It’s coming up to the time of year when your weekends are spent collecting goodie bags at uni open days, a time when you’re supposed to decide which subject you want to spend the next few years studying, and what kind of career you want after that. This is all very well if you’ve been playing schools/doctors with your teddies since you were five, but what if nothing takes your fancy? With over 30,000 undergraduate courses to choose from, there should be something for everyone, but maybe you fancy something a bit different, maybe you need something a bit more…niche. Maybe a course in Harry Potter is where your future lies (available at Durham Uni) or stand-up comedy (available at the University of Kent)?
We’ve compiled a list of ten of the most ‘unusual’ degrees that are out there.
TALK TO THE ANIMALS
Ever wondered what animals are actually thinking? Fancy yourself as a bit of a cockroach whisperer? Then take a look at Animal Behaviour and Psychology at the University of Chester. It looks at the science behind animal behaviour, from mammals to insects, within the context of ecology, conservation and welfare. According to the course specs, cockroaches have personalities and frogs can experience stress, who knew?
CHEERS!
The Viticulture and Oenology degree at Plumpton College in East Sussex (no, we’d never heard of those words either) teaches you the science behind wine production. What’s not to like about drinking wine for three years in the name of science? You learn about the practical side of growing vines, and the science behind wine-making, with a placement at a commercial winery. Sign us up!
TIME PLEASE!
You’ll be literally clock-watching with a Horology degree at Birmingham University (one of our best student cities), as you study the science behind clocks and watches and the measurement of time. You’ll also learn the specialist skills needed to create timepieces, as well as for repairing them. You’ll have access to cutting edge technology and be taught by industry professionals. It sounds like you’ll have plenty of time on your hands!
HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT
If Mary Berry is your hero and you fancy being the most popular person in your uni accommodation, then Baking Science and Technology at London South Bank University is the course for you. You’ll learn about the science behind baking, artisan chocolate production and confectionary, as well as more commercial skills like computer labelling, packaging and business management. And you’ll never be short of tasters!
GREENFINGER
If you like nothing more than a good conversation with your yucca plant, then maybe a Masters in Ethnobotany at the University of Kent has your name all over it. You’ll be studying the relationship between people and plants – how we use them and modify them and how intertwined they are with our culture. With links to Kew Gardens and the Eden Project, it’s the first course of its kind in the world, and at least you’ll know everyone will be rooting for you!
WATCH THE BIRDIE
If golf is your thing and you’re ready to take it to the next level, then a BSc in Tournament Golf at Cornwall College is the course for you. It prepares students physically, mentally, technically and tactically to compete at tournament level. It takes a lot of drive and determination, and you’ll need to do a lot of practice, but you’ll also get to spend your winters training in Portugal.
CAN YOU HACK IT?
To us, this sounds like the start of a Tom Cruise film, but if computer science and cyber security is your thing then an Ethical Hacking degree at Abertay University will be right up your network. You’ll study the processes behind hacking and cyber-attacks and learn how to stop illegal hacks, something that is very current in the modern world. It’s one of the top cyber security courses in Europe and has a very high graduate employment rate.
STOP CLOWNING AROUND
A BA in Contemporary Circus and Physical Theatre at Bath Spa Uni is probably the most fun-sounding course of them all. The university has links to companies such as Cirque Bijou so you’ll be trained by some of the best in the industry and you’ll be able to build up a portfolio that could set you up for a great career. You’ll learn circus skills as well as physical theatre and performance skills. We imagine people will be falling over themselves to apply…
DON’T MYTH OUT ON THIS ONE
Ever wondered why we carve pumpkins at Halloween? Or why we blow out birthday candles? Then an MA in Folklore Studies at the University of Hertfordshire is the course for you. It explores the legends, rituals, beliefs and traditions that are an everyday part of our cultural identity. You’ll also get to research and prepare a dissertation on your chosen area of interest, whether that’s witchcraft or local legends. Just stay away from any Wicker men…
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
If surfing is your thing, then what could be better than studying Surf Science at Cornwall College, situated in Newquay, the surfing capital of the UK? You’ll study everything you need to know about the surfing industry, learn about surfer culture, environmental sustainability, anatomy, wave mechanics and surfboard design. And while you won’t be doing any practical surfing, there is an annual field trip to the breaks of Northern Spain and Southern France.
WHAT YOU WAITING THOR?
If you know your runes from your sagas and your meatballs from your herring, then maybe Viking and Old Norse Studies at University College London is the degree for you. You’ll study the Viking age through modern and medieval Scandinavian languages, Norse literature using artefacts and manuscripts from the period. You’ll spend your third year abroad in either Denmark, Iceland, Norway or Sweden, depending on your chosen language, where you’ll be completely immersed in the language and culture.
Some people are lucky enough to know exactly what they want to do at uni, and head straight for the usual Business/Geography/Psychology/Law degrees, while others have absolutely no idea. This is where weird uni courses come into their own, proving that there really is something for everyone; you can even do a uni course on Taylor Swift!
Whichever course you end up doing, it’s worth thinking about insuring your belongings whilst at university. From just £2 per lunar month*, you can Pick n’ Mix your policy to make sure you get the cover that’s relevant to you, so you don’t end up paying for what you don’t need. Visit the website or give us a call and we can give you a free, no-strings quote. Then you can focus on the important things, like making friends, talking to your plants, and comparing Taylor Swift lyrics to classic novels!
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