• Question: What courses did you have to take in collage/university?

    Asked by 947mede29 to Greg, Jen, Laura, Mobeen, Paul on 7 Mar 2016. This question was also asked by 664mede29.
    • Photo: Greg Melia

      Greg Melia answered on 7 Mar 2016:

      At GCSE I did triple science and maths, plus some other stuff – if you can do triple science rather than dual science, do it as it gives you a good grounding in all the sciences and helps you if you continue at A level.

      At A level I did Maths, Physics and DT Electronics, plus German at AS level. Maths is really useful for every science, as although you don’t need to be a mathematical genius, it’s the language that science is written in so you need to be able to do some of it. It’s mandatory for most physical science and engineering courses.

      My undergraduate degree was Electronic Engineering, where we learned about analogue and digital electronics, radio waves, computer programming and robot control. Oh, and more maths! Towards the end, I specialised in microwave and radio electronics, and did a project on detecting people’s total body water content using radio waves.

      When I did my PhD, I was doing my own research. You’re not there to be taught anymore, except by having conversations with your supervisor. You’ve learned what you need to and are there to make your own contribution to human knowledge. That’s when the fun starts 🙂

    • Photo: Laura Haworth

      Laura Haworth answered on 7 Mar 2016:

      Like Greg I did separate science at GCSE and I agree wit his comments it really helps if you do go on to study science subjects at A level.

      I did Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Business Studies at A level. Enjoyed all of them especially the science ones. Maths I found a big step up from GCSE level but it did help with the science subjects.

      My undergraduate degree was in Biomedical science which involved everything from genetics, cell biology to real human dissection- which was great fun!!

      Now I am working towards my masters in Clinical science which I will complete this September (fingers crossed). The fun never stops!

    • Photo: Paul O'Mahoney

      Paul O'Mahoney answered on 7 Mar 2016:

      When I did my engineering degree, we did lots of things like robotics and designing a formula 1 car. There were a lot of maths and physics based courses but if you paid attention and did your studying it was totally fine.

    • Photo: Jen Lowe

      Jen Lowe answered on 8 Mar 2016:

      I did maths, physics, chemistry for A levels at college (probably just the maths and physics were essential to doing a physics degree). In my physics degree most courses were set, but I got to choose a few. I chose the medical physics module and enjoyed that a lot. I tried a philosophy module too but had no idea what they were talking about so switched after a couple of lectures.

    • Photo: Mobeen Ali

      Mobeen Ali answered on 9 Mar 2016:

      I did A level biology, chemistry, physics and maths. At university, I studied physics and did all of the medical physics options. There was a lot of choice though. After completing my physics degree, I started a PhD in physics and decided to specialise in MRI.

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