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AIBU?

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Original poster

Will my daughter like Newcastle if she doesn't like Glasgow?

106 replies

feedmefudge · 04/02/2025 01:14

My daughter is keen to go to Newcastle Uni. We're in Scotland. She's an anxious girl and sensitive to her environment.
I was brought up near Glasgow and went to uni in the city. I'm very fond of the place. 18 year old doesn't like it at all and finds it rough. Sorry, I know that sounds so bad, but I'm unsure how else to express it.
I've never been to Newcastle but I get the impression it's a fun and lively 'party' city, similar to Glasgow. I just don't know if it's going to be for her and think she may feel more at home in a calmer place, eg York.
I know she sounds like a total snob, but it's just her anxiety.
Thank you in advance for your thoughts. And if anyone has ever lived in Newcastle or went to uni there, I'd love to hear from you Smile

OP posts:
Pinckk · 04/02/2025 01:22

I didn’t go to uni in either of those place’s (but fond of them both and had friends go to both and got to visit) but if she thinks Glasgow is ‘rough’, I would struggle to see how she would imagine Newcastle wouldn’t have the same feel. It’s like most uni cities.

I imagine St Andrews and possibly Edinburgh have a different feel? But I think you’re right, somewhere smaller ‘pretty’. York is lovely and isn’t as big of course. How about Lancaster? Always in the top 10 uni list, though not as scenic as York, it’s smaller so perhaps wouldn’t feel as overwhelming.

MrsJHernandez · 04/02/2025 01:24

Can you visit Newcastle for a couple of days to see what she thinks?

You could also visit a "calmer" city as comparison.

Celia24 · 04/02/2025 01:25

I would also visit Newcastle.

I live in Glasgow. If you are talKing about attending uni, then neither the west end or the central areas where the unis are are rough.

I went to uni in the centre and live in the west end. It has its problems but I’m very fond of it. I can’t see how Newcastle would be very different as the two are often compared.

Original poster
feedmefudge · 04/02/2025 01:28

Thank you very much for your replies and for taking my post in good spirit.
St Andrew's is the dream but I don't know if she'll get the grades. Most Edinburgh Unis don't offer the course she wants.

OP posts:
Tarkan · 04/02/2025 01:33

What about Dundee? Depends what she wants to study but both unis there cover a good number of courses really well. I'm originally from Glasgow but live near Dundee now and I really enjoyed my time at uni in Dundee, probably a better fit than I would expect Newcastle to be for her if she doesn't like Glasgow.

SerenStarEtoile · 04/02/2025 01:33

Didn’t go there, but Durham? Had a good rep when I were a lad! If she doesn’t mind going right down south, Exeter is really nice, and good teaching.

Pinckk · 04/02/2025 01:36

SerenStarEtoile · 04/02/2025 01:33

Didn’t go there, but Durham? Had a good rep when I were a lad! If she doesn’t mind going right down south, Exeter is really nice, and good teaching.

Yes Durham is another good uni and not too far from Newcastle but doesn’t have the party reputation quite so much.

Original poster
feedmefudge · 04/02/2025 01:37

SerenStarEtoile · 04/02/2025 01:33

Didn’t go there, but Durham? Had a good rep when I were a lad! If she doesn’t mind going right down south, Exeter is really nice, and good teaching.

She visited Durham but was underwhelmed by the uni, especially the accommodation.

She's not a Dundee fan.

Sorry, she's not easy Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
feedmefudge · 04/02/2025 01:37

SerenStarEtoile · 04/02/2025 01:33

Didn’t go there, but Durham? Had a good rep when I were a lad! If she doesn’t mind going right down south, Exeter is really nice, and good teaching.

She would LOVE Exeter. It's so far though, especially if she needs support with her mental health.

OP posts:
Original poster
feedmefudge · 04/02/2025 01:38

I know it may sound like I'm discouraging her from going far.

Trust me, not the case WinkGrin

OP posts:
Tarkan · 04/02/2025 01:41

What is she looking to study because that could help with finding the right place too?

Tsk at her not liking Dundee. Wink Aberdeen? I like it up there too. I'm just thinking that staying in Scotland is so much better for fees etc unless that isn't an issue for you.

crumpet · 04/02/2025 01:41

Sheffield could be worth a look. I assume you’ve already considered/ruled out Stirling?

Tarkan · 04/02/2025 01:44

crumpet · 04/02/2025 01:41

Sheffield could be worth a look. I assume you’ve already considered/ruled out Stirling?

Oh I always forget about Stirling. I have family members and friends who went there, some of whom did struggle with the larger noisier cities but they loved Stirling.

TheM55 · 04/02/2025 02:14

Have lived in all 3 places, mainly York and Newcastle (25 years). Newcastle is fine, there are so many places that she will find her tribe, although it has its fair share of issues, like any big city, it is not a dangerous place, and the people there are really nice. York is pretty but it is like the wild west on race nights, it is also bloody expensive. Given the circumstances, maybe also consider a campus based place, like Lancaster or I think Loughborough, where most of the people she meets are like-minded scholars. Smaller is sometimes better, Mine went to Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester, and I am afraid, not a good word to say really, but not necessarily the Uni's fault.

AcquadiP · 04/02/2025 02:16

feedmefudge · 04/02/2025 01:14

My daughter is keen to go to Newcastle Uni. We're in Scotland. She's an anxious girl and sensitive to her environment.
I was brought up near Glasgow and went to uni in the city. I'm very fond of the place. 18 year old doesn't like it at all and finds it rough. Sorry, I know that sounds so bad, but I'm unsure how else to express it.
I've never been to Newcastle but I get the impression it's a fun and lively 'party' city, similar to Glasgow. I just don't know if it's going to be for her and think she may feel more at home in a calmer place, eg York.
I know she sounds like a total snob, but it's just her anxiety.
Thank you in advance for your thoughts. And if anyone has ever lived in Newcastle or went to uni there, I'd love to hear from you Smile

Apologies, there are generalisations in this but it is just my experience. I went to University of St Andrews and moved to Newcastle after accepting a job offer there. At that time, it was a fun and vibrant city, very much like Glasgow (one of my mates was from Glasgow.) I'm not a fan of cities per se but Newcastle I considered to be one of the better ones. I bought a house and settled there. The people for the most part were and still are very friendly. Fast forward 12 years and I had started to become disillusioned with the area especially after visiting family in Yorkshire. I'm not suggesting we are perfect in my home county but one thing that I had started to notice was that I felt a lot more relaxed when in Yorkshire than in the NE. There had been a slow cultural change in the latter where I began to notice higher levels of aggression in everyday situations. Take driving for example, Road Rage was a thing in the NE but I've never seen it in Yorks (beyond a sweary mouthful.) Misogynistic behaviour was somethingelse that had started to grind my gears and God knows Yorkshire men (of my generation at least) can be chauvinistic. Eventually. I put the house on the market and moved back home. That was 16 years ago. Would I move back? No.

Tbh, if your daughter isn't comfortable with Glasgow, I don't think she will be comfortable with Newcastle either. Edinburgh, York, Durham or St Andrews might be better choices for her.

Quinlan · 04/02/2025 02:19

Are you sure she is actually cut out for uni?
If she finds Glasgow rough, she is going to struggle in just about any city, especially if she is going to go out at night at all. Doesn’t really matter what city you’re in; city night life is city night life. Glasgow has wonderful parts in the west end and city centre. She wouldn’t be hanging out in any of the places you’d maybe call rough. Same as any city.

HighHedges · 04/02/2025 02:23

I live and work in Newcastle. I've been to Glasgow a few times and it feels completely different. While party areas can be found I definitely don't think it's rough, and only a short bus, train or car ride away is some stunning countryside and coast. The uni is also brilliant. If
I can answer any questions please ask away.

WearyAuldWumman · 04/02/2025 02:26

Celia24 · 04/02/2025 01:25

I would also visit Newcastle.

I live in Glasgow. If you are talKing about attending uni, then neither the west end or the central areas where the unis are are rough.

I went to uni in the centre and live in the west end. It has its problems but I’m very fond of it. I can’t see how Newcastle would be very different as the two are often compared.

Agreed re Glasgow. My dad didn't want me to go there - his only experience of it was a football match...

Once my mum saw Byres Road, she and my dad were both fine!

WearyAuldWumman · 04/02/2025 02:27

Apart from anything else, is your daughter not taking into consideration that she'll have to pay fees down in England?

Podgedodge · 04/02/2025 02:52

What about Aberdeen? Small city, great University. More like Edinburgh than Glasgow and as PP says, not the fees she’ll pay for England.

Tophelleborine · 04/02/2025 02:58

I've lived in both York and Newcastle and would say they are comparable in terms of crazy drinking culture. As well as race days, York is a massive hen/stag destination.

Newcastle can be wild on a night out, but has far fewer tourists than York and definitely has a genteel side too

Bjorkdidit · 04/02/2025 04:19

Yeah, York is not 'a calm city'. As well as race days its very popular for hen parties, not sure about stags, but also rowdy nights out in general.

It's also very popular with tourists, I went at the weekend and it was so busy there were queues to enter some of the narrower streets and get into shops or cafes.

I would have thought that a smaller Scottish city might suit as she should think very carefully about giving up the big advantage of no fees at Scottish universities. Remember that in the new system she'll pay a lot more back.

Squiggles23 · 04/02/2025 04:34

I just came on to pipe up that I can see why she thinks Glasgow is rough. My first impression was getting off the underground and there being druggies/homeless all around the exit. I’m from a southern city so do see homeless every day but it seemed noticeably bad. Before anyone pipes up once we got to the bar/restaurant it was fun and lovely but first impressions do count!

I guess with Exeter it might depend whether there are flight options up to Glasgow/edinburgh (assuming these are near you?). As that might make travel much easier if she’s ok getting the flights alone (small airports). If she is then you could also look at Southampton flights too and see if she likes that.

RedHelenB · 04/02/2025 05:18

Students live in the posh bit so I think she'll be fine.

Coffeethrowtrampbitch · 04/02/2025 05:22

Has she considered Stirling? My son loved his visit there, said it looks like Hogwarts with its loch and forest. He only decided Glasgow as he wanted to stay at home and Stirling was too far to commute.
Aberdeen University campus is lovely, I'm not a fan of the city myself but a relative did law there recently and loved it, she got a really good job after graduation as well.

It is very difficult to help them decide, I sympathise! The 3 unis in Glasgow all do courses suitable for DS and I'm worried he'll go to the closest as he seems most bothered about the commute!