Degree |
| Offer holder | I was wondering the same thing |
| Staff | If you are thinking there is a real possibility you would wish to work in Scotland at some point, we would recommend you do the Scots Law LLB. It is relatively easy to convert the Scots LLB for employment in England (and it is a well-trodden path)) - it is more difficult to convert Scots to English. |
| Offer holder | Hello, I am a Canadian Common law with French Offer holder and just wondered what the proportion of international students is in the common law program. |
| Staff | Hello, Sian. It depends on what you mean by international? We generally make a distinction between the EU, UK and international. To answer very roughly, it might look something like 10% international, 15% EU, 75% UK |
| Offer holder | Thank you! |
| Offer holder | Hello, as a Common Law student would I be able to take some of the optional modules outside the law school, for example study Celtic History? |
| Staff | There would be the possibility to integrate a module or two from outside the Law School, yes - although you would have more opportunities to study history if you took a joint LLB with history. |
| Offer holder | Thank you |
| Offer holder | Hi, I would love to hear your opinion on the benefits/ disadvantages of studying common law in Scotland over studying it at a University in England. |
| Staff | Dear Anastasia, You can study common law just as well in Scotland as in England. We have English law specialists on the staff. Probably, the most important thing is the reputation of the university and Glasgow has a very high ranking. |
| Offer holder | Hi, What are the subjects that UofG is leading the academy? |
| Staff | Dear Mahmut, Can you clarify what you mean. Do you mean the specific areas in which we excel? |
| Offer holder | Yes exactly |
| Staff | Glasgow has a strong reputation in a number of areas including commercial law, Scots private law, international law, legal theory and public law. |
| Offer holder | Hi, would be possible to take psychology modules while studying common law as well? |
| Staff | There is some opportunity to take options from outside the law school, but we have no set law and psychology joint honours so there may be organisational and timetable issues. It may depend on how popular the psychology modules are. Of course, there are lots of opportunities to delve into psychology issues in the law courses themselves! |
| Offer holder | Thank you, I also wanted to ask which optional modules I can take while studying law. |
| Staff | We've had a few questions on recommended reading. You'll generally get your reading list within the first few days of the semester. Ahead of starting you'll receive a letter from us with some suggested reading for preparation purposes. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I am a SWAP access student and I have accepted my offer for Scots Law. My conditions state that profile grades of AAA are required. As a swap student my course is not graded like other courses. With the recent outbreak there is a general worry about how our profile grades can be affected as they do not fall under the SQA guidelines. Should our profile grades be affected, is there any flexibility with still being able to meet the conditions? Thanks |
| Offer holder | I'm in the same situation. The uncertainty over grading is proving to be quite stressful. |
| Staff | Hi both, you can ask your question at the Admissions and WP booth until 7pm - https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/admissions-43 |
| Offer holder | While I am the only one in my class going on to study law we are all feeling the same pressure. We keep seeing all these guidelines on graded units but still nothing on the SWAP profile grades |
| Offer holder | Thank you Katie |
| Staff | Dear Jayne, I am not sure how the SWAP grades are being done this year. We will need to find out how the colleges are doing it. Rest assured we will be flexible in assessing satisfaction of conditions this year. |
| Staff | Equally, all updates for Offer holders will be communicated directly to you but also more general information will be posted on the COVID-19 FAQ for Offer holderS: https://gla.ac/cvfaqs |
| Offer holder | Thank you guys. It has been a worry because none of the guidelines for colleges and universities mention swap. We require 18 passes and a AAA profile. There is no graded units so grades cant be predicted. Glasgow was my first choice so Im delighted to get in, just worried about the impact on my course and the profile grades |
| Staff | STUDYING LAW 2020 - UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW - POWERPOINT PRESENTATION SHARED BY STEPHEN BOGLE. https://gla-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/stephen_bogle_glasgow_ac_uk/ERBzMxMfz-9MsutthHqWHP8BFXvKRz1Wxv1beF0xMOqouQ?rtime=KcVostDb10g |
| Offer holder | Doing a joint honours (Common Law/Philosophy) means doing less Law, does this affect your standing with regard to practicing Law? |
| Staff | No real detriment, you study the core courses needed to practice. It's more important to proactively seek out internship opportunities during your degree in the summer months to maximise chances of securing a traineeship with a firm post graduation. |
| Offer holder | Will there be any leniency with calculated grades\? |
| Staff | Are you speaking about SQA grades? We don't have a policy yet, it is unlikely we'll add leniency if it is incorporated into the SQA grading. |
| Offer holder | Do you happen to have a list of firms which visited your Law fair etc? |
| Staff | This is from last year's: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/careers/employers/fair/lawfair2019/ |
| Offer holder | thank you! |
| Staff | There's been quite a few questions on our links with London firms - check out exhibitors at last year's Law Fair, many of our grads have gone on to practice in London: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/careers/employers/fair/lawfair2019/ |
| Offer holder | Hi, in regards to Honours modules for Scots Law undergrads, which modules tend to be popular fo Year 3 and 4? |
| Staff | Criminal law is very popular, as is Healthcare law and comparative constitutional law. Immigration and Asylum Law is also our most popular Level 4 subject. At level 3: human rights, criminal justice, and legal theory. But we have many more options - I teach on none of those! |
| Offer holder | Perfect, thank you. They all sound really intriguing! |
| Offer holder | Is there an exact list of unis which Scots law students can study with in their year abroad? |
| Staff | Sao Paulo Cagliari (Sardinia) Milan Bocconi Pavia Aarhus (Denmark) Amsterdam VU (Netherlands) Amsterdam (Netherlands) Antwerp (Belgium) Brno (Czech Republic) Bergen (Norway) Clermont-Ferrand (France) Copenhagen (Denmark) Gent (Belgium) Gothenburg (Sweden) Helsinki (Finland) Krakow (Poland) Leiden (Netherlands) Ljubjana (Slovenia)* Lund (Sweden) Maastricht (Netherlands) Mainz (Germany) Milan Bocconi Nijmegen (Netherlands) Oslo (Norway) IEP SciencesPo (France) Prague (Czech Republic) Reykjavik (Iceland) Rotterdam (Netherlands) Stockholm (Sweden) Tilburg (Netherlands) Uppsala (Sweden) Valencia (Spain) Buffalo (USA) St John’s University School of Law (Queens, New York) Lewis & Clark Law School (USA) Fribourg (Switzerland) Geneva (Switzerland) ** QUT (Brisbane, Australia) * UWA (Perth, Australia) * Queen’s University (Ontario)* NUS (Singapore)* |
| Offer holder | Does this list also apply to common law students? |
| Offer holder | Can Scots Law students also study abroad in Hong Kong? |
| Staff | Yes open to both Common Law and Scots Law students. |
| Offer holder | Hi, for international students, because of the coronovirus pandemic IELTS exams are suspended. Is there any action to solve this problem? |
| Staff | Hi Mahmut, the University are currently looking into the IELTS situation more generally and we will hopefully be able to provide more guidance soon. All Universities are in the same position just now but we are looking at how to mitigate. |
| Staff | Hi Mahmut, updates will be posted here - https://gla.ac/cvfaqs |
| Offer holder | thanks |
| Staff | UNDERSTANDABLY, Offer holderS WILL WISH TO KNOW THE SITUATION WITH REGARDS TO COVID-19. ALL Offer holderS WILL RECEIVE DIRECT COMMUNICATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY HOWEVER, PLEASE ALSO CHECK OUT OUR FAQ FOR Offer holderS: https://gla.ac/cvfaqs |
| Offer holder | (Scots Law) Hi, I'm looking through the open day presentation and was wondering what Rebel Law and Lawyers Without Borders are? (slide 14) |
| Staff | Dear Jack. These are both extra-curricular activities and so are voluntary. Basically these are aimed at law students who want use law to help the community as opposed to just making money. |
| Offer holder | Ah, I see, this looks very interesting! Thanks so much! |
| Offer holder | I take cambridge Pre U and was given a D3 D3 D3 offer, which I made my firm choice\. This is equivalent to the standard 3 A offer that’s that a levels students get; however, an M1 \(the next grade below a D3\) is also considered as an A equivalent\. Therefore, if my calculated grades came back with an M1, would I still make my offer |
| Staff | Dear Seb, I don't have the details of the Cambridge PreU in front of me. But if an M1 is genuinely equivalent to an A at A level we would accept it as such. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I saw yesterday that admissions were reviewing applications of Offer holders who have demonstrated they have met minimum entry requirements through previous study to see if their places could be confirmed. Do you know if this would differ for law? |
| Offer holder | I was wondering the same thing! |
| Staff | Dear Anna - It would help to know what qualifications you are relying on. A levels? Highers? |
| Offer holder | SQA Advanced higher, I have a conditional based on my higher grades |
| Staff | OK. We are going to wait until we get the results at the en of July before we decide whether applicants have met their offer conditions. Does that answer your question adequately? |
| Offer holder | Yes, thank you for clarifying! |
| Offer holder | Hi I have recently accepted my offer to study Common Law and would like to know if you could recommend any reading or research in preparation\? |
| Staff | A list will be sent out closer to the start date, but I'd really recommend Nick McBride's "Letters to a Law Student"! |
| Staff | Hello Hannah, we normally send you a letter around August which has some recommendations! |
| Offer holder | Thank you very much and thanks for organising this today as it has been very beneficial\. Stay safe\. |
| Staff | Lots of great questions, everyone! Just to flag, we have a special FAQ for Offer holders covering some of the more general queries we are getting in light of the current coronavirus situation. You can check it out here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/news/coronavirus/faqs/#tab=tab-7 |
| Offer holder | (Scots Law) Hi, with regards to studying abroad during year 3, is this opportunity dependant on certain factors or will it be available to all students on the course? |
| Offer holder | How separate are the common law students from the graduate entry common law students in terms of the modules and tutorials? |
| Staff | Graduate only tutorial groups will be available on the common law degree! But in the lectures graduates and school leavers will be taught together. |
| Offer holder | Thanks! |
| Offer holder | Hello! Just looking to know how full-on the work load is/ how much content there is? |
| Staff | Thanks, Jess. We structure our courses on the basis that you'll be working 37.5 hours a week (although in reality, some students will spend more time, which is understandable). A great deal of this time will involve not just contact hours (lectures, tutorials, and other events) but also you undertaking your own study as well as preparing for weekly tutorials. In the first semester, you have 3 subjects (Obligations 1A, Introduction to the Scottish Legal System and Criminal Law). That'll keep you very busy but hopefully, we can also help you manage that workload. |
| Offer holder | That is incredibly helpful, thank you so much! |
| Offer holder | My plan is to work in the Human Rights sector what can Glasgow offer me that would help me make my choice about where to study? |
| Offer holder | I was interested in this too! |
| Staff | Human Rights is one of our specialisms! You will study them in first and second year, can take European Human Rights and Children's Rights as an option in Third Year, and in Fourth year, alongside other options, you can apply for the Human Rights Project - if selected, you and nine others will work over the course of the year on preparing a case which will be argued in front of the real judges of the European Court of Human Rights at Strasbourg. Apart from curriculars, there are also lots of societies and activities you can get involved in - ELSA, GoJustice, Citizens' Advice, etc |
| Staff | Thank you for a helpful and interesting response. |
| Offer holder | Is there much in the course which covers the ongoing incorporation of the UNCRC into Scots Law? |
| Offer holder | (Scots Law) Hi, with regards to studying abroad during year 3, is this opportunity dependant on certain factors or will it be available to all students on the course? |
| Staff | Thanks, Ayla. Yes, it is contingent on your performance in the first and second years of the degree as well as a short application you fill out. Some locations are understandably very popular and it can be very competitive. But is also very important to the School that we ensure those students who want to go abroad, get that opportunity. Around 60% of our students in the third year go abroad, so as long as you get the grades, you'll be fine. |
| Offer holder | A follow-up on the previous question, I am interested specifically in the exchange program with NUS, is this a very competitive exchange program? |
| Offer holder | Also wondering how best to prepare for studying in September during this time eg are there any materials I would benefit from reading? |
| Staff | Nick McBride's Letters to a Law Student is a must read! |
| Offer holder | Brilliant, thank you, anything else? |
| Staff | If you are on the Scots Law programme, Studying Scots Law by MacQueen and Dewart is worth a look too! |
| Offer holder | I am! That’s great, thank you so much! |
| Offer holder | Does UofG have a law clinic or can we do probing work while we are students? |
| probono* work | |
| Staff | Hi! While we do not have our own on-site clinic, we have lots of links with local law centres and Citizen's Advice Bureaux; we also run the GOJustice programme through which we team up with charities and NGOs and get our students to help solve big policy problems that they come to us with. |
| Offer holder | Thank you |
| Offer holder | Hi, sorry I\'ve just joined the chat, I am planning on studying Scots law in September\. Given the Covid 19 situation, is it likely that our lectures and tutorials will in fact be online for the first semester\? Thanks |
| Staff | Dear Isla, We just don't know yet. We may even postpone the start of the year until January. Please wait for announcements. A lot depends on how long the lockdown lasts. |
| Offer holder | Hi Tom, thanks very much that, makes sense\. |
| Offer holder | In the meantime, might it be possible for us to be sent out the first year reading list\? |
| Staff | HI ALL, THANKS FOR ALL YOUR QUESTIONS, JUST 10 MINUTES LEFT TO POST ANY FINAL ONES... |
| Offer holder | Hi, is Hong Kong an option for Scots Law students to study abroad? As I have heard before it is however it wasn't on the list of destinations provided earlier. |
| Offer holder | Hi I still haven’t been able to find out which partner universities are available in France for the common law with French language\? |
| Staff | Tara - please see the list just posted to the live chat. |
| Offer holder | Would you still be able to practice law doing an LLM in Corporate or Commercial Law rather than the PgDip |
| Staff | No - to become a solicitor or advocate in Scotland, you need to take the Diploma. |
| Offer holder | So to practice corporate law you would have to undertake the undergraduate degree, the diploma year and an LLM in corporate law |
| Offer holder | Jamie Norton, could we connect on Instagram\? Since I am hold an offer for LLM too, I think we could use some help\. Instagram handle \- @winsome_patel |
| Offer holder | How would one go about changing from Scots to common law? |
| Staff | Dear Sophia, If you have already applied to Scots law you will not be able to change to common law. we do not have enough spaces in common law. |
| Offer holder | Is there any chat room to find offers holders for Corporate and Financial law\? |
| Staff | I don't think there is, Medha, but one of the moderators might correct me. Today we're chatting about UG programmes. But you could maybe try to get in touch with the existing cohort via FaceBook, I know lots our students use Group Chats to stay in touch during and after the LLM. |
| Offer holder | Sorry its a niche question! I'm interested in the UNCRC, and human rights. Is there any modules on the current incorporation of the UNCRC into scots law? |
| Staff | Yes! Level 3 - Children's Rights! You also will cover this briefly in family law in first year. |
| Offer holder | Hello, I am an applicant to the accelerated law program. How many students do you normally have in this cohort and are they integrated into the UG tutorial classes? |
| Staff | Hi Carrie! Scots or Common Law? |
| Offer holder | Scots! |
| Offer holder | What would I have to do to cross qualify to practice law in England with a Scots Law LLB under the new English system? |
| Staff | Dear Nadezhda, Under the new system you would take the Scots Law LLB and then you would take the Solicitors Qualifiying Exam and then find a job in a law firm. |
| Offer holder | So if I get my Scots Law LLB I would just have to sit the Solicitors Qualifying Exam and I wouldn't have to study an accelerated Common Law course at university? |
| Offer holder | Hi, I was wondering why common law is 4 years in Glasgow Uni? |
| Staff | Hey Dilay, all of our undergraduate programmes are four years in length - it's part of the Scottish system. An extra year to enjoy being a student and also take advantage of study abroad opportunities! |
| Offer holder | So if I wanted to can I use my forth year as studying abroad and include it in my 4 year degree at Glasgow? or would me going abroad add an extra year to my degree? |
| Staff | If you wish to study abroad, this is done in your third year. It wouldn't add a year onto the four. |
| Offer holder | Okay thank you so much for your help |
| Offer holder | Hi, do you have a list of the universities I could study at for my year abroad as part of the Scots law with French course\? Also I noticed that the law LLB at Glasgow is prescribed by the Law Society of Scotland, how does the course differ to others unis who do not have their curriculum prescribed\?l by them\? |
| Staff | Sao Paulo Cagliari (Sardinia) Milan Bocconi Pavia Aarhus (Denmark) Amsterdam VU (Netherlands) Amsterdam (Netherlands) Antwerp (Belgium) Brno (Czech Republic) Bergen (Norway) Clermont-Ferrand (France) Copenhagen (Denmark) Gent (Belgium) Gothenburg (Sweden) Helsinki (Finland) Krakow (Poland) Leiden (Netherlands) Ljubjana (Slovenia)* Lund (Sweden) Maastricht (Netherlands) Mainz (Germany) Milan Bocconi Nijmegen (Netherlands) Oslo (Norway) IEP SciencesPo (France) Prague (Czech Republic) Reykjavik (Iceland) Rotterdam (Netherlands) Stockholm (Sweden) Tilburg (Netherlands) Uppsala (Sweden) Valencia (Spain) Buffalo (USA) St John’s University School of Law (Queens, New York) Lewis & Clark Law School (USA) Fribourg (Switzerland) Geneva (Switzerland) ** QUT (Brisbane, Australia) * UWA (Perth, Australia) * Queen’s University (Ontario)* NUS (Singapore)* |
| Staff | If you want to qualify in Scotland, you'll need to do a degree programme which follows the Law Society of Scotland's guidance. All Scots law schools start from the same curriculum. |
| Offer holder | thanks so much\! sorry I must have misread something about the curriculum\. |
| Offer holder | Hello I have an offer for Common Law and French, I was just wondering to what level the French language part of the course will be taught in first year? |
| Offer holder | I was wondering the same thing for Spanish! |
| Staff | We normally would expect students to have the language to the level of at least a Scottish Higher qualification - so the level above that! |
| Offer holder | Thank you |
| Offer holder | Hello, I was wondering if during the 3rd year abroad you have the chance to complete work placement, or is it purely studying? |
| Staff | Hey Chiara, work placements are normally done in the summer months to avoid impacting your studies. |
| Offer holder | Thank you |
| Offer holder | Would it be possible to access a ‘typical week’ timetable/template? |
| Staff | There is an example in the presentation posted by my colleague Stephen below! ttps://gla-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/stephen_bogle_glasgow_ac_uk/ERBzMxMfz-9MsutthHqWHP8BFXvKRz1Wxv1beF0xMOqouQ?rtime=KcVostDb10g |
| Staff | HI ALL, THANKS FOR ALL YOUR QUESTIONS, JUST 5 MINUTES CHAT TIME LEFT - DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE LAW BOOTH AND ALL THE GREAT CONTENT THERE. |
| Offer holder | Thank you! Where can we access the law booth? |
| Staff | Five minutes left to ask your questions folks! We will try to pick up what we can once time is up. |
| Offer holder | Hi, is Hong Kong an option for Scots Law students to study abroad? As I have heard before it is however it wasn't on the list of destinations provided earlier. |
| Staff | Dear Vanessa, The list changes from year to year. We don't have it just now but it might come back. |
| Offer holder | Hi, thank you for clarifying and answering questions today, this has been very helpful! |
| Offer holder | Will this pandemic impact the academic year\? Will it be pushed ahead \? |
| Staff | It probably will but we cant say yet. a Lot depends on how long the lockdown lasts. |
| Offer holder | Hi I'm planning on studying Scots Law, is there a way I could study a language without studying 'Law with Languages' - are there modules available for studying a language of my choosing? |
| Staff | Yes - you can take language modules in first and second year as options. several choices. |
| Offer holder | Thanks! |
| Staff | HI ALL, THANKS FOR JOINING IN TODAY, JUST 2 MINUTES CHAT TIME LEFT TO POST ANY FINAL QUESTION. |
| Offer holder | Hi! I’m pretty torn between Scots Law/Politics and Politics/Maths. I’ve firmly accepted the Politics/Maths course but I keep reconsidering! What is the uni and the law school like in supporting me if I feel I want to change come September? And what factors should I consider in making this decision? Thanks! |
| Staff | This is a tough question Liam because it is really up to you. But quickly, I'd say that when studying law you cover a lot of issues which you might otherwise say are political. Famously, Duncan Kennedy said that law is politics by another means! |
| Staff | A lot of you have asked about studying abroad during your Law degree - our advice is, if you can do this then definitely take up the opportunity! One of the strongest aspects of studying at Glasgow: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/law/studyabroad/ |
| Offer holder | Hello (Common Law) are all modules in the first year compulsory? When do you get to choose modules? |
| Staff | I think they are all compulsoI think they are all compulsory. This lists everything but not sure which ones you would take: Course Modules - https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=LAW&name=Lawry. This lists everything but not sure which ones you would take: Course Modules - https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=LAW&name=Law |
| Staff | THANK YOU ATTENDING TODAY'S LAW CHAT. PLEASE CHECK OUT THE CONTENT IN THE LAW BOOTH AND IF YOU HAVE OTHER SUBJECTS OF INTEREST THEN REMEMBER THAT THE WHOLE EVENT IS RUNNING UNTIL 7PM, SO PLEASE HAVE A LOOK AROUND THE OTHER STANDS. |
| Staff | Thanks for all your questions everyone! |
| Staff | Thank you, everyone. Hopefully, see you soon at Glasgow. |
| Offer holder | Thank you for your time and the useful information. |
Life Sciences
| User Name | Message |
| Staff | Welcome to the School of Life Sciences live chat. Congratulations on receiving your offer for a place in our degrees, we hope you are excited about beginning your studies. We have several members of staff available to help answer any questions you might have about being a student in a Life Science degree. Type your questions into the chat and they will be answered asap. |
| Offer holder | Do you do a lot of work on STEM cells in the biochemistry course? |
| Staff | STEM Cells is covered in all of the Biomolecular Degrees (Biochemistry, Genetics & MCB) |
| Current student | Yes we are taught about stem cells, there is a 4th year optional course on it currently as well. |
| Offer holder | What do you study in Science fundamentals? |
| Staff | Science fundamentals is a first year subject you would do instead of chemistry. It would depend on how much chemistry you have done already to decide which one to do. It covers the basics of a few things including: maths, chemistry, physics and statistics |
| Offer holder | I have not been able to study any chemistry due to time table issues at my high school. Will this matter or should I attempt to learn some background knowledge? |
| Staff | No this is exactly why the science fundamentals course exists. |
| Offer holder | For marine biology what field work opportunities are there abroad? |
| Staff | In our final year we hold a Tropical Marine Biology Field Course on the Red Sea. We also have a Student exploration Society which runs marine research expeditions to various parts of the world. |
| Offer holder | What is required of you to qualify for the MCB course in your third year? |
| Staff | For most courses, including MCB, a C grade or good C grade is normally OK. |
| Offer holder | Is it possible to take neuroscience with psychology (SocSci)? |
| Staff | The joint honours course of Psychology / Neuroscience is no longer a final degree at the University of Glasgow. |
| Offer holder | Can anyone apply to do an MSci or do you need to be asked? |
| Staff | You can apply to join in the MSci when you are in second year. You must have good grades and get through the interview process |
| Offer holder | How many hours of lectures and lab work a week? |
| Staff | In 1st year you normally have 3 hours of lectures per day (1 for each subject) and usually a 3-hour lab each week for each subject and sometimes a tutorial. It depends on what courses you actually take in first year. |
| Offer holder | Can you transfer from one course area to another e.g. from Human Biology to Immunity and Infection? |
| Staff | Yes depending on choices you make you may have several potential degree courses to choose at the end of L2. |
| Offer holder | How many choices of module do you get in the first 2 years? |
| Staff | In L1 you would typically do First year Biology and First year Chemistry or Science Fundamentals, along with other courses such as Environmental Biology. In L2 you would typically do 2 general courses at 30 Credits each and 2 courses out of our four Degree Groups A - D for 30 credits. This would allow you to choose any final degree course out of the 2 degree groups. |
| Offer holder | Is there a lot of practical work done in Physiology Sports Science and Nutrition? |
| Staff | Yes. There are practicals in first and second year. This ramps up in third year to 6-9 hours per week. Fourth year can include practical courses and intern work. |
| Offer holder | Hiya, I know that in first year you have to do both biology and chemistry and then another subject, is there somewhere I can find a list of what subjects I can choose from? |
| Staff | The course catalogue shows you all the first year courses that are available. You need to make sure that any course you take fits the timetable of your compulsory courses. The course catalogue is at https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/ |
| Offer holder | What is the timetable usually like for anatomy or does it change every year? |
| Staff | Anatomy timetables do not change much year by year. In L3 the course is delivered in blocks that last 2 weeks. Each block will have ~6 hours of lectures and 6 hours of labs. |
| Offer holder | Is there a possible timetable that you can view for Physiology Sports Science and Nutrition? |
| Staff | The timetable goes on-line in Sept for the following year. The timing of labs depends on the class size and how many repeats we need to arrange. |
| Offer holder | Do you have to take any specific modules in your 2nd slot in your first and second year to qualify for MCB? |
| Staff | It's Biology at Level 1, and Genes Molecules & Cells at Level 2 |
| Offer holder | What would a timetable for Pharmacology look like? |
| Staff | This would depend which year, but when you get to third year this is when you would focus solely on Pharmacology and would consist of a number of lectures per week as well as a high proportion of lab work. These would also be supported by small group tutorials throughout. Each term is split into 6 blocks and we try to have a lab based practical associated with each teaching block |
| Offer holder | Hello, I'm currently an Offer holder for Zoology, what is the lecture, workshop, lab distribution at glasgow like? |
| Staff | We do a really mix of lectures, labs, workshops and fieldwork. Modules within 3rd year are not just lecture based and the mode of teaching varies and enhances each other depending on the topic. |
| Staff | This might vary between years. For instance in year 2 in a 30 credit course this usually fixed in one lecture per course per day, and you might have 6-3 hrs labs per semester. In year three, it is more variable as within a course we have course blocks and the distribution of lectures/labs might be a bit more uneven to maintain the coherence of particular block. |
| Offer holder | When and how do we apply for a MSci for Physiology Sports Science and Nutrition? |
| Staff | You apply in L2 (second year). To qualify you need good grades, pass the interview and then find somewhere acceptable to accept you for your WWP year. |
| Offer holder | Hi, so does everyone do the same biology level 1 module in the first year and then specialise into the subject we applied to later? |
| Staff | Yes that's right. |
| Staff | You choose your final degree subject at the end of L2. |
| Offer holder | Hi I’ve applied for human biology and was wondering roughly how many lab hours there are a week and if i could change the degree easily to another area such as Pharmacology or Immunology by the end of my degree? |
| Current student | Yes its easy to switch degrees, I changed from Pharmacology to Biochemistry without any problems. Lab hours can vary per week but it is usually a 3 hour lab once per week. |
| Offer holder | For lab work/group work, how many people do we work with in a group? |
| Staff | It varies - in L1 you will be working with another student but at a bench with the same group of 10 or so people. In other tutorials/labs/field trips you may be in a group of 4 or 5 or sometimes more. |
| Current student | It is a large group in year 1 but there are plenty of demonstrators to help you and there is a demonstrator per bench, throughout the years the lab sizes become smaller |
| Offer holder | Is it possible for you to tell us what the optional destinations are for doing a year abroad in Physiology, Sports Science, and Nutrition? |
| Staff | We have a range of partner organisations across Europe and also in North America and Australasia and in to Hong Kong and Singapore. |
| Offer holder | I have an offer to study Neuroscience, I was wondering if there is any preparation that would be beneficial before I start the course? |
| Staff | Entering into first year you are going to be doing basic biology and chemistry, very similar to the other Life Science degrees. So nothing neuroscience specific, but as this is an area you are interested it would always help to keep abreast of current developments in that area. |
| Offer holder | In 4th year can you chose your own dissertation topic (within your degree area) or do they tend to be assigned by supervisors? |
| Current student | You select topics you're interested in and based on that you will be assigned a research question and supervisor. |
| Staff | Hi, both things happen. The topic has to be 'possible' and supervisors have to be available. |
| Offer holder | How are we taught? How often do we have lectures for life sciences? What is the mix between lab work and lectures? |
| Staff | In first year is is usually a 1 hour lecture per day (or 4 out of 5 days) and one 3 hour lab per week per subject. Your third subject may not have a lab. Many students have a part time job. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I have an offer for the anatomy course however I am looking to progress into a medicine degree afterwards. Approximately how many places are opened up for graduates and does this shorten the length of the medicine course? |
| Staff | Students progress to medicine from almost all degree programmes. There is no fixed number of places for graduates. The length of the MB course depends on where you go. It is usually 3-5 years. |
| Offer holder | Hello I was wondering if there was an opportunity to study abroad at any point in the 4 year human biology degree? If so would it be 3rd year and would you know the options of destination at this moment in time or would the perhaps change? |
| Staff | Yes, you can study abroad either in 2nd year or 3rd year - although the latter is preferred, I believe. You could also consider gaining entry to the 5 year MSci, which allows you to undertake paid work between 3rd and 4th year! |
| Staff | Please note - if you are interested in the 5 year MSci you would have to do study abroad in L2 - University does not allow 2 consecutive academic years off campus. |
| Staff | Study abroad can be for one semester or the whole year |
| Offer holder | What’s the average hours to be in university for anatomy each week in year 1? |
| Staff | A normal first year timetable is 3 hours of lectures each day (1 for each subject), a 3-hour lab per week for each subject and maybe a tutorial. It varies a bit depending on what courses you enrol on. |
| Staff | Full time anatomy courses start in third year. A full time student should be busy ~ 40 hours/week. About half of this is timetabled and half is private study. |
| Offer holder | I see that you specialize in year 2/3, but is it possible to take classes in your subject before then? specifically for Neuroscience. |
| Staff | You will cover some neuroscience in first and second year, but this will be part of wider Biology teaching. There are no specific neuroscience specific courses in first and second year although many students opt to take first and/or second year Psychology courses (you have an element of choice in first and second year) which will contain a degree of neuroscience. |
| Offer holder | Is it only possible to study abroad if you decide to go on to do a masters agree? |
| Staff | No you can do a semester or a full year abroad in L2 or L3 that is not part of the Masters/Degree With Work Placement. One proviso is that if you do L3 abroad you can not do the Degree with Work Placement. |
| Offer holder | If I have crashed higher chemistry this year would I choose to do chemistry or fundamental science in first year? |
| Staff | It depends on what your grade outcome is. Normally if you have a B or above then we woud strongly recommend that you do chemistry rather than science fundamementals. |
| Offer holder | When can you apply to study abroad? |
| Staff | If you want to go abroad for all or part of level 2 you'll need to apply in Level 1. |
| Staff | For study abroad we have a Fair in October of each year. If you are starting L1 this September there will be plenty of notices and e-mails to tell you when the Study Abroad fair and information sessions are. |
| Offer holder | Also I know this isn’t a biology question but what is the parking like near the university would you recommend driving my car in or getting the train and subway? |
| Current student | I recommend public transport, there are buses and the subway which come near the University. |
| Staff | There is very little parking that is not very expensive. Public transport would probably be best. |
| Offer holder | Roughly how many people (out of the people that make it to the interview process) are successful in their application to do an integrated masters? |
| Staff | This varies quite a lot. For the whole of Life Sciences, there are currently about 55 students on placement as part of the masters. I estimate around 150 would have been interviewed. |
| Offer holder | What is the difference between MCB and MCB with biotechnology? I'm wondering what are the pros and cons of choosing the one over the other, or are the differences negligible? |
| Staff | There is not much difference, some biotech specific course content in third year. Then you can decide what areas you would like to specialise in further in your final year. |
| Staff | That's a decision you'd make at the end of Level 2, and not one that you need to think about now. The differences will become clearer as you progress through Level 2. But you are correct, the differences are quite small. |
| Offer holder | BSc Biochemistry what are most graduates going on to as from your university and are any going into biomedical science in the NHS? is there work placement on the the degree ? |
| Staff | We have a document on destinations of Biochemistry, Genetics and MCB students that you can download form this site. In reality Biochemistry students can do anything. |
| Staff | Some students go into the NHS and you can do a work placement with Biochemistry. |
| Offer holder | Can we choose maths as our 3rd subject in year 1 and year 2? |
| Staff | Yes. You can study almost anything so long as your timetable works. |
| Offer holder | Can we chose when and for how long we want to go abroad for? |
| Staff | You have a lot of choice of where to study abroad. You can only do this for one year though. |
| Staff | There are some limits. Common patterns are 1 or 2 semesters in any one year. The most popular year to travel is L2. Some people travel during the long vacation in the UK summer. |
| Offer holder | Hi I was wondering how we will be assessed, will it be an exam at the end of the year or will lab reports be handed throughout the year as well? |
| Staff | There are a mixture of assessments throughout for all the degree programs; final year exams, lab reports, presentations, essays etc |
| Staff | For first year it is 50% coursework and 50% exam including written assessments, online quizzes and groupwork. |
| Offer holder | I have a offer for Advanced Entry (Year 2) for Immunology. Would I be able to do a year abroad in Year 3? |
| Staff | In principle you could study abroad in year 3, yes. But don't underestimate how much work it takes to set up such an opportunity. Equally - if that's what you want to do - go for it! |
| Offer holder | What strengths do you think Glasgow has in terms of life science teaching, and as a university overall? |
| Staff | Glasgow has many strengths - we are dedicated staff that puts your learning and intestests to a high level, we have dedicated teams of staff from the speific degree courses, opportunties for internships, study abroad, integrated masters, scholarships. We have your learning at the key of what we do and provide. |
| Offer holder | Is it possible to start helping out a university researcher in their lab in year 1? |
| Staff | If there is a member of staff whose research interests you then feel free to contact them about getting experience. I often have students helping me with my ornithological field work for example. |
| Offer holder | Are lectures filmed so you can watch them again to take more notes? |
| Staff | At levels 1 and 2 you will get some recorded lectures, but not all. |
| Staff | Most lectures in year 2 are recorded. For the other years, this is in the discretion of the lecturer whether they agree to be recorded by e.g. a mobile phone |
| Offer holder | Is there an opportunity to have a work placement with a company relevant to the life science degree? |
| Staff | Yes - we run a 5 year MSci with Work Placement degree that offers the opportunity to undertake work placement in a company within the degree subject you have chosen. |
| Current student | Many students do internships and work placements during the summer holidays between the years of their degree. Many are available at the university itself as well as at other uni's and companies. |
| Offer holder | How competitive is it to get into the MSci course? How is entry decided? |
| Staff | The process is as follows: at the seat of 3rd year, if your grade point average is 16 or above, you can apply to be admitted onto the MSci. If your application looks competitive, you would be interviewed by the MSci coordinators for your degree program who would then decide whether work placement is right for you. If it is, you would be offered a place on the program and would spend 3rd year trying to secure a placement for the following year. |
| Offer holder | What topics are covered in the first year biology course that all life science students take? |
| Staff | If you look at Biology 1A and Biology 1B in the course catalogue (https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/) it will break down the curriculum for you. |
| Offer holder | Hi, my question is about the possibility of doing multiple subjects in first year. I have an offer for a life science course, so am I correct in thinking that i can take other courses/subjects as unrelated as film studies or ancient history for example alongside the basic life science subject? Thanks! |
| Staff | Yes we work on a credit system with each academic year worth 120 credits. In L1 you would typically 40 credits of Biology and 40 Credits of either Chemistry or Science Fundamentals. That leaves the other 40 credits for you to choose what to do. |
| Offer holder | With A levels being awarded from teacher predictions are you likely to be more flexible with admissions if awarded grades are less than our Ucas offer? |
| Staff | The University are working with other Universities across the country to be able to make suitable arrangements for this year. Everyone is in the same boat so keep your eye on our COVID-19 FAQs for updates: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/news/coronavirus/faqs/ |
| Offer holder | Hi, what career options are there after doing a Zoology degree? |
| Staff | A lot of our graduates go on to do a Masters degree or even a PhD. Some go in to teaching. Most of the people who work for the RSPB in Glasgow are our graduates. Others work for environmental agencies or environmental NGO's, some never do any science again. |
| Offer holder | I only have chemistry at national 5 level, but I did Advanced Higher Biology, would you advise taking fundamental science or chemistry? |
| Staff | Science fundametals would be best suited for you. |
| Offer holder | I was wondering who will be the lecture for physiology, what websites would you highly recommend for physiology and when will the timetable be released for physiology? |
| Staff | Timetables are available in Sept for the following year. Have a look at the Physiological Society Website. |
| Offer holder | I have an offer for biochemistry, if I preferred immunology after first year would I be able to switch? |
| Staff | Yes, the great thing about Glasgow is that you can keep your options open until you choose at the end of second year. As long as you take the pre-requsiste classes for the choosen degree subject. |
| Offer holder | Are years 1 and 2 of studying a life science still interesting as it is more generalised and you don't study your specific course until 3rd year? |
| Current student | I'm a 4th year immunology student. 1st and 2nd year are still so interesting as you really get to appreciate all the subject areas. I applied for neuroscience and then realised I loved immunology so the course structure gives great flexibility if you change your mind. |
| Staff | Yes - years 1 and 2 are interesting - they will expose you to a whole lot of stuff you have not previously studied and may even persuade you to specialise in a different topic for your honours degree! |
| Staff | We think they are interesting and they are designed to prepare you correctly for your chosen degree choice in third year |
| Staff | Of course! It allows you to see a breadth of science that you are unlikley to have encountered before. It also allows you to find your feet and setting into Uni life and have the opportunities to take up extra-curricular activities as well. |
| Offer holder | Hi when do the timetables come out, is it a few weeks before university begins? |
| Staff | When you register in late August or early September you'll get your timetable. |
| Offer holder | Are there limited spaces in each third choice subjects such as Business? |
| Staff | There is lots of space in most courses but yes, there will be a limit that each course cannot exceed. |
| Offer holder | What grade would you have to have in Higher Chemistry to be able to do Chemistry instead of Science Fundamentals? |
| Staff | Chemistry normally ask for a B grade. |
| Offer holder | Okay, thank you. If you don't have a B grade, would you have to chose Science Fundamentals? |
| Staff | Yes that would be normal course choice to take. |
| Offer holder | How often do you go to the center at Loch Lomond for marine biology? |
| Staff | We go in the beginning of year three for a one week residential field course. |
| Staff | And again in L4 for a module if you choose it. |
| Offer holder | Does Year 2 (Advanced Entry) start on the same day as Year 1? |
| Staff | Hi Denver, yes, enrolment and the start of teaching will be same for everyone. |
| Offer holder | Is there significant different between doing an MSci, or doing an undergraduate and then doing a specific masters course such as Virology ? |
| Staff | Hi Emma, the outcome from both options is the same. The one key difference for the integrated masters is that your funding body will normally fund it as part of your undergraduate studies. If you graduate first and then access a masters they are normally self funded. |
| Offer holder | If I took fundamental science instead of chemistry as my second module would that restrict me from doing chemistry based subjects like pharmacology? |
| Staff | No. Sci Fund works for entrants who have no chemistry or weaker chemistry when they start. Both routes progress to the same subjects like Pharmacology. |
| Offer holder | When studying zoology, are there opportunities to do work placements in zoos or anything like that? |
| Staff | We have a lot of organisations that we work with and where students can do projects or get experience. These include the Blair Drummond Safari Park and Calderglen Zoo. |
| Offer holder | Are there opportunities to gain experience in the Uni hospital labs? |
| Staff | Depending on which degree you are taking, there are opportunities for this. For instance in the Microbiology and Immunology degrees, students can undertake final year projects in hospital labs. Some of our students also undertake vacation projects in hospital labs. |
| Offer holder | Does the senior Honours year change if you do a masters degree? |
| Current student | You would be taught the same as others in their 4th year of a BSc, the weighting of exams/ coursework is slightly different towards your final grade and the MSci has some some extra work relating to the work placement as well |
| Staff | It changes things a little. You complete the third year course, then go on work placement, then return to L4. The project and options courses are the same but the assessment changes to align with masters criteria. |
| Offer holder | Can we sign up for more modules in Year 2 than the required minimum? |
| Staff | We advise students to just do the recommended 120 credits each year - that is enough of a work load. |
| Current student | The courses that you are required to do are full time and give you a wide range of biology knowledge so there would be no need or time to do any extra. |
| Offer holder | If I take Chemistry in year 1 do I have to take it in year 2 as well? |
| Staff | No. Most of our students study a full year of biology at Level 2. |
| Offer holder | Is it possible to transfer to a degree like medicine from a life sciences degree or is it a special case? |
| Current student | No you can't transfer to medicine. |
| Offer holder | What campus is the Neuroscience MSci degree given at? |
| Current student | The 4 year undergraduate Neuroscience degree is delivered on the main Glasgow campus. If subsequently you applied for and were accepted onto the MSci program then the 4th year could be anywhere in the world (dictated by where you have organised you placement). You would then return to Glasgow for you final (5th) year. |
| Offer holder | How many students get to go on the Tropical ecology field course to the red sea for marine biology? |
| Staff | If I'm not mistaken it is around 15 students, although this might vary slightly depending on demand. |
| Offer holder | Do you need to apply for it? |
| Staff | Yes, you would apply for it in third year. |
| Offer holder | In what year of the Anatomy degree do you start doing dissections? Also do we have access to the hunterian museum for learning purposes? |
| Staff | There will be some dissections in first year but the main dissections start in third year of your anatomy degree. The museums are all available to all our students |
| Staff | Human cadaver dissection starts in L3. Students see fixed pro-section material in L2. The Huntarian Museum is open to the public (and students) when not in use for teaching sessions. |
| Offer holder | Is there a lot of cross over between A level biology and Biology 1A/B in first year? |
| Current student | Yes they are similar, some topics may be new to you as well as building on what you already know. |
| Staff | The content will be familiar to you if you have an A level background. We try to make sure the curriculum is based on current up-to-date research. |
| Offer holder | Is Advanced Higher biology in anyway similar to the first year biology course? |
| Staff | Yes they are similar, but with more of a research focus |
| Offer holder | Is there any additional preparation/reading that we need to do before September? |
| Current student | No extra reading is necessary, its a good idea to look over you're past biology notes as a refresher before the term starts though |
| Staff | No, other than for interest. The course catalogue shows the available courses which help you decide if you wish to read around those subjects more before you start. https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/ |
| Offer holder | What's the average class size like in the School of Life Sciences? |
| Current student | The class sizes are larger in year 1 and decrease over the course of your degree. The size of class depends on the type of class e.g. lecture, lab, tutorials. By years 3 and 4 class sizes are 20-30 people usually for lectures |
| Staff | 1st year biology can be up to 700 students but by 3rd and 4th year you could be in a class of 30-50. |
| Offer holder | I didnt do Advanced higher Biology, will I be of disadvantage or will first year allow me to ease into the course? How similar is the course in Year 1 to Advanced higher. Are students like myself who havent done advanced higher learn as we go along? |
| Staff | Year 1 is similar to advanced higher is what I've been told so you won't be at a disadvantage. |
| Offer holder | Do advanced entry students get to take part in Freshers Week? |
| Current student | Yes you definitely can |
| Staff | Yes of course - freshers week is for everyone, not just first years. |
Mathematics and Statistics
| User | Message |
| Staff | Good afternoon everyone! A very warm welcome to the Virtual Offer holder’s Day and the Maths & Stats Chat Booth. Academics are here and ready for any questions. |
| Staff | Hi everyone. I'm Craig Anderson, a Lecturer in Statistics. Very happy to answer any questions you have. |
| Staff | Hi everyone! I am Marnie Low, a lecturer in Statistics. |
| Staff | Good afternoon. My name is Steve Roper, lecturer in Mathematics and senior adviser for the School of Maths and Stats. |
| Staff | Hi all, there will understandably be a range of question related to the coronavirus, COVID-19, including the TERM START DATE. At this point in time the University is planning for a start date of 21 September, however, if this changes, all information will be communicated to Offer holders. You can also keep abreast of all updates at: https://gla.ac/cvfaqs |
| Offer holder | How easy would you say it is to switch to a different subject from the one you have received an offer for? |
| Staff | Dear Ewan, that depends on the nature of the change. What did you have in mind? |
| Offer holder | Switch from computer science to potentially maths. Only a thought |
| Staff | Switches like this (within science and engineering) would normally be possible, but depends on whether you would have been offered a place in maths had you applied for it. It's also worth noting that you could take Maths and Computing (plus a third subject) in your first year and then switch to maths at the end of the 1st year, or at the end of the 2nd year, if you take maths in 2nd year. So quite easy to change, provided you study the relevant subjects when you arrive. |
| Offer holder | Ok thank you |
| Offer holder | For a Maths, Physics and astronomy timetable, how long will we be in classes for in the week? How many lectures, labs and tutorials etc. |
| Current student | It depends on the subjects you picked, In first year I did Chem, Bio and Psychology. All of them had labs so I had 15hrs of lectures every week, 9 hours of labs a week. |
| Offer holder | Hello! Could you please explain the difference between MPhys and MSci? |
| Staff | Hi Aikaterini, there isn't an MPhys in Maths and/or Stats at Glasgow. I can tell you about the MSci, which is a 5 year undergraduate degree. Would that help? |
| Offer holder | Thank you very much. My apologies. |
| Offer holder | Hello would you recommend Statistics for a Computing & Maths BSc student\? |
| Staff | Hi Barkin. Statistics is quite a natural complement to those subjects, since it uses a lot of mathematics and involves some computer programming. Many of our students pick this combination in first year. |
| Offer holder | Are we allowed to use calculators in statistics\? I have a Ti 84\+ coloured |
| Staff | We do allow calculators in our exams, but the school's policy is currently only to allow calculators on the following list. * Casio FX-83GT* * Casio FX-85GT* * Sharp EL-531WH * Aurora AX-582BL * Sharp EL-233SB-BK |
| Offer holder | Oh I see so we can’t use graphics calculators then\? I have a FX85GT plus by Casio\. |
| Offer holder | How many maths lectures and tutorials will be available to attend in a week? |
| Staff | Hello Zoe, In first year students typically have 4 hours of Math lecturers per week and 1 hour of problem classes. |
| Offer holder | Is there much similar content in the first year uni course as the advanced higher maths course? |
| Staff | Hello Zoe, There is some over lap, but most of what you will see will be new. |
| Offer holder | When will we decide our additional subject choices and receive our timetables? Or form our timetables rather with the additional classes |
| Staff | When enrolment and registration opens (normally August), you will receive advice from the School about enrolment. The process you go through guides you through course choices and you'll be able to ask any questions about options to the enrolment advising team in Maths and Stats. Your timetable is slightly flexible (you have choices of times for most subjects) so one job you have to to piece your tiemtable together when enrolling. We will support you in this if you need it. |
| Offer holder | How many contact hours would I be looking at studying maths, computing science, and exploring the cosmos? |
| Staff | Typically I would expect you to have about 5+ contact hours for each of those subjects. If you have a computer lab session in computing science then that typically adds another 1-2 hours to your week. Typically students spend 1/3 of their time in classes and 2/3 self study, but that 2/3 self study could include going to drop-in sessions of lecturers office hours to get help with problems. |
| Offer holder | Where can I find more information on the computing modules I would study in first year alongside maths? |
| Staff | A list of courses is available here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=REG30200000&name=School+of+Computing+Science |
| Offer holder | Hi, Just wondering how much first year mathematics overlaps with advanced higher maths. Thanks |
| Staff | Hi Max, I would say there is some overlap but there is also material that is not covered in AH Maths. |
| Offer holder | I have an offer for the Maths/Politics course (LG21), what third subject do you think would be best for me to pick up? |
| Staff | Hi Liam. That depends on what you are interested in - there are a wide range of subjects available. Did you have anything in mind? |
| Offer holder | I’m quite torn, I’d like to continue German, but then would like to explore a different area, so like sciences as I haven’t done these in a while. Is it hard to pick up a subject I haven’t done before? |
| Offer holder | Are the grade boundaries standard? Or do they vary? |
| Staff | In general the grade boundaries are standard for our courses in statistics. There may be very rare exceptions. Mathematics may be different. |
| Offer holder | Great, thank you! |
| Offer holder | Do bands matter much in first and second year? Also what is the percentage of students that achieve A1? |
| Staff | In terms of the grade boundaries, they are slightly different in 1st/2nd year from Honours. In general an A is around 70% and an A1 is around 90%. |
| Offer holder | Could you outline what the grade boundaries are like in statistics and maths, ie. what mark is an A band 1, etc |
| Staff | Roughly an A is 70%, but grade boundary get decided each year by the exam board, to make sure things are consistent from one year to the next, in a similar way that they get decided for Advanced Higher or A-level |
| Offer holder | Okay, thank you for the reply |
| Offer holder | Also is there any prep that would be useful to do as I have never done statistics before but I have done advanced higher maths. |
| Staff | Your advanced higher maths should set you up nicely for statistics - it starts off at entry level to bring everyone up to speed. |
| Offer holder | Do bands matter much in first and second year? Also what is the percentage of students that achieve A1 in first year? |
| Staff | Hello Jessie, Students needs to achieve a certain average in a subject to progress to the next year in that subject, so in that sense bands matter. Your final degree mark is based on year 3 and 4. It's difficult to answer the question about the A1, because we typically think about what percentage got an A when we look at performance. |
| Offer holder | Hi, is there a big jump from advanced higher maths to first year uni? |
| Staff | Not so much in content, but in the way that it is taught then yes. Advanced higher maths is really excellent preparation. In your 1st year in maths you'll also learn how to present your arguments in written form and learn a bit more than is covered in the advanced higher syllabus. You'll have group work in tutorials and be expected to complete reading ahead of lectures. |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much. |
| Offer holder | I have an offer for MA Maths, am I guaranteed places on the arts courses i want, French and History? Are joint degrees of theses subjects recommended? |
| Staff | You won't necessarily be guaranteed spaces on the arts courses, but it is very unusual for students to not able to take the class they want. Most years we have students taking joint Maths and French degrees. Math and history is slightly more unusual. |
| Staff | One great thing about the UoG degree structure is that you don't need to decide if you want to do a joint degree or a single subject degree until your 3rd year. |
| Staff | Hi Fraser, it depends on your really Your combination of French, Histoy and Maths sounds like a great combination. The MA Maths joint honours combinations can be viewed at: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/mathematics/#tab=degrees |
| Offer holder | How strongly would you recommend doing statistics in year 1 for a BSc in Computing Science? |
| Staff | Hi Euan, I would recommend it. Statistics complements computing science quite well, especially nowadays with all the data we have available. 1st year statistics also covers some statistical programming. |
| Offer holder | Thank you very much |
| Offer holder | Hi I have studied advanced higher maths but have never done statistics. What is the statistics part of the course like, is there any recommended work I should do before starting uni to make the transition easier? Thanks |
| Current student | Hi Molly, when I came to university I had done no prior Statistics but Adv. Higher Maths and took it as my third course and it is taught very well so you do not need to have done any work before. I ended up changing my degree to just Statistics now as enjoyed it so much! |
| Staff | Hi Molly. First year statistics tends to be easy enough for strong mathematics students to pick up. We are aware that most students have not done any stats before. I studied stats here at Glasgow and had no previous background in the subject beyond Advanced Higher maths. |
| Offer holder | Thank you! |
| Offer holder | I've got a conditional for Finance & Mathematics and the condition is I complete the summer school. Was wondering what it might consist of for me? |
| Staff | Hi Joe. The exact details will be dependent on your offer, but in general summer school aims to bring students up to speed with certain key subjects. I am not sure exactly what form the summer school will take if the university is not re-opened by then, but there will definitely be a contingency in place so don't worry about that. |
| Offer holder | Yeah they've changed it to online now was just wondering if it would be more maths or finance focused, if you are unable to know at this time it's fine. |
| Staff | I wouldn't claim to know for sure, but if I was to guess I would reckon it will probably have more of a maths focus. |
| Offer holder | Is there going to be a subject presentation or is it just this chat? |
| Staff | Hi Toby. We have presentations available as part of the site here - if you navigate out of the chat you should find them amongst the set of maths and stats documents. |
| Offer holder | What about a live presentation? That would be more helpful to get an idea of the department, like a real Offer holder day |
| Staff | Hi Toby. Unfortunately there is no live presentation - it is quite difficult practically given the number of participants we have and the fact that the university is closed at the moment. We appreciate this is not perfect, but we are trying our best to give you the best possible experience in the circumstances. |
| Offer holder | Ok, I understand, that's disappointing, it makes choosing Glasgow almost impossible for me as I can't get a feel for the department or location :( |
| Staff | Hi Toby. That is a shame - we would have loved to have shown you round our wonderful campus and for you to have the opportunity to visit this great city, but obviously the circumstances are beyond our control. |
| Offer holder | Hi there, I'm sure this question applies to quite a few people but is there anything regarding both the Maths & Stats course and the University in general that sets Glasgow apart from other universities? |
| Staff | Hi Christopher. I originally studied Maths & Stats here as a student and have always loved it. The school consistently performs very well in terms of both research and teaching, and has a lot of degree flexibility compared to other universities. For example, we are the only university in Scotland (and one of few in the UK) who offer a single statistics course. We also have opportunities like our work placement degrees, international exchange programmes which tend to prove very popular with our students. |
| Offer holder | That sounds great. Thank you very much for replying |
| Offer holder | How easy is it to change between a BSc and MSci? |
| Staff | Dear Ronan, it's straightforward. The maths degree has the same structure for BSc and MSci for the first four years. The progression requirements at each level are slightly higher for MSci, but provided you meet them it is very straightforward to arrange. |
| Offer holder | Thanks |
| Offer holder | How long do you have the option to change between the BSc and MSci? |
| Staff | In terms of length of time to decide, on the Maths MSci, provided you're meeting requirements you can decide up to the end of 2nd semester in 4th year to switch to the 5 yr degree. For other programmes (MSci Stats for example) the decision has to be made a bit earlier as the courses you take are different in 4th year when comparing between MSci and BSc. |
| Offer holder | Is graduating an MSci degree comparable with graduating the Master's programs most European universities offer? This confuses me a bit: Why does it take four years to reach the Bachelor qualification but only one additional year to get to Master's level? Thanks a lot! |
| Staff | An MSci is an integrated Masters programme, so graduating with it is a comparable level to a Master's degree. Many postgraduate master's degrees are 1 year degrees. The MSci is an undergaduate degree. |
| Offer holder | For a Maths, Physics and astronomy timetable, how long will we be in classes for in the week? How many lectures, labs and tutorials etc. |
| Staff | Hi Sean, in 1st year these courses generally have a 1 hour lecture per day i.e. 5 lectures per course per week. Maths also has tutorials each week and Physics has a weekly lab (I think, this isn't my subject!) |
| Offer holder | Thank you! |
| Offer holder | Is there any maths drop in clinics or anything like that availible? |
| Staff | Dear Adam, yes, there is a maths hub that operates four days a week in the afternoons. You can drop in to discuss lecture material and problems with the lecturers, post-graduates and other support staff. |
| Staff | Hi Adam, as well as the maths hub, the Glasgow uni MACSOC (Maths and Stats society) also run a help room for 1st and 2nd years throughout the semester. |
| Offer holder | I have an offer for the MMath course and I am interested in taking the statistics and economics courses as my other two subjects. I was wondering if you could give me some information about these subjects |
| Staff | Hi Erin. Our statistics courses essentially provide students with an introduction to the subject. Statistics is an increasingly popular choice for our undergraduate students because it provides excellent job prospects. In first year you would learn about probability, hypothesis testing, inference and also some case studies with real life examples where statistics is used. More information on our first year courses is available at the links below. I don't know a great deal about economics, but I know it is a fairly popular combination for our students. https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/course/?code=STATS1002 https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/course/?code=STATS1003 |
| Offer holder | Hey there, I have some questions regarding the first-year subjects of BSc Maths: How much do they overlap with what one would learn at high school in Europe? For someone that took secondary education preparing for a three year Bachelor degree program, is the Scottish first year of a four-year program challenging enough? |
| Staff | We often have students that have studied high school in Europe and they still find first year challenging. It is also possible to directly enter 2nd year, but we don't typically recommend it as there is a lot to adjust to when you start university. This is something you can explore with your advisor of studies when you arrive. |
| Offer holder | How does Glasgow compare to the likes of Edinburgh? |
| Staff | Hi Fraser. Do you mean the city or the university? |
| Offer holder | Both would be good know thanks |
| Staff | Both are very good cities - I have lived in both and really loved them. Edinburgh is perhaps more tourist-friendly and has a lot of sights to see, but I think there tends to be more happening in Glasgow in terms of pubs, bars, music, sporting events etc. In terms of the universities, both are very good too. One advantage Glasgow has is the strength of the statistics department - it is by far the biggest in Scotland and is the only place in Scotland where you can do a single honours statistics degree. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I'm wanting to take maths as my 3rd subject, How is it typically taught? Are there tutorials, and how is the subject assessed? |
| Staff | Hi Daisy, Maths 1 is taught via daily lectures and weekly tutorials. The subject is assessed via written assignments, exams and "core skills tests". |
| Offer holder | How often do you do written assignments and core skills tests? |
| Staff | Roughly weekly |
| Offer holder | What are the key areas covered in year1 maths? |
| Staff | Hi Euan, the course catalogue for Maths 1 is a useful resource for finding out what is covered (https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/course/?code=MATHS1017). |
| Offer holder | I was wondering about the teaching style for the maths course as I have been to other universities and they have used tophat as a teaching method. Is this a method used here? |
| Staff | Hi Erin, we do not use tophat. Our maths classes are usually delivered through a combination of lectures and tutorials. There are also more practical lab-based classes. |
| Staff | We don't use TopHat, but we do use an electronic voting system in class, to help make lectures more interactive. In tutorials we have group work. |
| Offer holder | Do you know if there would be a timetable clash between maths and humanities like History? |
| Staff | Maths is offered at a couple of times a day, so it's usually possible to take most other subjects alongside it. This is provided you're qualified for entry into the subject and of course that you can arrange a clash free timetable. It's not so common a combination but I think it is possible. Have you applied for the MA Mathematics or the BSc Mathematics? |
| Offer holder | MA maths |
| Staff | OK, for the MA you'll be taking 80 credits of Arts in your 1st year, plus 40 credits of Maths. I think you will be able to arrange to take History and Maths and just have to think of what your other arts subject will be. |
| Offer holder | Would French also be fine? I also have an interest in law, is this not recommended to take as an extra module or not as is a specific degree? |
| Staff | French would be fine (there are beginner and non beginner versions). I don't think Law is possible for you to take, but you might want to check with the Arts advising team when you arrive. |
| Offer holder | Is the MA maths degree viewed equally to a BSc maths degree by employers? |
| Staff | The MA and BSc are both 4 year degrees and are exactly the same qualification level, and yes employers would treat an MA in Maths the same as a BSc. The difference is only in the number of arts subjects vs science subjects you take in your 1st two years, years 3 and 4 are the same. |
| Offer holder | Thank you. |
| Offer holder | Hi, just wondering what campus and which building maths will be taught in |
| Staff | Hi Matthew, all the Maths/stats courses take place on the main campus. Due to the large class size generally the lectures won't take place in the mathematics building in 1st year, however there are many large lecture theatres nearby that we use. |
| Offer holder | Do you think first year maths would be demanding for a AH band 1 A student\? I got this result last exam session \(2019 May \) and had to take a gap year |
| Staff | There will be some over lap with Advanced Higher, but also a lot of new material. Quite a few students take a gap year, so we have a help room where students can drop by with questions if they need help catching up with material that they might have forgotten. |
| Offer holder | What do you think of note taking on an iPad / tablet\? |
| Staff | Hi Barkin, I think note taking on a tablet is a good idea! Its very much down to personal preference! |
| Staff | Hi Barkin. This is fine - lots of our students take notes this way. |
| Offer holder | What can I expect my time table to look like studying accountancy and maths? |
| Staff | Hello Amanda, For the 1st year of this degree you will take Maths 1 (40 credits), Finance 1 (20 credits), Financial Accounting 1 (20 credits), Management Accounting 1 (20 credits), Statistics 1Y (20 credits) and Statistics 1Z (20 credits). This is a 140 credit fixed curriculum and so is a slightly higher load than standard. As such you'll find that you'll be slightly busier in semester 1 than other students. As for timetable, for Maths there are two different lecture times to choose from and a vareity of tutorial times. |
| Offer holder | Thank you! How many hours of lectures a week would you say I'd be looking at? |
| Staff | Contact time varies per subject but as a rough guide you will have 4 lectures of maths a week plus a tutorial. This will be roughly 5 contact hours a week per 20 credits. You'll have 70 credits a semester (I think the split is actually 80-60 over the 2 semesters) so you're looking at between 20 and 25 contact hours a week. |
| Staff | There are also choices in tutorial times in the finance courses, so there is a bit of flexibility in how you organise your timetable. |
| Offer holder | Good afternoon! I was wondering how most of the assessment takes place in mathematics. Is it mainly exams or projects and so on? |
| Staff | The assessment is a mix of weekly assignments and a final exam taken at the end of each semester. |
| Offer holder | Great, thank you! |
| Offer holder | What are the e-assignments like for maths? |
| Staff | They are typically multiple choice questions, but some problems involve typing a numerical answer. The great thing about the e-assignments is that there are lots of practice examples you can do and on-line videos to help. |
| Offer holder | Great, thank you |
| Offer holder | What is covered in year 1 statistics? I've been keen to find out after conducting a student T-test for a biology project. |
| Staff | Hi Euan. First year statistics mainly covers topics like probability, inference and hypothesis testing as well as some case studies which show how statistics is used in real life. More information about the courses can be found here. https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/course/?code=STATS1002 https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/course/?code=STATS1003 |
| Offer holder | How much time a week would you spend doing maths? |
| Staff | Hi Fraser, in maths there are daily lectures plus weekly tutorials. In addition to this there are weekly assessments so you would be expected to do self study out with the timetabled classes. |
| Offer holder | When studying maths is there any subjects that are mandatory you take along side it? Also when doing maths and stats does that narrow down other subjects which you can take in first year? How can you find out what subjects you can take? |
| Staff | Hi Molly. There are no other mandatory choices alongside maths. Maths and statistics is a popular combination. In general you can choose most other subjects from the university subject to timetabling constraints - for example, when I started as a student in 2007 I studied maths, stats and Spanish. The most common third subjects are computing science, economics, physics, chemistry and biology, but loads of others are available. It depends what you are interested in. |
| Staff | Hi Molly, if you're taking Maths BSc as your degree, the only constraint is that you take a further 40 credits of science. For Statistics, we recommend taking Statistics in L1 for those on combined degrees, but entry to 2nd year Statistics depends only on haiving passed 1st year Maths, so you can always pick up Statistics in your 2nd year even if you don't take it in first year. |
| Offer holder | I've got unconditionals for maths (MSci), and maths and stats. Would it be better accepting maths then taking statistics as a subject in my first year or taking the joint course? |
| Staff | Hello Molly, If you're on the Maths and Stats degree then our strong recommendation is that you take Maths and Stats in 1st year (to see if you like the subject for example), if you're on the Maths degree then you'd still be able to pick up Stats in 2nd year even if you didn't take it in 1st year. |
| Staff | Hello Molly, I thought I'd replied but my browser is slowing down. If you're on the Maths+Stats degree our recommendation is that you'd take Stats in Yr 1 (to see if you like the subject for example), you'd be able to switch to the Maths degree if you preferred, at the end of 1st or 2nd year. If you're on the Maths degree you'd also be free to take Stats in Yr 1 or to pick it up in Yr 2, this would also then lead to the combined degree Maths+Stats. |
| Offer holder | If you are doing a Bsc then do all three subjects you pick in first year have to be science/maths related? |
| Staff | Dear Max. On the BSc you have to take 80 credits of science in your first year, maths counts as 40 of these. The final 40 can be any subject that is open, has space and that you are qualified to take. This could be form Arts, Social Science or Life Sciences. |
| Offer holder | Would you then have to carry the two science subjects on to second year and drop the other one? |
| Staff | No, you could continue Maths + your other non science subject (provided it leads to 2nd year) and in many cases this would lead to the option of a combined degree. Did you have a subject in mind? |
| Offer holder | I'm not entirely sure but was possibly thinking something to do with business |
| Offer holder | Are there finance modules available in year 1 in maths |
| Staff | Hi Amy, there are finance modules available in 1st year, but unless you're on the joint degree with Accounting/Finance then the ones available to students on a single honours maths degree don't lead on to further study in 2nd year. You'd be very welcome to take them and you could discuss this with an enrolment adviser. We might also recommend you consider Economics/Business and Management which do lead on to 2nd year study. |
| Staff | Hello Amy, No, there are no finance modules in year 1 maths, but you can take a finance class as one of your other subject options. |
| Offer holder | Thank you. If I took the finance class in year 1, would it be possible to switch to a joint Finance and Maths degree? |
| Staff | Hi Amy, If you want to be able to move to a combined degree in Maths/Finance this would have to be done (if possible) right when you arrive as the finance courses available to BSc Maths (single) students do not lead to 2nd year student. the combined degrees Maths+Finance have a very specific curriculum and the courses on offer are not available to students outside that degree. |
| Offer holder | Are there any aspects of the course or classes at Glasgow that relate to the application of Maths & Stats in the workplace? |
| Staff | Hi Christopher, In statistics we try where possible to give you real life examples of where statistics is useful to demonstrate the methods in action. Both subjects have a mix of applied and theoretical courses so you will get many opportunities to see the methods in use. |
| Offer holder | That's great, thank you! |
| Offer holder | Do we have to buy any textbooks\? Do you hand out your own notes\? |
| Staff | For Mathematics 1, the library currently has access to the e-book version of the required textbook Liebeck (Introduction to Pure Mathematics). There is another textbook (Calculus by Stewart) that is required and is also useful for 2nd year. The university bookshop usually has these on offer. The lecturers will post any lecture materials on Moodle (our Virtual Learning Enviornment) for you to make use of too. As the lectures in Maths require pre-reading before the relevant lecture you will need access to the e-book or to buy a copy to be able to do this reading. |
| Current student | For most Statistic courses they hand out notes for the chapters/lectures! |
| Offer holder | Would I have the option to choose psychology in my first year as a third subject? I have an offer for maths and philosophy MA. |
| Staff | Hi Kira, If you are applying for an MA degree then you will be admitted to the College of Arts. I'm not an expert on their regulations, but I believe that the third subject would need to be an Arts subjects. Unfortunately, I do not believe they count Psychilogy as one of those. |
| Offer holder | Ok, thank you. |
| Staff | Hi Kira, just to add that Psychology has different entry conditions therefore you would also need to satisfy those in order to be considered. It is also a very very popular option and in some years if you have not put it down on your application form, then it might not be possible to choose it as a third subject. Depends on the popularity for that year, but it's usually pretty popular. |
| Offer holder | Ok, I was not expecting it to be available as a third option but luckily there are other subjects I would like to choose as a third option that belongs to the Arts. Thank you so much :) |
| Offer holder | what is cryptography? Seen it on the maths page and not entirely sure on what it is |
| Staff | Cyptography is about codes. So imagine you wanted to encode a message so no one else could read it, except the person that had a mathematical key to unlock the code, this is what crytography is about. We have a 2nd year math course that covers this. |
| Offer holder | Are there any lecturers who also do Computing lectures\? |
| Staff | Hi Barkin, we do have some lecturers who have expertise in computing subjects as we use some computing softwares however none of our schools lecturers give lectures for the School of Computing Science. |
| Staff | Hello Barkin, the courses in Computing Science are usually taught by staff in that School. But some of them are mathematicians! |
| Offer holder | Are there example questions (like past papers) that you have access to in order to practice questions prior to tests and examinations? |
| Staff | Hi Erin, yes you will be able to see past exams and there are many questions provided on tutorial sheets. |
| Staff | The university library has past papers, we also give our problems sheets for students to practice. |
| Offer holder | Do you know where I can find the degree structure of my specific course (Finance & Maths) |
| Staff | Hello Joe, Information can be found here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/financemathematics/ |
| Staff | Hello Joe, I'm not sure what resources are available here so I'll quickly go over it for you. Yr 1: Maths (40), Finance 1 (20), Financial Accounting 1 (20), Management Accounting 1 (20), Stats 1YZ (2x20=40) Yr 2: Maths (6x10=60), Finance 2 (20), Financial Accounting 2 (20), Intro Economics (20) Yr 3: Maths (60 credits, choice of courses), Finance (60 credits choice of courses) Yr 4: Either 20 credit Maths project + 40 credit maths courses (choice) and 60 Finance OR 40 credit Finance project + 20 credit Finance courses and 60 credits Maths courses Note that there is no 5-yr combined Maths/Finance degree. |
| Staff | Hi Joe, search for Programme Specification on the university home page. There are details of each degree programme there. |
| Offer holder | Thanks |
Medicine
| User Name | Message |
| Offer holder | Hey, I have a medic offer at Glasgow, I live in London so I'm pretty far. I have offers at UCL and King's which are a lot closer but I feel like I would enjoy PBL. I have 3 questions based on this. What makes PBL unique? How do you deal with being far from home? What makes Glasgow's course better? |
| Staff | Working in small groups allows you to develop active learning skills. Glasgow is a great city and all our students who come for all over the world seem to really enjoy. Glasgow's course combines early clinical experience and has a systems based spiral approach to teaching, building on prior knowledge |
| Staff | Well done! We think that PBL helps you learn to work well in a team and fosters independence. Glasgow is a great city, and our social networks in and around the university help make students feel at home quickly. What makes our course the best? The same as what makes our city great - its people. The patients and the staff make this a great place to study and learn. That's why so many of our students from elsewhere stay in the West of Scotland afterwards! |
| Offer holder | How easy is it to intercalate, as I have heard it is very competitive to do? Is it possible to do a year studying at other universities? |
| Staff | You can intercal in clinical and basic biosciences. More info is in the handbook. We approve study elsewhere only if this is a course the UoG don't offer |
| Offer holder | Hello! For students who already have a BSc, could we intercalate and do an MSc? |
| Staff | We haven’t had someone ask that. Normally you would do your higher degree as part of postgraduate life once working as a doctor |
| Staff | This is unusual. I'd usually recommend getting through the degree and getting a masters as a doctor! |
| Offer holder | I am choosing between Edinburgh and Glasgow - can you do a direct comparison? |
| Staff | Quite different courses and you need to chose the style of learning which suits you. Edinburgh is a 6 year course ours is 5 with optional interval year. We are also ranked in top 3 in UK! |
| Staff | The rivalry between our two cities is the same as all neighbouring cities across the world. Two great internationally-reknowned schools. Edinburgh is a 6 year course, no PBL. Ours is five (optional 6), PBL, 2 elective periods, Prep for Practice at the end, hopefully where you will start working. (I'm too biased to give a balanced view) |
| Offer holder | Hi, if we find ourselves struggling with any aspect of the course, how easy is it to get assistance? Thanks. |
| Staff | Many routes for help. You all have an advisor, the teaching staff are all very approachable and we have a student welfare team within the School who deal with all sort of issues for students. Strong team network for support. |
| Offer holder | Hi there, I’m very interested in general practice, particularly ‘Deep End’ general practice. Is there much clinical exposure during the early years of the course? Thanks. |
| Staff | The clinical exposure incrementally increases from Y1. In Y3 we have a community based practice theme with multiple visits to a GP where you get a chance to see lots of cases as part of a portfolio. We have a GP Co-Director who provides a primary care perspective to all the weeks in Phase 3. We also have a dedicated GP week where you will get talks about from 'Deep End' GPs. |
| Staff | We also now have the COMET strand to the programme which is to support students who see GP as their chosen career path—lots of opportunities |
| Offer holder | Do most students intercalate ? |
| Offer holder | What advantages does intercalating give you? |
| Staff | Around 30-40% of our students intercal. It's not necessary for a fruitful career, but it can help bring some skills in early. |
| Staff | An insight into more of the science of your subject if this is something you want to pursue. Also scores points for FY application but so too do so many other things. |
| Offer holder | Is there any equipment you need to buy or a reading list? |
| Current student | The uni provide a reading list but there's no requirement to buy any of the books; they're all available in either the main or medical school library and a lot of them are available online as well (through the library service). |
| Offer holder | Hi, where would first year students spend most of their time? Would it be the Wolfson medical building or are lectures held in other university buildings/ hospitals? I am curious in terms of travel from accommodation. |
| Current student | Most of first and second year (for my year at least) was spent on campus though we did have the odd afternoon in hospitals or GP further away. Though Personally, I only had to pay for public transport around per se twice because often there were people who had cars in my groups/ our gp tutor gave us a lift. |
| Current student | In first and second year all of your teaching is on campus so mostly in the Wolfson or adjacent buildings or the anatomy building which is in the main building. It's all walkable from halls! |
| Offer holder | How does the time table look for first year students? |
| Staff | Start a Monday morning with PBL, maybe lecture in afternoon. Anatomy and VS on a Tue/Wed with more lectures perhaps. PBL on Thu with lab maybe and summary lectures on a Friday. Changes though almost every week and some weeks you will also have clinical visits or clinical skills sessions etc. Very exciting! |
| Offer holder | Hi. When the conditions mention things like 'satisfactory police check' and 'health declaration', are we supposed to get such evidence ourselves or is it something automatically submitted to the university? |
| Staff | The details were included in the conditional offer letter you should have received from us by email. If you haven't received this yet please get in touch. The link to the health declaration is included in this email and details of the police check. |
| Offer holder | I know in first year you visit a GP or A&E, can we pick? |
| Current student | We had 3/4 hospital and GP visits during first and second year (mostly half days) that allowed us to gain some clinical exposure. I thought it was quite well pitched to our level of teaching! We also had weekly vocational studies sessions, which included communication skills teaching (essentially mock consultations) which were terrifying but great fun at the same time! I also got a job as a medical notes summariser at a GP practice and that also gave me some exposure and the chance to relate what I'd learned in classes to real life patients |
| Offer holder | I had a question regarding those who have firmed an offer for deferred entry in 2021. Will the PVG information come to us in June 2021 or will it come to us in June 2020 like the cohort who did not opt for deferred entry? |
| Staff | The PVG info will be sent to you around June 2021 (same year as entry). |
| Offer holder | I understand that there are 4 phases of the course, are we assessed at the end of each phase or at the end of each year? |
| Current student | We have written assessments (a big exam) at the end of each year and an OSCE (practical assessment) at the end of second, third and fifth year! |
| Offer holder | Is it possible to do a year/term abroad? |
| Current student | We have "SSCs- student selected components" for 5 weeks in second, third and fourth year which you can arrange to be elsewhere and also our elective periods in the summers of third and fourth year can be abroad too. |
| Offer holder | Can we defer our entry or is it too late? |
| Staff | We are unable to accept requests to defer at this stage in our admissions process. However, we may be in a position to reconsider this decision in August once our confirmed numbers are known. |
| Offer holder | Can I get a part time job? |
| Current student | Personally I was able to maintain a job through second and third year but I think it will vary from person to person. I tried to choose jobs that were flexible (e.g. coaching/tutoring/student ambassador, etc.) though, and I think that helped a lot. |
| Offer holder | I was wondering what the reputation of UoG is like both home and abroad. Is there any way that students can increase their own reputations in the medical sphere at Glasgow and how do you facilitate this? |
| Staff | In terms of ranking, the UofG Medicine programme is ranked 3rd in the UK and we are ranked in the world's top 100 universities |
| Staff | The reputation of the Medical school is high and rising! We are firmly in the top 10 in the UK and in the top top 100 in the world. Being a student here is enough of a boost to anyone's reputation. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I was just wondering if we had practical exams as well as written exams in first year? |
| Staff | There is no OSCE in 1st year, only written exams and coursework. You do still have clinical skills sessions though so always learning. |
| Offer holder | I am a postgraduate student. I have read the University of Glasgow website and UCAS information on fee status, but could I please confirm that the Scottish fee for starting in 2020 is £1820 per year? Thank you |
| Staff | Hi Rachel, Yes the fee is likely to be £1,820 but I believe this is still to be confirmed. Please see https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees/scottish/#tuitionfees2020/21 for updated information. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I received an unconditional offer which I have firmed on UCAS Track but I have not received a confirmatory email from Glasgow Uni themselves. Is this something I should receive? |
| Staff | We don't normally acknowledge firm responses. The next time you hear from us is likely to be when we send you the PVG information in May/June. |
| Offer holder | How easy is it to engage with extra research to help your career and are learning the necessary skills to do so emphasised at Glasgow? |
| Staff | Many students undertake research during their SSC or elective periods, and some do it during their summer. There are always doctors looking for help with projects. I would say that it is important to enjoy being a student and build lifelong relationships. Your time at medical school is special and there is plenty of time to build a career. |
| Offer holder | I was just wondering if there is any equipment we need for this course? like lab coats and if there is some sort of reading list also? thank you! |
| Current student | You will be emailed out a reading list and all the content iis available through the library and online also so no need to buy books (I haven't bought a single book over 3 years). You will need a lab coat in first year which you can buy from the campus shop and also a stethoscope at some point but no need to rush into getting one until later (second year) really! |
| Offer holder | Hi, I am currently in 4th year studying immunology at Glasgow and I have a conditional offer for medicine, I was just wondering how useful my degree will be within the medical course. Thanks so much |
| Staff | Very! I have an immunology degree too for Glasgow—-how many diseases don’t have the immune system involved? It will be a great start for you. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I have a few questions: 1. How much clinical exposure do you get each year, what kind of things do you get to do in SSCs (for example, I know at Aberdeen they do a humanities one), and where are your placements, like are they all in Glasgow or in the whole West of Scotland? Thank you. |
| Staff | Hi - it ramps up each year. In Phase 3 (first half of Year 3) you have GP and Hospital visits twice a week and then you are in placements all the time beginning with medicine and surgery and then rotating round specialities. Lots of great SSC choices - some are research-based, some more clinical and some people do something completely different like a language or humanities. You can also self propose too. |
| Current student | The clinical exposure starts from first year and becomes more frequent as the years go on, by February in third year you're on placement all the time. The exposure in minimal in first year but I think the structure works very well as you get all the basic knowledge nailed before you're sent to see patients. SSCs are very flexible and you can organise your own after second year but we also have them in humanities and medical education etc. This year I organised my own in paeds. Placements are all around the West of Scotland but if it is far away then you are offered accommodation at the hospitals for free. Hope that helps! |
| Offer holder | What advantages does intercalating give you long term? |
| Current student | Intercalating gives you a year to learn in detail a subject that you enjoy. It also gives you research and analytical skills that aren't practiced as much elsewhere in the course. It also gives you a few more points which go towards your junior year applications. |
| Offer holder | Hello :) I was wondering how easy it is to work in England after having studied in Scotland - am not sure where I will want to go after 5 years so I am wondering if studying in Scotland will limit my chances of working (during F1 and F2) elsewhere in the UK? |
| Staff | The medical degree in the UK is recognised worldwide and there is no barrier to practice in England. Around 1/5 of our graduates decide to work in England. The structure of our course is to learn normal structure and function, then learn where it goes wrong, then learn how to decide which is which in real life. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I was wondering due to the current situation with exams, if conditions are not met then what is the best course of action? E.g would it be favourable to pursue a first degree? |
| Staff | Hi Katie. Yes, if you don't meet our minimum academic requirements at high school level at the first attempt then you would need to complete a honours degree and achieve 2.1 or above before reapplying in the future. |
| Offer holder | What happens if too many people meet their conditions |
| Staff | The Medical School always makes more offers than what it has places for to allow for the numbers that don't accept our offer or don't meet our conditions. Deferred entry may be offered in August if more applicants meet their conditions than what was anticipated. |
| Offer holder | Are transport services to the hospitals/ general practices funded by the students or the university? |
| Current student | All travel is at the student expense unfortunately, however if you find yourself in financial difficulties then the medical school and/or university will help you out. If the placement is really far away then you will be offered accommodation free of charge at the hospital. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I am an international applicant. Can someone talk me through the difficulty of getting specialist training in the UK after FY1 and FY2? Does my international status hinder my chances? |
| Staff | Always difficult to predict what governmental policy will be in future. At present pretty much every graduate who wants to stay can get in to do an FY1-2 post. |
| Offer holder | Are all lectures for Medicine recorded? |
| Staff | Not all yet but university policy is changing so in coming years the vast majority will be. Even our working practice since lockdown is telling us that we will work differently and expect little resistance to having lectures recorded going forward. |
| Offer holder | In a hypothetical situation, what would your advise be to an applicant that has been rejected by Glasgow medical school? |
| Staff | If you have academic qualifications try agin next year. If not, do another degree first then MBChB as a postgraduate. Most universities take on PG students to study medicine |
| Offer holder | Hi, I am interested in hearing more about the COMET pathway in relation to an interest in GP that was referenced in the answer to another person's question. Is there somewhere I could learn more about this please? |
| Staff | Check website as a direct link to COMET. https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/medicine/mus/admissions/communityorientatedmedicalexperiencetrackcomet/ |
| Offer holder | What is the start date for 2020? And could covid19 affect this? |
| Staff | We expect to start in mid september. COVID may affect it but we are unclear if such effects will still be in place |
| Staff | Teaching starts 21/9 but you are with us the week before for health screen, integration and to enjoy freshers week! Who knows re COVID-19 but we hope to start on time. |
| Offer holder | Is there any preferred first degrees or would any biological or life science be accepted? |
| Staff | No preferred degrees among the biological sciences, but more info in prospectus. |
| Offer holder | How does intercalation work. Is it like another application process? If so, how does that process work? |
| Current student | You'll get more information about intercalation and your options when you get to third year but yes, there is an application process and you'll get the opportunity to list your choices |
| Offer holder | Hi there, I was wondering what sort of support is offered to students to help deal with the demands of the course and also where placements occur? Thank you. |
| Current student | Hi there, yes we have an advisor of studies who is a point of contact for both academic and non-academic things. We meet once a year and they ask about how things are going where we live and our friends etc. |
| Staff | Placements can be in any of the 19+ hospitals around the West of Scotland from Falkirk to Dumfries. Lots of support from a strong team of faculty members, an advisor of studies and we also have a student welfare team within medical school dedicated to looking after wellbeing of our students. Also many central uni level support services. |
| Offer holder | If there are more people applying than there are places for the BMsc programmes (intercalated year), how would you go about allocation? Thanks. |
| Staff | Places are allocated based on performance in the first 3 years of the course. |
| Offer holder | With people holding more than one offer, what makes Glasgow stand out, unique to the uni that will set us apart and make our experience better both at uni and afterwards? |
| Current student | The teaching at Glasgow is varied and taught excellently. All the staff are really friendly and supportive. It's a great community that everyone enjoys being a part of! (I am a medical student) |
| Staff | We have an excellent reputation both at home and abroad. The people of Glasgow make this city and this medical school an excellent place to study and learn |
| Offer holder | Are transport services to the hospitals/general practices funded by the students or the university? I was just wondering if the school will be more lenient with results and conditionals given the current situation as many people were on track to get better grades in the exam. |
| Staff | Students fund their own transport through the city (not a big factor in the first few years). In later years help is given with travel expenses for regular placings. Not sure why we should be lenient when results - if anything - are predicted to be better than usual as they are based on predicted grades. We will work with other medical schools to ensure our admissions processes are fair to all. |
| Offer holder | How is anatomy taught ie. is there full body dissection? Also, what opportunities are available to help us enhance our CVs? Thanks. |
| Staff | We have returned to full body dissection for anatomy. Just having a medical degree from here is a good boost to your CV, but there are ways to partake in research during your time here. |
| Current student | Yeah we have full body dissection every week for the first two years. We also do prosection alongside dissection which means looking at specimens that have been previously expertly dissected. We work with anatomists and surgeons to see the normal anatomy and pathology. It's a very visual way of learning! |
| Offer holder | Hi, how big are class sizes for different aspects of course (PBL, lectures etc) in terms of getting to know people. Also, if you study at Glasgow, how does that affect the location of your FY1 and 2 placements? Does everyone from all over Scotland go in the same process, or is it likely that your FY1 and 2 placements will be in Glasgow. Thanks! |
| Staff | Lectures can involve the whole class (about 300) PBL groups usually aroud 10 in a group. A medical degree from Scotland is a licence to travel anywhere. Only around 55-60% of our graduates stay in the West of Scotland. |
| Offer holder | Hi, please could you provide some insight into the SSC's? For example, how are they carried out and assessed? |
| Staff | SSCs are carried out across a huge range of subjects - students submit presentations or written work which are graded by your SSC supervisor. |
| Current student | SSCs are 5 week blocks and in second year we get a list of options from the medical school to choose from. It's very varied, e.g. surgery to medical education or dentistry... After second year you can organise them for yourself if you'd like so you can control what you cover and how it is assessed. It is usually something like a 2000 word report and a presentation to your tutor. Very difficult to fail if you put just a little bit of effort into it. SSCs are really good fun! |
| Staff | We will be happy to try and answer any questions we didn't get to by email. You can read more and fine the contact information on our website: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/medicine/mus/admissions/ |
Modern Languages
| User Name | Subject | Message |
| Staff | Hello! Thank you for joining us this afternoon for our Modern Language chat. The subjects included in Modern Languages are Comparative Literature, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. If you have any questions about our degrees please let us know, we have academics, staff and students ready to chat. | |
| Offer holder | hello, I have firmly accepted my offer for French/Spanish ( Spanish I will be picking up from beginners). I was wondering how much literature is involved in the course at Glasgow for French as I am not a huge fan of it. What is the course layout? What do you cover in culture? | |
| Staff | Spanish | Hi, For Beginners language, it's 4 hours per week. Non Beginners language is 3 hours + 2 hours of Culture. On all our level 1 and 2 Culture courses we teach a wide range of material. There is literature in there, but there's also history and popular culture (e.g. cinema and comics). After level 1 and 2, you have more choice in your options and can focus on areas like history, translation, or linguistics. |
| Offer holder | thank you. what literature do you study? | |
| Offer holder | Spanish | It can vary from year to year. In the first year programme, we start off by looking at cities, so in French you might study a film and some poetry about Paris, whilst in Spanish we teach a film related to Argentina and look at a text in Spanglish. We also teach at least one 'classic' text e.g. Candide in French and Garcia Lorca in Spanish. These texts vary from year to year though and we haven't yet finalised texts for next year. |
| Offer holder | Do you only get to do the two subjects in your first year, or do you get to take another language as a third subject? I was wanting to maybe study Catalan as well. Thanks for your response. | |
| Current student | Generally a typical week in the first few years you will have 5 classes - French speaking, culture and language, politics lectures and a seminar & then whatever you choose as your 3rd subject. It roughly works out about 12-15 hours a week in class and this tends to get smaller as the years go on which really isn't a lot. You will study 3 subjects in both your 1st and 2nd year. I took Beginners Spanish in 1st year as I hadn't done it to higher level in school and would highly recommend. Of course there are lots of other options to choose from between the 2 schools as a 3rd subject and you will be able to make these choices a few weeks before classes start and the department will notify you as soon as registration opens :) | |
| Offer holder | Thank you! | |
| Offer holder | Would you recommend taking French as an extra subject, I have a higher | |
| Staff | French | Hello Fraser. I'd always recommend taking a language if you can. It's a really useful skills for studying and working in all sorts of areas. What are the other subjects you're interested in? |
| Current student | Hi Fraser! While I didn't take a language as one of my other subjects, for a lot of arts students this is a great option as it usually falls in with your School or College. The classes start at beginners level and vary in level. But I would say it would be a good choice! Heres more info on our flexible degree structure and how it works: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/choosingyourdegree/understandingthedegreestructure/ | |
| Staff | Hi Fraser, you won't need to tell us about your third subject in advance and of course I'd recommend French. In general having language competency in your profile is always going to be really attractive for a future employer. As you have a Higher, you'd go into out 'non-beginners' classes. | |
| Offer holder | What do you learn in the culture lessons for the french course in first year? | |
| Staff | Hello Catriona! The culture courses in Modern Languages are organised around 4 big themes: Cities, National Histories, 'Reading the Canon' and Popular Culture. In French we do a range of topics and texts related to these themes - some literary texts, some more political/historical, some more visual including graphic novels. The exact texts can vary a bit from year to year. | |
| Offer holder | Ok perfect thanks for your help | |
| Offer holder | What sort of literature is involved in the French course? | |
| Staff | French | Hello. Our courses generally combine language and culture. Culture often means literature (novels, short stories, poetry) but also film, comics, philosophy and history. |
| Staff | French | In French Culture in Level 1, you would study the poetry of famous French urban poetry Charles Baudelaire, you would learn about the history of France since its epoch-making Revolution, you would read a literary classic like perhaps Emile Zola, and you would learn also about comics - what the French call bande dessinée... |
| Offer holder | Thank you, that’s useful! | |
| Offer holder | what areas do you study in Spanish and French in year 1? | |
| Staff | French | Hi Sophie. Assuming you might go into our non-beginners stream for French, in first year you would do a mixture of language and culture. Language consists of written skills, grammar, spoken skills (spoken classes with a native language teacher). Culture consists of four thematic blocks (Cities, National Histories, Reading the Canon and Popular Culture)... these blocks are the same in French and Spanish. |
| Staff | French | In French Culture in Level 1, you would study the poetry of famous French urban poetry Charles Baudelaire, you would learn about the history of France since its epoch-making Revolution, you would read a literary classic like perhaps Emile Zola, and you would learn also about comics - what the French call bande dessinée... does that sound good? |
| Offer holder | sounds great, thank you so much! | |
| Offer holder | Hiya, I am planning to take Spanish at Glasgow but I was wondering if I need to take an extra subject for example Spanish culture to progress to single honours\? Also am I able to choose non\-beginners or beginners or will I be assessed before hand\? Also I\'m confused as to what the MA is as in one of the videos it says its equivalent to an undergraduate bachelors degree so how do I progress into masters from there\? Thank you \:\) |
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| Current student | Hi Wiktoria, I can only answer your last question, as I don't know about your subject area. But the MA in Scottish ancient universities is simply the same as a Bachelors degree and will be counted as such. You can progress to a Masters after your undergraduate with your degree just like other undergraduates would! | |
| Current student | Hi Wikatoria, I'm not sure about the rest of your question as I'm not a languages student myself! However, the MA accreditation is purely to do with the fact that we are an ancient university! You are still graduation with an undergraduate degree and will progress into a Masters in the usual fashion! Hope this helps! | |
| Offer holder | Thank you! Can you tell me more about what subject area you mean? | |
| Staff | Spanish | Hi Wiktoria. The Glasgow 'MA' is equivalent to a BA in the UK system. As we're a very old Scottish University we still call our degrees MA. If you apply to study single Hons Spanish, you'll study 3 subjects in first year, three in second year and then go on a year abroad to a Spanish speaking country. After you come back, you'll study SPanish for a further two years. If you've already taken exams in Spanish before (e.g. Alevel or Higher), you'll be a non beginner. You will also take Spanish culture alongside Spanish language. |
| Offer holder | Okay thank you, so would spanish culture be an extra subject? Because I'm also taking English literature and I thought I had to take linguistics but thats only if I'm progressing to English literature single honours that is why I was confused? | |
| Staff | Spanish | In that case you'd take Spanish Language + Spanish Culture (that counts as 1 subject), English Lit 1A + English Lit 1B (2nd subject) + 1 other subject. |
| Offer holder | Hello everyone. I haven't applied for any language courses but thinking of one for my third subject. How would you say the work load is for someone who has never really studied another language before at all? | |
| Staff | French | Hello Euan, Most students find the workload in the beginners language courses do-able. These are 40 credit courses over two semesters but if a student struggles and is going to fail it is usually possible to leave at Christmas with 20 credits and pick something else for semester 2. So there is a wee bit of a safety net. |
| Offer holder | Oh thats's great thank you | |
| Offer holder | Hi, I'm going to be studying Spanish and German and I'm thinking about taking Italian as my 3rd subject. Would you say there are similarities between Spanish and Italian? | |
| Staff | Spanish | Hi Elana, a lot of Spanish students take Italian or Portuguese as Beginners languages and they do say there are some similarities that are helpful to allow them to 'cheat' on certain words and phrases. |
| Offer holder | That's great, thank you. | |
| Offer holder | If you're doing a joint honours with another subject that isn't a language, do you still get culture modules? | |
| Staff | French | Hi Rachael. Yes - the culture courses are part of the programme for both joint honours and single honours students. |
| Offer holder | I would be taking Spanish and Theatre Studies as a joint degree, how would my gap year/ placement year work? | |
| Staff | French | Hello Hedda. The year abroad is the third year of the programme. There is a bit of information about how it fits into the degree over in the video presentations. Basically, students can either study on an exchange scheme, work as a language assistant in a school or find an alternative work places that can be approved by staff. You could go to any Spanish-speaking country. |
| Offer holder | Thank you! | |
| Offer holder | Hi, I have an offer for French and Portuguese but I was wondering what to choose for a third subject, would you recommend taking another language or something different like literature for example? | |
| Current student | Hi Hannah, anything would work well for your third subject, I would say look through the possible courses you can take and see what catches your attention and your interest - I saw the third subject as a way to explore what I thought was interesting, and often this helped with the other subjects I was doing anyway! | |
| Current student | Here is more info on the flexible degree structure and how it works: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/choosingyourdegree/understandingthedegreestructure/ | |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much! | |
| Offer holder | Do you drop a third subject after the first year? | |
| Current student | Hi Rachael! Yes you will usually drop one subject after the first year and then take on another level one course in second year. The idea here is that you're finishing second year with 2 subjects that are up to honours entry level, giving you more choice on what you want your degree to consist of, ie as a single or joint honours. This is called the flexible degree structure, and here is more info on that: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/choosingyourdegree/understandingthedegreestructure/ Hope this helps! |
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| Current student | Thankyou! | |
| Offer holder | how would my gap year work if i was going onto study a joint honours in spanish and say geography? | |
| Staff | Spanish | Hi Hazel, you'd simply take a year out from Geography to do your year abroad. So you'd do two years in Glasgow studying 3 subjects, 2 of which would be Spanish and Geography. Then you'd go abroad to a Spanish-speaking country, then you'd come back to Glasgow and pick up your study of both Spanish and Geography. |
| Offer holder | brilliant, thanks so much! | |
| Offer holder | what is the main difference between a MA and a BA degree? | |
| Current student | Usually, the MA stands for masters, but in Scottish universities the MA is still only an undergraduate degree (an old Scottish tradition). | |
| Offer holder | I am an American students that plans to take Italian as a joint degree. I have taken it for 7 years, but am not sure my placement. Will Glasgow offer a placement test? | |
| Staff | Spanish | Yes, when you get here, you can get in touch with the course convener for Italian and they can offer you a placement test. |
| Offer holder | Which areas/modules do you study in Spanish and French? (First Year) | |
| Staff | French | Greg Kerr here from French... Assuming you might go into our non-beginners stream for French, in first year you would do a mixture of language and culture. Language consists of written skills, grammar, spoken skills (spoken classes with a native language teacher). Culture consists of four thematic blocks (Cities, National Histories, Reading the Canon and Popular Culture)... these blocks are the same in French and Spanish. In French Culture in Level 1, you would study the poetry of famous French urban poetry Charles Baudelaire, you would learn about the history of France since its epoch-making Revolution, you would read a literary classic like perhaps Emile Zola, and you would learn also about comics - what the French call bande dessinée... |
| Current student | Hi Olivia, I am French student here at Glasgow and in the first year you study French Language and French Culture and the same for Spanish. You will do speaking classes once a week which are pretty relaxed just to get everyone practicing. This is generally so that when it comes to deciding your honours options you have a better idea of what you like e.g. poetry or linguistics. | |
| Current student | The Culture classes are very varied covering poetry, film and literature :) | |
| Staff | French | Hi Olivia. In French and Spanish culture you'll study 4 themes - Cities, National Histories, 'Reading the Canon' (ie a text by a famous author), Popular Culture. We approach these topics through a mix of literature, political/historical texts, film, graphic novels etc. The Spanish course covers both Spain and Latin America |
| Offer holder | Hi, I was wondering if we automatically get a MA when taking English literature and Sociology as a joint degree instead of a BA? | |
| Staff | Hi Victoria, you do. At Glasgow, we offer MA (hons) degrees as an ancient university, instead of BAs. | |
| Current student | Hi Victoria, we call our undergraduate degrees an MA due to the fact that we are an ancient university! Rest assured this is still an undergraduate degree | |
| Offer holder | For my third subject in first and second year, would you recommend taking a third language or something different? | |
| Offer holder | I did Higher German alongside French and Spanish, so would German be a sensible option? | |
| Current student | Hi Olivia - this is completely up to you. A third language is always useful to have, but at the same time I found taking other courses similar to what I was doing in the humanities very useful as well. I would say go with your interests! | |
| Current student | Hi Olivia! I would say a language is a great idea for a third subject! We offer courses starting at beginner all the way up, and if you're taking another arts subject along side this this works well with your flexible degree structure. Heres more info on that : https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/choosingyourdegree/understandingthedegreestructure/ |
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| Offer holder | Is there anything that languages students should be doing to keep up their level of language during this (rather long) summer? Do you have any book or film recommendations to read/watch which we'd study on the course? | |
| Staff | French | Hi Hedda. Watching films, listening to podcasts, reading a newspaper online - these are all great things you can do to keep your languages going. |
| Offer holder | Thank you! | |
| Offer holder | Hi, I'm thinking of choosing Spanish as a second or third subject with English Literature. I was wondering if it is possible to later specialise to a joint honours and what we would be learning in the Spanish modules, would it be a mix of culture and history modules? | |
| Staff | French | If you take Spanish as a second or third subject in first year, you have the option of keeping it going right through to degree level. It would be a mix of language and culture modules. The culture component includes literature, film, visual culture, history... |
| Offer holder | No worries at all, thank you for answering, that sounds amazing thank you! Just wondering, if I were to take Spanish to degree level and took part in the year abroad how would that affect my other subject? | |
| Staff | French | The year abroad would be an additional year that counts for the language side of the degree. So you do 2 years, then year abroad, then you follow the same honours programme in your other subject as other joint hons students in that subject. |
| Offer holder | Right I understand thank you so much I was a bit confused hahah thank you for explaining that I appreciate it! | |
| Offer holder | So after I graduated my 5 year MA to progress to masters would I need to study another couple of years? | |
| Current student | Usually a Masters program only takes 1 year, at least in the UK, but that can also vary depending on institution and country of study! | |
| Offer holder | How is it decided which destination a student goes to during their year abroad and can the student choose weather they get a University or British Council placement? | |
| Staff | French | Students have a choice of either going to study in one of our partner institutions in France, Belgium or Canada. Or they can do British Council. Or undertake a work placement (although you would need to organise this yourself, subject to our final approval). For BC, you can specify which region(s) of the destination country you might like to be placed in...it's a question of preference, however, rather than being able to choose outright. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I was wondering if anyone had any advice as I’m on the fence about accepting Spanish/History or Spanish/Italian. Thank you x | |
| Offer holder | French | You may also be able to take all three in first year (depending on timetable and availability) and that would be away of deferring your final choice until you've tried them all out. |
| Offer holder | Thank you, I will do that :) | |
| Offer holder | I have recently confirmed my place at the University of Glasgow and I'm planning on studying Business Management with Portuguese. Which Universities in Brazil has the University of Glasgow partner up with? | |
| Staff | Hi David, Please see list of partner destinations at https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/students/goabroad/exchangedestinations | |
| Offer holder | Despite Arts and Modern Languages following different course structures, is a year/term abroad still mandatory for a joint honours degree with English Literature and French? Also, do we get to choose which subject to do our honours project on? | |
| Current student | Yes, you get to choose what your honours project is on, and a year abroad is definitely mandatory for French, regardless of whether it is in a joint or single honours. | |
| Offer holder | Hi, I was wondering what would you recommend for future french students to study throughout the summer? | |
| Staff | French | You could pick up a copy of Charles Baudelaire's collection of poetry Les Fleurs du mal... likely to be on the course next year. You would be working on just a handful of these poems. You might also like to buy Schaum's French Grammar - a coursebook in first year for non-beginners students. |
| Offer holder | Do you have to pay tuition to Glasgow during your work program abroad? If instead I studied abroad, would you pay tuition to Glasgow or at the University you were studying at? | |
| Staff | Hi Lillian, you keep paying tuition to Glasgow. | |
| Offer holder | What level of french is needed to take the non-beginners french 1 course? | |
| Staff | French | You will normally have done the equivalent of an A-level or Higher to be in the non beginners group. |
| Offer holder | hey, i was wondering if students can take language classes even if they're not one of their subjects? i saw that you e.g. have Arabic in your course catalogue, (how) would undergrad students be able to take that? | |
| Staff | Spanish | You can take languages as part of a range of degrees. What is available to you will depend on your other subjects and your timetable. Arabic is offered as 10-credit language course and you might be able to take it if you have space in your timetable. |
| Offer holder | how is the french course split if studying with another subject? | |
| Current student | If you take a joint honours, it will always be split 50/50 in the last two years - although you would (have to /get to) take one year abroad for the language as well. | |
| Staff | French | Hi Chloe. If you take French with, say, History.. you would study French (language and culture) in years one and two. In your third year, you would study or work abroad. During that time you would suspend your study of history. Then you would come back in your fourth year and start studies at Glasgow again (what we call the Honours cycle).. your fourth and fifth year would be devoted to French and History. You would study both subjects to an equal degree. Does that answer your question? |
| Offer holder | How intense is the course for beginners Spanish? | |
| Current student | Hi Adib, the course layout does vary each year but I took beginners Spanish in my 1st year here at Glasgow and it consisted of 3 classes a week similar to that of school and I had no prior knowledge of Spanish at all I went in completely blind and thoroughly enjoyed the course. Everyone was generally at the same level and we worked out of a very doable workbook & class activities. Also class sizes were relatively small so you get plenty of 1 to 1 time with the tutor to ask any questions you may have. | |
| Offer holder | Thank you Caroline for your reply it was very useful! As a student yourself who studied French, how much did you enjoy the course? | |
| Current student | I have definitely enjoyed the course especially when it came to 3rd and 4th year as you are able to pick your own subject choices and I really enjoyed sociolinguistics. My favourite part was definitely the year abroad as it is an extra year you don't have to worry about anything else really other than getting better at the speaking side! I personally was not very good at the written side but the department have helped me a lot and offer a lot of extra resources :) The language years are also relatively small so everyone is very close on the course. | |
| Offer holder | This is very useful, thank you Caroline. I don't particularly enjoy studying literature in French but I like how the course sounds quite flexible | |
| Offer holder | Hi, I have applied for French, and I would like to take Spanish in year 1 and 2 at beginners level as one of my other subjects, would I be able to continue my studies into year 3 and onwards at beginners level? | |
| Current student | Hi Caitlin! By third year you will only be pursuing 1 or 2 subjects, the reason the flexible degree structure is so beneficial is so you can then decide if you want a joint or single honours degree. Here is more info on how it works: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/choosingyourdegree/understandingthedegreestructure/ Hope this helps! |
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| Offer holder | Thank you so much for your answer! This was very helpful! | |
| Offer holder | What extracurricular events and activities are avaliable for languages students and what support is on offer when we feel stuck or don't understand? | |
| Current student | There are a lot of societies around languages, sometimes based around charities, other times things like the Hispanic or German society, or just languages chat clubs. | |
| Offer holder | Sounds cool! | |
| Offer holder | During the year abroad for languages, what subjects do you study at the foreign university? If studying German, would there also be the option of going on exchange to Austria or Switzerland? | |
| Staff | Hi Shannon, here's some details of where you can go on your year abroad: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/students/goabroad/ | |
| Offer holder | Thank you - if I were studying two languages, would I have to study a language in the foreign uni? Or could it be any subject for that year? | |
| Staff | With a joint honours degree, you would put your other subject on hold while you were abroad in your third year- you then come back and study the last two years of both subjects at Glasgow. You could spend your year abroad working, studying is just one option. | |
| Offer holder | Hi, I've applied for German and Politics at Glasgow and I was wondering how beneficial the extra year of study at Glasgow would be? | |
| Staff | French | The Year Abroad in Glasgow is mandatory but we don't ask you to study abroad and bring home marks to count as part of your degree and that's why we have an extra year. It allows you a greater range of choice over what you do abroad (e.g. you can work or teach). |
| Current student | Hi Eilidh, in addition to this I'd say a benefit of the extra year is that I found it much easier to focus on learning the language & improving my speaking in my year abroad as I worked in a school and did not have to worry about assignments etc. | |
| Offer holder | Hi! I am considering French as a third subject and I'd like to know the assessment methods - e.g. essays, orals, aurals, exams; how many of them are there and how often please? And also - is there a book list? Thank you! |
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| Staff | French | Hello Reaghan. French is divided into language and culture. I believe L1 Non-beginners language assessments consist of grammar tests at one point in each semester, and a final year exam. There is one oral exam per year in L1NB. French Culture is examined by two essay-type assessments, one at the end of each semester. |
| Staff | French | Here's a copy of the reading list for Culture https://rl.talis.com/3/glasgow/lists/F07407CE-F439-0DFF-3D5B-B6915444F6CF.html |
| Offer holder | Hi, I was thinking of taking the language course that was for non-beginners, in Russian, if not this year, then next year, as a third subject. How advanced do you have to be to do well in this course? | |
| Current student | If it is offered at a beginners level, then you will definitely be able to take the course as a beginner. | |
| Staff | Spanish | Our Russian course is mostly aimed at Beginners, although we can offer you a level test when you arrive to see if you can join a more advanced group. Usually you'd need a level roughly equivalent to A-level standard to go to an advanced level. |
| Offer holder | Ok thanks, and can I do the advanced course in my second year? | |
| Staff | Spanish | We divide up into levels, so I need a bit more specific information. Have you studied Russian before? Would you be taking Russian as one of your degree subjects? |
| Offer holder | Yes, I am studying Russian at the moment, I am not planning to take it as one of my degree subjects, but was considering it as a third subject in my second year. I do not know my level precisely, but if I was up to scratch, and could speak Russian to a higher level, would I be able to study it as an extra subject in year 2? Just asking for advice? | |
| Staff | Spanish | I see. That makes sense. When you start second year, you could ask the course convener in Russian 2 to do a short level test with you and then they could recommend the level that would work best for you. |
| Offer holder | Great, I will do, thanks for your help! | |
| Offer holder | On average, how many texts will we study in each language in first year? (French and Spanish) | |
| Staff | Spanish | We work on a lot of different topics and texts across the year and its hard to give an exact number. On a level 1 or 2 Culture course, we treat films, historical documents, poems, paintings and novels all as texts, so you might end up looking at 5-8 'texts' over the year but some of those could be films and paintings, or comics. |
| Offer holder | how does the year abroad work if i am doing a joint honours in Spanish and politics? can i do politics in the university abroad? | |
| Staff | Spanish | That is one possibility. You might also choose to teach or work abroad instead of studying. There is flexibility for you to decide what you want to do. We wouldn't expect you to study in a university and bring marks back to Glasgow. |
| Offer holder | For the semester studying abroad, which universities are available for French and Spanish students? | |
| Staff | French | I don't know all the Spanish ones off the top of my head but there are options in various regions in Spain and Latin America. For French there is currently Université de Montréal, several Paris universities (Sorbonne/Sorbonne Nouvelle), Strasbourg, Toulouse, Nice, Poitiers, Pau, Brussels - lots of options for both languages. |
| Offer holder | What languages can you do for your 3rd subject in first and second year because I have an interest in starting something completely new like Arabic but I don't know if it is available. Thank you | |
| Staff | Here is an overview of all of the languages offered - I do not think we offer Arabic. https://www.gla.ac.uk/study/search/?query=languages&level=ug&mode=&subject= |
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| Current student | Hi Catriona! Here is more info on the flexible degree. This should be able to tell you if you can take that or not: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/choosingyourdegree/understandingthedegreestructure/ Hope this helps! |
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| Offer holder | what sort of materials like books should I be working through to improve my Spanish and will there be a set list of books to read as well\? If yes will we know beforehand? | |
| Staff | Spanish | You won't usually have access to the course materials until you have registered (so until September). We haven't finalised our reading list for next year, but you might want to start watching series in Spanish. You can also read some of the 'classics' e.g. Campos de Castilla, El llano en llamas (which are short stories by Juan Rulfo), watch the film Nueve Reinas. |
| Offer holder | How would we be examined for languages courses? | |
| Staff | French | Hi Hedda. Assessment on language courses at the non-beginners level tends to focus on written skills (essay writing) and translation. There are some grammar tests also at the early stages of the languages cycle, but grammar becomes integrated into other skills as you go along. Spoken language is examined by oral exam. |
| Offer holder | Interesting. Thanks! | |
| Offer holder | Is there any way to access the reading list for students starting in September 2020? | |
| Current student | Hi Olivia! They'll usually be published a few weeks before classes start. However, you can usually access this years and past reading lists via this link: https://glasgow.rl.talis.com/index.html Hope this helps! |
|
| Staff | French | Hi again Olivia. The reading lists will be updated over the summer and can change slightly from year to year but the link above will give you an initial idea. |
| Offer holder | I am thinking of studying French/Comp Lit, and I was just wondering what a normal weekly timetable is like? e.g. how many classes in total, are there speaking classes, how many, etc? Thank you | |
| Staff | French | A typical timetable in French would consist of 1 lecture hour on French language (grammar, written expression etc.), 1 seminar hour on the same topic, 1 hour of spoken language with a native speaker, and 1 hour of culture (a lecture). Sometimes there is an additional hour of culture in the form of a seminar. |
| Staff | Spanish | Hi Brooke. If you've studied French before and are a non beginner, you'll have 3 hours of language, one of which is a speaking class. You'll also have 2 hours of Culture per week. In Comp Lit, it would be 3 hours of class per week. |
| Offer holder | Thank you | |
| Offer holder | I was just wondering how big a jump it is from Higher French to first year uni french? thank you | |
| Staff | French | The majority of our students have done highers, and so the first year syllabus very much builds up from what you have studied at school. It's not a massive jump, but you will be challenged in a good way! |
| Offer holder | Thank you very much | |
| Offer holder | Hi, what is the Spanish and Comp Lit course like? Would you recommend any materials I could be working through at this time to improve my Spanish? | |
| Staff | Spanish | Hi Emma, There are lots of online grammar sites to help you keep going with that side of things. I know that's perhaps the duller part of language learning! On the fun side, I always suggest watching a film a week and maybe getting into a series on Netflix. It doesn't matter if you watch with subtitles as that way you pick up lots of new words. Lots of 'classic' Spanish literature is available online as parallel texts. That way you can read the Spanish and have the English beside it just in case you need to double check something. I taught García Lorca's Yerma this year and some students used a parallel text for that. |
| Offer holder | thank you, is it possible to study primary education and Spanish? | |
| Staff | Spanish | No. The full list of subjects you can study with Spanish is here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/spanish/ |
| Offer holder | Are the first year languages courses similar to the advanced higher languages courses? | |
| Staff | French | In Level 1 language non-beginners, you will consolidate some of the work you have done at highers, but there will be a step up to more complex material at the same time (a wider range of tenses, specific vocabulary, etc). Language work tends to focus on grammar, written expression (essay writing) and speaking (classes with a native speaker). |
| Offer holder | Hi! Could you tell me a little about what do we study in first year of English lit and Comp Lit? | |
| Current student | I took English Literature and really enjoyed it. In the first year you would learn the basics in theory and approaches to literature from the first poems/novels until the most modern approaches, so it would be more of a chronological approach. One semester would be focused on poetry, the other on novels. In the second year you would take a more thematic approach, such as 'ideology and text'. In your third and fourth year you would get to choose whatever you are interested in, usually the modules will have either a thematic focus, one on genre, or time period | |
| Offer holder | If your are studying a joint honours degree in two languages, is it recommended that you spend your year abroad using your strongest Language, which would therefore mean that you spend the additional three months abroad in your weaker language and which of the two languages would you recommend using for your final dissertation? Baring in mind that you have just spent three months in your weaker Language. | |
| Staff | Spanish | We leave the final choice of where to spend your Year Abroad up to you. If you start a new language as a Beginner, we strongly recommend you spend the year in a country that speaks that language. |
| Staff | French | Hi Stuart. It's good to think ahead like this. The good thing is you don't need to make any fixed decisions on this now but can do so in second year, by which point you will have a greater idea of which language needs more attention. Students perform well in both scenarios you outline, but it's true that some students can be frustrated that the three months abroad isn't longer. In that case, you could try to schedule extra practice (eg. via online forums) to really enhance your second language. For the dissertation, you might like to be guided by language, but you could equally be guided by your knowledge of the topic. |
| Offer holder | what is french like for beginners ? how many classes a week and hours | |
| Staff | French | Hi Alexandra. French for beginners is 4 contact hours a week. There will be a lecture-style class and some smaller group classes for writing and speaking. |
| Offer holder | Thanks that sounds great ! | |
| Offer holder | Hi I've already studied A Level French and so I was hoping to go onto the non-beginners course. I was wondering however how advanced this would be? As Scottish universities are one year longer, and highers are studied in less depth, would the first year therefore be a repeat of a lot of what I studied at A Level? | |
| Staff | Spanish | Hi John, you should find that the first year course is about the right level. You'll do a lot of work consolidating grammar etc in the first semester, but a-level students usually find the second semester a new challenge for them |
| Offer holder | is the beginers course for french pretty full on? | |
| Staff | Spanish | Beginners courses are intense. You'll have 4 hours per week and you are expected to study quite a bit in your own time. |
| Offer holder | In your year abroad if you are studying a joint honours degree with a subject that isn't a language, do you spend the year studying your language or your other subject? | |
| Staff | French | Hi Lainie. Your year abroad counts for the language side of the degree and you're not obliged to take courses in your other subject but it's sometimes possible to do so |
| Staff | Thanks all for your great questions! This concludes our Modern Languages chat! |
Nursing
| User | Message |
| Offer holder | I had my interview on the 29th of January and I still do not have an offer from UofG, when should I except one? |
| Staff | We are hoping to get all the interview results out in the next week. |
| Offer holder | Hi. I have a conditional offer, and will have to take the OPENS course (in June I think). Are there any materials I can see beforehand to get an idea of the requirements? |
| Staff | I will contact the OPENS course leader and ask for some details to forward on to you. |
| Offer holder | Thanks. Have you any idea of the fail/pass rate for OPENS? |
| Staff | We first used the OPENS course a couple of years ago and so far everyone has passed it. Hope that helps! |
| Offer holder | What is a typical timetable week for first year? |
| Staff | We'll get OPENS stuff out as soon as we can. The timetable is quite full. Students tend to have classes every day with Wednesday afternoon free for sports. There will be some guided or self-directed study on the timetable as well as classes. Classes normally start at 09:30. |
| Offer holder | Will we be spending most of our time in the main campus like the lecture halls, or mainly in the wolfson medical school building? |
| Staff | We use buildings all over the campus. The Nursing & Health Care School is on Oakfield Avenue but you could be anywhere on campus really. |
| Staff | Your time will be split between campus based teaching and teaching in clinical areas i.e. hospitals, community sites etc. Sometimes we use the Wolfson Medical School for clinical skills teaching. |
| Offer holder | Hello! I’ve just recently accepted an unconditional offer for Nursing at Glasgow and am really excited to start!! I was just wondering what hospitals our placements will be in? |
| Staff | We're looking forward to welcoming you to UoG. It will depend where you stay but you could be allocated to hospitals or community settings across the whole of NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. It might be worth checking out their website. We also send students to the Golden Jubilee National Hospital. |
| Offer holder | Is there anywhere that we can find the reading list for first year so that we have the summer to maybe look at some of the course materials. |
| Staff | We wouldn't want you going out and spending lots of cash on books. I would recommend trying to get some second hand anatomy and physiology books (there are some specifically for nursing students) as the content won't have changed much. We will have deals with the on campus book store which usually match Amazon price wise for the start of term. |
| Staff | This is one which is on the reading list to give you a flavour, but as I said, don't rush to buy it at the moment. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Essentials-Nursing-Practice-Catherine-Delves-Yates-ebook/dp/B07B4YJQK7/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=essentials+of+nursing&qid=1586280124&sr=8-2 |
| Offer holder | Hi, I am currently doing SWAP Access introduction to medical studies but did not apply for university this year as I wanted to get some work experience within different fields of nursing. I was wondering if I will still be considered next year for nursing even through, I haven’t been able to finish my course properly due to covid-19? |
| Staff | Your FE college should be able to provide you with details of how your award will be calculated. They are probably working on it right now. Assuming you pass the course you can apply for next year. |
| Offer holder | When does placement start? |
| Staff | That is a good question. Things are a little uncertain regarding placements at the moment due to COVID19. We are hoping that it will be either late November or early January but, obviously, can't make any promises at the moment. Usually November 9th would be the start of your first placement. |
| Offer holder | When are the majority of placements, like during the day, night or weekends? |
| Staff | A mixture of shifts to give you a true experience of what it is like working as a staff nurse. Most hospitals do 12 hour shifts (e.g. 07:00-19:30 minus your breaks) so you would do 3 or 4 of them per week. Community areas (e.g. district nurses) tend to do 08:00-16:00 or similar. Night shifts and weekends are part of the job. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I was just wondering how long the academic year is and if we need to apply for specific accomodation that has a longer lease? |
| Staff | The Nursing academic year is longer than most other courses. The University of Glasgow accommodation office know these dates. Alternatively, I can send you a note of the term dates. The 1st year ends around mid July. |
| Offer holder | Are there any updates from the University about any delays to term start date re: COVID19? |
| Staff | We are currently planning to start the term as planned but please keep checking the UofG Covid updates on the website. |
| Staff | https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/news/coronavirus/faqs/#tab=tab-7 |
| Offer holder | I am under the age of 18 and will be for the first placement of first year (if everything goes to plan) will my placement be extended? |
| Staff | Hello. No. It just means that you would work your 37.5 hours per week over 5 days (e.g. 07:00 - 15:00) and no night shift until you're 18. |
| Offer holder | Hi there, what is the age range of each cohort usually? I'm 30 and am wondering if there will be many other students my age |
| Staff | A lot of our students are coming direct from high school but be reassured that we also have students who are having a career change and are a bit older. A mix of people is a good thing and you'll soon feel very welcome and part of the group. |
| Offer holder | Hi, could you refer me to where I can get information about fees? |
| Staff | Here is a link to the UofG Fees information: https://www.gla.ac.uk/study/fees/ |
| Offer holder | How many students are in each cohort roughly? |
| Staff | Our target for this year is 55. The small class size is a big plus. |
| Offer holder | Do we do placements over summer or is it only for a certain number of weeks ? |
| Staff | Placements occur into the summer so you don't have the traditional long university summer holidays but you will still have some vacation time. Over the entire degree, you need to do 2300 hours in clinical practice. |
| Offer holder | That's great thanks, do you know roughly when the placement schedules are given out? |
| Staff | Hi. At the very start of term. We give you a course flow which shows when you are in university for theory, when your placements are and when your vacation weeks are. You'll always get time off at Christmas and New Year as the university is closed then. |
| Offer holder | Hello again, just wondering if there’s any study abroad opportunities for the Nursing course? :) |
| Staff | There are options for volunteer or exchange experiences. These are mainly between years 3 and 4. We currently have an exchange arrangement with Japan where students can apply to go for 2 weeks. Other, university wide options, are also available. Unfortunately, due to NMC requirements, they do not directly count towards your degree. |
| Offer holder | Is Japan the only exchange placement? |
| Staff | At the moment. We hope that Singapore and Hong Kong will become available but there some issues which need to be sorted to make that happen. The uni wide volunteering opportunities are all across the world (as far as I know). Some of our students went to Malawi. |
| Offer holder | Hi, how many lecturers will be involved in teaching throughout first year? |
| Staff | A wide variety. From a Nursing School perspective, we have two colleagues who tend to look after 1st year (which we call BN1). You then have input from the Life Science team, social sciences and ethics. Additionally, we often have colleagues from the NHS and other organisations who input into the programme. |
| Offer holder | This quite a vague question, but can you describe what the practice facilities are like and how big they are/ what’s in them? |
| Staff | Class rooms on campus vary. Some are in our older, historic buildings and are more traditional in their layout. Some are in newer buildings and are more modern. The new teaching and learning centre is due to open in September and we are hoping to get in and use it from time to time. Clinical skills lab facilities are in the Wolfson Medical building. In 3rd year (BN3) you'll be based at the Teaching & Learning Centre at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital which only opened in 2015 and has lots of modern facilities, including clinical skills labs. |
| Offer holder | Hello. Are prospective nursing students required to get the Hep B immunisations prior to attending uni or when registered at uni? |
| Staff | You'll get the Hep B immunisations when you start the programme. All students will be sent an appointment with Occupational Health during the first week, Induction week. |
| Offer holder | Admissions informed me that some people choose not to complete the fourth year dissertation. Is that the case? If so, why do those students choose this option? |
| Staff | Hi. We want all of our students to do 4th year. Some decide that they want to join the workforce a bit sooner (particularly if they have family commitments). Others may already have an Honours degree or higher qualification so feel they don't need it. Stay on and do 4th year though. It's good! |
| Staff | We're always happy to help so please get in touch. There is no such thing as a stupid question. |
| Staff | That is the end of today's Nursing chat - thank you to you all for joining us! We hope you got all your questions answered and are enthusiastic about Glasgow. Thank you to David and Susan, and also for being so welcoming to follow up questions after this chat if you would like to ask anything else - nursing-sch-admissions@glasgow.ac.uk |
Physics & Astronomy
| User Name | Message |
| Staff | GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE! A VERY WARM WELCOME TO THE VIRTUAL Offer holderS’ DAY AND THE PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY CHAT BOOTH. ACADEMICS ARE HERE AND READY FOR YOUR QUESTIONS. |
| Staff | Hi, I'm Donald MacLaren, an academic from the School of Physics & Astronomy and also that school's Senior Adviser. Thanks for waiting for this last session of the day! I'm happy to help where I can (but mostly with physics and astronomy-related questions!) |
| Staff | Hi, I'm Chris Messenger from the School of Physics and Astromomy. Happy to answer your questions. |
| Staff | Hello! I'm Alec MacKinnon, a Senior Lecturer in the School of Physics and Astronomy and one of the many staff who function as an Adviser of Studies. I worked in the past on the University's Access course and I'm always especially happy to meet mature students. Hope I can help with your questions about studying here |
| Staff | Hello, I'm Ian MacLaren, Reader in the School of Physics and Astronomy. I've also been an Adviser of Studies over a good few years, so can answer questions about course structures and more. |
| Current student | Hello everyone, sorry I just got online now after the technical difficulties, but I am a current student at UoG, studying Physics and Astronomy as a Joint Honours! If you any of you have any questions about my degree or your options, student life, classes, societies or anything else I'll be happy to help! |
| Offer holder | Hi, is there a large difference between physics with astrophysics and physics and astronomy. I have offers for both and am unsure what would be best for me. Thanks. |
| Staff | Good question. In first year, there isn't much difference between the two degrees. The main differences are in later years, where the astrophysics course has a greater physics content. Both degrees have the same course selection in first year - physics, maths and astronomy. You will be able to switch from one course to the other at a later point, once you've a better feeling for what is right for you. |
| Offer holder | Thanks for your help! |
| Offer holder | Can you please tell me what the choices are for the third subject in year one for physics. And can this include an art subject such as film and tv? thanks |
| Staff | First year students need to take 120 credits, usually split between three 40-credit courses. All physics students need to take physics and maths, leaving a choice of the third course. Most students choose one of astronomy, chemistry, computing science, psychology or geology but other courses, including some from other Colleges (such as an arts subject) are also feasible, subject to timetabling constraints. You can check the course catalogue for more details on your options: https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/ So yes, if we can find a combination of courses that don't have a timetable clash, film and tv could be feasible. (I'm afraid that I don't know for definite at this stage.) |
| Staff | Your timetable will already be full with 120 credits - physics, maths and astronomy. It would not be advisable to take extra classes! |
| Staff | Hi Jack, yes you can choose any third subject you want as long as a) it fits in the timetable with the physics and maths you have to do, and b) you are doing the straight physics or theoretical physics course. |
| Offer holder | are lectures recorded? |
| Staff | Currently lecture recording is optional (for the lecturer) and also depends on the technology available in the lecture theatre. Things are rapidly changing though and lecture recording is becoming a lot more common. I should add that the lecture material is always made available online prior to lectures. |
| Offer holder | can you take extra classes in your first and second year if you are doing physics with astrophysics |
| Staff | You'd normally take Physics 1, Maths 1 and Astronomy 1 in first year, and have no room for other options, except perhaps a very small module, like a language for international mobility. |
| Staff | In year 2, you'd have to take Physics 2 and Maths 2A, 2B and 2D. You'd be recommended to take Astronomy 2, but it is not absolutely essential. But better taken if you want to do well at Astrophysics in your honours years. |
| Offer holder | Hi there, I was wondering if there are any opportunities for further progression, after completing a Bsc or Msci ? |
| Staff | Yes, we have a range of postgraduate degrees, up to and including PhDs. Take a look at the degree programmes linked from here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/ |
| Staff | After getting a bachelors or master degree you would have the possibility to go onto a PhD or a non-integrated master course. This wouldn't have to be at Glasgow though and can be competitive to get places. |
| Staff | You could apply for a postgraduate MSc upon completion of a BSc hons. You could apply for a PhD after completing a BSc hons or MSci. These are available at Glasgow or elsewhere. In both cases, good academic performance in the first degree is a prerequisite. Such longer term career plans are worth discussing with your Adviser of Studies once you are studying with us, as they can maybe help you to make good subject choices within your degree, and help you get research experience in your upper years through a summer placement in our School or elsewhere. |
| Offer holder | Thanks very much. |
| Offer holder | Hi, Could you please describe what is covered in the first year of astronomy and how much of your time will be spent in lectures and at the observatory? |
| Staff | You can find more information on course content in our course guides: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/physics/undergraduate/level1courseguides/ First year astronomy classes involve a concentrated block of labs for a few weeks in the afternoons in second semester. |
| Staff | We also have a very active student society, 'astrosoc' that arrange observation nights and trips. |
| Staff | Hi Craig, the first year Astronomy course surveys the whole of the subject, solar system, stars, galaxies and cosmology. You have four lectures a week, a tutorial, and one three-hour lab at the Observatory - most weeks, not quite all the reaching year. As well as Astronomy you would usually take Maths and Physics in your first year. |
| Offer holder | thanks |
| Offer holder | Hi, are there gonna be any trips? |
| Staff | The student societies physoc and astrosoc arrange various activities, including trips, throughout the year. Astronomy observation nights can be very popular. |
| Offer holder | Ok thank you |
| Offer holder | What facilities do you offer in terms of telescopes and looking at the sky? |
| Staff | We have access to a small observatory and students will engage with active astronomy research in their final year project. See the research pages here: http://www.astro.gla.ac.uk/ |
| Offer holder | thank you! |
| Staff | It's also accessible to 1st and 2nd years as part of the astrosoc society. They have regular observing nights at the observatory and other locations. |
| Staff | Astrosoc can be viewed at: https://astrosocgla.wordpress.com/ |
| Offer holder | Would Astronomy link well as a 3rd subject along with Maths & Stats\? |
| Staff | If you enjoy astronomy then yes. Doing astronomy would benefit from a solid background in maths and stats so I'd say that they are certainly complimentary. |
| Offer holder | Okay thank you |
| Staff | I believe a possible but unusual combined honours is Astronomy and Mathematics. Normally, if you want to get the best out of Astronomy, doing Physics is important. But if you want it as a first year subsidiary subject to Maths and Stats, this is fine, as long as you can get the timetable to work. |
| Offer holder | Thank you very much |
| Offer holder | Can you please tell me what are the choices for the third subject in year one of physics. And can this include an arts subject such as film and tv studies? Thanks |
| Staff | Hi Jack, most people take Astronomy or Computing as their third subject but in principle you can take a subect from a very wide choice, including the Arts subjects - as long as there are no timetable clashes. |
| Offer holder | Thanks very much |
| Staff | First year students need to take 120 credits, usually split between three 40-credit courses. All physics students need to take physics and maths, leaving a choice of the third course. Most students choose one of astronomy, chemistry, computing science, psychology or geology but other courses, including some from other Colleges (such as an arts subject) are also feasible, subject to timetabling constraints. You can check the course catalogue for more details on your options: https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/ |
| Staff | you maybe also want to be careful that you're sure to leave open the degrees you really want to do; if you had a notion to do Astronomy and Physics, for instance. But for a physics degree, yes you do have some choice |
| Staff | A few people asking about the Course Modules. If you have a look in the documents section of this booth you will find a link that takes you to everything. Thanks! |
| Offer holder | Hi, I was wondering if it would be possible to view the physics labs (possibly through photos or a virtual tour) as this was not possible during the open day? Thanks |
| Staff | Hi Lawrie, That's a good question and not something we've been able to prepare for today. IF you have a look through the material attached to this event you may find some (static) images of the labs. I will also try to dig something out. |
| Staff | Hi Chris, if you send anything to me (kate.barrie@glasgow.ac.uk) I'm more than happy to create and Image Gallery here and post it all up. Lawrie - you can continue to log into the platform to see any content updates. |
| Offer holder | That would be perfect, thank you. |
| Staff | You will also see some images of the School of Physics and Astronomy website. Have a look at the documents area of this booth for the links. The Facebook and Twitter streams also show a lot of images. Again, these are available on this booth - have a browse. |
| Staff | Hi Laurie, I haven't been able to find much of use. However, the next open day was supposed to be on the 18th June 2020. We don't know what will be happening and whether anything (virtual or not) would go ahead on the same date. However, we will try to sort something out for the next event. |
| Offer holder | What sort of exams/assessments take place throughout the year ? |
| Staff | Physics students have a range of 'continuous assessments' - class tests and labs - throughout the year. There is then a final exam in May. The split in terms of marks is described in our course guide: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/physics/undergraduate/level1courseguides/ |
| Staff | Of course there are end of semester exams. These are complimented by ongoing assessment throughout the semester in the form of labs (write ups and reports), assessed questions that you do in your own time, and class tests. Further on in the degree there are more involved projects (experimental or theoretical). |
| Staff | In Physics 1, there are large class tutorials every couple of weeks with a quick test, just to check progress. There is a class test at the end of semester 1. The main exams are at the end of semester 2. There are assessed labs throughout the year. |
| Offer holder | Okay that's great, thanks. |
| Offer holder | Hello Ian, what are the differences between the course Physics for 5 years and Theoretical Physics for 5 years? |
| Staff | For theoretical physics, you will be expected to do more in terms of computational work of calculation, simulation and such like, rather than experimental laboratories. As a result, you will need to take an extra course in year 2 to learn to program in C and to use Linux. The lab courses chosen in year 3 are then different and do computational laboratory work, rather than experimental, and a computational group project, rather than an experimental one. We do, however, make the assessment structure very similar for both sets of lab and group project courses. In your research project in your final year, your topic would be one to suit your skills in computational physics, rather than one more optimised for a general physicist (with some mix of practical experimentation and data analysis). |
| Staff | Hi all, there will understandably be a range of question related to the coronavirus, COVID-19, including the TERM START DATE. At this point in time the University is planning for a start date of 21 September, however, if this changes, all information will be communicated to Offer holders. You can also keep abreast of all updates at: https://gla.ac/cvfaqs |
| Offer holder | Where are the astronomy observation nights taking place? And can physics students attend those as well? |
| Staff | Yes, they are available to physics students, too. See here for more details: https://astrosocgla.wordpress.com/ |
| Offer holder | Ok thank you |
| Offer holder | What is the difference between the Physics and theoretical physics course? |
| Staff | The choice of courses in first year is the same but in honours years there are differences in the labs and in some of the elective courses (courses that you can choose). You will be able to change your degree plan from physics to theoretical physics if you want at the end of first year, so I wouldn't worry too much about it for now. |
| Staff | I just wrote a more detailed reply to another student on this topic, which I reproduce here: "For theoretical physics, you will be expected to do more in terms of computational work of calculation, simulation and such like, rather than experimental laboratories. As a result, you will need to take an extra course in year 2 to learn to program in C and to use Linux. The lab courses chosen in year 3 are then different and do computational laboratory work, rather than experimental, and a computational group project, rather than an experimental one. We do, however, make the assessment structure very similar for both sets of lab and group project courses. In your research project in your final year, your topic would be one to suit your skills in computational physics, rather than one more optimised for a general physicist (with some mix of practical experimentation and data analysis)." |
| Offer holder | Is there a recommended text book or other reading material for Physics-1 (to be taken as part of Chemical Physics). Thanks. |
| Staff | Yes, reading lists are available for many courses from the University Library website https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/library/ and https://glasgow.rl.talis.com/index.html To be honest, I'd be inclined to enjoy your summer and not worry about preparing for university until September! |
| Offer holder | Thanks |
| Offer holder | Hi, I'm an Offer holder for the Computing Science/Physics joint honours and I was searching for a current student that can help me. |
| Current student | Hi there! I'll do my best to help you out, what questions do you have? |
| Offer holder | Can I write you by using the private chat? |
| Current student | Of course, here is my email: 2313130H@student.gla.ac.uk |
| Staff | ASTROSOC - ASTRONOMY STUDENTS SOCIETY - https://astrosocgla.wordpress.com/ PHYSOC - PHYSICS STUDENT SOCIETY - https://www.facebook.com/guphysoc/ |
| Offer holder | Do we get the opportunity to specify in specific areas of physics, as we progress in the degree ? |
| Staff | Depending on which degree path you choose, the first 2 years allow you to choose your third subject. After that you get broader options regarding which courses you want to take (again based on your degree path). |
| Staff | Yes, in honours years there are 'elective' courses that you can choose between. You will also be able to pick a project in a specific research group to focus on an area that interests you most. This is often the best, most exciting part of the degree. |
| Staff | There are a few options in year 3 on a straight Physics degree, a lot more in year 4, and an awful lot in year 5 if you are doing the MSci. You have a lot of chance to tailor the degree to whatever you find most interesting and that you are best at. |
| Staff | Have a look at the course modules here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=REG30600000&name=School+of+Physics+and+Astronomy |
| Offer holder | That's great, thanks very much. |
| Offer holder | Hi, whats the main differences between the physics and physics with astrophysics courses, especially later on in uni. How would picking one over the other affect what you could do for 3rd, 4th and 5th year. |
| Staff | There's no difference in first year between "physics and astronomy" and "physics with astrophysics" and you will be able to switch between these degrees at the end of the year without difficulty. Basically, the astrophysics degree has a greater emphasis on physics content in honours years. |
| Staff | The physics content for all of our degrees is the same at level 1 - everyone does the same course. |
| Staff | Finn, did you mean the difference between physics and physics and astronomy OR physics with astrophysics and physics with astronomy? |
| Staff | Best advice on this and on all such topics is "talk with your Advisor of Studies" once here. They can show you the different options, and what choices you have to make to get to those different options. And it matters not at all what you choose in year 1 in terms of degree title - you do the same options, as stated. And you then get a chance to find out what seems to be the best for you, discuss this with advisor, and then make choices for year 2. |
| Offer holder | thank you all |
| Staff | Hi all, I just wanted to highlight that Holly (an undergraduate also online her to answer your questions) has prepared the Physics and Astromomy presentation for this event. It's really informative and will answer a lot of your questions. It is currently being uploaded to this site and will be on our Youtube Channel by the end of the day. |
| Offer holder | Btw what youtube channel would it be uploaded in? |
| Offer holder | hi where will the video be posted? |
| Staff | In the video section of this stand - there's a button that says video on it. One there at the moment on the degree structure. |
| Staff | It will hopefully appear here in the videos section attached to this event and on the university youtube channel. |
| Offer holder | Hello Holly. Are you able to describe what a typical lecture is like and what are your methods of taking everything that's been taught all in? |
| Current student | Hi Allan! Brilliant question, so lectures are about 50 minutes long, starting at 5 minutes past the hour and ending at 5 minutes to the hour, which allows 10 minutes to get from one place to another. I tend to take notes, either on a tablet or pen and paper, and note down important points that lecturers say and the slide number that they are on, or note down the topic they're speaking about- this helps revision later, as some (not all) lecturers prefer to use minimal slides and discuss some course content verbally. However, if your lecturer has really detailed slides I've found sometimes it's best to have these pre-printed out- if you have the slides already printed on paper in front of you, annotating these with extra info the lecturer says is really useful! You'll be given some print credits at the start of each academic year for free (and in physics you will rarely use them all- unlike degrees such as English Lit, etc.). Hope that's useful! |
| Offer holder | That's extremely useful. Thanks very much for such a detailed response. |
| Offer holder | In what way is Physics at Glasgow different from Physics courses at other Unis e.g. Strathclyde? |
| Staff | It's a personal choice. What I liked about Glasgow as a student was its sense of history, its compact campus, its high ranking in international league tables, its flexibility in course selection and the research that is being done here. The latter can be important when you get to your honours years and need to complete a research project in one of our research groups. Of course, choosing a university is a very personal process and should depend first on the academic aspects including course selection, but also on social aspects. For example, will you like living and working there? Are there sports clubs, facilities and other societies that you are interested in? Do you like the feeling of the campus? Take a look around our website and use opportunities to speak to other students to help you decide! Once you can, take a walk around our beautiful campus too! |
| Staff | That's a tricky question that we can't really answer accurately (or unbiasedly). We can only really speak about our courses and approach to the degree. I'm sure that other universities have a lot of great things to offer too :) |
| Staff | In some universities, the Physics degree is more monolithic, and everything is taught through the Department or School of Physics. In Glasgow, the structure is more modular in year 1 and 2, where you take different courses from different schools (such as the common combinations, Physics, Astronomy, Maths or Physics, Maths, Chemistry). Some love that modular structure and the breadth you get in a Glasgow degree. Some prefer to just be in one subject from beginning to end. Up to your preference. |
| Staff | For me it was the people. I'm also a Physics and Astronomy graduate and the people made the decision for me to choose Glasgow. The staff were so welcoming and friendly at open days. |
| Offer holder | Thanks |
| Offer holder | Hi there, how full is the first year timetable for the Physics course? |
| Staff | First year physics students have lectures every day - you can choose 9am or 1pm - and one lab per week, running from 2pm to 5pm. Astronomy students also have one lecture per day - at 10am - and a concentrated block of labs for a few afternoons in the second semester. You can find more information in our course guides: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/physics/undergraduate/level1courseguides/ For maths, there is a similar pattern for daily lectures (at 11am) and additional tutorials. All courses will have additional tutorials and class-tests throughout the year. Your timetable will look more empty than you may be used to from school, but the intention is that you become more independent in your study, so we would expect you to fill most afternoons with self-directed study. Then there are all the clubs, societies, charities, etc on campus to fit in somewhere, too... |
| Staff | Take a look at the presentation (uploading soon). In one of the slides Holly goes through a typical 1st year timetable. |
| Offer holder | That's great, thank you! |
| Staff | Life as a Science student is fairly busy. Typically 3 lectures a day in year 1, plus labs and tutorials for your 3 subjects scattered around the week, plus self study. You won't be bored! |
| Offer holder | Hello! Could you please explain the difference between MSci and MPhys (offered by other universities)? |
| Staff | The MSci offered here is effectively the same as an MPhys offered by other universities. Employers would rate them the same and all of our MSci physics degrees have the same accreditation by the Institute of Physics as MPhys degrees elsewhere. |
| Staff | Most Physics degrees in the UK are accredited by the Institute of Physics. This basically means that the core content and the standard are the same for all Masters degrees in Physics from across the UK. But optional courses will vary depending on the university and what their strongest research areas are. So, if you are interested in a specific area of physics, do check to see it will be covered. You can see all the courses available at Glasgow at all years at: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/physics/undergraduate/ - There are links in the sidebar to course guides for all years. |
| Offer holder | Thank you very much. |
| Offer holder | If I'm doing direct entry to second year how many extra modules would I have to take in comparison to first year entry? (Physics with astronomy/astro) |
| Staff | If you have an offer for direct entry to level 2 then you'll do level 2 physics and maths courses and still have some flexibility to take up some credits in a third subject (which could be at level 1 eg in astronomy). Most degrees require 120 credits per year and this is the same for direct entry to level 2. |
| Offer holder | Great, thank you! |
| Offer holder | Is there an opportunity to study abroad at all? |
| Staff | Hi Emily, Yes, study abroad is available in most science degrees, usually in year 2. |
| Staff | Yes, if this is of interest then it's best done in second year. We typically have up to 5-10% of our second year students studying overseas. Speak to our exchange officer when you arrive if this is of interest! |
| Staff | If you're keen to do this then you need to start thinking about it and get it set up in your first year. |
| Staff | Study Abroad info available at: https://www.gla.ac.uk/study/visiting/studyabroadexchange/studyabroadprogramme/ |
| Offer holder | Thank you all for the help! |
| Offer holder | Doesn't sound like it! How long are lectures, tutorials and labs usually? |
| Staff | COURSE MODULES FOR PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY: https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=REG30600000&name=School+of+Physics+and+Astronomy |
| Offer holder | Hi, I applied for Computing Science and Physics Joint Honors, but is it possible to change or drop one of the subjects after the end of the first/second year? |
| Staff | yes, the Glasgow degree is very flexible and you can do Physics, Computing Science, Maths (presumably) or any combination of these from the same first year. The final decisions are made at the end of first year, or even second in some cases |
| Staff | Yes, many students change their minds after a year (or two) - this flexibility is a strength of the system here and is common when students take subjects that are new to them. Your course selection in first year is usually compatible with a number of degree options. |
| Staff | Course Modules for Computing Science at: https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=COMPSCI&name=Computing+Science |
| Offer holder | Thank you! |
| Staff | MANY THANKS FOR ALL QUESTIONS SO FAR. JUST A WEE WARNING THAT THERE ARE ONLY 5 MINUTES LEFT TO POSE ANY FINAL QUESTIONS. Thanks! |
| Offer holder | Can a postgraduate in Medical Physics be taken after doing physics and astronomy? |
| Staff | Yes. See here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/medicalphysics/ We also have an undergraduate course in Medical Imaging that is very popular. |
| Staff | Of course. There are options you can take in the Physics degree that also go in this direction. |
| Staff | Anecdotally, I have at least 3 ex-astronomer colleagues that now work in medical physics. |
| Staff | One of our lecturers works in the NHS. |
| Offer holder | cheers, thank you! |
| Offer holder | I applied for mathematics and was wondering if it is possible to get into the accountancy business with this degree or would o have to study accountancy |
| Staff | That question is best answered by a mathematician or accountant. I don't know if any are still online (we're physicists). |
| Staff | JUST 2 MINUTES TO GO, PLEASE POST ANY LAST QUESTIONS. Thanks! |
| Staff | Some of our graduates in physics do move into finance, yes. It depends what level of accountancy you're interested in and what qualifications your ideal role requires. There are some on-the-job postgraduate training options to move from physics to finance, too. |
| Staff | Hi Lucy, there are many routes to Accountancy, including for students that haven't studied a numerate degree. If you're done any numerate degree, e.g. Maths, Physics, Astronomy, Statistics, it's entirely possible to become an accountant. |
| Staff | THAT’S THE END OF TODAY’S SESSION. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GREAT QUESTIONS. FEEL FREE TO BROWSE THE STAND CONTENT WHICH LEADS TO LOTS OF GREAT INFORMATION. |
Politics, International Relations and Quantitative Methods
| User Name | Message |
| Staff | Welcome to our Virtual Offer holders Day. Congratulations to everyone on their offers from UofG! This is your chance to speak to our staff from Politics, International Relations and Quantitative Methods so please ask us any questions you have about the courses, we want to support you in making your upcoming UCAS choices. |
| Staff | Hello! Welcome to the Politics & International Relations (PIR) Offer holder chat. Over the next hour or so we'll do our best to respond to your questions. Politics & IR is a single subject area but (somewhat uniquely) runs two programmes (Politics AND international Relations) in the MA(Social Science) degree. With well over 100 of you registered to attend this chat, I'm sure there are lots of questions! This is a new platform and way of interacting with you, so we'll all just figure it out together. For more information, please see the slides and information sheets at the (virtual) Politics & IR stand. We hope you and your loved ones are keeping well in these strange and difficult times. We've all had to make some major adjustments in the way we live, work, learn and teach. Despite the challenges, we think we've quickly been able to develop some innovative ways of interacting with our students and look forward to engaging with you in the next academic year in whatever form it takes. |
| Offer holder | Do you have to study other subjects in year 1 and 2? If so what are these subjects, and when do I pick them? |
| Staff | Yes all students who apply to Politics or International Relations will have to pick other subjects to study in year 1 and 2. Students will take three subjects in year 1 and three subjects in year 2. If they applied to single honours course then they pick another two at registration, and if they applied to a joint honours course they pick another one. That is 120 credits per year, 40 per subject, typically. Registration usually takes place in August, online, and then students will see their Adviser of Studies to confirm their timetable, usually in week 1 of teaching. Your Adviser is there to help you with your degree structure throughout your studies. Students will have a selection of subjects to choose from, both from within Social Sciences but possibly also from other Colleges. Its not possible to say at this stage what may be on the list of other subjects, as its determined by availability and timetable. That said students will have a wide selection of subjects to choose from and should not have to take subjects they are unhappy with. We also fully support our students in making the best choices for them. Subject to timetable and availability students can potentially pick up a language. At the end of each year of study students will meet with their Adviser of Study to decide how they would like to progress - at the end of year 1 students will take two subjects from year 1 forward, and pick another one to have again three subjects in year 2. You can find more information on how this works, and short videos explaining it, on our website at the below links. |
| Staff | www.glasgow.ac.uk/undergraduate/choosingyourdegree/understandingthedegreestructure |
| Staff | www.glasgow.ac.uk/colleges/socialsciences/students/socialsciences/courseplanner/ |
| Offer holder | What joint Honours options do you have with my course? |
| Staff | You can view all the joint honours options for any course by going to our A-Z of courses, clicking on the course page and looking under 'Degrees and UCAS Codes'. Example at link below. |
| Staff | www.glasgow.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/politics/#tab=degrees |
| Offer holder | Hello, I applied for International Relations L250 - a single honours. Can my degree become a joint honours during my studies and if yes, which additional options are available? |
| Staff | Yes it can and all the combos are on these pages: Politics: www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/politics/#tab=degrees IR: www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/internationalrelations/ |
| Staff | Joint honours options with IR are: International Relations with Quantitative Methods: L2G3 International Relations/Central & East European Studies: L252 International Relations/Economic & Social History: L253 International Relations/Social & Public Policy: L254 International Relations/Sociology: L251 |
| Offer holder | Thank you. Should I decide to study a Single Honours degree as I applied through UCAS, can the 2 additional subject be unrelated to IR (for example Music and Theatre Studies)? |
| Staff | Both these subjects are in the College of Arts. You should pick two from Social Sciences and one from Arts. You don't make a decision about single or joint Hons until the end of second year, so we strongly encourage students to take 3 level one courses which can lead to Honours. |
| Offer holder | Hi, I have a place for politics, is there any point that this can be made politics and international relations to do a joint honours? Or how does that work since the actual modules are the same for both subjects? |
| Staff | Unfortunately, formally no. But, kinda yes. That is, the Politics programme includes all of the IR courses. So if you are interested in IR courses you can effectively specialies in IR within the Politics programme. Think of the IR programme as being nested inside the Politics programme. There will be one IR course that is limited to IR 'majors' - otherwise you'd be able to take IR courses in the Politics major. |
| Offer holder | I applied for politics but want to take up IR too. Can I take it as another subject in 1st year? |
| Staff | To have IR in your degree title you have to apply for it through UCAS. However, you can effectively study a curriculum in Honours which is largely composed of IR-related courses. The two degrees - Politics and IR - share a common first and second year, with all students take Politics 1a and 1b, and Politics 2a and 2b. |
| Offer holder | I have an offer for politics and one for IR. If I take the IR offer can I then take politics once I’m in? |
| Staff | Politics and IR share a common first and second year. Students can come in on a plan for IR and change to Poltics but cannot do the reverse. |
| Offer holder | Ok thank you! Is there any reason why you can switch from IR to politics but not the other way round? |
| Current student | As IR is a more specific course you will cover topics not covered in the Politics course whereas politics covers all the general basis so you will have also covered these in IR :) |
| Offer holder | I’ve got an offer for IR and I’m wondering how highly its recommended that you take a language alongside this degree? |
| Staff | It's not required to take a language course. I am not aware of any student in the IR program who completed one, although it would certainly be an option (as a non-credit bearing course) |
| Offer holder | Thank you! I’m assuming it would open up more post-grad opportunities although there are other subjects I’d rather take rather than a language |
| Staff | IR is only offered with subjects in Social Sciences. This would allow you to take language at level 1 and 2 but you would not be able to continue beyond that. Language degrees are five years, not four, because there is a compulsory language year abroad. |
| Staff | You can take a language, you just can't continue past second year unless you do a 5-year degree. If you decide against a language in first you can pick up a "language for international mobility" in second year - see www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue - you will find descriptions in the Language Centre. Lots of our students pick one of those up in second year as part of their requirements. |
| Offer holder | How many course credits are required for each year of the IR degree (L250) and how are these course credits distributed among the 3 mandatory subjects? |
| Staff | There are 120 credits to do each year, with 40 credits in each subject. |
| Offer holder | If you have an offer for International Relations, are there any recommended subjects for your second or third course choice? |
| Staff | It's really up to you. Many students take Sociology, Economic and Social History, or History. |
| Staff | You can also from year two consider the Quantitative Methods pathway: |
| Staff | www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/q-stepcentre/information/quantitativepathways |
| Staff | www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/socialsciences/students/socialsciences/#aboutthema(socialsciences)degree |
| Offer holder | I’ve accepted my offer for Politics/Maths and I’m curious as to what would be best for my third subject based on these? I don’t have any specific interests in mind so have no clue what to do |
| Staff | In second year, I'd encourage you to join our 'with Quantitative Methods' programme, part of Glasgow Q-Step. More information here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/q-stepcentre/information/quantitativepathways/ In first year, try to choose something that you COULD take to honours just in case it becomes a viable option. Personally, I'd always go for Sociology (my subject) but the other subjects in our School are very strong: Social & public policy; Economic and Social History and there's a lot of 'cross-over' between politics and Central and East European Studies. |
| Offer holder | When doing a flexible degree can you only choose other subjects from the social science area or could you pick psychology? |
| Staff | Psychology counts as a Group A subject, it means that it can 'count' as a social science subject, In addition, you can choose a third subject from outside of the social sciences. So you could do Politics, Psychology and English for example. |
| Offer holder | Hi I'm studying sociology in sept, how easy is it to study a subject in years 1 and 2 that are not a social science? |
| Staff | Our students are permitted to take 40 credits from level 1 outside our normal courses. Our students can choose to study subjects like Maths, Geography, Philosophy or another subject from the College of Arts along with their Social Sciences courses. In second year, there are a couple of Accounting courses you can take and a couple from Law. |
| Staff | www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/socialsciences/students/socialsciences/#aboutthema(socialsciences)degree |
| Offer holder | I have an offer for computer science. Could I study politics in first year? |
| Staff | You should be able to pick up Politics as your "outside" subject, but it will depend on your other choices as Comp Sci is a Science degree. |
| Offer holder | Hi, can you do a degree in International Relations and Economics? I have only seen Politics and Economics offered |
| Staff | No, it's only IR and these: Sociology, Economic and Social History, Central and East European Studies, Social and Public Policy. You would need to do Politics and Economics. |
| Offer holder | What are the advantages and disadvantages of obtaining a Joint Honours degree rather than a Single Honours IR degree? |
| Staff | Single honours just means you can focus solely on IR in your final two years, while joint honours gives you more variety. It's up to you. |
| Staff | A joint honours degree also potentially offers more career pathways if you're not sure which area you want to go on to work in afterwards. |
| Offer holder | Can I take SCQF Level 9 or 10 courses in the first year if my current knowledge is deemed advanced enough? |
| Staff | No - the ideal is always to stay in your 'year' but you can speak to your adviser of studies - they'll be assigned when you turn up - to discuss options. |
| Offer holder | Hi is it possible to study IR with French and possibly another arts subject? Thanks |
| Staff | You cannot currently study IR as a joint honours degree with a language. You can however choose to take a language in level 1 or 2 as one of you optional subjects. Subjects in the College of Arts are also an option but they depend on Arts' rules rather than ours for entry so I cannot guarantee it. |
| Staff | You can study: Politics/French: LR21. Other arts subjects are Politics/Ancient History: VL12 Politics/Archaeology: LV24 Politics/Classics: LQ28 |
| Offer holder | Hi, I’ve received offers for French and International relations, I would love to study them as a joint honours degree but understand that that isn’t currently possible. Can you see that changing before a student joining in 2020 reaches third year? |
| Staff | You cannot do this combination at this time. You would need to do Politics and French instead, and in the College of Arts. |
| Offer holder | Thank you for your reply, considering this would it still be possible for a student to study IR and languages together in 1st and 2nd year even though the subjects are in different schools? |
| Staff | You can do IR and language in first and second year, but cannot continue on IR with Language. You would have to change to Politics with language and move to the College of Arts. Changing College at the end of second year is not uncommon in order to permit students to study in their chosen areas. The language degrees are five year and not four - there is a compulsory language year abroad. |
| Staff | I should add that if you come in on a French plan you will be in the College of Arts and could take Politics. There would be no need to transfer unless you decide to do single Politics. Then you would move from Arts to Social Sciences. |
| Staff | I run the 1A course and don't have a detailed course guide online, but can say that you do a major overview of British, Scottish and comparative politics. Any specific questions? |
| Offer holder | Hello, please clarify what Level 8 or Level 9, etc. means on the course catalogue in terms of my options in the first year? Can I skip levels if my language skills are advanced enough? |
| Staff | This is the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework, https://scqf.org.uk/interactive-framework/. A Bachelor degree covers SCQF levels 7-10, whereas a MastersPGT degree is level 11. |
| Offer holder | Ok thank you. Can I take SCQF Level 10 courses in first year? |
| Staff | No - that is not possible. |
| Offer holder | If we are doing politics as part of a joint degree, are we able to combine the two subjects in our dissertation? |
| Staff | Your dissertation is in your primary subject - so would be Politics or your other subject. That said, the topic is up to you and certainly could be, say, political history if you are joint with History (for an example) |
| Offer holder | Is there any recommended reading for politics yet? |
| Staff | We are looking at revising our Level 1A (first semester Politics) class. So we do not have a list for what will be the new version. I'd suggest any of the standard Politics textbooks. And then it depends on what areas you want to specialise in beyond that and what your interests are. If you google 'classic books on [topic]' I suspect you can find lists. |
| Offer holder | What exactly is the exam structure for international relations |
| Staff | We are not running exams in the Masters program -- all assignments are essays. Courses vary in their assessments, e.g. 2 essays or 3 essays. |
| Staff | If you look at the course catalogue you will find an outline of what to expect: https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/ - you can search by subject and see the lecture times and the types and weighting of assessments. |
| Staff | For the undergraduate IR programme students will take a mixture of assessments - essays, policy papers, exams, case studies - across the four years of the programme. |
| Offer holder | what are the exams/grade contributions like for politics? |
| Staff | In Politics Honours (3rd and 4th years) we use two main assessment structures. One is heavily weighted toward essays. The other is a mix of a traditional exam and and essay. The choice of the assessment profile will depend on your course convener/lecturer for the class. In addition we have a variety of class presentations, participation, group exercises and even policy briefings. There is a fairly wide array of assessment types across our honours classes. |
| Offer holder | what is assessment like for first year? |
| Staff | For first year there are essays and exams, with some participation allocation in seminars |
| Offer holder | How varied are assessments for politics? What is the proportion of essays to exams and presentations? |
| Staff | It depends. You usually have a combination of essays, exams and sometimes presentations or another form of participation. |
| Staff | Each course will look a little different in terms of the assessment so you will encounter a variety of different methods. You will be able to see the assessments for each course before you enrol. |
| Offer holder | Hi I have an offer for politics and was wondering whether Glasgow offered any politics specific internships/placements? Or whether you had good links with any political organisations, for instance in local government? |
| Staff | We do have a developing internship programme, especially through the John Smith Centre - you might google University of Glasgow John Smith Centre. That is an internship programme with MSPs (extending to MPs hopefully) that is designed to be flexible - and is paid at the living wage - so as to ensure that just about anyone can have an opportunity. it is competitive, so is by application. |
| Staff | The John Smith Centre also received a substantial grant from RBS to run a development programme that would be worth checking out |
| Offer holder | Hi, can you talk about the internship opportunities for IR students? |
| Staff | There is internship opportunities available, for which we have our Employabilty Team available to assist. Would need to check if the Employability Office is open to undergraduate students too. |
| Offer holder | Is the Olive Tree programme likely to be running in 2023- 3rd year ? It looks very exciting! |
| Staff | We cannot guarantee any programmes will be running that far ahead I'm afraid as it depends on staff, external funding and a variety of other factors. There are sure to be lots of opportunities for exciting study options though! |
| Offer holder | Hey! What are the opportunities available to politics students for summer internships etc? And what kind of opportunities can we expect? |
| Staff | Thanks for your question! www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/careers/findingjobs/internships/ is a good resource to check out, opportunities come up for students every summer. |
| Staff | As Internships are a bit of a thread here - let me invite you to consider either Politics or IR 'with Quantitative Methods'. The in-depth data analysis training is first class and we have an established internship programme with partners to date including the Scottish Human Rights Commission and the Scottish Government. You can join our programme in your second year - Link to find out more about our degees www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/q-stepcentre/information/quantitativepathways/ |
| Offer holder | hi, are politics lectures recorded? |
| Staff | That depends. The big lectures for undergraduates in levels 1 and 2 are recorded and available on the University e-learning platform (Moodle). This is not usually the case in Honours (years 3 and 4) where more emphasis is placed on seminars and smaller lecture groups. |
| Offer holder | What sorts of topics would we be studying for 1st/2nd year politics? And how similar would these be to the IR course topics? |
| Staff | Both follow the same common first and second year. All studnets take Politics 1a and 1b and then Politics 2a and 2b. |
| Staff | www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=POLITIC&name=Politics+%26+International+Relations |
| Offer holder | Do you have a detailed plan of the politics course for first year online? |
| Staff | The courses for year 1 are: Politics 1A: Introduction to Politics This course introduces students to the study of politics with a broad focus on the United Kingdom. Basic concepts and topics, like political institutions, parties, voting behaviour, multilevel governance, and the role of the media, are explored in a comparative perspective, though the emphasis is on British and Scottish politics and Britain’s role in the wider world. Text: Mark Garnett and Philip Lynch (2016) Exploring British Politics. 4th edn. London: Routledge. Politics 1B: Introduction to International Relations This is a study of key concepts (sovereignty, power, globalisation), theories (realism, neo-realism, neo-liberalism, constructivism), actors (states, international institutions, non-state actors), and global challenges (e.g. war, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, human rights, migration, environment) in international relations. Texts: Grieco, Andrew G., John Ikenberry and Michael Mastanduno (2019) Introduction to International Relations: Enduring Questions and Contemporary Perspectives, 2nd edn, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan; Burchill, Scott et al. (2013) Theories of International Relations, 5th edn, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. |
| Offer holder | Which ideologies will we get to study? |
| Staff | You will have a basic introduction to the main ideologies in the first two years and can continue on in honours if you like doing theory courses. |
| Offer holder | Are debates held for politics students as part of the course? |
| Staff | There are many possibilities for debates, discussions, and different kinds of presentations within all of your courses in Politics and IR. We put a lot of emphasis on this kind of learning. |
| Staff | I teach classes on International Political Economy and International Organizations at Senior Honors levels, and we have had lively discussions every week -- for example around current events in the global political economy, and the role of international organizations (like IMF, World Bank, and WHO) in addressing global challenges. |
| Staff | Quite a few questions coming in around debating opportunities during your degree. The University has a world class heritage in debating, check out more here: www.guu.co.uk/debating |
| Offer holder | Hi, I've applied for English Literature and am thinking of picking up either Politics or International Relations as a second or third subject, I was just wondering if there is a historical and political aspect to International Relations? Also do we learn about modern day politics as well as political history? Thanks |
| Staff | If you take Politics courses then you will study both historical and contemporary aspects of politics and international relations. All kinds! |
| Offer holder | How many lectures/seminars do we have a week for politics? |
| Staff | In the first and second year of the Politics and IR programmes you will usually have 3 lectures and one seminar a week per module. At honours level (3rd and 4th year) you will have two hours per week for each module - that might be either a one hour lecture and a one hour seminar or a two-hour seminar depending on the lecturer's preference. |
| Offer holder | Thank you! how many modules do we do in first year? |
| Staff | You will take Politics 1A and Politics 1B in first year. You will take 2 modules for each of the other two subjects you study. So, in total 3 modules per semester and 6 across the whole year. |
| Offer holder | Hi i'm doing Scots Law with Politics, is my politics aspect the same as it would be for anyone doing politics? |
| Staff | The Law with Politics programme is a little different from the single honours Politics. The number of credits you take in Politics are determined by the Law dept so you would need to confirm that with them. As far as the classes are concerned, however, you would be in classes with others in Politics and would be choosing from the same options. |
| Staff | It would be the same as anyone doing Politics as a Joint Degree (meaning two subjects in Honours years). Your Honours courses would be split between Law and Politics. You would write your dissertation in your primary Subject. |
| Staff | You would do a bit less in Politics because Law has some specific requirements that other subjects don't have. Your honours content would be a bit less than half your time in honours, rather than a 50/50 split. |
| Offer holder | What is the usual class sizes for politics? |
| Staff | This obviously varies by course and by year -- my classes at Senior Honors Level have around 35 students, which meet in two seminar groups -- so around 18 per seminar |
| Staff | In first and second year courses you will have big lectures with everyone studying the course and then small seminars with 15 students per class. |
| Staff | I teach Politics 1A and we have between 450 and 480 students, typically. |
| Offer holder | What is the usual class size for IR? |
| Staff | This depends on the class, to tell you the truth. In our Honours classes we tend to have 40 students per class divided into 2 seminar groups. So you might have a lecture with about 40 student, but then a seminar with around 20. |
| Offer holder | How many lectures can we expect per week for International Relations |
| Staff | It depends on how many credits you choose to do in a year. You can work this out from the overall credits required -- www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/internationalrelations/ -- so per course it would be around 2 contact hours per teaching week (11 weeks per term), not including individual preparation and follow-up work |
| Offer holder | In addition to the lectures, how much of the course would be independent study? |
| Staff | You can check in the course catalogue, https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=POLITIC&name=Politics+%26+International+Relations, for each course there is a specification document that lists the estimated hours of contact and independent study. For instance, take my course, https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/course/?code=POLITIC4160, then click View Specification Document, which will provide you with that information. |
| Staff | In first and second year courses you usually have 3 lectures per week and one small seminar per week, so 4 contact hours per module. This changes to two hours per week at Honours level per module which can be either a two-hour seminar or an hour lecture and an hour seminar. |
| Staff | Level 1 Politics lectures on Tues, Wed and Thurs from 1-2 and then you would also have a tutorial. The link to the catalogue gives more info. |
| Staff | For each 20 credits course you should expect to do 200 hours of taught classes and private study/reading. |
| Offer holder | Is there the opportunity to study abroad as a Politics or IR student? |
| Staff | Yes, it is possible, typically in year 3. We have a dense network of partner universities. You will be able to liaise with our mobility staff for further information once in the program. |
| Staff | Absolutely, our MA (Soc) students are encouraged to go abroad for either a whole year or for one semester. There are lots of opportunities. Have a look at our GlasGOw Global info: |
| Staff | www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/socialsciences/students/undergraduate/glasgowglobal/ |
| Staff | The University have over 300 destinations worldwide, but that is narrowed by fact you need to go somewhere that teaches your subject(s). Then you would apply for study abroad and list your preferred places, you would work with our Study Abroad team to do this. They advise that students pick both more popular destinations, but also consider some you may have not thought of. Our Study Abroad team could not be here today but I will just get their webpage link for you as they have lots of good information there |
| Staff | www.glasgow.ac.uk/myglasgow/students/goabroad |
| Offer holder | Hi, i have applied in a joint honours in spanish and politics How does my year abroad work? |
| Staff | You will do a language year abroad in your third year - the joint language and politics course is a 5 year programme. |
| Offer holder | is the year abroad credited? |
| Staff | Yes, but it applies to the language side of your degree and not the Politics credits. |
| Offer holder | What are the extra curricular opportunities like related to politics? |
| Current student | I'm a politics student in my final year here. There are loads of extra curricular opportunities for politics students. The politics society holds many social events to talk about politics, there is a debates team and lectures with members of the social & political sector are often held at the university. |
| Current student | We also have projects such as the Olive Tree Initiative that you can apply to in your 3rd year if you are interested although these are competitive. Here is a link :) |
| Current student | www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/undergraduate/olivetreeinitiativeoti/ |
| Offer holder | After completing the Politics course, what careers do students most often go on to do? |
| Staff | Popular career destinations for our graduates include the civil and foreign service, local government, the charity sector, international organisations, teaching, business and the armed forces. |
| Staff | There is a big variety. You could also consider postgraduate studies, and we have some good ones at Glasgow. |
| Offer holder | What does the majority of students usually do after completing their IR studies? Which are the most common career paths? |
| Staff | Popular career destinations for our graduates include the civil and foreign service, local government, the charity sector, international organisations, teaching, business and the armed forces. |
| Staff | Of course, some students decide to continue going on a Masters program, such as our own, which opens up a different set of opportunities. |
| Staff | www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/internationalrelations |
| Offer holder | Would you say that IR/Politics graduates have a harder time accessing the job market than most graduates (due to fewer job opportunities in this field)? |
| Staff | I wouldn't have said so - it depends what career path you want to go into, what internships you have done during your time at University etc. A degree from Glasgow is very well respected! |
| Offer holder | Awesome, thank you! Is there a decent number of career opportunities in Scotland? Are there graduates who elect to stay there after graduating? |
| Staff | There are, and we do - this is dependent on where our graduates have come from, visa requirements and has been complicated a bit by the Brexit developments. The best advise would be to try and get work experience and internship opportunities during your time here and also consider study abroad opportunities. |
| Offer holder | What are post-grad opportunities like for IR students? Does finding a job rely heavily on networking? |
| Staff | It relies first and foremost on building your "graduate skills" during this program, including ability to think critically and work analytically, and learning about theories and methods of analyzing international politics. There are also other related skills, like group work, communicating to peers and broader audiences, that are relevant for many employers. Through Career and Employability Services, we also offer dedicated support to boost your career. |
| Offer holder | What modules aren't covered in politics, only in IR, and how do I find a list of them? |
| Staff | Hi folks. If you want some more information on the Politics & IR programmes and their courses, we put together a fact sheet for you - which is available on the Social Sciences ivent stand. |
| Offer holder | How big of a "jump" in difficulty is there from studying an advanced higher in modern studies (or similar) to university study? |
| Staff | There is a big jump, though part of it is simply due to having to do things for yourself and having a lot more reading. You need to be independent! |
| Offer holder | Will politics and IR students get to engage with new and current research, or will study focus on a historical basis? Is there a mix of the two? |
| Staff | Courses engage with historical thinkers and theories, but also state-of-the-art research, contemporary challenges -- the latter specifically in their Honors years. Please see here for course descriptions: |
| Staff | www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=POLITIC&name=Politics+%26+International+Relations |
| Staff | Lots of cutting-edge research is introduced in our courses! |
| Offer holder | To what extent are you teaching critical perspectives in IR, like for example the feminist one? |
| Staff | There are lots of courses in Politics and IR that engage with critical perspectives including feminism, political economy, post colonialism, critical theory, Marxism, poststructuralism etc |
| Offer holder | In general I wondered why the bachelor degree in scotland takes 4 years instead of three? Sorry for this off-topic question |
| Staff | The undergraduate degree has been a 4 year degree for quite a long time. What it means for students is that the Scottish university degree is more flexible and allows for deeper study, more development of skills, time to engage in exchanges, etc. (and some might say a bit more time for fun) |
| Staff | In Scotland we offer a breadth of study in the first two year, where you can take more than one subject, and then depth in your honours years. This is why it takes a year longer. Graduate employers seem to really value this degree structure. |
| Staff | I hope you all found today's chat useful - thank you so much for applying to Glasgow, and also joining us today. Big thank you to our academics for today, they have done amazing getting through all your questions! The chat is now ending, as is our Virtual Offer holders Day. |
Psychology
| User Name | Message |
| Offer holder | Hello, what is the course structure like for Psychology in first year? |
| Current student | Hi Stephanie! In first year Psychology students take Psychology, and then two other subjects from their degree path so science, arts or social science which allows you to be flexible with your subject choice! |
| Offer holder | Thank you! :) Also, is there a lot of work for Psychology in the first year? |
| Offer holder | hey! for psychology, is there any recommended preparation to be done before 1st year of psych ? |
| Current student | Hi again! Level 1 psychology starts just as that, you don't have to do any preparation before the semester starts, just bring yourself and pen and paper and let your brain be filled with everything you need to know in no time :D |
| Offer holder | woops thank you hehe! |
| Offer holder | Hello, I've got an offer for Psychology MA (socsci), and was wondering if International Relations can be taken as a second subject? Thanks in advance |
| Staff | Hi Jessica. Congratulations on your offer. Internatioanl relations is a very popular subject so it will depend on whether there are spaces available. If you come back to tomorrow's event you will be able to speak to IR staff at 6pm who will be able to give you more details. |
| Offer holder | I'll do that, thank you! |
| Offer holder | when will we recieve our schedules for classes? |
| Current student | Hi Hope! You will recieve your class schedule once you have enrolled in August/September. |
| Offer holder | Hi is it possible to study human biology along with psychology \(BSc\) |
| Current student | Hi Heather! Yes, this is definately possible, as long as there is enough space on the course when you enroll. You will likely take general biology in first year and first semester second year, and then Human Biology in second semester second year. |
| Offer holder | I have an offer for philosophy but i want to do a joint MA philosophy and psychology degree is this possible? |
| Staff | Hi Abbey That is is great combination and we have lots of students who have come up through that pathway! It should be possible to change to the joint programme but only if you have also met the entry requirements for psychology - this is a good one to get in touch with admissions about to make sure you can follow the path you want, hope to see you in psychology soon, best niamh |
| Offer holder | Is there any Psychology textbooks I could buy to get a headstart in the course? I just thought that might be a good thing to do with the amount of free time I now have due to the virus |
| Current student | Hi Julia, love that attitude! You don't have to prepare anything ahead of the semester starting but there is so much fun literature about psychology out there so if you're interested, why not read something psychology related? If you follow the psychology instagram, there are book recommendations (psych related and just general there) every now and then... https://www.instagram.com/uofgpsych/ |
| Offer holder | Amazing! Thank you so much :)) |
| Offer holder | If I'm doing a BSc in psychology, could I take non-science subjects as my second and third subjects? |
| Staff | Hi Heather, You would be able to take on non-Science subject but two of your three subjects in first year should be sciences. That could include Geography, Archaeology etc as well as the more physical sciences. |
| Staff | Hi Heather, thanks for joining us today :) The other subjects you can choose are determined by the college you are in so you can generally take any subject within that college as long as there are no timetable clashes and sometimes subjects outwith that college are possible again depending on possible timetable clashes and space within that course, look forward to meeting you best Niamh |
| Offer holder | What jobs do your Psychology students typically go on to do? |
| Current student | Welcome everybody! Thanks for the hand over Geography, Earth Science, Geology and Archaeology! I'm Ellie, one of the students from the School of Psychology and I'm going to be joined by Professor Niamh Stack and Dr Heather Cleland-Woods shortly to anwser to your questions! |
| Offer holder | Hey! I have applied for single course Psych (Bsc), but is there a possibility that I can also take a law degree? do I need any additional requirements or fees for that? |
| Offer holder | I am hoping to study psychology in combination with politics. I was wondering how much of each course I will study. |
| Staff | Hi Hannah, thanks for joining us today if you do a joint programme, in the first and second year everyone follows the same structure whether they are on single or hons pathway, then in 3rd and 4th year for joint students it becomes a 50/50 split in each subject - does that make sense? Looking forward to meeting you, best Niamh |
| Offer holder | I see! Thanks so much for the help. So it essentially means I'll be doing going to more lectures and essentially doing more work than single honour students for the first two years? |
| Offer holder | is the Psychology cohort normally quite big and are they any opportunities to work in smaller groups |
| Current student | Hi Jasmine, the first year psychology cohort is quite big and gets smaller as you move through the degree program but there is still plenty of oppurtunity to work in smaller groups. In first year you will be taking part in a lab every fortnight and many of the activities you will complete as a group. There is such a good community feel throughout the whole school though and I would definately check out the GU Psych Society! |
| Offer holder | When will we be presented with our timetables/ list of books we need to buy? |
| Staff | You will get your timetable once you have selected your subjects and classes at enrolment stage |
| Offer holder | Hi there! I have just watched the "PSsychology Degree Structure Video" on the videos section. Am I right on saying that for the BSc course your other subjects can only be picked from computer science, mathematics and statistics? |
| Staff | Those are the only other Subjects you can get a joint honour degree with, correct. However, in first year, you can try out some other subjects |
| Offer holder | How do examinations, modules and assignments work in computer science? |
| Staff | Hello Rhythm, there are a broad range of assessment methods. Most course have some on-going coursework assessment, such as programming submissions during the semester and a final exam at the end, but the balance varies considerably. My Team Project course for example, is 100% coursework, but my advanced final year course is 50/50. |
| Offer holder | Thank you Tim! So the work you do during your semesters does affect your final grades, right? What kind of coursework and assignments do CS students have? Are you able to retake your exams to get a better grade? I've heard that some uni's hold small tests during the year, which if you pass, would allow you to not take the final examination, does this apply to UoG as well? Sorry for asking so much, I am an EU national applicant and don't really know how UK universities work. |
| Offer holder | Hello, As the UofG psychology degree has modules focused on quantitative methods, what support is there who tends to struggle with maths or do you have to be independent in your studies? |
| Current student | Hi there Joshua! There are some elements of the GU psychology degree that have a focus on quantative methods, and as part of that we learn about statistics and data analysis. However, because much of this is new to many coming on the course the school is so supportive with helping build confidence in these areas. For instance, the majority of staff have weekly office hours, the school organises multiple peer assistened learning sessions and peer collaboration is encouraged! I cannot praise the support of UofG Psych enough. |
| Offer holder | Planning to study psychology and music but then go on and do a postgraduate to become a psychologist. I am currently between educational psychology and clinical psychology (paediatric). What support is there in place to help me make this decision in the next four years? |
| Current student | Hi Niamh! Brilliant to hear you already have interests in this area! Throughout the degree you will exposed to wide range of topics in Psychology and encouraged to develop what interests you. Staff are brilliant at talking about their research and are always willing to have a chat if there is something you're interested in, and there are often seminars on a variety of topics hosted by the school and the GU psychology society so plenty of oppurtunity! |
| Offer holder | that's brilliant, thanks for your help! |
| Staff | Hi Niamh - we also have a prof skills course integrated into the 3rd year of the programme to help students in choosing their path moving forward and hone their skills to do this and Heather who is also on this chat and is the L4 year lead also runs a Psychology Journey seminar series where we invite graduates back in to talk about their paths and how they got to where there are - looking forward to meeting you :) best Niamh |
| Offer holder | How do i find out what other subjects I’ll be able to choose from. |
| Offer holder | As in, along side psychology in years 1&2. |
| Offer holder | Hi guys! Im Val from Malaysia, is there any recommended preparation to be done before 1st year of psych (BsC)? |
| Offer holder | Hi there, was wondering how we choose our electives\? Are we able to select any or must we pick from specific ones\? Thanks\. |
| Staff | Hi everyone, Heather from Psychology here! I am a lecturer in the School so how can I help? Thanks Ellie for starting things off! |
| Offer holder | Hi there\! Are we free to choose from any electives along with psychology or must we pick from certain ones\? Thank you\. |
| Offer holder | Hey! I have applied for single course Psych (Bsc), but is there a possibility that I can also take a law degree? do I need any additional requirements or fees for that? |
| Offer holder | Hi guys! Im Val from Malaysia, is there any recommended preparation to be done before 1st year of psych (BsC)? |
| Offer holder | Are all Psychology students guaranteed a seat in a lecture? |
| Staff | Hi Jessica, yes all our timetabled classes are allocated rooms which have enough seats for everyone. Our level 1 lectures run twice a day 3 days a week and you will select one of those time to go |
| Offer holder | Perfect, thank you! |
| Offer holder | I have an offer for philosophy but i want to do a joint MA philosophy and psychology degree is this possible? |
| Staff | Yes it is Abbey but you will want to make sure you speak to your advisor of studies about that when you arrive |
| Offer holder | ok thank you |
| Offer holder | ok thanks |
| Staff | Hi all, Please bear with us. The Psychology experts will be with you all in 5 minutes! Computing Science Offer holders - your chat is starting here at 6pm. |
| Offer holder | Is there any recommended pre-reading material for psychology? |
| Staff | Hi Katrina, we are working on pulling together some resources for sharing before you arrive so let me check that out and come back to you |
| Staff | Ok Katrina Dr Emily Nordmann our level 1 course lead has these resources ready to get you started: Data skills book https://psyteachr.github.io/ug1-practical/ Reading list (you may not be able to get access to everything without a library account, but some stuff is open access) https://rl.talis.com/3/glasgow/lists/49D469A0-C2E4-1118-C464-F4780C1BB4BA.html?lang=en-GB The Noba collection (you can see which chapters are included on the reading list) https://nobaproject.com/textbooks/introduction-to-psychology-the-full-noba-collection |
| Offer holder | Thank you very much! |
| Offer holder | Wow! Thanks for the recommendations hehe |
| Staff | Good afternoon everyone! A very warm welcome to the Virtual Offer holder’s Day session for Psychology. Academics are joining us to answer your questions together with Student Ambassadors and representatives from Admissions. Please put the program applied for at the start of the question and feel free to post questions now. |
| Offer holder | Are there any opportunities to do research whilst studying the psychology degree? |
| Staff | Hi Alice, sure there are opportunities to take part in research. We have a wide variety of research studies that you can take part in as a participant when you join us but also there are summer internships on offer where you can join labs |
| Offer holder | Thank you for your reply, I look forward to hopefully participating in some of those. |
| Offer holder | PHILOSOPHY/PSYCHOLOGY will lectures be spread out in different locations? |
| Staff | Hi Tiffany, yes lectures will be held in lecture theatres over the campus so it is a great way to experience and get to know our beautiful campus old and new |
| Staff | Hello everyone, my name is Prof Niamh Stack and I am the Deputy Head of school for the School of Psychology and the Director of Teaching and Learning so I oversee all things teaching related it is so nice to meet you all and congratulations on your offers we cannot wait for you to join Team UofG :) |
| Staff | Welcome Niamh! There's a great selection of questions already! |
| Offer holder | BSc Psychology Undergraduate Hi there! I have just watched the "PSsychology Degree Structure Video" in the videos section. Am I right on saying that for the BSc course your other subjects can only be picked from computer science, mathematics and statistics? Is there any flexability at the university for this? |
| Offer holder | I have already had this question answered, thank you for your help! |
| Offer holder | MA Philosophy/Psychology Just wondering if they're are any reading materials we should get before starting the course |
| Staff | Hi Alannah - fabulous that you are so keen!! Yes over the summer once we get past our current exam diet we will be in touch with some pre reading if anyone is super keen - not compulsory but there if you want to wet your appetite :) Looking forward to meeting you, Best Niamh |
| Offer holder | I would love to get myself as prepared as possible before attending so I look forward to getting some pre-reading done! Thank you very much :) |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much! I will be looking forward for the pre-reading recommendations hehe!! :) - Val |
| Offer holder | what jobs do your Psychology students typically go on to do? |
| Staff | Hi Jasmine so nice to meet you thank you for joining us today :) The answer is a huge range of jobs, so some of our graduates are working in more traditional psychology professional routes like Clinical, Educational, Occupational etc but lots go into a wide range of other routes like data skills job is a huge area of recruitment at the moment and graduates are working with some very cool companies on managing big data sets, some of our other graduates are working in artifical intelligence - how we design the best robots for the future and then others are working in voluntary sector changing the world for the better :) Hope that helps answer your questions best Niamh |
| Current student | Hiya, there are of course many directly psychology related jobs (have a look here https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/psychology/#tab=career) but with psychology you learn so many transferable skills that you are qualified for a range of jobs and trainings afterwards:D |
| Staff | Hi Jasmine, our graduates go onto a number of different destinations some within Psychology and some outside but they are all widely regarded as well equipped with skills and knowledge that are highly valued in the current employment market. For example, data skills using large open data sets, collaboration, communication |
| Offer holder | PSYCHOLOGY How can I find out what other subjects I’ll be able to study along side psychology. Worried about the flexibility. |
| Staff | Hey Scarlett, Psychology is incredibly flexible. You can find all the joint honours options available on the website here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/psychology/#tab=degrees |
| Offer holder | Sorry I think I’ve worded that wrong - I mean, I know you get to study 3 subjects in year one and two, wasn’t sure where to access that info:) |
| Offer holder | As in, where would I be able to see what other subjects there are |
| Staff | the subjects you can choose in your first year will depend on your timetable and what subjects have availability. There are no guarantees as to what subjects will be made available at this stage |
| Offer holder | BSc Psychology Undergraduate Hey! I have applied for single course Psych (Bsc), but is there a possibility that I can also take a law degree? do I need any additional requirements or fees for that? Furthermore, can the lecturers also recommend some essential pre-course preparations? Thank you !! |
| Staff | Hi Valyn, applicants to Law also need to sit the LNAT test as part of their entry requirements |
| Offer holder | Okie, so if the LNAT test is not taken, I will not be able to take it as one of my flexible course right? Thanks for answering!! hehe |
| Staff | Law is a professional degree so isn't strictly part of the flexible degree structure. As law is an LLB and the subjects in the flexible degree structure are MA, MA (SocSci, and Bsc) |
| Offer holder | Oops sorry that was a misunderstanding hehe ~ I figured it out! |
| Offer holder | Thank you for answering!! |
| Staff | No worries at all, that's what this is for - cheers for joining us :) |
| Offer holder | MA Psychology and Music Planning to study psychology and music now but then go on and do a postgraduate to become a psychologist. I am currently between educational psychology and clinical psychology (paediatric). What support is there in place to help me make this decision in the next four years? |
| Offer holder | how is psychology split between lectures and seminars and how much contact time is there? |
| Staff | Hi Abbey, thanks for joining us today! This split and number of contact hours changes across the years so difficult to outline it all here simply but at each level there is a good balance between lectures and small group work and practical work, so for example in level 3 you will have the opportunity to work in a group of just six with an expert researcher on designing your own project across each semester with weekly meetings in their offices that regularly feature tea and biscuits in addition to creating great research togeher :) look forward to meeting you best Niamh |
| Offer holder | Is there a lot of statistic work in the first year for Psychology? |
| Staff | Hi Stephanie, Data Skills is a big part of psychology but its an exciting part and in the first year we build it up really slowly to get everyone comfortable with it so you will be supported through this - we spend a lot of the first year looking at the problems of 'fake data' and why it is important to understand and be able to use data well - Ellie, our student that is with us today - could maybe say a little more about what data skills classes in the first year are like from a student perspective - look forward to meeting you, best Niamh |
| Offer holder | Hello, im planning to study the MA undergrad psychology degree. As the UofG psychology degree has modules focused on quantitative methods, what support is there who tends to struggle with maths or do you have to be independent in your studies? |
| Current student | Hiya, I feel you, stats can seem a bit scary. So first of all, be reassured that you will be taught in a way that manageable to follow and quantitative methods are not all about statistics. But of course stats are important too, so outside of the lectures and labs, there is a lot of support from office hours to the amazing PAL (peer assisted learning) sessions that happen a couple of times a week and are led by students and PhD candidates who will take a lot of time to help you wrap your head around anything that you're not sure about:) |
| Offer holder | BSc Psychology I have applied for a BSc Psychology Single Honours degree. If I were to perhaps take a modern language in Year 1, for instance, would it be possible to progress through to Year 2 with both subjects? Or is it the case that I would be limited because it is a BSc course? |
| Offer holder | Psychology BSc: would it be possible to study this course alongside geography and neuroscience in the first year? |
| Staff | Hi Alice, you should choose 2 subjects which sit inside the College of Science and Engineering but one can be outside. If you are interested in neuroscience you should start off with Biology in level 1 |
| Offer holder | Thankyou, for the help :) |
| Offer holder | Hi, I also had a similar question and was wondering how I would progress from taking both psychology and biology as first year subjects to taking psychology and neuroscience at honours\? |
| Staff | Hi Sophie, you can choose psychology and neuroscience subjects in honours and we are currently reviewing our neuroscience provision within the school too so doing psychology and biology would open up both pathways for you |
| Offer holder | Ok, thank you \:\) |
| Offer holder | How many credits per subject and how many credits is required per year? |
| Staff | Hi Stephanie, you need to do 120 credits per year and in first year that means you take 3 subjects each worth 20 credits so for Psychology psychology 1A in first semester is worth 20 and 1B in semester 2 is worth another you will also choose another 2 subjects to make up the rest. Does that help? |
| Offer holder | Are there any subjects that cover through both semesters? Or all subjects are only in one semester? |
| Offer holder | I haven't applied to study Psychology however, I am thinking about taking it alongside my chosen subjects. Does the grade requirement then still apply and if so is there any leniency if I have two A level grades higher than the requirement and one lower? |
| Staff | Hi Oriana, this would be a question for admissions as they deal with grade requirements. Do you have info to chat to them? |
| Staff | This should help: https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/admissions-43 |
| Offer holder | PSYCHOLOGY SOCSCI wondering which Study Abroad options there are, if any? Also, if there is a possibility to do joint honours with a subject you've picked up in Year 2 or do you have to have been studying both subjects from Year 1? |
| Staff | Hi Anjali, yes there is the option to study abroad in your 3rd year of the undergraduate programme. Regarding joint degrees, you need to have completed the prerequisites to study so for example, you need to study biology in first year to continue into second year and then to neuroscience courses in honours so worth thinking about earlier |
| Offer holder | That makes sense, thank you. Is there more of a workload with joint honours compared to single honours or is it about the same? |
| Staff | No its not about juggling double the workload but the programme is designed to ensure you complete the core BPS courses alongside that of your other subject. It does limit the number of optional courses you can take in honours. Hope that helps! |
| Offer holder | how is psychology split between lectures and seminars and how much contact time is there? |
| Current student | Hi Abby, For first year psychology you can expect to have 4-5 lectures a week (1 hour each day) and then a 2 hour lab every fortnight! But lecturers also have weekly office hours you can drop by to for extra support. You will likely have a schedule for your other subjects too. |
| Offer holder | ok thank you! |
| Staff | Hi Abbey, level 1 Psychology is split between lectures and practical skills labs. You will have 3 lectures a week and 1 lab per fortnight but you have assessments and prep work to do as well for both of these. You will also have 2 other subjects and lots of social activities so your time is full :-) |
| Offer holder | How much are you in uni during first year psychology? |
| Current student | Hi Emily, For first year psychology you can expect to have 4-5 lectures a week (1 hour each day) and then a 2 hour lab every fortnight! You will likely have a schedule for your other subjects too. |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much! :) |
| Offer holder | Am I able to take Earth Science along with Psychology\? |
| Offer holder | Hi there, prospective student for MA psych. How many exams will students be required to take each year and how much of the course each year is made up of coursework? Thank you |
| Current student | Hi Josha, this will change each yeah but first year, each semster you have one exam (50%), and the rest is made up of an essay/report and smaller data analysis assignments. Second year it is much the same but you have two exams that add to 50%. |
| Offer holder | are a lot of psychology students 17 in first year |
| Offer holder | hey! I'm 17 :) |
| Offer holder | i just turned 17 too! hehe nice to meet yall |
| Offer holder | hey, so am I, glad I'm not the only one |
| Offer holder | How similar is the first year of Psychology to an HNC/HND in college? Psychology/Philosophy |
| Staff | Hi Alannah, it depends on the course content of your Psychology HNC/D, you can see what sort of classes you can expect on our course catalogue here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/coursecatalogue/courselist/?code=PSYCH&name=Psychology |
| Offer holder | Perfect, thank you very much :) |
| Staff | No worries :) |
| Offer holder | BSc psychology: If a person is awarded a grade that sits one below their requirement (e.g they get a B in their A-level rather than an A), will they still be considered for acceptance onto the course based on other parts of their application? |
| Staff | Hi Alice, this would be a matter for Admissions to look at. If you do not achieve the conditional requirement, there is no guarantee that you will be given your place. That being said, please keep your eyes on your emails as obviously this year has its own difficulties and the University if working with other Universities to come up with a plan to resolve this |
| Offer holder | Thank you for your reply :) |
| Offer holder | Thank you for your reply :) |
| Offer holder | Hello, I have an offer for computing science. How many people are in the course, is it popular? Do many students carry it on from year 1 to 2? |
| Staff | hi Mathias, I am a lecturer in the School of Computing Science. Normally there are around 300 students taking our first year courses. They are split into two streams - around 200 people have prior coding experience, 100 people have not done Computing before. Progression from Year 1 to Year 2 - normally around 200-250 people carry on with Computing Science into Level 2. Other people specialize in their other subjects (often Maths, Sciences or Engineering). Hope this helps! Jeremy |
| Staff | PS officially CompSci chat starts at 1800 :-) |
| Offer holder | Thank you very much for the reply. Sorry for the time mistake :) |
| Staff | no worries :-) |
| Offer holder | Hi ma psychology students have to go 6 months abroad so what countries are available? |
| Staff | Hi Mimosha, thanks for messaging. Comuting science will be joining us here at 6pm BST |
| Offer holder | Hello, I wonder if it's possible to change the study pace, if needed. (for the psychology degree). For example study less then 100% or taking a year off? |
| Offer holder | MA psychology with regards to the MA study abroad opportunity, is this only for those who wish to study a modern language alongside psychology or for everyone who have applied to study an MA psych degree regardless of what subjects they wish to take alongside psych? |
| Current student | Hi Joshua, As long as you achieve the grades in first and second year there is the oppurtunity to study abroad in third year for all psychology students. Those studying a language must take a mandotory year abroad and this will be completed in third year. You may also have the opportunity to undertake summer research placements abroad if this suits better. |
| Offer holder | Thank you!!! |
| Offer holder | how many days off do you get for a ma psychology student in first year |
| Current student | Hi Mimosha, We follow the same semster dates as the rest of the uni so we have a christmas holiday, and an easter holiday as well as summer. First year psychology students have 4-5 lectures a week (one every day, sometimes bar friday if I remeber correctly) so it will depend on your other course schedule as to how many days off per week you will have. Here is the important semster dates: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/senateoffice/sessiondates/ |
| Offer holder | Are there smaller group tutorials on top of this? |
| Offer holder | Hello\! I am going to be studying Mathematics MA and would love to choose Psychology as a module in first year\. What are the entry requirements to do so\? Thank you\! |
| Staff | Hey Finya, you can find the entry requirements that were required for Psychology on the wepage: https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/psychology/#tab=entry |
| Offer holder | Hi, I have an offer for MA psychology. I was wondering whether I would be able to switch to the Ma SocSci if I felt I would be better suited to the subjects offered alongside that course during years 1 and 2 ? |
| Staff | Hi Rachel, there is nothing to bind you to only selecting subjects from the college of Arts. If you would like to select subjects from the Social Sciences, you can. As long as two subjects are fromm the college of Social Sciences in your first two years, you will get a MA Soc Sci |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much, so excited to start\. |
| Offer holder | BSc (Hons) Psychology Undergraduate Can anyone help me with this question? I have applied for a BSc Psychology Single Honours degree. If I were to perhaps take a modern language in Year 1, for instance, would it be possible to progress through to Year 2 with both subjects? Or is it the case that I would be limited because it is a BSc course? |
| Offer holder | Psychology/Philosophy What referencing style is used for essays? Or does it depend on the lecturer? |
| Current student | Hiya, for psychology we use APA :) Here's what that looks like, if you're interested https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html |
| Offer holder | Thank you very much, I used the same style in college just wanted to make sure! :) |
| Current student | You're perfectly prepared then :D Looking forward to seeing you in September! |
| Offer holder | I cannot wait!!! Thanks again :) |
| Offer holder | With studying an MA psych degree, would I be able to, for example ,study computer science (which falls in the Bsc bracket) and History (MA bracket) alongside the degree or is this not possible as they are in different faculties ? Thank you! |
| Staff | Hi all, thanks very much for your questions, due to some technical difficulties we are experiencing due to phenomenal turnout (thanks you're all amazing!), we are currently trying our hardest to get to your questions to answer them. We will run the Q&A a few extra minutes to make sure you get your questions answered. |
| Current student | Hi guys! Ellie from the School of Psychology here! Wow, so many great questions and enthusiastic people! We are trying our best to get through all the questions but please bare with us as we are generating a lot of traffic and this seems to be causing technical issues! We will be with you all when we can! |
| Staff | Welcome to our Virtual Offer holders Day. Congratulations to everyone on their offers from UofG! This is your chance to speak to our staff from Psychology so please ask us any questions you have about the course, we want to support you in making your upcoming UCAS choices. This chat will run until 6pm today here in this booth, but don’t forget to also check out the rest of the helpful information on the stand and ivent. Before we start taking questions can I please ask our Psychology staff to introduce themselves… |
| Offer holder | hi I have applied for ma psychology and I was wondering if Italian is available as past of the three subjects in first two years |
| Offer holder | hi I have applied for ma psychology and I was wondering if Italian is available as past of the three subjects in first two years |
| Staff | Hi Mimosha, Thanks for coming today, nice to meet you! The other subjects you can choose are determined by which college you are in and depend on availability of subjects and timetables. But taking a language with your psychology if possible is an excellent combination and Italian a beautiful choice, Best Niamh |
| Offer holder | I was planning on doing ma psychology single degree and I know I have to choose three other subjects apart from psychology and I was wondering if Italian was one of them? |
| Staff | Hi Mimosha, Thanks for your further question. One of our academics or student ambassadors will be with you shortly. |
| Offer holder | ok thanks |
| Staff | Hi Mimosha, as I said above the other subjects you can choose are determined by which college you are in and depend on availability of subjects and timetables. But taking a language with your psychology if possible is an excellent combination and Italian a beautiful choice. Best Niamh |
| Offer holder | Hello, I have a place for "Business & Management" and now that I'm aware you have to also choose two other subjects to study, I was just wondering if you need to have obtained a certain grade in Maths (SQA Exam) to choose Psychology as Subject as well? |
| Staff | Hi Brooke, thanks for coming along today. Yes, in level 1 you take 3 subjects but it is is your degree plan subjects that count in terms of grade requirements. Admissions can help you with this too https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/admissions-43 |
| Offer holder | what do you study in psychology and how is the timetable split? |
| Current student | Hi Chloe, so in first Psychology you do a broad range of fields within Psychology, looking at human thought and behaviour, and then specialise later in the degree program. So topics covered in first year include cognative psychology, developmental, mental health, social psychology and research methods! You'll also learn about data analysis in labs :) |
| Offer holder | Hi, I have applied for psychology and was changed to the masters of art course from the bachelors of science course. I was wondering how the courses differ from each other? |
| Current student | Hi Molly, it's the same course, the MA or BSc just refers to the subjects you take with psychology. If you choose subjects from the college of arts with it, your degree will be called a MA psychology but you will have studied exactly the same as someone who does a BSc :) |
| Offer holder | Okay thank you! :) |
| Current student | No worries, looking forward to seeing you in September! |
| Offer holder | Hi, I'm torn between choosing psychology (BSc) at Glasgow or Edinburgh. Can anyone offer some insight into the pros and cons of each? |
| Staff | HI Katrina, how fabulous to have two such excellent places to choose from! Both will give you an excellent degree and learning experience. Having said that of course we would recommend Glasgow and I think that a real selling point of Glasgow is that we are fortunate not just to have international research experts on staff but we also have leading names in psychology education on staff - so everything we do in relation to not just what we teach you but also how we teach you is evidence based and informed by the latest research |
| Current student | I'm a bit biased of course, but the study experience in the School of Psychology here is amazing. There is a lot of support available and your lecturers are super approachable as well as world class researchers. I also find it really reassuring that there is a constant process of quality assurance happening, to ensure that we get the best education possible. The department is also internationally known for teaching the programming language R right from the start which will set you apart against students from other universities for all further steps in your career - and don't worry if you've never coded, neither had I but it's actually not that hard and there is all the help in the world available for you! |
| Offer holder | Thank you very much! |
| Offer holder | hi I have applied for ma psychology and I was wondering if Italian is available as past of the three subjects in first two years |
| Staff | Hi Mimosha, Thanks for coming to chat! The options are determined by the college you are enrolled in and then depend on space in the course and timetables - but taking a language with psychology is an excellent choice and Italian a beautiful language to choose. Look forward to seeing you next year :) Best Niamh |
| Offer holder | Hi, I have applied to do Psychology BSc, and was wondering if this meant the other subjects I choose to study alongside this have to be science based, or if I could take an arts subject instead? |
| Staff | Hi Jessica, welcome! Not all your subjects will have to be within the college of science and engineering but the majority will be. So, for example, if you choose Psychology and Biology but fancy doing Spanish then that will be fine. That help? |
| Offer holder | Yes thank you, that helps a lot, I can now happily make Glasgow University my firm choice. |
| Offer holder | Hi there! I wondered if many students on the BSc Psychology course go on to Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM)? |
| Staff | Hi Cameron, to be honest I have only had 1 masters level student that has gone on to do GEM and I am not aware of any undergraduates that have. Not very common from our programme. Hope that helps? |
| Staff | You should also speak to medicine directly about this med-sch-admissions@glasgow.ac.uk |
| Offer holder | Thank you for your help |
| Offer holder | Hello! as a flexible degree I’m wondering if I will be able to take psychology alongside politics? (I’ve got an offer for politics on its own) |
| Current student | Hi there Freya! Yes you can absolutely take Psychology alongside politics, just make sure that both subjects fit into your timetable when you enroll! |
| Current student | Hey Freya, as long as the lectures don't clash that should work:) I can imagine that psychology and politics make a really interesting combination! |
| Staff | If you jump into the student support stand at 6pm we have Advisers of Studies there who should be able to advise more on that too https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/student-support-36 |
| Staff | For everyone asking about other subjects, and also the flexible degree structure we have a flexibility and choice stand in ivent today, and it includes little videos of how that all works - https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/subjects-18 |
| Offer holder | Thank you! |
| Offer holder | Does anyone have any recommendations for books to read in preparation for the ma psychology course? |
| Current student | Hi there Molly, It's so good that you're enthusisastic about getting started with psychology! We have a couple of resources you can look at, but nothing is mandatory: Here is the reading list (you might not be able to access everything, but have a look at which you can!) https://psyteachr.github.io/ug1-practical/ Here is the data analysis skills book (as you will be learning to code for data analysis on R): https://rl.talis.com/3/glasgow/lists/49D469A0-C2E4-1118-C464-F4780C1BB4BA.html?lang=en-GB And a couple of textbooks from the Noba project: https://nobaproject.com/textbooks/introduction-to-psychology-the-full-noba-collection My own personal recommendation would be to check out the Khan Academy's first hour of coding, because we do coding for data analysis in the labs. |
| Staff | Ok all, loads of questions coming in, our academics and students are going to do their best to get to them as soon as they can - working oldest to newest (bottom to top) |
| Offer holder | When do I have to decide on my 3rd subject in first year? I have an offer for psychology and economics. Thanks |
| Staff | you pick it when you register online in August, more information on our flexibility and choice pages (including little videos) https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/subjects-18 |
| Offer holder | Many thanks. That is really helpful. |
| Offer holder | Hi there, I am torn between studying BSc psychology at Cardiff University or MA psychology at Glasgow. I am very indecisive about this. Can you tell you your main selling point in why Glasgow university should be my firm choice? Or can you help me any more on this? Thank you! |
| Staff | Hi Joshua, good question! You need to think about the skills and knowledge that the degree programme will give you and how these will support you once you graduate and enter the employment market. At Glasgow you will develop collaborative and communication skills alongside data skills using open and large data sets. This will enable you to enter a wide variety of destinations following degree completion e.g clinical, data analysis, academia. These are the types of skills that employers are looking for as they know you will be able to hit the ground running. Does that help? |
| Current student | Hi Joshua! I'm currently a student, and I have to say the support from staff and the community that is fostered in the school is so unique. There is so much you can get involved with, it's so easy to get support, and throughout the uni there is so many cool oppurtunities! |
| Offer holder | Thank you both, these comments helps a lot. I am glad to hear the staff are very supportive :) I am a little worried with the numeracy side of things in the course as I know there are quantitative modules and I am not as keen on maths as some would be. Would I be supported through this IF i needed to be talked through anything or does it strictly have to be independent studies? |
| Staff | Hi Joshua, of course you will be supported by staff in labs, online forums and you are always welcome at staff office hours to chat through work. There will be prep work before lectures and labs and follow up assessments but you always have people around to help. We also work on data wrangling and visualisation before moving into the statistics so you have a good foundation built in level 1. |
| Staff | Ok so lots of questions everyone! Our academics and students are working really hard to get through all of your questions as quickly as they can, oldest to newest (bottom to top) |
| Offer holder | hi, I have applied to do psychology MA, and was wondering if International Relations can be taken as a second subject? Thanks |
| Current student | Hey Becky, what a good choice :D the people at the flexibility stand should be able to help a bit better with questions about second and third subjects :) https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/subjects-18 |
| Staff | Hi Becky, I am not sure about this one as I don't know if International Relations is in Arts on Social Sciences. As you are you entering the College of Arts you will need to make sure you are choosing mostly subjects within that college. Does that help? |
| Staff | Our Advisers of Studies might be able to assist with this one too- they are here today in the Student Support booth until 7pm https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/student-support-36 However, I don't think off top of my head International relations will be an option available - but you can check with them. |
| Offer holder | okay, thank you! this helps a lot. |
| Offer holder | Hello, What percent of graduates that take psychology (as main subject) end up as practicing psychologists? and does a Bsc or MA have any impact on this? |
| Staff | Hi Caroline, this is a difficult one to answer as tracking graduates along the career path that this involves is difficult to do and it depends on how broad a definition of practicing psychologist you use - for example I am a practicing psychology in that I work in the education of psychology so it can mean a lot. In relation to the MA/BSc both are accredited programmes in the UK so there is no difference in them in getting on professional training programmes in the UK - however if for instance you wished to do further training in Europe then they can sometimes require a BSC, hope this helps, Look forward to seeing you hopefully next year. Best Niamh |
| Offer holder | Thank you Niamh. Yes that does help. I would like to become an Educational Psychologist - are any other sujects a good complement to Psych to help me achieve this? |
| Offer holder | I applied for a psychology MA but feel that a Bsc would better suit me. Could I take Bsc courses (statistics and mathematics) and therefore transfer to Bsc or am I barred from doing so? |
| Staff | Hi Harry, I would firstly suggest speaking to Admissions to see if they can change your offer, they might not be able to, but could be worth asking. With Psychology MA you would be expected to take an MA subject in year 1, and therefore wouldn't be able to pick Statistics and Maths. Admissions are here today until 7pm in their stand - https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/admissions-43 We also have Advisers of studies with us until 7pm (who assist you in making your other subject choices throughout your degree) - https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/student-support-36 |
| Staff | Hi Harry, you need to meet the entry requirements for that college so if you have applied for the MA you have met the requirements for the College of Arts. The College of Science and Engineering may have different requirements. Maybe admissions could help you more with this https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/admissions-43 |
| Offer holder | Thank you for your help :) |
| Offer holder | how is the timetable split? like how many lectures per week? |
| Staff | Hi Chloe, for psychology in the first year you have 2 lectures a week and a practical lab and in second year you have five lectures a week and a practical lab, and then the timetable changes in 3rd and 4th year depending on the courses that you are doing - hope this helps :) Looking forward to seeing you next year best Niamh |
| Offer holder | that's great! thank you |
| Staff | Staff/students - could someone respond to Mimosha below please :-) |
| Offer holder | Is psychology BA at all research intensive ? Are lectures more based towards independent learning ? |
| Current student | Hi Elaine, that's actually something I quite enjoyed about studying psychology here from the start. In every semester, you get to do some form of project that teaches you how doing research works. I'm sure Ellie will know which projects current first years are doing:) |
| Current student | Hi Elaine, much of the Psych course at UofG does look at Psychology from a scientific research perspective, regardless of which collage you approach it from. But this is because Psychology as a subject spans the art, social sciences and sciences so no matter which subject you take alongside it, you will bring skills and strengths from those to Psychology. There is an element of independant learning in the course, in that you will be expected to study the lecture material independantly (or with peers) but we also have hands on pratical labs, and staff are always only an email away for support! |
| Offer holder | Thanks for the replies! |
| Current student | No worries at all, looking forward to seeing you here with us in September! |
| Offer holder | How do the electives you pick differ from the BsC to MA? I applied for Psychology BsC and got changed to Ma was just wondering the difference between the subjects you pick, i do think an MA fits me more i just wasn't sure if it was a lesser degree or not, cheers |
| Current student | Hiya, the MA just means that you are in the college of arts and choose subjects from there, it has no influence on what you learn in your psychology course or which modules you take in psychology :) I'm also doing the MA and did History of Art and Comparative literature in first and second year and really enjoyed that broader knowledge that I could then bring into my psychology degree. Hope that helps! |
| Offer holder | Alright, is there a list anywhere of the MA subjects to pick from i would really like to have a look at them and research them a bit so i don't make a bad decision - also is it 2 subjects you pick on first year along with the psychology? Thanks |
| Staff | you can find a list of our College of Arts subjects here - though note they might not all be available as second and third subjects https://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/arts/students/undergraduatestudents/changeyourworld/undergraduateartsdegrees/ |
| Staff | If you would like more advice on this our Adviser of Studies are in the student support booth until 7pm here https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/student-support-36 |
| Current student | There's a full list of subjects here https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/ and more specifically the arts subjects here https://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/arts/students/undergraduatestudents/changeyourworld/undergraduateartsdegrees/ It's more about the number of credits that you get from each subject but usually in the college of arts you get to choose three subjects in total :) Have fun choosing and looking forward to seeing you here in September! |
| Offer holder | I didn't apply to take Psychology but I am interested in taking it as another one of my subjects, is there any leniency in terms of the grade requirements as I have grades both above and below the specification? |
| Staff | Hi Oriana, if you are taking psychology as your option subject rather than your main degree then you just need to meet any grade requirements for progression for your degree. Only students who are taking psychology as single or joint degree progress with it as a subject after year 2 - does that answer your question? best Niamh |
| Offer holder | Also I would like to ask what campus/building psychology is at? Is Glasgow Uni an enclosed campus or an open one ? |
| Staff | Hi Elaine, the School of Psychology is based at 62 Hillhead Street in the Gilmorehill campus https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/psychology/ where you will find staff and admin offices. Teaching happens in lecture theatres around campus which is open and labs will take place in our Psychology space in the Boyd Orr building. You will also have study space in the lab space too. Hope that helps? |
| Staff | Hi Elaine, Psychology staff offices are based at 62 Hillhead Street https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/psychology/ where you can come to see academic and admin staff. Teaching happens around our open campus in a number of lecture theatres and you will have labs in our dedicated Psychology space in the Boyd Orr building. |
| Current student | Hey, if you'd like to see more of the campus, check out these campus tours: https://youtu.be/9UW6jnkiRQE http://media.gla.ac.uk/web/studentlife/SunnyDay.m4v https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/visit/virtual/virtualtour |
| Offer holder | Noted, thank you! |
| Staff | Done :) |
| Current student | Hi all - Ellie from the School of Psychology here! GU Psychology Society are also an active part of life on the course. We run academic events such as guest speaker lectures and an annual conference, but we’re also a social society which means a subcrawl, quizzes and a gala as well as other fun events throughout the year!! We’re also just a friendly bunch, always looking for people to get involved with helping to organise things if you want to learn some new skills :D You can check out our instragram and twitter @gupsychsoc - we have a Q&A specially for freshers on our instagram highlights :) |
| Staff | Hi All, thanks for all these great questions - remember if you have other questions that occur to you after today - feel free to email us teaching-admin@psy.gla.ac.uk or check out our instragram account https://instagram.com/uofgpsych/ or on twitter @UofGPsychology |
| Staff | Thanks so much to Ellie for that, its great to hear about how our students find the course and their experiences, would any of our other student ambassadors like to tell us a little bit about their experiences of studying Psychology and why they love it? |
| Offer holder | In the ma psychology degree students are in work/study for 6 months and which country can you choose? |
| Staff | Hi Mimosha, you have the option to study abroad in level 3. In the past this has included universities in Europe, such as Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain; Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium; Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, Netherlands, as well as further afield, e.g. University of Otago in New Zealand, University of New South Wales in Australia, and the University of California at either the Berkeley, Santa Barbara or San Diego campuses. The year abroad satisfies the requirements of the British Psychology Society. The programme has been in place for many years and the general consensus is that the year abroad is a rewarding and enriching experience. Does this sound like something of interest to you? |
| Current student | Hiya, here's the link to the GoAbroad website with all of the countries/universities that Glasgow has partnerships with :) I hope that helps www.glasgow.ac.uk/myglasgow/students/goabroad |
| Current student | HI all! Some of the students currently studying Psychology at UofG put together these resources about 'Staying Productive during COVID-19'. I hope you're all staying safe, and please feel free to take these away, espically if some of you are still studying for exams. even if you're not, these are great tips to consider when you're starting out uni anyway! tinyurl.com/UGPsyCOVIDRes |
| Offer holder | Hi, may be a silly question but what is the balance between scientific psychology and social psychology in the honours degree course\? |
| Offer holder | Hi, I'm also wondering about this |
| Staff | Hi Olivia - there are no silly questions :) In terms of the balance between different areas of the curriculum - in keeping with BPS accreditation the first three years cover all core areas of psychology so research methods, developmental psychology, psychobiology, individual differences, social psychology, and cognitive psychology - so good balance across these - all underpinned by a focus on the need for good research methods including both quantitative (more statistics based) and qualitative (more interview/focus group based) approaches. And then in the 4th year the world opens up and you get to choose from a range of around 22 options to focus on ones that you are particularly interested in :) hope this helps answer your question. Best Niamh |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much for responding\! That really helps thank you, I\'ve only ever studied social psychology and was unsure about how the scientific aspect would go haha thank you so much\! \:\) |
| Staff | Any other questions - anyone would like answered? Feel free to fire away :) |
| Offer holder | What is a practical lab for psychology in first year? What do we exactly do? |
| Current student | Hey, you learn how to code in R (don't worry if you've never coded, it's fine), start learning some stats stuff and you meet some great people in some good group work - I'm still friends with some people I was in a group with in first year :D |
| Staff | The practical labs are 2 hour classes that you attend every 2 weeks with prep and assessments to be completed in between. Each lab has a tutorial element where we work on communication through writing and presenting and the data skills element where we work on wrangling and visualisation of data using an open source program called R. You can find info on the data skills practical lab element here: https://psyteachr.github.io/ug1-practical/. You will work in groups throughout the practical labs which is a great way of meeting people and developing those collaboration and communication skills. |
| Offer holder | Thank you so much! |
| Offer holder | I would like to become an Educational Psychologist - are any other sujects a good complement to Psych to help me achieve this? |
| Staff | Hi Caroline, I would also argue Philosophy is a great choice with psychology as it helps with your critical thinking and problem solving which is so essential for a practicing psychology, languages particularly broad ones like French and Spanish can we great too - as we have so much global movement now that you will often be working with families for whom english is not their first or second language, biology also good as understanding the link between our biology and our behaviour is always advantageous, these are just a few examples of good combinations, Hope this helps, best Niamh |
| Offer holder | Thank you! :) |
| Offer holder | This is a big question I understand but I am interested in hearing some of the reasons why the students love their degree course so much. What is it about psychology at Glasgow which puts it above other universities? |
| Current student | Hi Cameron, I'm currently a level 2 student at UofG Psych, and I love for so many different reasons. The whole school is one big community, from students to staff, and you're never far away from support. The course is challanging, but the staff are very much geared towards developing students and doing what they can to help out. You learn so many different skills from scientific communication, data analysis and coding, and critical evaluation. The uni too offers so many fun and interesting oppurtunities to get involved and is just genuinely friendly, warm community. |
| Current student | Hiya! I second everything that Ellie said above, the community in the School of Psychology is amazing and there is so much support. For me it also makes all the difference that the staff are so approachable and are always working on making our study experience the best it could possibly be (and maybe a bit better). And then of course, the quality of teaching is very high, I can literally feel my brain grow every semester and it's pretty cool to look back on old coursework now after three years here and see how much I have learned and how much I have improved with the help of excellent feedback. Finally, I also think it's nice that we learn so much coding, I never thought I'd enjoy that but I actually do a lot and I feel like that has given me a whole new perspective on stats and how to do science in general. I hope that helps, but let us know if you want to know more about any specific areas of studying here! |
| Offer holder | Thank you for your help, I would love to study at Glasgow, it sounds perfect for me! |
| Current student | Nice to hear! Looking forward to seeing you here in September! |
| Offer holder | Hi, I’m thinking of taking Psychology as my additional subject\. I’ve heard the course is quite competitive, would I have a decent chance of securing a place given that I have the required grades\? |
| Staff | Hi Shaun, if you are taking psychology as your option subject rather than your main degree then you just need to meet any grade requirements for progression for your degree. Only students who are taking psychology as single or joint degree progress with it as a subject after year 2 need to meet the entry requirements. Does that help? |
| Offer holder | Is it normal for the lecturer to post the presentation on the class before hand for students to have a look at it? |
| Current student | Hi Shaun, Yes, all lectuers have to put up their powerpoints 24 hours in advance and are very good at doing so in my expereince, and of warning you if there has been any changes within that time and the lecture! |
| Offer holder | Is it common for students to go on to a post-grad in clinical psychology? Clinical Psychology at Glasgow would be ideal for me. |
| Staff | Hi Cameron, we do have a number of students who join us with the aim of going on to the DClinPsy doctorate. The skills and knowledge that you develop throughout the programme will put you on the path towards on a number of different destinations, including clinical, and we had a really interesting seminar with a previous undergraduate student who is currently doing the course. It was really helpful for our current level 4 students to hear how he had used both the academic and non-academic experiences for his time with us to successfully apply. It is not just about getting a first class degree but about making the most of all the opportunities presented :-) Hope that helps |
| Offer holder | If we are doing a joint honours, do we have to write our dissertation in psychology. I understand that we have to for it to be accredited by the BPS society but if I'm keener in my other subject can I write my dissertation for that subject instead? |
| Staff | Hi Hannah, for BPS accreditation your empirical project must be within psychology, however I have supervised lots of joint students in the past where we have been able to combine those passions - so for example I had a student who was joint psychology and music and she did a project around the impact of music in learning in a primary class, I had a joint student in psychology and economics and she looked at the impact of informal schools in refugee camps so there are usually ways we can harness both your passions and by fourth year you are definitely going to be keen on psychology ;) Best Niamh |
| Offer holder | Ah I see! Thanks so much for the help. I am particularly interested in combining politics and psychology so I can do a postgrad in political psychology - so does this mean I will be able to write my dissertation with both of these great interests in mind? |
| Staff | Thanks for your great questions everyone - and to our wonderful academics and students for answering them all! We have ten minutes left of todays chat so if you have any questions left can you send them now so we have time to get back to you all |
| Offer holder | Hi, this might be an obvious question but what is the difference between regular psychology at this university and Applied Psychology at other universities? |
| Staff | Hi Billie, some undergraduate degrees have different names but all most follow the BPS core curriculum until the final year so the first year are generally equivalent in terms of content, however where degrees differ is on how we teach and then option and dissertation options in final year - we believe that the advantage of our degree is that we have such a fantastic range of experts that literally spans huge areas of psychology so you can chose your own adventure and follow your passions :) Hope this helps Best Niamh |
| Offer holder | Thank you! |
| Staff | Don't forget if you have questions you think of after today Psychology are happy to help, just email teaching-admin@psy.gla.ac.uk or check out their instragram account https://instagram.com/uofgpsych/ or on twitter @UofGPsychology |
| Staff | Alongside Ellie's earlier post: HI all! Some of the students currently studying Psychology at UofG put together these resources about 'Staying Productive during COVID-19'. I hope you're all staying safe, and please feel free to take these away, espically if some of you are still studying for exams. even if you're not, these are great tips to consider when you're starting out uni anyway! tinyurl.com/UGPsyCOVIDRes |
| Offer holder | What would be the typical contact hours be in third and fourth year studying psychology? |
| Staff | Hi Billie, in level 3 you will complete 8 compulsory core courses to including, for example, social psychology, physiological psychology and individual differences, Qualitative and Quantitative research projects and 2 honours options. In level 4, you can choose you own adventure with 8 optional courses as well as completing your final year dissertation. Level 4 means that your timetable will depend on the courses you choose. Does that help? |
| Offer holder | Yes definitely, Thank you! |
| Staff | Other than Cameron and Billie, has everyone had their questions answered? |
| Offer holder | Hi if I have an unconditional to sociology but want to take Psychology as another subject in my first/second year, do I have to meet the entry requirements for psychology to be able to do this? |
| Staff | Hi Kay, this was answered in an earlier question - 'if you are taking psychology as your option subject rather than your main degree then you just need to meet any grade requirements for progression for your degree. Only students who are taking psychology as single or joint degree progress with it as a subject after year 2 need to meet the entry requirements. Does that help?' |
| Staff | Our Advisers of Study are in our Student Support booth until 7pm and will be able to help you further with this https://uofg.online-event.co/stand/student-support-36 |
| Staff | Hi Kay, space in psychology in the first year is given first to students on a psychology degree programme as we need to make sure that they have what they need to progress but we usually have a good amount of space for others in the first year who just want to do it as there extra subject but won't be progressing with it. Hope that helps answer your question. best Niamh |
| Offer holder | thank you :) |
| Staff | We are just finishing up last questions now, and then this chat will be finished - thank you to everyone for joining us today, and to our wonderful academics and students. We cannot answer anymore questions in this chat today, but if you have further questions then please send them to teaching-admin@psy.gla.ac.uk or check out their instragram account https://instagram.com/uofgpsych/ or on twitter @UofGPsychology |
| Current student | Thank you everyone, looking forward to seeing you all in September! :D |
| Staff | Lovely to meet you all, hope to see you next year :) |
| Staff | Bye everyone and we are so looking forward to seeing you in September! Take care and keep in touch :-) |
Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences
| User | Message |
| Offer holder | Where would you recommend staying in your first year of veterinary? |
| Current student | Hi there! Most vet students stay in Wolfson Hall as it is closest to our campus but I rented a flat nearby very easily! You can stay in student accommodation closer to the main uni campus if you like though! Here is a link about Wolfson https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/accommodation/residenceprofiles/wolfsonhall/ |
| Offer holder | Is it easy for students to take part in sport which might occur on the main campus? e.g. rugby, and what are the facilities like at the Garscube campus? |
| Current student | the outdoor facilities are actually at garscube campus to if you want to play rugby/football etc it is quite convenient! and yes i've played basketball at main uni and found it easy to get there and back! |
| Offer holder | Hello, I was wondering if there are many clubs/societies based at Garscube and if not how easy is it to be a part of clubs if they are located at the main campus and is there much time available to do these alongside studies? |
| Staff | There are several clubs and societies based at Garscube, and even more on the main campus. It is essential that you make time for extra curricular activities and students are encouraged to do so |
| Staff | Hi Alice there are loads of clubs across the university and plenty out at garscube too -is there anything particular you are interested in? all students get Wednesday afternoon off to participate in sport or other extra curricular activity |
| Current student | here is a link to all our clubs and societies! many are available at garscube but the commute to main uni is totally reasonable (personally I live near main uni and commute to classes ar garscube) https://www.glasgowstudent.net/clubs/ |
| Offer holder | I was just wondering, given that we now have so much time on our hands because of the covid 19 lock down. Is there any material you would suggest us looking into or reading up on to help in the first few months of the course. Thanks. |
| Staff | Yes life is a bit different for everyone just now. I wouldn't expect you to be doing any specific pre-reading but you can keep up with topical science articles - there's plenty of info about viruses and epidemiology just now! https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/plants_animals/veterinary_medicine/ is one I really like! |
| Offer holder | I was wondering if the course explores animal behavior at all. |
| Staff | It is touched upon but is not a major component of the programme |
| Offer holder | What species is the course mainly focused on? |
| Staff | The course covers all species, well all common domestic and companion animal species |
| Offer holder | I have a good idea on the curriculum and what is expected of us\. However, is there anything that we should be prepared with to start the course\? Such as any kit/clothing/books\? I was told at the tour of the campus that it’s unlikely we would be asked to buy books throughout the course, it is good to get a head start though\. Thanks |
| Staff | There is a reading list but now most students tend to work with e-texts although there alwasy seems to be a ready supply of second hand books |
| Offer holder | What does a day to day schedule in a regular week look like? |
| Staff | Day to day schedule is fairly standard through teaching weeks - 2-3 hours of lectures in the mornings Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and also Friday afternoons, with labs on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. At the end of each module (typically 4 weeks) you have a week with less face to face teaching allowing for some consolidation/review activities. Similar ideas in other years of the programme but the precise days/time will change. |
| Offer holder | Is there any materials that you'd suggest reading or researching for starting this course? |
| Staff | Nothing specific. 1st year comprises Biology and Chemistry that are run along side the school of life sciences courses with 2 more specialist courses, comparative vet anatomy and Digestive physiology & metabolism. |
| Offer holder | Okay thank you, because I took Advanced Higher Biology will there be some things I know from that? |
| Staff | Yes, although maybe covered in more depth. The Biology course has to follow on from Higher Biology so those of you entering with Adv Higher or A-level will have some prior knowledge of some of the content. |
| Offer holder | Hi I would like to ask about the practical experience that you offer from day one, how often do first year students get "hands on" opportunities with animals to develop animal handling skills and where would this take place? |
| Staff | Our students get lots of practical hands on experience right from the start of the programme - in first year you will do a series of "Rotating practicals" getting experience in handling a range of species including, dogs, cat, cattle, sheep and horses. much takes place at the main vet school campus, some takes place at our farm "Cochno" which is a few miles to the north - we provide bus transport to get there |
| Staff | Clinical skills, which included animal handling, is a cornerstone of the programme and as such starts in week one. Each week is made up of lectures and practicals, some of these are animal based and some are technique beased eg. bandaging blood sampling. the technique based sessions can be using models. The university has a farm, and we have both companion and exotic animals on site at Garscube. |
| Offer holder | How often will these practicals occur in our weekly programme in year one? |
| Staff | Each week you have two main practical sessions timetabled for module related practicals eg anatomy, clinical skills etc. although sometimes there will be multiple activities within each afternoon. The rotating practicals are spread across the year and you will complete around 10 of these in addition to the module practicals |
| Offer holder | What kit do we need before starting? Also what kind of thing can we expect to be doing once we start? |
| Staff | There is a range of kit you require - we send out detailed info on this to all as part of the prearrival resources - including advice on where to buy things - it will include items like lab coats, wellies, etc we also have some supplies that can be ordered through the uni to collect when you arrive |
| Offer holder | Where do we find the prearrival resources info, are we sent that when are offer is made unconditional? |
| Staff | yes - you will be sent a link to a set of pages with lots of info and guidance - usually sometime in July/august - subject to a confirmed place |
| Offer holder | Hi! I am an Offer holder for veterinary medicine. I was wondering how do you allow students get to experience a variety of aspects of veterinary medicine. I think I want to go into wildlife medicine, and want to assure I would have opportunities to explore this area and other areas. Thanks! |
| Current student | As students we have to complete EMS (extra mural studies) outside of school term and we have a lot of flexibility in terms of what kinds of animal experience we would like. I have a number of friends who completed several weeks of EMS working with wildlife in South Africa for example! Here is a link all about EMS: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/lifelong-learning/students/veterinary-students/extra-mural-studies-ems/ |
| Offer holder | Do you receive any help, such as financial or in finding opportunities? |
| Offer holder | Also, what sorts of animals do you experience in class? |
| Current student | There are some EMS grants you can apply for (you'll get those details in first year throughout the year). In class during our first year we focus on domestic and farm animals mainly (so dogs, horses, sheep, cows) |
| Offer holder | What support do you offer students to help them complete their Extra Mural Studies? |
| Staff | while there is a lot of opportunities for you to shape your EMS portfolio, we have a database that you can use to find placements and your advisor of studies will help you as well. We also have a dedicated member of staff in the undergraduate school office who works on EMS |
| Offer holder | Thanks a lot |
| Offer holder | Hi, I am an Offer holder for veterinary medicine. I would just like to make sure whether if a deposit would be required once the offer is accepted? Thank you! |
| Staff | Hello - we do ask for a deposit to secure your place, but we have moved the date for this to the end of June |
| Offer holder | will the deposit be requested only after the offer has turned from a conditional offer, to an unconditional offer? |
| Staff | The deposit is only required once your offer is unconditional |
| Offer holder | Hello, I'm an Offer holder for Veterinary Medicine, due to the pandemic my school is closed and my exams have been postponed until further notice, how will this affect the admissions process (I have a conditional offer). |
| Staff | If you are unable to take your exams we may need to defer your offer, but we will work with both you and your school to see if there is an alternative |
| Offer holder | I am wondering if the FEEPASS program for US students is considered a conditional offer, and if so when am I able to officially accept and secure housing |
| Staff | As long as your GPA has not gone below your original prediction you should be fine. We will be in touch with all FEEPASS students shortly to discuss |
| Offer holder | I was wondering, because i heard that in other programs there is an option to do a few classes that don't belong to your specific program, if this is also an option for veterinary biosciences? |
| Staff | The programme is quite prescribed, in year 1 you will do some courses at the school of Life Sciences |
| Offer holder | Ok...so taking courses outside of veterinary biosciences such as psychology for example is not possible? |
| Staff | The Vetbio programme is largely a set programme (with most courses delivered by the vet school and a few by life sciences) without options as such.. but there is the possibility of studying overseas (student-organised) and in the final semester (year 4) students undertake an 8-12 week project , with many potential topics (lab-based, dissertation, educational work in schools, animal based project) so there is certainly opportunity to focus on an area of interest. |
| Offer holder | I was wondering if there is any system in place from transferring from Biochemistry to Veterinary Medicine. For example having finished year one of Biochemistry could you transfer directly into year one or two of Veterinary medicine. |
| Staff | Unfortunately not I'm afraid. You would need to complete your first degree and apply as a graduate entrant |
| Offer holder | Hi, I'm an Offer holder for Veterinary Medicine and was wondering what transport is like from the city to the veterinary campus? Is the campus far from accommodation and would we make our own way there on public buses? |
| Offer holder | hi, i'm not actually a student at Glasgow yet, but i do live near the university's vet school and can offer some help here. Glasgow uni has Accomodation called Wolfson Hall which is located on the site of the vet school, and this accomodation is about a 20 minute bus ride from the main campus/ city centre :) |
| Offer holder | Hi, I am an Offer holder for the veterinary medicine BVMS program. I was wondering how current students and advisors view the five year program and if you have found it helpful to have that extra year and if you feel like it will make a difference both professionally and financially (I'm worried about the extra debt). I also got accepted into UCD but like the program at Glasgow better plus the location, are there big differences anyone can point out to me? |
| Staff | When we changed our curriculum we decided to stick with 5 years as there is a period of adjustment for most students, specifically if you are from overseas. Regarding finances you should look at the overall cost for 4 years in Dublin and the cost of living there - it may take you a bit longer in Glasgow, but the costs might be less. |
| Offer holder | Thank you! But from what I can tell the cost/yr of Dublin is almost the exact same so but obviously cost of living in Glasgow is cheaper. Is there any significant differences that you consider makes Glasgow a better program? |
| Current student | As an international student I had exactly this question! I have found the extra year gives you extra time to complete your EMS (this time means you have more time to find placements that you are passionate about!) and the program is less stressful because you have more time. Also the vet campus in glasgow is more accessible since you can go there by train or bus which is nice! |
| Offer holder | thank you! I was also wondering if you are worried about the extra debt from the final year or if you feel like the cheaper living expenses of Glasgow balances it out a little |
| Current student | I think it balances out since even cost of living in Dublin has become pretty high |
| Offer holder | Just in regards to the 5th year, do students generally find this to be a disadvantage bc they are not heading right into the workforce? Or do they appreciate the extra time to learn and get comfortable? |
| Current student | the 5th year is run the same way as the 4th year in other programs so you don't notice any difference! |
| Offer holder | Due to the COVID-19 situation, it is possible for veterinary medicine Offer holders to defer their place until 2021? |
| Staff | We are being very positive and planning towards classes in September. We also have a team working right now to put contingency plans in place for alternative teaching if things don't improve. It may also be possible to defer your offer, you should contact us to discuss further, |
| Offer holder | Hi, I was also wondering for veterinary medicine, what is the recommendation regarding having a part time job whilst doing the course? I was planning on maybe doing one shift a week and was wondering how past students have found this? |
| Staff | It is up to you to manage your time. There are many students who do have part time jobs, but it is a tough academic programme, so stay on top of your studies |
| Staff | A lot of our students do hold part time jobs whilst studying and manage fine - however this is very much a personal thing and you will need to see how you cope with the course - it is quite demanding in terms of face to face contact time plus study time |
| Current student | I work part time at main uni and have found it very manageable! As long as your focus is your course work you can do both |
| Offer holder | For extramural studies, is it possible to get paid positions or have time during it to hold a part time job? |
| Staff | You can often find paid EMS position - especially during lambing time. You can also work for up to 20 hrs a week on a student visa. |
| Current student | it is definitely doable to work part time while studying! I work part time at main uni and find it manageable as long as you keep on top of class work |
| Current student | I would wait till you start, the postings are often in emails to the whole student population sent to your uni email address! |
| Offer holder | What methods do you use to assess students on the VetMed programme? |
| Staff | The assessment uses a wide variety of tools. We have DOPS directly observed practical skills, and OSCEs objective structured clinical exams, for practical aspects as well as MCQs and short answer questions and practical spot tests and data interpretations questions to assess knowledge and understanding |
| Staff | Hi, we have a range of formative assessments throughout the year - eg quizzes etc to allow you to judge how you are getting on. At the end of each module we have a "Continual assessment task" - these cover a range of activities from making posters, to designing exam questions etc - some of these are inidivdual activities, others are group based. At the end of the year we have written assessments (range of questions eg MCQs, short answer questions, data interpretation) on core knowledge/application and also OSCEs to assess practical competencies. Alongside all this you put together a portfolio which demonstrates a range of other skills and how you are developing as a professional. |
| Offer holder | Similar to colleges, do you work your academic year based on the likes of a semester/trimester\? If so, do the teaching days tend to change or remain the same\? This is for veterinary medicine \:\) |
| Staff | We have two main semesters (sept-dec; Jan-april with exams in May). For first year the day to day schedule is fairly standard through teaching weeks - 2-3 hours of lectures in the mornings Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and also Friday afternoons, with labs on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. At the end of each module (typically 4 weeks) you have a week with less face to face teaching allowing for some consolidation/review activities. Similar ideas in other years of the programme but the precise days/time will change. Our students all have Wednesday afternoon off for sports or other activities - it is important to have extracurricular activities and, of course, a personal life! |
| Offer holder | I was wondering what students who have studied this course do after they’ve finished\? What sort of career prospects are there\? |
| Staff | The Vet Bio graduates follow a very diverse career path. The majority stay within science, following an advance degree (either MSc or PhD - mostly animal orientated). Some go onto teacher training, some enter nutrition based industrial posts, a few go on to follow Vet Medicine or human medicine. |
| Offer holder | As an international student coming to Glasgow for Vet Med, do current students feel like it was easy to get used to things there and make a life for themselves for the next five years? Also making friends and finding a place to live etc. |
| Staff | We put lots of support in place prior to coming and once you are here. We can help with finding a place to live and you would also have an academic mentor and a Big Vet, who is a current student. Most students adapt very easily, and there is always someone on hand to help, |
| Current student | I moved here from Canada and found it very easy to get used to! I found my flat easily and making friends is easy since we are in such a small program (that said I think it is important to make friends outside of the vet program too!) Scottish people are genuinely the nicest people I have ever met and the vibe of the whole city really reflects that. I am very happy with my choice of coming to Glasgow! |
| Offer holder | I heard from a current vet student that it can be very expensive to bring a pet over but I really would like to bring my dog. Does anyone know roughly how much it will cost me and if I can find housing easily with a dog? |
| Staff | I am not sure about the cost but i can find out for you. We can also help you to find pet friendly accommodation. |
| Current student | I moved here with my cat and yes it was quite pricey, the cost depends what country you are moving here from. When you land you also pay an additional fee at the airport which is not a small one. You can find pet friendly housing but it can be a bit more difficult! That said it was well worth it to bring Antoine! |
| Offer holder | Would you recommend waiting until I can find housing and get situated before bringing her over? |
| Current student | Yes, I didn't do that but it definitely would have been easier. Just make sure you are very transparent with your landlord when you move in about your plans to bring your dog! |
| Offer holder | Is there a financial advisor or someone that we have access to in discussing our loans and financial matters during the course of our studies and are they easily accessible to students? |
| Staff | Carol Barnett is our financial aid officer Carol.Barnett@glasgow.ac.uk |
| Offer holder | Does she work specifically with vet students or the entire university? |
| Staff | Carol works with specifically with students from the USA applying for loans through the Federal Loan Scheme |
| Offer holder | What does Glasgow have available that is unique to it? |
| Staff | Our students! They have been wonderful during this difficult time, and our staff are also very supportive of our students - its a very welcoming friendly place to study |
| Staff | Fantastic vibrant and friendly city, within 30 minute drive of open country with mountains and lochs :-) |
| Offer holder | What is Glasgow's NAVLE pass rate? When I looked on the UoG website, it said 89% on one link and 80% on another link |
| Staff | I'll check that out, but it is around 89%. |
| Offer holder | Hi there, just wondering at what point in the veterinary medicine course do EMS placements begin? |
| Staff | Most students will start EMS in their first Christmas break - we provide lots of info and support in finding placements |
| Offer holder | During rotations, I know that your students go to different practices around Glasgow. Do you think this works well? |
| Current student | Yes! it gives you a good well rounded sense of working in vet med in Glasgow and what it really is like to be in the workforce |
| Offer holder | In terms of teaching, what facilities do you have that teachers and students can use to get the best out of this course? |
| Staff | we have amazing clinical and non-clinical teaching facilities including an extensive clinical skills lab, and anatomy and histology labs and onset PM room and animals facilities. We have large lecture halls and a range of other smaller teaching rooms depending on class size. We also have a lot of online resources to support your learning and encourage self-directed learning too |
| Offer holder | Hello, I would be coming in as a 'mature' student, or older than the average university goer after having had a career prior to my studies here. Is there support for older students at Glasgow? Do you feel there is a way for these students to find a community (either on campus or in the city)? And are there other older students in the VetMed program? Thank you!! |
| Offer holder | Hello\!\! I’m also a fellow “mature” student coming from a swap course\. Just wanted to say you’re not alone lol\! |
| Staff | We have a very diverse student population and we have support available for all students. |
| Staff | We have a wide range of student ages and we find that they mix and integrate well. I am not sure of any formal support but we certainly have a very supportive community of students and staff at the vet school:-) |
| Staff | There is a large age range in the student body but its a close knit community and everyone looks out for each other. Previous 'older' students havent found it a problem |
| Current student | Yes! I came with having a previous degree and work experience and have found it easy to find a community. There are vet med students from all over and of different ages and there are a number of societies and clubs that tend to attract mainly more mature students/PhDs/etc. |
| Offer holder | Once results come out and people have confirmed their places, will there be many chances to meet with other students in the same year group and to spend more time around the campus before officially starting the course? |
| Staff | Once we know who the year group are going to be we share that information, with the students permission of course, and there is usually a facebook page set up very quickly so that you all get to know each other. |
| Staff | Normally students dont come to the campus before the start of term but there is induction week when you arrive which has lots of social events. There is normally a facebook page set up as well |
| Current student | Generally you will meet everyone during our freshers week but we make a Facebook student group at the start of the year and a number of people met up in a cafe before classes started to get to know one another! |
| Offer holder | What facilities can students use outside of teaching time if they are struggling with course content? |
| Staff | Staff are very supportive, and we have a student peer group from other years who have set up a study group |
| Staff | We have a fantastic virual learning environment which has lots of resources. We have a library on site and the academic staff have an open door policy to help you |
| Staff | Can I ask our Vet med staff - is there a place your Offer holders can email or get in touch if they have any further questions following todays chat? |
| Staff | vet-admissions@glasgow.ac.uk |
| Offer holder | What animals does the VetMed course focus on besides dogs and cats? Are exotics included? |
| Staff | The programme covers all animals but obvioulsy has a greater emphasis on domestic and companion animals |
| Staff | Yes we do have an exotics theme embedded through the programme including rabbits, small furries and reptiles plus opportunities through EMS and selective rotations in final year. also lots on cattle, sheep, equine etc |
| Staff | Thank you everyone for contacting us today. We are being very positive and looking towards September. We are also putting plans in place in case things are not back to normal and we will keep you all posted. Look forward to seeing/being with you soon! |