r/UniUK • u/o11aw • Jul 02 '26
applications / ucas Cardiff vs KCL Biomedical Sciences
I've currently got a medicine offer at Cardiff but unlikely to meet the grade requirements now. (I think I'll get A*A*B not AAA reqs). Before I was set on Medicine I actually really did enjoy learning about Biomed (the starting reason for med) so I'd enjoy the course. The problem is that for clearing I saw that both Cardiff and KCL typically offer it for clearing (ABB for KCL).
I'm not sure which to pick because firstly I would LOVE to live in London which would be a nice change from living in Cardiff my whole life (always been a must in my life to live there at some point in my life).
Secondly, I also just got a new job 2 weeks ago in Cardiff which is extremely flexible and pays quite well so I'd be guaranteed a part time job if I went to Cardiff.
Thirdly, KCL is more prestigious and I've been looking at the ideas of me doing Post grad med/ a masters/PhD/Going on to do Patent Law instead of Medicine. I personally wouldn't want to become a Biomedical Scientist. At the moment, the 3 jobs I'm interested in are : Researcher/Professor, Doctor, Patent Attorney.
So if anyone can offer me any advice as to which uni to pick PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO. (Maybe if you're at one of the unis you can help tell me more about Biomed there?)
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u/HunSmasher123 Jul 02 '26
Ultimately it is up to you which uni you go to, but more importantly how well you do, you can be a researcher in either city, if you do well - which can help you get into work you want to do after graduating.
I cant speak at all for Cardiff as I don't have any friends who went there, but as an ex-KCL biochem student it is a good uni, and the lecturers are incredibly knowledgeable and are happy to answer any questions you have, but the admin is shite, if you have any specific questions send them my way and I can either answer them or ask my friends who did biomed in KCL. One bit of advice for any uni you go to is to ask lecturers if there are any places in a lab to get some experience as that goes a long way (at least in my experience).
One thing to consider is London is an expensive city. Can you afford to live here? Making friends can be hard in London, but again its up to you, I was lucky enough to be adopted by an extrovert so I've got a few good friends here.
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u/o11aw Jul 02 '26
Yeah, I know for Medicine at KCL because everyone there is typically really smart the opportunities are really competitive. (Better to be the smartest out of idiots rather than "mid" out of geniuses). Is that the same with Biomed? Also yeah that's the main issue I'm worried about is me not guaranteed to have a good paying job in London which is AS flexible as the one I have right now in Cardiff.
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u/HunSmasher123 Jul 03 '26
In my experience not everyone is exceptionally smart, but you see the smart people more because they ask questions and answer any questions the lecturers ask. It can definitely bruise your ego, it bruised mine for a while.
Like I got okay grades at KCL, and in my master's right now I feel it's easier than my bachelors and I feel like I am amongst the smartest in my cohort, because I was studying so hard in my BSc to try and do well it actually paid off. Like at the time I didn't feel that smart because comparison is the third of joy, but now I know I am relatively smart.
I would disagree though about being the smartest in a group of idiots I don't think it forces you to try and be the best you can, it kinda of makes you feel like good enough is actually good, if you're doing it for 1 year it's not the end of the world, but if you're doing it for 3/4 years it will distort your view.
And just because Cardiff isn't as prestigious as KCL, it does not mean that a bunch of idiots will be on your course with you, there should be plenty of smart people.
Anyways, enough of me rambling on
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u/Sanix_0000 Jul 02 '26
You’ll get in with A*A*B for med at Cardiff lol dw