Lancaster versus Birmingham University- anyone with opinions please?

[glitterbiscuits]

These are my DSs front runners.
We went to an Open Day at Brum and I was more impressed than I thought I'd be. (He liked it too!)
Haven't seen Lancaster yet
Has anyone any got any experience of either Uni please?

[dinnermoneyready]

Have the same dilemma here - we visited Lancaster and really liked it - felt very welcoming and friendly but is unsure about the minor subject bit. Birmingham he liked the course more but is unsure about living in such a big city. I liked Birmingham more than I thought I would too.

[pootleposeyperkin]

My ds has listed Lancaster as first choice. We were really impressed by the campus and how friendly it was. It would also suit him better than a big city (his other favourite was Manchester). We really liked the college system. It's also a lovely (small) city.

[glitterbiscuits]

I'm a bit confused by the Lancaster college system.
DS has a bit of a working class chip on his shoulder, I wonder what he would make of it?
We live in a rural area my DS may like Brum as a change.

[sluj]

Don't worry about the Lancaster college system. Yes, there is friendly rivalry and inter collegiate competitions but basically they are social hubs and a chance to claim one of the many bars on campus as your one 😁
On a serious note there is pastoral and financial support available from your college as well as your department so it's all positive.
Not a snobby place at all

[gubbinsy]

Don't have experience of Birmingham but I went to Lancaster albeit left 20 years ago this year

I didn't want a huge city so the campus and smaller town suited me well. The college system isn't snobby at all - as pp said it's supportive and useful for freshers to find feet. Also good for pastoral support.

The minor subject thing - not sure how it works now but when I went you did three subjects in first year then carried on with major in second year - I did combined degree anyway so only one extra in first year. I enjoyed the variety.

[glitterbiscuits]

Thanks for the replies so far.
Is Lancaster Uni within walking distance of the city? (Thinking of part time work opportunities)

[Fantata]

It depends on the subject but generally a degree from Birmingham will be more highly regarded than one from Lancaster.

[GetSchwifty]

No it’s not, but there will be regular buses.
Birmingham university is not in the city centre either, think it’s mostly selly oak.

[pootleposeyperkin]

Lancaster uni is straight off the M6

[Purplepeopleeater22]

My son is doing a maths degree at Brum uni we are from a rural location he absolutely loves it he is in his 3rd year.if you need any advise regards Brum uni feel free to ask me

[pfwow]

Birmingham is an amazing place to be as a student. The university is in a nice area, and has the advantages of a campus uni, but obviously with a massive city nearby, excellent transport links and loads going on. I went to visit Lancaster when considering unis, it's excellent for some subjects, I didn't chose it because it seemed very isolated and had all the disadvantages of a campus university, ie travelling in after first year, plus Lancaster itself is pretty small. I can totally see how it would appeal to some though. Plus it's on top of that hill looks really chilly in winter.

[pfwow]

Lancaster uni is not within walking distance of the city. It's up a massive big hill, and you need a bus.

[TigerDragonMonkey]

I’m at Lancaster. It’s a lovely campus, lots of stuff on site, including a little cinema! Lots of clubs and social activities (so I hear, not that I get the chance to do any of them 😂). The library is really nice. You have to get the bus to town but there are buses constantly during the day, and plenty of night buses for students to go out in town and get back safely.
I’ve never been to Birmingham though so I can’t give you an objective comparison I’m afraid!

[Canadalife]

Hello. Sorry I don’t know how to link to another thread...but we asked last year about Lancaster university and got some interesting replys..search for Lancaster university and it should come up.

Dd is now at Lancaster and loves it. She looked at Birmingham, but preferred Lancaster for her subject. It has proved very friendly and she settled fast. There are buses into town. There is good social life on campus and the uni has a nightclub in Lancaster. College system works well to make it more accessible and supportive. The teaching seems excellent. There are run free buses in the evening..Friday and Saturday I think. Good luck with the decision making process

[sluj]

Lancaster is higher up in the overall uni tables, top 10 in all of them. Birmingham is Russell Group though if you are a "believer"

[ErrolTheDragon]

Lancaster is higher up in the overall uni tables, top 10 in all of them.

That depends which tables you're looking at. The international QS rankings put B'ham at 14 in the UK(79th in the world) whereas Lancaster comes in at 20(131)

www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings-articles/world-university-rankings/top-universities-uk-2019

As to comparing the two unis... I went to one (40 odd years ago) and live quite close to the other.

Birmingham has one of the best campuses going, IMO (they're currently doing some redevelopment, so not sure how it looks right now), and the main halls site is really nice, a short walk away around a lake. There's Selly Oak on one side (curry houses), leafy Edgbaston on the other, and a variety of suburbs accessible for rentals. The local train line gives good access out to some of those, but also into the city centre. You've got the advantages of being able to get into a big city but also the advantages of a proper campus (much nicer IMO than somewhere like Manchester).

Lancaster, OTOH, as PP have said, is a campus about 3 miles outside a compact, pleasant but quite quiet town. Regular buses, some good cycle paths. If you're an outdoorsy sort of person then you can get out into to proper countryside (which is a lot harder from Brum!). Apart from the halls on the uni site (which I assume are mostly for first years?), there seems to be a lot of student lets in the town - there seem to be some large student accommodation blocks going up at the moment.

So, depends on what sort of environment the student likes, but obviously also on the subject - some of the Lancaster departments are rather small, I think.

[latedecember1963]

My son went to a Law taster day at Lancaster. He was impressed with the department but found the campus bleak so didn't apply there.

He's in his 2nd year at Birmingham and loves all aspects of it. He's enjoying his course and has a good social life. He very much considers it his adopted home now.

I'm off to work now, but will check this thread later to see if there are more specific queries I might be able to help with, or ask DS about.

[MorningsEleven]

Fantata

It depends on the subject but generally a degree from Birmingham will be more highly regarded than one from Lancaster

I agree. I also agree with a PP who said that the Lancaster campus is bleak. I'd go for Birmingham.

[TigerDragonMonkey]

Lancaster campus isn’t beak, just don’t go on a rainy day ;). There’s a lot of redevelopment with new student blocks, sport centre, huge library extension, and the whole new health and innovation campus underway at the moment. Plus it’s close to the Lake District.
But OP, you probably need to visit both to make up your mind! Your DS would likely be happy at either so will need a feel for his subject department in both places to get a sense of the best fit for him.
Also not sure why anyone would regard a Birmingham degree more highly than a Lancaster one. They are both highly ranked universities and well respected.

[LoniceraJaponica]

“It depends on the subject but generally a degree from Birmingham will be more highly regarded than one from Lancaster.”

I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Birmingham is getting a reputation for handing out unconditional offers like sweets. Also, Lancaster has consistently been in the top 10 university league tables. It was The Times University of the Year in 2018. Just because it isn’t an RG university doesn’t mean it isn’t worth considering.

DD considered it, but decided she wanted a city university. We live rurally so a campus university didn’t appeal to her. She also disliked Warwick and York for the same reasons.

[TigerDragonMonkey]

^beak? Bleak, clearly ;). We do have beaks. There are many many ducks here!

[Gizzymum]

I went to a uni college in Lancaster (which is now part of Cumbria uni) and the urban legend was that due to Lancaster Uni being so isolated from everything else it had a high suicide rate (that was almost 20yrs ago). The city itself is tiny though - smaller than some Lake District villages!

I did visit Birmingham uni when deciding where to go and it is huge in comparison. I came from a small school and sixth form so didn't fancy such a large campus. Looking back I should have picked Birmingham!

[IHeartKingThistle]

I was there 20 years ago and sadly it did have a high suicide rate back then. It's also fucking freezing on that hill!

But if a campus uni is what appeals then it's fab, honestly!

[Bluntness100]

I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Birmingham is getting a reputation for handing out unconditional offers like sweets

It doesn't matter even if that's true, which I don't think it is. An unconditional is not a degree. They ain't handing them out like sweets, 🤣

[LoniceraJaponica]

Sorry. I have been getting that impression from the HE threads.