Manchester Uni pros and cons ?

[Anasnake]

DS is very keen on Manchester to study Law. Just looking for any info as have had a mixed reaction when talking to people.

[LoniceraJaponica]

Joining in for opinions as this is on DD's shortlist as well - for biomedical science.

[HollowTalk]

I know a few people who have studied there and they really love it. Manchester's a great city and the university is also great - hard work, no spoonfeeding but great lecturers.

[fatbottomgirl67]

DD2 has an interview on Thursday. Only found out on Thursday so she could do with any info going - physics is her subject

[fatbottomgirl67]

Sorry not trying to hijack just lerking for any useful info

[MIdgebabe]

Has he been to look? Dd found the open days really useful. Different places just suit different people, Manchester is big , bustling , city vibe. Good university.

[LuckyLuckyWoman]

DD2 did a science degree in Manchester, absolutely loved living there and the uni facilities were fab

[Anasnake]

Went to the open day and it's his favourite so far.

[Saker]

Ds1 has just started there and is really enjoying it. I went there many years ago to do my PhD and also loved it. Manchester as a place has a lot to offer, but it is a big city with the noise, traffic and crime that goes with that. But you can easily get the train to the Peak District for a bit of fresh air and exercise! The centre of Manchester has loads to do like Bridgewater Hall, Lowry Centre, Olympic swimming pool, velodrome, obviously loads of restaurants, pubs and clubs. The university is also huge and has a lot going on - there's going to be a society for every activity you could dream of and plenty of facilities. I have heard some of the accommodation is less good, but I don't have experience of this and Ds1 isn't in Uni accommodation.

[BubblesBuddy]

I would find out how many on the law degree get grad employment in that field. That’s the measure of a successful law degree. If he doesn’t want a career in law, the law school doesn’t matter so much. If he wants city law firm, it matters.

As for Manchester: it’s big. It’s lively and there’s plenty going on.

[Anasnake]

Thanks for the info !

[BringOnTheScience]

Manchester is DC1's favourite too, for Linguistics and Anthropology. Struck us as v organised. Strong LGBT community in the city is a reassuring factor for them too.

[swingofthings]

DD started Medicine there. It was her 4th choice, became first when she set foot there on her interview.

She loves it. I find Manchester Uni very well organised and extremely welcoming. They do little things that means a lot like sending a named postcard to wish good luck on A levels.

Agree about not being spoon fed. Don't know about other courses, but definitely an expectation of self management and studying although with great support and supervision.

DD says that Manchester as a city offers all the excitement of London but in a less harassing more relaxing way and certainly a lot cheaper!

[Hellohah]

I work there (here). Agree with the comment about accommodation - some of it is blooming awful.

There is a new development, which I think 2019-20 students should be able to apply for, I advise applying for this if you can. It's called Unsworth Park.

[LoniceraJaponica]

Which is the accommodation to avoid?

[Hellohah]

Honestly, I'd avoid the Oak House areas (so Squirrels, Maple Court, Chestnut, Sycamore, Beech etc) and Green Court, Little Court - they are old and small - but obviously cheaper. I think they are all self-catering, no ensuite (if you want that).

Ashbourne, Shevyn, Richmond Park, Woolton Hall and Victoria Park are the places I would say are nicer (but more expensive). There is also Wright Robinson Hall, but this is based on North Campus near Piccadilly near the old UMIST site from when the Universities merged.

And as mentioned, Unsworth Park, which will be Richmond Park 2 will be brand new for 2019, so I imagine this will be the best facilities.

[LoniceraJaponica]

That's great, thank you. DD wants self catered as she is vegetarian (and a bit of a foodie)

[Hellohah]

There is a full list here, with prices and which are catered/self-catered.

www.accommodation.manchester.ac.uk/ouraccommodation/

[LoniceraJaponica]

I have the list from the open day, but thanks anyway. DD is torn between Manchester and Newcastle.

[WorriedMutha]

They had two week sample menus at the Manchester catered halls when we visited in June. My Dd is mostly vegan and there was a daily vegan option amid an impressive choice. I favoured catered to make sure she gets at least two good nosh ups a day. It's only for the first year. By way of contrast, Sussex was entirely self catering. Dd has applied to both (English Literature).

[swingofthings]

Haha helloha you've cited one of my DD's accommodation and she's very happy there. She opted by choice for the cheapest so didn't expect hotel accommodation and is happy to have a comfy and clean place. She gets along brilliantly with her flatmates and even others staying regularly because those in nicer accommodations prefer the atmosphere there.

She's happy to have much cheaper accommodation than many of her friends in other cities.

[Stopyourhavering64]

Dd has been mugged twice since studying in Manchester ....once as she got off a bus in Fallowfield ( huge student presence there for 2nd yr accommodation onwards ) and once in a nightclub
She now suffers from anxiety as a direct result of these events and can't wait to leave after graduation ( and she used to love Manchester and the social scene)

[oldfatandtired1]

My DS graduated with a 1st in physics 3 years ago and loved it. He’s still there, living and working in the city centre. He was a country boy so it was a big change for him. swing DS was also in Oak House for first year. It’s pretty basic, to say the least, but it’s cheap and he made great friends there. He wanted better accommodation but didn’t get it and was glad. They all move into shared flats/houses in 2nd year anyway.

havering sorry to hear of your daughter’s experiences. Crime is certainly something to be aware of in the student areas but I guess it can happen anywhere.

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

It's a big university - the largest in the country after the OU, which is obviously a completely different kettle of fish. You can get lost in the crowd if you want to, but equally if you want support it's there for those that ask for it, and the mass of 40k students is rapidly broken down into people you know from halls, society and course. It also means that there's the critical mass of students necessary for all sorts of esoteric clubs and societies, and the funding for some top quality facilities and a lot of capital spending on the campus.

The cheaper halls are entirely functional, and an extra £10/20/whatever per week is invariably more valuable to a student than nicer fixtures and fittings; it all meets an acceptable minimum standard. No point getting an en suite - there are cleaners for the shared bathrooms, and when they all move into shared houses for second year they'll have to have shared bathrooms anyway so they may as well get used to it as freshers. Manchester is unusual in that it guarantees accommodation to all students regardless of whether they come as firm, insurance or clearing applicants; a rarity nowadays, and a great advantage.

Crime does happen in Manchester, but in general if you follow the usual rules you would in any big city then you'll probably be fine. When I say the usual rules, I mean don't walk across Platt Fields Park after dark by yourself while drunk and flashing your iPhone. And lock your front door. Anyone who has been mugged twice has either not been following the usual rules or has been incredibly unlucky.

I've very fond memories of my time there, and would move back if I could; I regret moving away after I graduated.

[Xenia]

Quite a lot of trainee solicitors go to Manchester. This isn ot that recent but a reasonable list. www.chambersstudent.co.uk/where-to-start/newsletter/law-firms-preferred-universities

i would go to the hardest to get into university that you can manage however starting with oxbridge and including places like Durham, Bristol etc.

I read law at Manchester (a long time ago) and worked at on of the best London law firms.

It would not be top of anyone's list if they could get into somewhere with higher grade requirements probably, but it is a good law school. Eg if they might get into Durham I would go for that instead. (I am from the NE)

[dreamingofsun]

son is in his 3rd year. he got his phone and keys nicked during freshers at a nightclub and the halls he was in had to have the security locks made narrower on the ground floor windows as they got burgled. he comes from a rural area so its been a steep learning curve but i guess is a similar problem in most big cities and students have died at my other son's southern uni.

he doesnt like it. i think this is mainly due to bad luck on making friends.....and he is normally very sociable and makes them easily. his flatmates at victoria park halls either didnt go out at all or went home at weekends and i have a feeling people on his course are a bit geeky - probably the subject. he has been surprised at how many northerners attend - thought it would be more mixed - not to say this is a bad thing

the course i think has been good and like others say they dont spoonfeed and expect a high standard - which i imagine employers are going to appreciate. he likes his tutors

accommodation has been easy to find, the price is not vastly different from other son's in the south