Time’s running out and I still can’t decide on my university choice - any advice much appreciated!

[Northerngal123]

Hi everyone! I’m an 18 year old girl going to Uni in September. The issue is I still can’t decide on my Uni and want some tips and advice please before I make my choice before the deadline in 3 weeks.

I have chosen Manchester (my home city), Leeds, Liverpool, MMU, and Sheffield. I’ve got all my offers.

Now I’ve visited all these cities but not all the unis. I’m going to study English lit and went to the offer holder day and was a bit unimpressed. The lecturers were not enthusiastic and whilst the students were really nice it was a bit off putting, and not professional.

I haven’t had the chance to go to any other offer holder days. I’ve visited Manchester Uni on a school trip at high school though and loved it.

I’m terms of the cities, I’ve been quite sheltered me whole life due to having confidence issues and being shy. Some stuff has happened lately that’s really brought me out of that and I want to go out there socialise and become more independent and start living life! I really want to move to another city but know I have got it good if I become a student in Manchester and I love the city centre and everything here. My mum told me with my personality I would probably need a big city with loads to do, little boutiques, restaurants, places to get lost…. She wanted me to choose london but I thought realistically my family wouldn’t be able to support me enough to be comfortable and I don’t want to work too much during my degree. I want to experience clubbing properly for the first time but I also am into sports a lot (boxing and weightlifting) and like having random cool experiences like in Manchester there are so many unique things to do depending on which street you walk in, in town.

My aunt and uncle used to live in Sheffield and they loved it. I visited them all the time and I went this weekend and it’s just like I remember. A nice mix of village Peak District and city centre life. It’s just not got that buzzing Manchester or Leeds vibe and seems more chilled out. The people were so nice there though! I loved how the air and city seemed cleaner. I love hiking and seeing nature and outdoor sports so would like that aspect of it. But I didn’t like the city centre compared to Manchester, it seemed like you have to walk a while to get to any shops or food places from student accommodation., and I can’t picture it having the same nightlife as somewhere like Manchester but we didn’t see the clubs and that sort of thing, we went in early afternoon. I have a friend at Sheffield who loves it though.

Then with Leeds I had to visit it alone for the first time last week and was a bit underwhelmed with the actual Uni set up and how they did it, but I loved the vibe and it seemed to have a real student community. There were students having fun with friends everywhere in the parks and green spaces. The people there I spoke to were nice but seemed busier than Sheffield, reminded me of Manchester. But of course that’s nothing to go off. I liked how the city centre was close to the Uni and you could see the Yorkshire countryside and the hills and everything, loads of good unique shops and it reminded me a lot of the Manchester City centre. I can imagine it having a good nightlife, and lots of things to do.

I haven’t visited Liverpool yet recently but I visited it a year ago for a day out. I remember loving it, the people were really nice again. The Liverpool docks were cool to have that in the centre of town, lots of shops and things to do. I watched a live stream from the Uni English professors and they seemed better than the ones from Leeds and genuinely conveyed their passion for English more but that could just be them having a bad day.

I would be happy to study in any of them to be honest but a part of me thinks did I make the wrong choice of cities and should have actually ventured out to Brighton, Edinburgh, like my parents were saying….. but too late for that. I want an affordable city similar to my home city where loads of different people with different interests come and I have chances to meet them to make friends, but I’m pretty sure I’ll get that at any university 🙂 do any of you or your children have experiences at any of these unis?

I put paragraphs in there but they haven't shown up!

Good to hear a positive story about initially commuting @Plantstrees. ds has decided to commute for 1st year, then review for subsequent years and I still find myself questioning his decision when I see most posts on uni threads saying they are missing out and they they absolutely must move hours from home.

They do show for me 🤣

I lived in South England & went to uni in Scotland
It was a big leap into the unknown !
Most of my friends at the time were encouraged to go to London, but it did not suit my requirements

I really enjoyed my course

I joined several uni sport clubs, one of which allowed me to have cheap opportunities to travel all over Scotland

I was fortunate to make life long friends

I certainly did not have money as a student for "little boutiques"

Clubbing was included in my bugdet though

What job are you aiming for when you graduate ?

Goodluck

I did English at Leeds. The English dept is a lovely cosy house right on campus with a sitting room and various rooms around that main building for tutorials. It’s the best of both worlds as you are a short walk to the union building so you get calm and also buzz. It’s an affordable city with a great park too. You can be any kind of student you want to be there. It’s really hard to get a place there so go for it!

Leeds is also a very flexible English course - you can choose all of anything - you cover amazing classics but also right up to date contemporary lit

I did my undergraduate degree at Manchester and my postgraduate in Leeds. I only lived in Leeds for nine months; all in all including after uni I lived in Manchester from the age of 18 to 31 (with that nine month gap in the middle).

My parents live in the North West so grew up going to Manchester as a teenager on the bus! I love the city, it has changed so much since I've known it and new things are happening all the time. One great thing about being a student there is there are soo many students there's always a group or club or night out for you! And so many places to get a job in the city centre as well. Plus it's a well known uni and looks good on your CV.

All that being said, I would fully recommend moving away from Manchester if it's your home city. You can always move back once you graduate and none of your choices are too far away to make visits back to family and friends at home.

Leeds felt much smaller and a much more academic focus (as you would expect on a postgraduate course) with lots of international students on my course which was nice. There's still decent night life and the opportunity is there with so much gorgeous countryside nearby to do hiking or outdoor sport as well.

Culturally Liverpool is so different and I believe from friends who went there that even the student nights out have a real local character. Scouse girls always look amazing on a night out and are proper up for a laugh. Might be a massive generalisation but I feel like the look is more "glam".

Definitely check out what modules are available on each course and see how it fits for you. If you can also visit the library or study spaces do it. I did an arts course with very little contact time and would have killed for more and better library study space when I was at Manchester (they have since opened a massive new study space building near the library so don't think that will be a problem now).

Good luck!

Ds did Lit at Sheffield and loved it. Lots of really cute independent shops and cafes. Lots of nightlife, and as you say, lovely countryside.
He enjoyed the course immensely and has just finished his Masters.

I agree with a PP about looking at the university tutor specialisms, also look at how many are on the course. A friend I met in uni accommodation was a history student but she spent all her time hanging out with my course students (a similar course) as with over 300 people on her course she found it difficult to make friends.

sorry typo was 100 on her course, only 30 on mine

It was a while ago now (20 years!) but I studied English at Leeds and I loved it. Great city, fantastic course, so much fun. My husband went to Liverpool and would
say exactly the same. I’d say that either would be a great choice.

I'd choose Liverpool or Manchester, depending on course but live out if you go to Manchester.

Good Luck! 🙂

I have a daughter going to Liverpool this time hopefully. We spent a weekend over there. She loved it, as did I. There's plenty to do and see, and there was a definite buzz about the city without it feeling like you were lost. Plus, the added bonus of the ferry or airport with routes to Ireland.
The University has a good reputation. The students seemed to enjoy themselves in the evenings and it felt safe. Her favourite thing was the electric scooters!!!!

Another thing to consider is how much of the courses are going to still be partly or mostly online. A lot of Unis are still very vague about the extent of online content - some still using very vague "blended learning" descriptors which mean absolutely sweet FA. But some are actually being honest and giving detail about what parts will be in person and what parts are online. I'd suggest you phone/email your preferred Unis to try to get some clarification from them, as to whether the course delivery meets your preferences.

I'd say look at the assessment methods for the modules in the courses. I hate coursework and big projects and am great at exams, but some people are the opposite. That said, I think most courses use a range of assessment methods these days.

The only other thing I'd say is be aware of the deadlines for getting your accomodation sorted. Being in the right accomodation can be a big factor in making friends as you will have friends from your course but also from your halls/ apartment.

Your post was almost all about the city and hardly anything about the courses, save for a fairly vague comment that they’re all different but you’re not really set on what you do. I’d look much more closely at them. If you’re passionate enough to want to study, you surely have some preference?!

Also on the course… my stepson finished at Leeds last year (not English Lit.) and he said that you take so many credits from a different course. Not sure if that’s compulsory or optional. In his case, it actually led to him realising he had chosen the wrong course. Not actual subjects: but imagine doing Biology because you don’t think you have the Maths ability for Physics, then loving the Physics module. He actually re-started a year later. So I’d look into and “extras” like that.

If your driver is wanting to experience proper clubbing - you’re 18, you can go now!

You need to stop thinking about the social life and attractions of the city and start focusing on this being an investment in your future career.

You will have fun at any of those Universities. You want the best one on your CV for a future employer - I believe Manchester is the highest rated of your picks.

www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings/english

In any event make sure you choose one from the Russell Group and avoid MMU.

I doubt that graduate schemes view say a 2.1 English Lit degree from Manchester as "better" than one from Liverpool, or Sheffield or Leeds. They're all Russel group unis. Pick the one you want to live in OP.

My choice would be Liverpool, but I'm biased as I went there. Great student city, very affordable, easy to get around, great nightlife.

Nightlife I'd rank them as:

1. Liverpool
2. Manchester
3. Leeds
4. Sheffield

...but this is based on my experiences 10 years ago 🤣, so may have changed.

Plus it's easy to get to Manchester on the train, if you did want to move home in 2nd or 3rd year to save money.

I think give Leeds some strong consideration. Recently visited with dd and we both loved everything about the city, uni, people we met. Hee friend is doing English there and is loving every second. It's reasonably close to Manchester. Open day coming up.

@Robinni

In any event make sure you choose one from the Russell Group

That's not really good advice. There are several non RG unis which regularly feature around the top of the Uni league tables.

Hi OP! I did a similar course to you at Sheffield so I’m a bit biased as I loved it! It’s such a lovely city to be a student, as it’s smaller but has two unis, you find that almost everything is about the students! I lived in Stephenson halls down near endcliffe village and it was so leafy yet close to the centre. Sheffield has everything a huge city has, but it is smaller and has a homely feel. It’s got the arena, Meadowhall, lots of diverse restaurants and cafes and bars, a decent city centre and like you say close to the peaks and not massively far from family.

I am not a big Leeds fan so not fair of me to comment there. Manchester is a great city but I think less student focused than Sheffield and you may or may not want to be that close to home? I guess you might want to consider costs you may want to save but if that’s not a factor I would probably leave Manchester if you already know it well.

I hear Liverpool is nice but I am not sure it’s as good as the other unis particularly for English lit? When I was at Sheffield the staff were brilliant but disclaimer… it was a good 10 years ago! :)

Your OP also suggests you’ve been to one of the unis but it’s not clear which one?

As many pp have said, they're all great student cities with lots going on and it's fair to say you'll probably have a great time in any of them. Well done on getting all 5 offers! I echo what others have said about drilling down a bit more into the course modules to see if anything jumps out as being particularly appealing or not.

Also, I'd look at accommodation costs both in halls and for following years in rented accomm. Eg I've read on previous threads that although Liverpool as a city is fairly cheap, uni halls are particularly expensive.
Also, look at what clubs and societies each uni offers. Are there any which sound like something you'd really love?
It's not clear which one you weren't impressed with the lecturers at, but this should definitely inform your choice too.
Finally, have you been on The Student Room for views of actual students currently at these places?
Good luck. I've never been to Sheffield but know all the other cities a bit & think it would be fantastic to study in any of them.

@Badbadbunny I suppose it can depend on the course you do. For me personally, the course I did at a RG Uni was more highly accredited than those elsewhere.

From the selection OP gave the 4 Russell Group Unis feature very much higher up the ratings than MMU.

Also - I echo @ABIIOR - check out the student room for opinions from students actually at University right now, for an up to date opinion. And congratulations on getting all your offers - great achievement!