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Higher education

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

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Original poster

Bristol or Southampton for English

62 replies

RedRoses1111 · 26/03/2015 16:48

Dd has an offer for both, been to an offer holder day at both and is really struggling to make her mind up. Bristol is the higher offer with A* AA, Southampton offer is AAB.

Can anyone give some advice/info about either uni. Pros and Cons? Accomodation etc. just looking for some first hand experience of either uni. I know Bristol is very highly regarded for English but Dd seems to slightly favour the course content at Southampton.

Thanks for any insight you can offer.

OP posts:

florencedombey · 29/03/2015 12:56

I know nothing about either university, but as an English graduate, I would say that she should look very carefully at the course content. How much flexibility is there? Can she pick and choose authors / periods or will she be stuck with a more "one size fits all" approach? Look at the tutors - are there plenty of people whose academic interests align with hers? Will she be able to study subjects which are linked to Eng Lit (eg linguistics, critical theory, another language) if she wants? Is there a possibilty for a year abroad, if that's likely to be of interest?

English is such a massive subject that there's scope for universities to suffer hugely in the way they teach it and much will come down to the individual personalities and interests of the faculty members. (I went to Oxford but discovered later on by speaking to other graduates that the course at Birmingham would have suited me much better.)

UptheChimney · 29/03/2015 14:05

The Peninsula Medical School is split between two universities (Exeter and Plymouth)

No, it's now entirely an Exeter Med School

But back to the real topic: EngLit. Florencedombey's advice is good. But be careful not to expect that all modules available now, will be available in 2 or 3 years' time. Staff change, current staff change what they want to teach, modules change, and people are on leave, and so on. THe fact that there is change is actually a good thing: it means that academic staff are keeping things fresh, and topical.

If your DD looks at course content, she should look at the core course. English (like History, Art and other Humanites/Arts subjects) can have a very diverse curriculum, as it's a big subject. English often includes 'new literatures in English" for example: African, Carribbean, Indian literature. It can include film. And so on.

I'm a traditionalist: I'd be looking for a core curriculum which covers a wide range of periods & styles, not just contemporary or 20 century literature. Generally, research-led university courses will have better & broader coverage. It tends to be research-lite courses which just concentrate on 20C literature and do that "relevance" thing which I think is pretty rubbish A course which requires all students to cover a wide chronology will be more demanding.

Lilymaid · 29/03/2015 14:12

I stand corrected UptheChimney! Just shows I should read the Alumni Magazine more carefully in future.

UptheChimney · 29/03/2015 14:25

Oh, it's not that important really. And the Department I was External for just groan when it's mentioned ... sucking resources as cauchy says

traceyinrosso70 · 30/03/2015 08:18

My DD is at Southampton studying MFL so not English but a Humanities subject and LOVES it !!! The humanities campus is a lovely building, she likes her (reasonably priced) halls (Monte - short for Montefiore House) and has secured a nice house for next year in Portswood at sensible price. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. DD is a Humanities ambassador so helps on visit days, open days etc

traceyinrosso70 · 30/03/2015 08:24

Might mention that her school wanted her to apply for Oxbridge but having visited she decided it just wasn't for her. She visited Southampton, met some of the course staff including an informal chat with the head of department , was offered a place on their new integrated masters course and hasn't looked back. Who knows if she would have got into Oxbridge but she couldn't be happier than she is now and that counts for a lot !

Rascalls3 · 30/03/2015 13:56

I could have written an almost identical post to the one Tracey has written above....except my daughter is at Bristol studying geography!!! I think your dd will be fine at which ever uni she chooses!

Rascalls3 · 30/03/2015 14:00

.... except my dd didn't get past the interview stage at Oxford. No one,however good they are, can make the assumption that they can/ could have got into Oxbridge I am afraid.

Rascalls3 · 30/03/2015 14:02

Sorry tracey just re read your post. You weren't making that assumption!!!!

mumahead · 30/03/2015 20:19

tracey,

Would you mind me asking...
what is the difference between monte and Connaught? Am interested in halls at Wessex, Southampton for next year.

traceyinrosso70 · 30/03/2015 20:36

Just asked DD and she says that Connaught is part catered halls and the rooms are arranged on corridors. Monte are self catering flats of various sizes - hers is a flat of 7 (4 males 3 females) each with a study bedroom with a shared kitchen, 2 toilets and a shower . The one shower hasn't been an issue as they are all in and out at different times and they each have a wash basin in their rooms ( not all of them in Monte do I don't think - it's one of the options you get to request) . Hope that helps - please ask anything else you want to know.

Original poster

RedRoses1111 · 31/03/2015 15:31

Thanks again for your input,you've all been very helpful.

Plenty for her to think about.

OP posts:

mumahead · 31/03/2015 22:32

Thank you tracey.

We want part catered. I presume connaught have some shared kitchens?

V. interesting thread all in all. Weighing up pros and cons for al DC is going to be important.

traceyinrosso70 · 31/03/2015 22:54

Will ask DD in morning about the kitchens in Connaught - seem to think they are small and shared between quite a few students but will get the info from my DD and get back to you.

ISingSoprano · 01/04/2015 10:49

My ds is 2nd year at Southampton - not studying English though. He loves it and I would say that as well as enjoying his course he is having a really good university experience. He was in Glen Eyre halls (self catered,non en-suite category 3 .... apparently!).

traceyinrosso70 · 01/04/2015 12:25

She says that there are small kitchens on each corridor but there are some blocks in Monte that are part catered (they walk across to Connaught for their meals). There is also Highfield halls which are catered and is a 2 minute walk from Avenue Campus (Humanities campus) whereas Monte/Connaught is a 20 min walk. She says food is supposed to be ok but a bit "school dinners". Hope this helps.

mumahead · 01/04/2015 13:17

very helpful. Lovely. Thanks.

MillyMollyMama · 02/04/2015 13:32

Bristol has a very different atmosphere from Southampton and is very favoured by independent school students (well over 50% I believe and one of the highest in the country on this stat). It has part catered halls (Wills and Churchill for example) and these are not in the city centre, but at Stoke Bishop. People who live in the city centre like being near the clubs I am told but the Stoke Bishop Halls have a different culture. After 1st year, Bristol is probably more expensive than Southampton but it has a lot of students wanting to live near the university so it pushes prices up. Also, many students there can afford it! Courses do change so deciding purely on course content is not always sensible and choosing to live somewhere where you will flourish is just as important.

The problem with an English degree is that many students do not know what they will do for a job afterwards. Therefore going to the best university possible might help on the jobs front, but only if the employer is bothered about university attended. Some are not but are looking for graduates with a specific training and not a generalist subject. All of my DDs friends who have done English have struggled to find suitable graduate jobs despite being highly motived to work.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 02/04/2015 19:04

Again?

Your DD's friends do seem unusually unlucky, milly. Art history, languages, English ... they all get run down by you, don't they?

I'm sorry if that comes across as snippy, but the OP might not know that this is such a constant refrain with you, across so many different subjects.

UptheChimney · 02/04/2015 19:06

And I know people with English degrees who are running various bits of various countries, business, companies, organisations, institutions ...

TalkinPeace · 03/04/2015 17:40

Southampton Halls :
The gigantic one in the city centre with the gym on the ground floor is new but I'm not sure how it rates on involvement with the main campus - maybe more for Oceanog?.

The Gateway Tower will come on stream in the autumn after the hiccup last year : again not sure how isolated it will feel - but it is on the bus / walking routes from the Stoneham / Monte / Connaught halls

The Glen complex is many times bigger than it was in my day, but is still the one that you can walk to campus from

TBH Southampton is dominated by the engineering faculty so I know little about languages but I don't regret choosing it.

DianeLockhart · 05/04/2015 01:14

I don't know much about English degrees in particular, but I would agree with pp that Bristol seems to have a stronger reputation with recruiters in general. I'm at a large City employer and our graduate schemes always have plenty of Bristol grads. Southampton is definitely not as well represented. That's not to say there is anything wrong with it at all and I do think its a decent choice. Just adding to the anecdotal data!

I think your dd should make a pros and cons list with various factors on it, thinking about the course, where she would prefer to live, atmosphere etc and should definitely includes reputation but it's certainly not the only thing. If she's leaning to Southampton is it just the course or is she drawn to living there?

If I were her I would pick Bristol hands down (amazing city, dream place to spend the student years IMO) but she is the one who has to go there!

VirginiaWoofs · 05/04/2015 02:59

I'm a third year english student at Bristol!

It's a great uni reputation wise.

I personally haven't enjoyed the course that much so I would advise her to think about her module options carefully if she does choose Bristol

VirginiaWoofs · 05/04/2015 03:01

Bristol is a FABULOUS city. It is awesome being a student here.

VirginiaWoofs · 05/04/2015 03:03

DM me if you have any specific questions

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