The 10 degree subjects at university you didn't know students could study

Courses at London's universities are producing the DJs, podiatrists, disaster managers, and animal industry experts of tomorrow, writes Ben Grech

Do you want to be the next David Guetta? There's an entire DJ practice course on offer in London, courtesy of UCLan (via Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Ah, London; so diverse, so mixed, so eclectic. And in more ways than you could possibly imagine.

Students up and down the country are packing up their lives and getting ready to start a new chapter: university. For those who have not yet made their minds up about what course to choose, there may still be time to get a spot on your ideal course before the Clearing cycle ends on 21 September.

So, if you need a little last-minute inspiration– or even want to start planning ahead for next year – here are some of the more obscure degree courses on offer out there that you probably never knew even existed. (Note: students who have already chosen their course will be kicking themselves for not checking these ones out first):

1) DJ Practice

Yes, you can spend three years of your life learning how to DJ. This degree isn’t just scratch and beats though – you’ll learn plenty of “theoretical study in the techniques and technologies” of the DJ scene. Taught by University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) – but at the School of Sound campus in London – find more about this DJ degree here.

2) Ophthalmic Dispensing

City University London has a foundation degree entirely dedicated to training people in how to fit lenses into glasses. According to the site, “…this course leads to a rewarding career as a dispensing optician,” which clearly falls under my ‘oddly specific degrees’ category. So, if you’ve ever wondered what kind of degree the girls in labcoats that work in Specsavers have, this is it.

3) Urban Dances

The University of East London (UEL) has a degree called Dance: Urban Practices for those aspiring choreographers and teachers. You can study styles of dancing from all over the world, including hip-hop, street, capoeira, and Bollywood. I only have one issue with this degree: nothing sounds less street-y than taking a street class. I mean, what kind of cred does that give you?

4) Hand Embroidery

The University for the Creative Arts’ as a whole offers highly specialised degrees for people with a creative disposition. From fine arts to fashion and design, there are a number of niche degrees, but this one is my favourite by far – a BA degree in hand embroidery. This might come as a surprise to you, or it might not, but it’s the only degree in hand embroidery in the UK.

5) Podiatry

UEL hits a second strike with a degree in podiatry. This nearly-medicine degree will allow you to spend the full three years of your university life looking at, studying, treating, and touching feet (although, I’m not judging). According to UEL, “…the main strength of the UEL podiatry programme is the integration and application of theory with practice.”

6) Disaster Management

Kingston University prepares you to learn the science behind all those 90s blockbusters you watched in your tweens – including Dante’s Peak, Hard Rain, and Twister. I don’t think they’ll be able to teach you the science behind Sharknado, but that’s because, well, there isn’t any. Either way, here it is.

7) History of Ideas

Goldsmiths’ College takes a very specific look at history. Ever felt like studying the whole of human history through the ideas that fuelled it? It sounds a little bit nerdy but will probably come in handy every time you get called to be on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Check it out here.

8) Property Development

University of Greenwich offers a whole degree for people interested in property design and development. The university states a rather general: “Graduates from this programme are equipped to work on major projects with numerous and varied organisations.” So, with London’s property scene booming on all fronts, this sounds like a cracker.

9) Pop Music

There are a surprising number of colleges, institutes and universities in London offering a degree in popular music to all the MTV enthusiasts out there. However, many of these courses draw lessons from several different styles including rock, folk, and jazz, but they’re centred on pop.

If you’re interested, check out Goldsmiths’ Popular Music BMus degree, the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance’s BMus in Popular Music Performance, Middlesex’s Popular Music, and the more international SOAS Global Popular Music degree.

10) Animal Management

By far the most tempting of the lot, and brought to you by the University of Hertfordshire, this degree is a foundation course for people who are not, says the university itself, “quite ready for university.” This course, will give you the knowledge and skills for a successful career within the animal industry.

London: the city where you can study just about anything. Now isn’t that awesome?

Twitter: @benthegrech

Ben Grech is the founder of student accommodation booking site, Uniplaces