Does anyone have any experience of these Universities?

[DSUNICHOICE]

DS is 18 and applying for universities. His predicted grades are ABB and his GCSEs are mainly 6s. So while very good he’s not oxbridge level. He’s looking at doing history and in terms of the unis that he can get into with his predicted grades the ones he’s thinking about are:

• queen’s university Belfast

• Loughborough

• Liverpool

I’ve never been to any of these. My concern with Loughborough is that it will only be for sporty people (DS isn’t into sport at all). I know nothing about Belfast but it’s quite a long way away. I think Liverpool is a very big city and it might be quite hard to move to as an 18 year old away from home for the first time.

That being said I’ve never actually been to any of these so I was wondering if anyone who has been to any of these or who has any experience of what it’s like to go there?

I had Loughborough as one of my lower options, back in the 1980s though. It was a bit isolated compared to my other options, which may suit some people but not all. I was not considering a sports degree.

Cannot help on the other two.

I don’t personally but my younger sister studies in Liverpool and has had a fantastic time. She’s not from a city and has always been quite a cautious person but really loves it, so I wouldn’t let the “big city” aspect put him off. In fact I think it can be good to feel like there’s a world around you that’s not just university- places that are dominated by the university can feel like a bit of a weird bubble.

Liverpool isn’t big. That’s the beauty of it. So much to love about the place for all sorts of students.

I went to Liverpool and had a great time. Brilliant city to be a student in but I was from another big city so wasn’t daunting. They will spend their time in a student bubble to start with in halls/shared accommodation.

A niece (studying medicine) had great time in Liverpool - still in the area several years after qualifying.

Liverpool isn’t a big city.

Easy to get around. Great for students.

ask your ds to consider his priorities:
cost
student support
accommodation
research
grad employment etc.

All of those are decent options.

.

Belfast is one of the cheapest universities for cost of living. It's also Russell Group if that's something you prefer.

liverpool will likely be the most fun place to be, and all things being equal would be what I’d choose. It’s not that big a city OP, and most students do move to cities to have fun and expand their horizons as well as study. You are being overprotective there. It depends on the course obviously but it has a solid academic rep.

Belfast is a lot more fun than it used to be, but much quieter than Liverpool (which also has the benefit of Manchester close by). Few students go from the Uk from outside NI, although there are quite a lot of international students. It has a solid overall academic rep. Travel home will be expensive and a pain.

Loughborough is obviously a much smaller place and that either appeals or it doesn’t. You would want to check carefully the course he is going on is good, as it doesn’t have such a prestigious rep overall as the other two. (General reputations can be very unfair, but they exist and they can matter.)

He should go and visit if he can, as gut feeling is really important.

Loughborough is actually ranked more highly than the other two

Ds2 is at Liverpool and absolutely loves it, think he’ll probably stay up there once he finishes. As pps have said, it’s a great size - not too big, not too small. If the course is right for your ds, it’s well worth a visit.

My daughter went to Liverpool university (history and politics) and she loved it. I lived there for a couple of years and I loved the city too. It's a city, but the centre is quite compact so it doesn't feel "big" . A friend went there recently with her adult daughter for a weekend break, and waxed lyrical about how much she'd enjoyed it.

plenty of night life, culture. What's not to love?

Dh went to Loughborough and I would say in the 90s it was particularly sporty but not as much now I believe. There is a sense of community with your accommodation, so the halls you are in you can play sport for or cheer them. There is a sense of belonging. The campus is bigger than the town.

The other thing to consider with any university considering the geographic locations of the ones above, have they worked out train journeys? How long it would take to get home for a visit or if they have to empty their halls of residence room at Christmas and Easter how long it would take for you to drive to them etc? Worth thinking about logistics.

Me and my family went to Liverpool in summer to add some ‘culture capital’. We loved it. The last time we went was 12 years ago and the changes are great.

my mil went to queens but that was in the 60’s!

My friend's child is at Liverpool and loves it.
I lived there for 3 years and loved it.
Great city, a really "cosmopolitan" vibe somehow. Hard to explain. But great.

Liverpool is a fantastic city- one of my favourites in the Uk - great place to be a student

Have professional experience of two - Loughborough is for all students no longer sporty - but good sports facilities, highly ranked and great campus
Liverpool beautiful place highly regarded university.

You will need high grades to get in to either

My son loved his time at Liverpool he stayed on for another year. One of the aspects he loved was the fact that is wasn’t big. For ‘big’ he hopped on the train to see his mates at Manchester uni.

Were there not open days?

You can just go to those places and have a look

Me and my youngest daughter both went to Liverpool.
I stayed on for a Masters as I loved it so much. The teaching was fantastic and I loved the city.
My daughter had a similar experience and at 24 is already out earning me! The career help was invaluable.

I specifically chose Liverpool (John Moores) because it's not that big a city. Compared to Manchester for example it is quite small. Liverpool John Moores and Uni of Liverpool are quite intermingled which creates a nice atmosphere. I've not been to the other two so can't compare but I particularly wanted a uni that was not a "campus uni" and was mixed in with the city

Loughborough is our nearest uni but Dd1 would not consider it and I'm not sorry.
Liverpool is a lovely city and friends children's both went to Belfast and rated it highly.

My DS went to Queens for a year (engineering). As you would expect, a lot of the students are from NI (which is quite small) and they go home nearly every weekend, leaving halls very quiet - apart from the international students who tend to stick together. I think DS found it quite lonely at weekends.

Liverpool isn't a big City at all.
I was really impressed by Liverpool when I went - the City is really lovely.
The University is right in the City Centre.
Liverpudlians are known for their friendliness.

My DD went to Liverpool Uni and loved it.
It's much cheaper than the south of England. She loved the city and friendliness of the Liverpudlians.