Help, Manchester or Cardiff for DD?

[NaturalBlondeYeahRight]

She just can’t decide. We’ve been over it again and again and one good point is another’s bad point. One offer is slightly lower if first choice. Should that be a strategy? Any advice welcome at this point.

[Downeyhouse]

I went to Manchester and loved it. But the cities are very different. Is she a big city girl or would she do better in a slightly smaller place?

[seventh]

Which is the more prestigious uni for her subject?

[RedPandaMama]

Manchester, although not even that high up on the league tables anymore, holds some sort of prestige with employers and EVERYONE has heard of it. Also (I'm a Manc!) the night life is fantastic, relatively cheap living for a city, chilled people and great transport links to the rest of the UK.

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

Has she visited? That should be a priority if she hasn't yet.
Which modules does she prefer? There will be a noticeable amount of difference, and it's a key thing A Level students often don't realise

[Athenajm80]

Cardiff is awesome! I came here for uni and haven't left. Great nightlife, the uni is really good and it's quite easy to find your way around. They have some top sports teams, and we host lots of big sporting events here if that appeals. Plus it's a Russell uni which apparently counts for a lot.

[BubblesBuddy]

Manchester is also Russell Group. I would look at the ranking of the subject at each university, the differences in the courses, the individual cities and job prospects. Which course/university has better employment prospects?

You cannot always assume options will run but, in general, which course looks more appealing? Which university is more likely to fit her personality? Is she a northern DD? So would she feel more at home in Manchester? What makes her tick? Can hobbies be better pursued in Cardiff? Manchester university is huge. Is this good or not so appealing? Dig deep into the course and the cities.

[NaturalBlondeYeahRight]

Thanks for input, got distracted last night. Yes both are Russell, both about same distance from us and been to both. We thought the courses actually looked fairly similar but that’s just what’s comparing the info they gave us.
DD thinks she is a big town girl but we’ve lived in the sticks for the whole of secondary. Manchester uni seemed more aware of ‘future prospects/careers’ but they also knew what we wanted to hear iykwim?
Think we are going to draw up a list this weekend then that’s it, dicision needs to be made (by her- she wants me to pick and I’m not falling for that one!!)

[senua]

There are certain Universities who get a reputation eg the obvious example is Oxbridge, with a reputation for academic excellence. Manchester has a reputation but I think that (although it is a serious, academic RG University) it is mainly based on its huge size. It has 27,895 undergraduates [wiki] so that means over 9,000 students graduate every year. Tht means that it is a magnet for milkround employers in the way that, say, York with 18,000 u/g will never be.
Would she enjoy being part of a mega-university? Would it be exciting or overwhelming?

Cardiff (the city) isn't as big as Manchester but it has its own buzz because it is a capital city. It has lots of important infrastructure squeezed into a small footprint, so a lot is within walking distance.

[seventh]

My daughter checked out Manchester on her own.

On the walk from the train station to the uni she said she felt unsafe - coupled with the course not being quite right for her she chose to go elsewhere (a bigger city but where she feels safe and the course is right).

Has your daughter been to both unis on her own, to look around? She should be able to get a feel for the cities more easily that way,

[mirage937]

Besides all the academic stuff I would look at first year accomodation, distance to uni and if public transport would be needed and availability of second and third year accomodation. Also I know you said same distance but is that the same length of time on public transport and is one cheaper then the other. I know cost isnt everything but for some it can bare a real influence on experience.

[LoniceraJaponica]

DD didn't like Manchester either. Like seventh's DD the walk beteeen the station and the uni wasn't great, and she found the sheer size of the place intimidating.

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

As a student you wouldn't actually walk that route between the station and uni on a regular basis - there's a direct bus from main and north campuses and unless you're commuting you're only going to be going to the train station twice a term anyway

[Bixg]

There is a massive homeless problem in Manchester, with people even begging around the University, you can't escape it. The streets are filthy with litter along Oxford Road. It's also becoming an expensive city to live in. Having said that, the University attracts some of the best academics and researchers and many overseas students choose Manchester. I can't comment on Cardiff as I haven't visited it.

[boatyardblues]

There are comparison tables that look at student cost of living. Also probably worth comparing graduate employability rates for both of the courses she’s looking at.

[welshcake82]

Cardiff! I have lived in both cities. Cardiff university is great fun, the city is compact, lively and (imo) much safer than Manchester

[hellsbells99]

There is a massive homeless problem in nearly every City. I was shocked and saddened by the amount I saw in Leeds last weekend.
Regarding Manchester, there is a fantastic bus system and buses run every few minutes to Fallowfield and the university. Saves a fortune on taxis after a night out.
I know students who love Manchester and others who find it overwhelming.

[purplegreen99]

Maybe ask on somewhere like Studentroom if other students could share their experiences of the two courses, or just search on there for any previous posts?

Interesting point senua about the size of universities - will suggest this to my dd and nephew as something to consider when they are looking at universities. Anyone know if there is a site that lists the number of students at every uni (to save googling them separately)?

[seventh]

As a student you wouldn't actually walk that route between the station and uni on a regular basis -

I think my daughter felt it was a 'sign'

She's big on signs 😂