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Higher education

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

Original poster

Thoughts on U.W.E.

45 replies

doglover · 25/06/2017 21:24

With our elder dd having just finished her A levels, we're now embarking on 2nd dd round of uni Open Days! Ahhhhh!

She is looking to study Eng Lit and Film Studies and will probably achieve ABB ........ AAB at a push.

Anyway, we have visited Reading and Warwick so far. She absolutely loved Reading - the course, campus and general feel of the place - and didn't feel that Warwick was right for her. We are off to visit UEA soon but someone mentioned UWE could be an option too.

Has anyone any experience of UWE? I've looked at the website but personal comments are always useful to hear to build up a picture.

OP posts:
Synecdoche · 25/06/2017 22:26

I don't know much about UWE as a university (I was at UoB) but I can vouch for Bristol being an AMAZING place to be a student!

Original poster
doglover · 25/06/2017 22:29

Agreed, Synecdoche! DD1 has Bristol Uni as her insurance choice this year but DD2 definitely wants a campus uni :)

OP posts:
Tobuyornot99 · 25/06/2017 22:37

I studied a health related degree at UWE, amazingly came out with a First, definitely no thanks to the uni. They were disorganised, had poor quality lecturers, lesson plans seemed to be few and far between (go in at 9.30, 10 minute talk off the lecturer advising us to go the library, research something, and repro back at 2pm etc). Different faculty of course, but I wouldn't recommend them to my nearest / dearest. And I must add, I didn't pay for my degree, had I done so I'd have been fighting for a refund.

Iamcheeseman · 25/06/2017 22:41

I think it would very much depend on the course. I did my teaching degree they're and it was fantastic. Well equiped, organised course. It was awesome and I couldn't fault it. The education building is way nicer than a lot of campus though.

As far as being a campus uni goes you can't go wrong with uwe. The new sports centre was built just as I left so can't comment on that.

Iamcheeseman · 25/06/2017 22:43

There* phone typing for me!

BubblesBuddy · 26/06/2017 12:02

Can she not aim higher with a possible AAB? UWE tends to take lower A levels. There is a huge difference between Warwick and UWE in status. It is on a campus and not in central Bristol. My younger DD has a friend there at the moment who had to do an access course and we know of two other boys who went who enjoyed the experience but not high flyers at all. Aim as high as you can for an English course.

BubblesBuddy · 26/06/2017 12:06

I forgot to say that a friend of DD did English and Film at Southampton and Leeds also offer a similar course. Both of these ask for AAB, or ABB. Much better than UWE I would have thought.

LondonGrammar · 26/06/2017 13:03

She is looking to study Eng Lit and Film Studies and will probably achieve ABB ........ AAB at a push

If she can achieve those A levels, and wants EngLit & Film, I wouldn't bother with UWE.

Fo a degree like English (with any other subject in combination) you need to go to as reputationally high & research-intensive university as possible.

Unless there is a significant component of real work-related conact at UWE, it won't be a particularly well-regarded degree in a very popular subject.

If the south-west appeals, why not Exetr (does English with Film) or Bristol - which has an excellent separate film department alongside an excellent English department.

This is where REF -related league tables are your friend - your DD needs to go to a rigorous research-led university English Department.

UEA is excellent. York is worth a look as well.

She doesn't necessarily need to be tied to a university which offers a specific named combined Honours in English & Film - if there's a film department, then it's likely she can do a bit of mixing & matching within an English degree.

LondonGrammar · 26/06/2017 13:05

Oh, and UWE has 2 or 3 campuses spread out on the outskirts of Bristol, so not really the campus university experience.

What about Lancaster? V good English department, and film taught within the Contemporary Arts department. The structure of degrees at Lancaster - like Sussex & York as they were all set up in the 60s - is deliberately interdisciplinary. Gorgeous campus - I was at a conference there last summer & you can see the LakeDistrict hills from the halls of residence.

smilethoyourheartisbreaking · 26/06/2017 13:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Footle · 26/06/2017 13:37

Tobuy says nothing about when her/his experience was, so you can't take anything from that post really.

2014newme · 26/06/2017 13:40

Uwe isn't really a campus it's more of an out of town site with few redeeming features and most students don't actually live there on site.
Bath spa is a campus with beautiful buildings and lakes. Uwe campus isn't anything!

2014newme · 26/06/2017 13:41

Uwe good for practical courses and postgraduate courses though. Not English.

LondonGrammar · 26/06/2017 14:02

UWE has one of the highest satisfaction ratings from students.

I'm an academic. I know what rubbish - and statistically invalid - the NSS is ... I wouldn't rate student satisfaction above REF results, frankly.

smilethoyourheartisbreaking · 26/06/2017 14:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LondonGrammar · 26/06/2017 14:52

For an English Literature degree, it is about academic attainment & the reputation for rigour a university has.

Smile unless you did an English degree, or teach in an English department, you probably won't get the importance of the research track record in a Department's reputation.

There are many many English departments - all research-led universities, and most ex-polys have them. So it's important to find one with a good track record for producing cutting edge research.

In the Humanities, there isn't the same separation between teaching & research staff. At the top research-led universities, those cutting edge researchers producing the scholarly books and journal articles which are set readings for English Lit undergraduates will also be the academics teaching those undergraduates.

I'd advise the OP's DD aiming as high as her A Level predictions will let her. Have a look at staff lists - see what they publish on & how those publication/research interests match up with hers - with what she likes to read or watch.

Tobuyornot99 · 26/06/2017 15:22

Footle I graduated in 2013, and as is the way in healthcare I now mentor students on placements from UWE. I am often surprised by their lack of knowledge, especially compared to students from other universities. I can only speak from my experience of course, having never attended another uni, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Stopnamechanging · 26/06/2017 15:29

My dd is there, not doing English but geography related degree.
The course support is fantastic, she lives on campus, moved there after hating living in the middle of Bristol.

I am confused about the poster saying that there is no campus there?

It's been a good choice for my dd but I agree with those saying to aim as high as possible and that might not be UWE for your dd.

As long as your dd doesn't turn in to one of the crass snobs who study at Bristol and make nasty comments about UWE to the students there.

My dd has unfortunately come across a few of them out socialising and as you can see from some of the comments on this thread, it's not an uncommon point of view.

YellowPrimula · 26/06/2017 18:14

Are you sure you weren't getting confused with UEA in Norwich which is well known for its English, creative writing , film studies etc . They would be a more appropriate choice than UWE

Bubblysqueak · 26/06/2017 18:17

Loved my time at UWE and can't recommend it high enough. I did teaching at their Frenchay campus (although lived at home and travelled in) and had a fabulous time.

smilethoyourheartisbreaking · 26/06/2017 20:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BubblesBuddy · 27/06/2017 01:05

English and Film does not lead to many work placements though. It is the practical courses that have these.

Bristol and Exeter want AAA so not realistic. Southampton and Leeds are far more realistic and RG.

Bristol University suits most students and they are pretty diverse. Everyone gets along unless you really are class obsessed! I find it odd that people seem to hate the better off students but don't actually know any! Just nastiness for the sake of it!

Stopnamechanging · 27/06/2017 06:45

Bristol University suits most students and they are pretty diverse. Everyone gets along unless you really are class obsessed! I find it odd that people seem to hate the better off students but don't actually know any! Just nastiness for the sake of it!

No, no , it's some of the Bristol students who make nasty comments about the quality of UWE to the UWE students.

My dd1 was sharing accommodation with a lot of them in Bristol before she moved.

It was de rigour to make snide comments, she also got it on nights out in town.

Is that coming from the parents? Or the culture there?

TheCaptainsCat · 27/06/2017 06:56

IME, in a city with several universities, the students from 'The University of City' always tease the students from the ex poly type universities. I don't think it comes from parents, more of a pack mentality and 'my uni is better than yours' silly competitiveness. I went to a Russell group uni in a city with several unis, and even my lecturers would make snide remarks about the less 'prestigious' institutions!

2014newme · 27/06/2017 08:35

Uwe teaches a lot of practical courses like nursing and midwifery which have high employment rates. I would not assume tge same applies to English and film studies. Look carefully at tge employment destinations, are they doing grad level jobs or working in a bar?