Physics - Imperial College London vs Durham University

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the decision-making process between choosing Imperial College London and Durham University for studying physics. Participants explore various factors influencing this choice, including academic reputation, social life, research opportunities, and lifestyle differences.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a preference for Durham due to its collegiate system, which may facilitate making friends, and notes its strong physics department.
  • Another participant highlights Imperial's prestigious academic standing and suggests that job prospects may be better due to its location and connections in London.
  • Concerns are raised about the cost of living and social dynamics at Imperial, including its gender ratio and perceived social life.
  • A participant emphasizes the importance of finding a suitable research advisor and group, suggesting that this should be a primary consideration in the decision-making process.
  • Differences in lifestyle between the two universities are noted, with one being in a university town and the other in a major city, which may influence the student experience.
  • Another participant counters the notion of Imperial being socially limiting by pointing out the broader social opportunities available in London.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the importance of social life versus academic reputation, and there is no consensus on which university is definitively better for studying physics.

Contextual Notes

Participants' opinions are influenced by personal preferences and experiences, and the discussion reflects a range of priorities such as academic focus, social environment, and lifestyle choices.

Who May Find This Useful

Prospective students considering physics programs at Imperial College London or Durham University may find this discussion relevant to their decision-making process.

vedderfan94
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So I really need some advice on whether to pick Imperial or Durham as my firm because I'm torn between the two.

I really liked Durham and the collegiate system because it would probably be easier to make more friends this way. It also has a very good Physics department.

I always read though that Imperial is one of the best for science/engineering and is often compared with Oxford for Physics, and I'd generally be better off with regards to job prospects due to the city, contacts, etc. Although the downsides are the cost and the gender ratio (and the huge 'geekyness' too). There are also some complaints about the social life at Imperial but I'm not sure if I'd just be picking Durham for the social life.

Advice is appreciated :confused:
 
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Hi,
I think that depends on your research area, you must looking for appropriate advisor, because all your works will be with him/her.
imperial College occupied a prestigious position in the academic level .
you want first to looking for your best advisor and research group and after that you looking for you more comfortable place that you love.
 
Hi,
I think that depends on your research area, you must looking for appropriate advisor, because all your works will be with him/her.
imperial College occupied a prestigious position in the academic level .
you want first to looking for your best advisor and research group and after that you looking for you more comfortable place that you love.
 
What sort of jobs are you looking at?

In terms of lifestyle, the two couldn't be more different - one is a pretty (fairly) old university in a university town, and the other is in one of the biggest cities in the world. Choosing what sort of lifestyle you want as a student should be the main driver behind your decision, as they are both very, very good for physics.

And lastly, you cannot complain Imperial being a sausage-fest when it's in London. You aren't limited to just students of Imperial, you know, when you're in London. Imperial also has a surprisingly high http://www.studentbeans.com/student101/a/relationships/university-sex1244.html, too, so some people must be getting it on.

Whilst Imperial has a reputation for being quite nerdy, there are definitely still quite a lot of students who like to party there.
 

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