Bournemouth Uni

[Okbutnotgreat]

Does anyone know what BU is like? DS is considering it for History probably but as he is the first in our family to be able to go to uni we have zero knowledge about how the system works. He would need maximum loans as finances are tight and would want to live in halls I guess for the first year. Is all this straightforward to arrange? He’s does have unconditional offers elsewhere but being by the seaside appeals to him more than the city locations of the other Uni’s.

Bump

I know a few people personally who have studied at BU (and I used to work there). It is a great location and in normal times the nightlife is great for students with nightclubs, pubs and bars a plenty. The beach is the biggest draw for students.

Halls are easily arranged but they are quite expensive weekly. They have a range of different prices from the cheapest (Lyme Regis) to the most expensive (Bailey and Belaton). Some halls are real party halls (Cranbourne) so if your son is not really a party animal I would avoid some of those.

The majority of the halls are in central Bournemouth and the uni has a bus service to get to campus. Or there is the student village which is on campus but obviously a further way out to get into town for a night out.

I can't comment on the history course as I had no dealing with that faculty, they have had a massive building programme so facilities are being upgraded all the time for most courses.

Have you attended an online open day? A chance to ask questions to staff.

What sort of grades/ offers has he received?

Is he hoping for a history related career?

Would he be significantly happier by the sea?

Bournemouth is a lovely location, the halls are great, and I think they are awesome for vocational degrees.

If he is aiming at a history career, he would probably be better served at a RusselGroup uni if he has those offers.
Or- aim at a Masters at a Russel Group uni

If he is thinking about a business related career anyways- Bournemouth has a large Business department. Universities often give their students financial 'deals' or more flexible offers for Masters degrees.

Ultimately though, I think it is far better to be somewhere you are happy. More likely to get better grades if he's happy
🙂

I think he’s all about the experience and the actual degree is less important to him. He has no particular career in mind just enjoys history as a subject. His grades will be ok but not A’s and didn’t get an offer from the 2 RG unis he applied to, they were oversubscribed and said they would cherry pick the top students.

I wish I knew more about university but I really have no idea how to help him decide. There is an online open day but he’s unfortunately working the same day. He’s not particularly academic so maybe BU with its vocational slant would be a better fit for him.

For various reasons we’ve had a tough few years, then Covid struck. I’d really like him to have the opportunity to do something he wants to without worrying too much about the long term but at the same time not make an expensive mistake. With the no travel thing we’ve not been able to visit places for a look round which makes it harder.

It is hard when you can't look around.

My ds is there, and ( when allowed out) is enjoying the location.
He isn't obligated to go if he accepts the offer. There is plenty of time between now and September to visit, and perhaps go to more open days, to reassure him of his choice.

@Somethingkindaoooo thank you hopefully we will be able to do something. He is super independent and doesn’t ask for or want our help with things like this and that’s not always the best thing unfortunately. Guess we were allowed to make our own mistakes (80’s parents) and survived so not the end of the world.

I know Bournemouth as having a good reputation for technology/media type subjects with industry links.