Queen Margaret University College (Edinburgh)

...from London Kings College to Queen Margaret University College Edinburgh.

The reason for me moving courses was that the living costs were far too high, and the additional support given in my loan and bursary (I'm studying a healthcare career) wasn't enough. I was paying between £100-150 in rent PER WEEK. If a normal person can't afford it how am i supposed to afford it.

I am studying to be a dietitian which means i ...
...dietetics. I am now in my 2nd year after spending a forgetful (hopefully) 12 months in London. The courses are exactly the same which is good because neither me or my new friends are at any advantage. Whilst London was a University spread all over the city, QM is a campus university where everything i need is on campus. I dont even have to travel to lectures as i have chosen to spend this year in catered halls, so when my lectures are due to start ... more

Edinburgh, its a great city, got 3 universitys, so it can't be that bad can it? They were my thoughts when i switched courses from London Kings College to Queen Margaret University College Edinburgh.

The reason for me moving courses was that the living costs were far too high, and the additional support given in my loan and bursary (I'm studying a healthcare career) wasn't enough. I was paying between £100-150 in rent PER WEEK. If a normal person can't afford it how am i supposed to afford it.

I am studying to be a dietitian which means i have signed upto a 4 year Bsc (Hons) degree in dietetics. I am now in my 2nd year after spending a forgetful (hopefully) 12 months in London. The courses are exactly the same which is good because neither me or my new friends are at any advantage. Whilst London was a University spread all over the city, QM is a campus university where everything i need is on campus. I dont even have to travel to lectures as i have chosen to spend this year in catered halls, so when my lectures are due to start i can just stroll across the car park.

I'll just give you some backgrpund information on the course. As i said before it is a 4 year Bsc (Hons) course although i believe you can leave after 3 years with a Bsc. The course is recognised by the dietitians council so if you successfully complete the course you will achieve state registration status. The course contains a lot of biology and chemistry so if these are not your strong points then i dont think this is the course for you. This is the reason for the offer including Chemistry and Biology up to A-level standard. The main features of the course are biochemistry, nutrition. sociology, psychology. physiology and professional studies. In the nutrition part you get to muck around and cook foods, because after all you cant advise people to cook certain foods if you cant do it yourself! Clinical placements are an important part of the course and need to be passed in order to achieve state registration. There are 3 placements over the 4 years. The 1st is a 4 week placement over the holiday between the 1st year and 2nd year, the 2nd is a 12 week placement in your 3rd year, the 3rd is a 12 week placement at the start of your 4th year. The downside to the course is that you often lose a lot of holiday due to placements! The last and final part of the course in the last part of the 4th year is the honours project. This is used to determine your final degree.

Enough about the work, what about the facilities. When i came to edinburgh i was amazed at how good the facilities were considering that QMUC only has 4000 students over 2 campuses. The library which is the source of information for most of your course is excellent in ensuring the information is availiable 24-7. There are plenty of computer rooms with up to date software on them including windows XP. There are also plenty of group rooms where you can practise prensentations in front of your friends. As well as all this there are 2 different eating areas, an excellent bar and games room with an excellent Student Union. The Union organises at least one great night out each week, at low cost. The sports facilities on the corstorphine campus are brill. There is an air conditioned, roomy gym with all the mod cons, a 25m swimming pool and poolside sauna, squash courts, basketball courts etc. You name they've got it! The facilities are availiable for only £30 a year for students at QMUC...A bargain!. The campus is also situated about a 10 minute walk from a small town centre. Which has everything from food shops, banks and clothes shops to pubs and great restaurants (my faves toby carvery). The halls cater for me for 10 meals a week but i have to make the other 11 myself...The shops are just great for this! After all this edinburgh is only a 5-10 minute bus ride away and the bus stops just outside the university...The college principal had the bus route changed!

I must admit sometimes the costs are a little high...but many things are half the price of what London is like. For example catered halls in edinburgh cost £85 per week but the same thing in London was nearing £200 per week. Cost of travel in Edinburgh is £1 anywhere you want or £1.50 return but in London it was £2-3 easily...

If you weren't satisfied with the pubs near the uni who could wander into edinburgh, your bound to find one you like. There are a least 1 pub on every street but usually 5-6. I've found 13 night clubs but i have been told there are many more....but the pubs near the uni are a whole lot cheaper.......

Because edinburgh is a major city, all of the major designer and high st stores are present...Whatever your taste it will be catered for in edinburgh!!!! Unfortunately the weather is not too great, but you get used to it after a while. It is slightly colder than the rest of the UK but warm jumpers do the trick. It doesn't stop people dressing in skimpy tops and mini skirts when they go out, however!

I would recommend edinburgh to anyone who was thinking of coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

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