Leeds or Sheffield University? Anyone with experience of either city called upon!

[cryinglightning]

DD is totally torn between the two. Has plenty of time to decide but wants to get decision made ASAP. She was fairly set on Sheffield for a long time but now is very unsure. Her course is Psychology.

Key points:

• Leeds ranks better overall but Sheffield is higher for Psychology
  
• work placements are available at both
  
• Sheffield offer is a relatively secure AAB and Leeds is AAA so more ambitious (although she is on track to achieve it)
  
• nightlife would seem to be better in Leeds although still good in Sheffield, but she worries Sheffield may be a bit dull (she is a quite a ‘party girl’ and loves going out)
  
• Sheffield is the smaller city so may be more manageable than Leeds and cheaper (happy to be corrected on this)
  
• she is very into gigs and indie music; Leeds’ music scene is better but Sheffield’s is still good and may have more of an ‘indie vibe’? (again may be talking rubbish)
  
• she loves rock climbing which is obviously more freely available in Sheffield
  

Insurance choice most likely Liverpool. She also has an offer From Cardiff but prefers Sheffield and Leeds.

DD is tying herself up in knots! Anyone with ANY experience of eithe uni or city who could lend insight would be really helpful, particularly anyone who can compare the two thanks for reading!

[Kanga83]

I have been to both. Sheffield undergrad and Leeds postgrad. Both are brilliant universities and cities, Sheffield feels more studenty in my opinion and more compact. Leeds uni and city are both quite vast. It depends what she is after from the experience. Uni's both similar really, I felt safer in Sheffield but this was many moons ago

[Kanga83]

Happy to PM over it if you like. she would not find find sheffield night life dull though, it's pretty full on!

[cryinglightning]

That is super helpful @kanga83 thank you! Did you have a preference for either uni in the end? And you found the nightlife comparable between cities?

[cryinglightning]

That is super helpful @kanga83 thank you! Did you have a preference for either uni in the end? And you found the nightlife comparable between cities?

[cryinglightning]

That is super helpful @kanga83 thank you! Did you have a preference for either uni in the end? And you found the nightlife comparable between cities?

[cryinglightning]

That is super helpful @kanga83 thank you! Did you have a preference for either uni in the end? And you found the nightlife comparable between cities?

[Ilovecandlez]

I live and studied in Sheffield. I think the university are much the same really but the locations of student accommodation are really good in Sheffield and the place feels very safe. I also applied to Leeds but the city felt a little big for some reason, even though Sheffield is bigger. I think visit both and go with your gut and I imagine it will make v little difference where you get your degree from quality wise

[cryinglightning]

Sorry - dodgy laptop - not sure why that posted four times...

[cryinglightning]

@Ilovecandlez yes the impression I got was that Sheffield seemed more compact and manageable when living away from home at first. Is it interesting as a place to study and live?

[HermioneWeasley]

Where do you live at the moment? Leeds is the bigger city with a wider variety of things to do (and much better shopping) but if you are in a small village then Sheffield might be better. If you live in London, Leeds will be the better fit

[Kanga83]

Visit both would be my suggestion, get a feel for the campus and the city. I absolutely loved my time at both, but I did feel Sheffield was home (I'm a London girl and back down south now). Leeds is huge, I was never as keen on the accommodation (granted I was in postgrad but it was quite far out and didn't feel particularly safe). Course wise and facilities both faultless, I loved the Sheffield nightlife better personally, it was easier to get around (plus tram for late nights to meadowhall) with better links from town to student digs on the bus for me. All though big, felt more compact. Has two uni's and both unions (at the time) accepted each other too. Leeds has 3 uni's now (BPP law school is there too) and again I loved it but would do Sheffield in a heartbeat again.

[MrsGrindah]

Leeds is not a vast city! Both cities are very student friendly. DD studied in Sheffield and loved it but felt the city itself too small.Nightlife definitely better in Leeds.

[AltheaVestr1t]

Studies in Sheffield and still here 20 years later. Sheffield has a fantastic vibe for students - lots going on. Student accommodation is in the best areas of the city and the city is very safe and easy to get around. I don’t know much about Leeds so can’t compare the too but I would recommend Sheffield as a place to live without hesitation.

[Kanga83]

Sheffield is also brilliant for psychology- I did Law but did an elective with psychology and criminology and the teaching was great. This was 2000-2003 though!

[Tigger03]

I went to Sheffield and the nightlife is plentiful - more than enough for all tastes and from visiting friends in Leeds Sheffield has a much stronger indie vibe.

The accommodation in Sheffield is also nicer in my opinion as it’s centred in student villages and felt very safe.

However, Leeds is vastly better on the shopping front - I found Sheffield city centre felt more like a large town than a proper city.

Both are great and very similar really, so she should just go with her gut!

[AltheaVestr1t]

studied and two!

[JanetheObscure]

DS went to Leeds, DD is at Sheffield; both very happy. We love both cities - Sheffield is definitely smaller and hasn't got the same variety of nightlife, but there is plenty of it. (This is what I have gleaned from my DC, as clearly I haven't experienced it myself...)

So easy to get the the Peak District from Sheffield and loads of students do hiking/climbing.

FWIW, DD chose Sheffield because it is also high ranked for her course and she does enjoy it. DS enjoyed his at Leeds too!

Overall, as psychology will be well taught at both unis, I would say the choice comes down to whether your DD feels she would be happier in a larger or a small city. Has she visited both? Could she visit again?

[OlivejuiceU2]

My vote would be for Leeds. I went uni here and have stayed 12 years.

[cryinglightning]

We are in London so she is very much accustomed to city life. An appealing aspect of Sheffield is the high percentage of students who stay on in the city afterwards - gives a good impression of it as a place to live.

@MrsGrindah did your DD feel that Sheffield was boring as a result of being small - poor nightlife etc?

[Ilovecandlez]

Yes. They are doing up the city centre, Meadowhall a tram ride away, the music scene is good (I think! I not have two young kids and work full time so have little recent experience), it has arguably the best theatres in the country outside London. Residential areas for students are great (you can go city centre or Ranmoor or Endcliffe which are dead nice)

[cryinglightning]

@Tigger03 interesting that you find Sheffield to have more of an indie vibe. Not to sound pretentious, but DD is a classic indie kid type - this would seem something more associated with Sheffield than Leeds. But Leeds has more gigs...

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

I went to Sheffield. Two of the best things were being able to walk everywhere from city centre to university, to accomodation... And how easy it was to get into the countryside. With having the two universities so close together, Sheffield always had something going on (admittedly this was a decade ago!).

[MrsGrindah]

Yes DD enjoyed the “ student” nightlife if you see what I mean but felt there was more going on generally in Leeds. I think she outgrew Sheffield.But she still speaks fondly of it.

[MrsGrindah]

Leeds is easily walkable too. One thing to consider..the rail links between Sheffield and Leeds are not too bad

[cryinglightning]

@MrsGrindah that makes sense. Yes, I believe they are only an hour apart on the train? So she could end up getting to know the other city reasonably well regardless of which one she is at!