I started studying Medical Sciences at the University of Aberdeen back in 2017 – I cannot believe it´s already been 3 years!
I am studying Biomedical Science (Pharmacology) and absolutely love it! Having almost completed third year, I feel like I can now give you a good insight into how the course is structured and why I would really recommend you study Medical Sciences at the University of Aberdeen.
Jump straight to…
1) Degree Flexibility and Course Structure (changing degree, course overview, exams and assessment)
2) Excellent Lecturing Staff
3) Learning Resources
4) University Rankings
5) Aberdeen – The Perfect City For Students
5 Reasons Why You Should Study Medical Sciences at the University of Aberdeen
1) Degree Flexibility and Course Structure
Degree Flexibility
Regardless of which Medical Science degree (e.g. Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics, Embryology, Pharmacology, Sports Science, etc.) you are studying, most courses will be the same for everyone in first and second year. These courses cover aspects of all medical science disciplines, which is excellent to give you an overview of all the degree options available.
You have up until the end of second year to decide which degree programme you want to do in third and fourth year, so don’t worry if you aren’t sure about your choice when you arrive! As long as you know you want to study an area in medical sciences you´ll be fine!
You can change your degree programme up until the end of second year…
I also wasn´t sure if I had picked the right one for me when I went. At the end of first year, I changed my degree (Biochemistry) to a different medical science degree (Pharmacology) that I didn´t even know existed before coming to university! It is really easy to change your degree within the different medical science degree programmes.
Keep your options open…
If you are still unsure about what degree you ultimately want to do, and want to know which courses to take to keep as many options open as possible, check out the course recommendation document that I have inserted below. It is from 2017 but the courses are still the same. I didn’t find this until the end of first year and wish someone had told me about it before I arrived!
Course Overview
First Year
In first year, most medical science degrees have two prescribed courses per half-session, meaning you are free to choose any additional two courses that the university has to offer. The prescribed courses for medical science students are SM1001 Introduction to Medical Sciences and CM1020 Chemistry for Life Sciences 1 (first half-session) and SM1501 The Cell and CM1512 Chemistry for Life Sciences 2 (second half-session).
If you have done basic organic chemistry at school, then the chemistry courses will be a breeze. I took advanced chemistry at school and the university materials were easier than what I had to do for school…
“SM1001 Introduction to Medical Sciences” is a fantastic course that I thoroughly enjoyed (and would also recommend as an optional course to people not studying a medical science degree). The lecturing staff are great, the course content is extremely interesting, labs are designed in a fun way and it fulfills its purpose as an introduction to medical sciences at university perfectly.
Bio-Business
You also have the opportunity to add “Bio-Business” to your degree, which involves taking three extra-credit courses, spread out over the 4 years. I have been taking these courses and find them quite interesting, even though I am not currently planning to work in industry. You can find more information about Bio-Business at the University of Aberdeen here.
Second Year
In second year, most courses will still be largely the same for all medical science students. If you do have the option to choose courses, then I would definitely recommend the Physiology courses: BI20B2 Physiology of Human Cells and BI25B2 Physiology of Human Organ Systems. Also, if you are studying a Biomedical Science degree, you also have the privilege of doing Human Anatomy. Those courses are excellent and really helped me with my studies!
Third and Fourth Year
In third and fourth year, the courses you do will be more degree-specific (finally!). Although I liked the courses in first and second year, I was glad to finally do some pharmacology! The pharmacology course in the first half-session (PA3004 Biochemical Pharmacology and Toxicology) is probably the best course I have had so far! Out of the Biomedical Science courses you can choose, I can highly recommend SM3002 Frontiers of Biomedical Sciences.
As I said, the courses in third and fourth year will be specific to your degree, so you can find a list of all the courses here, or on the degree website (under “what you will study”).
In fourth year, you also have the opportunity to do an industrial placement.
Continuous Assessment and Exams
During term-time, you will have some continuous assessment (e.g. pre- and post-lab assessments, case studies, etc.) that you have to complete online. For some courses, you may also have to write some essays (e.g. psychology), and if you are studying a Biomedical Science degree which has an anatomy course in 2nd year, you will also do so-called “spotter-tests” (identifying anatomical structures under test-conditions).
With regards to the exams, in first and second year, most exams are 2-hour, multiple-choice exams. If you are well prepared, they are all very doable. In third and fourth year, you move on to essay-based exams.
2) Excellent Lecturing Staff
This is definitely a selling point! As everyone will know from school, no matter how much you love a subject, the teacher can make or break it for you.
(Almost) all the medical science staff lecturers are excellent! Not only do they try and deliver the lecture material in an engaging and funny way, but they also explain things well. All lecturers are very approachable after lectures and labs and are always willing to answer your questions. So, if you want to experience some fun and interesting lectures, study medical sciences at the University of Aberdeen!
3) Learning Resources
Lecture Recordings
One really helpful learning resource is that all lectures are recorded. So, if you miss one or would like to re-listen to parts of a lecture at home, you can. All lecture materials (slides and recording) are always uploaded to MyAberdeen.
Textbooks
In first and second year, I’d say it’s not really necessary to buy the recommended textbooks. Exams and assessments are based on the lectures only, however the recommended textbooks are an excellent resource for doing some further reading and checking your understanding of course materials. I´d really recommend doing that for your learning, and there are plenty of copies at the library for you to read or borrow.
Labs
Most labs for first- and second-year students take place in the Zoology Building (also on King´s Campus). The labs in zoology are nothing special but they serve their purpose ;-).
However, they are currently building a new science hub next to the library that is meant to open in 2021. It looks like it is going to be an amazing facility, and I really hope it is ready in time for me to use it before I finish my time in Aberdeen!
In third and fourth year, you will spend most of your time in Foresterhill and will be taught and have lab sessions in the facilities there.
4) Aberdeen is ranked highly in the UK for Medical Science Degrees
Not only was the University of Aberdeen named Scottish University of the Year 2019 but recently, it has also ranked among the Top 30 Universities in the UK.
Especially its Medical Science degrees have ranked highly, for example, Aberdeen is ranked 2nd in the UK for Sports Science (a medical science degree). And as I said previously, most courses for the various med sci disciplines are the same at the beginning, so this reflects well on all medical science degrees.
If you are not sure if you can trust the rankings, you can take it from me: I fully agree that the medical science courses, lecturing staff and facilities are great! I am thoroughly enjoying my time here!
5) Aberdeen Is A Great Student City
Aberdeen is the perfect size for students! The city offers everything you need, with a city centre full of high street shops, restaurants and night clubs. Best of all, Aberdeen is at the sea! The beach is perfect for taking a stroll and watching the sunset after a long day at uni. Even the weather in Aberdeen is better than in other places in Scotland! Less rain and more sun – what more could you want?
The university campus in Old Aberdeen is truly stunning and Aberdeen Sports Village is an excellent sporting facility!
With two universities, the city is full of students and there is a large range of different student accommodation available. If you are going to study in Aberdeen you can check out my accommodation guide here.
The ultimate thing that makes Aberdeen perfect for any student though is that everything is within walking distance! You can probably get anywhere you want to go in under 20-25 minutes! That is perfect if you don’t have a car and don’t want to spend money on bus tickets.
In conclusion, I can´t really say more than that I thoroughly recommend studying Medical Sciences at the University of Aberdeen. The courses and lecturing staff are great, which makes learning so much fun! It has been a really enjoyable experience so far and I cannot wait to see what my last year has in store!
I really hope you enjoyed this blog post and it helps you with your decision! If I have achieved what I set out to do, then I shall see you in Aberdeen soon!
More Uni Advice…
Are you starting university in September and are still unsure about what to take? Then why not check out my university packing guide?
Coming to study in Aberdeen? Then why not read my post about 5 things I wish I had known before I came to Aberdeen, or my Guide to Student Accommodation in Aberdeen.
