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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

liverpool, sheffield or manchester uni?

40 replies

BerylThePeril44 · 06/10/2013 19:44

Hi. Does anyone have any experience or advice on these universities? Been to open days and prefer Sheffield from a mothers point of view. Son liked Manchester...it did have a great buzz x

OP posts:
TheOneWithTheNicestSmile · 06/10/2013 21:59

Accommodation is nicer at Sheffield I think - DD2 had a new en suite room at Manchester a few years ago & DS2 started at Sheffield 2 years ago - his room was much bigger than hers & better equipped.

He really enjoys living in Sheffield.

TheOneWithTheNicestSmile · 06/10/2013 22:01

Beryl, DS1 went to Newcastle, graduated last year but is still living there, he loves it Smile

Original poster
BerylThePeril44 · 06/10/2013 22:12

Thank you nicestsmile. You've got experience of all three!!! Obviously, I'm biased about Newcastle, most of his friends are hoping to go there..sadly sign of times re: high costs. We've worked really hard all his life to save money for him..so he has options. I felt I never had as a young person. So he can go away and live 'full' student life. If I was 'overpowering' this wouldn't be the case.

OP posts:
Ilanthe · 06/10/2013 22:13

I've been to both Manchester (ug) and Sheffield (pg). I went to the open days on my own, on the train Wink though it was 17 years ago.

They are both fantastic cities, tbh. I prefer Manchester because it's bigger and grimier and settled here after uni.

From what I could tell, Sheffield has nicer halls and the 'sporty' clubs seem much more popular, Manchester had more variety of clubs for the musically and dramatically inclined.

Earthworms · 06/10/2013 22:21

Manchester was bloody awesome,

Good uni, good city, great vibe.

I loved it

MissFenella · 07/10/2013 23:57

sheff Uni is great for study for academia's sake. Given the subject - it would be my top choice.

To explain, if he was looking at engineering then Shef Hallam has the better 'into employment' reputation.

BeckAndCall · 08/10/2013 07:28

I disagree with posters who are telling you to basically back off and let him make his own decision. Who knows your child better than anyone else? You do. So you would know if the big city culture of Manchester is what would suit him or the more campus-in-city feel of Sheffield. Of course it's his final decision but he's asking you for guidance so naturally you'd want to give it.

And I would not choose a uni based on league tables alone - they are someone else's idea of what's important - and all the tables are different. ( so choose wants important for you and look for that - for me it's the RAE and TQA - don't really care about entry grades etc)

As to comparisons between these three, I'd say they are all good and I wouldn't be unhappy if my kids went to any of them - the rest is down to choice

wordfactory · 08/10/2013 10:04

I have to say that as an academic/teacher I can see that parents' involvement seems a pain...but...

I'll be honest, as a parent, I will go to open days with mine and have been with my niece.

Thnigs have changed in higher education. Pressure on funding means IMVHO that some universities are simply not delivering good or indeed any value for money. Some of the courses are cobbled together. Some of the facvilities are poor.

Young people (17yrs) will be hard pushed to see all this. They're far more interested in picking up on the vibe etc.

UptheChimney · 08/10/2013 10:49

Young people (17yrs) will be hard pushed to see all this. They're far more interested in picking up on the vibe

Yes, that seems sometimes to be the case (viz. the thread sequence in here about the DD who wanted the "party university" and is now apparently breaking her mother's heart). But I'm not sure that all parents know how to determine value for money either. They seem focussed on contact hours, which is really not the point. They don't ask me the kinds of questions that indicate to me that they know what they're talking about from a parent's POV. I end up telling them what they should be looking for & asking about, such as the kinds of specialisations of different departments in my field nationally, assessment techniques, learning styles.

wordfactory · 08/10/2013 11:06

I agree.

I htink many parents have no more idea what to look for than their offspring.

That said, I guess an adult can also spot practical issues that a young person may not.

LaVolcan · 08/10/2013 21:50

My son went to Sheffield for his undergraduate degree and Manchester for his masters. He enjoyed both - so I am no help there.

SwedishEdith · 09/10/2013 20:05

You've put Liverpool in your title but not mentioned what you thought about that?

BlackMogul · 09/10/2013 23:39

I think Sheffield always scores well on student satisfaction. Personally I would put Bristol, Durham or Exeter above them. I never considered safety for my DCs! I assumed they had the skills to stay safe and this is no reason to choose any university in the UK. Have u ever heard a student say they did not feel safe at university?. Sounds like moving away from home is a good idea and the loan will be well worth it. Needs to make his own life and function without Mum around!

LaVolcan · 10/10/2013 09:12

Which university you put first depends on your subject. My son studied engineering, and both Sheffield and Manchester had good departments for that.

Scarifying · 10/10/2013 18:53

If would get him to really closely look at the actual course details - how it's assessed,contents, teaching style etc etc.

I LOVE SHEFFIELD Grin

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