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Higher education

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

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:
titchy · 27/06/2017 09:17

The NSS is looked internally by Universities and they do work to increase their rankings

Insider secret - we work to increase our NSS scores because that moves us up the league tables which are a key recruitment tool.

We don't work to increase our NSS scores because we think it's a valid survey tool - it isn't.

Trampire · 27/06/2017 09:26

I went to UWE 24 years ago. I loved it! However I was at the Bower Ashton Campus which specialises in Art, Design, Animation, photography and Fashion &Textiles. It's on the other side of Bristol to the rest of UWE.

The rest of UWE is on the outskirts of Bristol near Filton. My friend runs the University bookshop there. Buses run regularly. That's all I know.

Sorry, not sure why I'm answering. Loved Bristol so much I stayed here (made a successful career in field).

LondonGrammar · 27/06/2017 09:50

We don't work to increase our NSS scores because we think it's a valid survey tool - it isn't.

I remember when the NSS was introduced. I was in a meeting of Heads of Departments at the place I worked at at the time - a very high ranking university which had declined to participate until it was absolutely necessary. I was sitting next to a Professor of Statistics, who went through, question by question, to show how, if the the NSS had been an answer to an undergraduate assignment, it would have failed the assessment.

Even I, as a professor in a mere Humanities subject, could see how blunt and inaccurate an instrument the NSS is.

We participate because there's a government requirement that we do. Not because we think it "drives up quality" (ugh, I hate that phrase).

LondonGrammar · 27/06/2017 09:58

My comments about places like UWE are about the degree in English Literature specifically.

As I said, most universities in the country have a degree in English Literature/Literary Studies etc etc.

At most universities, the curriculum will be largely the same, as will the methods of teaching.

So the differences will be in the emphases in the curriculum (only contemporary literature, for example, sets off alarm bells for me) and the engagement of academic staff in developing new knowledge - publishing books & journal articles, and training Doctoral students (who make excellent teachers in EngLit programmes). At a less research-led university, the students won't be pushed to co-create this new knowledge, because the staff won't be doing it either, except for what HEFCE called in the lat REF "pockets of excellence."

The thing also to understand is that the big story that the NSS and now the TEF tell us is that the UK has an internationally excellent education system. The NSS is on a 5 point scale, and the TEF awards Gold, Silver Bronze - even Bronze is above the baseline benchmarked standards required by the QAA (Quality Assurance Authority).

Contrary to some pps on this thread, a good EngLit graduate is very employable. They have excellent skills in critical analysis, searching for data, knowing how to find things out, knowing how to tell stories, structure narrative, and also how to analyse how that narrative works. Never underestimate the qualities of a graduate who knows how our language works at a very deep level - myth, story-telling, emotional colouring of language, subtleties of meaning.

newestbridearound · 27/06/2017 10:12

Hopefully I might be of some help here if she has any specific questions as I studied English Lit at UWE and my then boyfriend studied English and Film.

When I went it was prior to them selling off some of their sites so the department was based at St Matthias rather than Frenchay campus as it is now. That was one of the main reasons I was drawn to it to be honest; a small, quiet campus suited me, I would have felt overwhelmed at one of the big university campuses. I was quite timid on leaving home! Frenchay is large and has a lot of students but your DD may love that- everyone is different.

UWE was my insurance choice and I was one grade away from my first choice which is how I found myself there. I ended up absolutely loving the course though Smile the teaching staff were lovely and I enjoyed the modules I took (they will have no doubt changed by now but I did things like children's lit, post modernism, Victorian poetry and American narrative). Bristol was also a fabulous city to be based in and I still love going back there. Always tons going on, plenty of culture and good links to other places. Since Bristol has two universities there is a large student population and many things catered towards them.

Overall I had a good 3 years studying at UWE. In fact I'd planned to stay on and do my Masters until health reasons put a stop to that. It wasn't the university I'd set my heart on but the support I got there was excellent and I'm sure played a part in being able to achieve a First. Granted it's not the best uni out there, and certainly won't command the same level of respect from some people as going to one like Warwick, but it completely depends on where your DD will feel most happy and what she's aiming to do in the future.

If she has any questions I'm more than happy to answer them.

newestbridearound · 27/06/2017 10:18

Also seconding the person who suggested looking at Exeter. Lovely uni, I put it down as one of my choices but didn't get an offer (I was predicted AAB and got ABB so similar to your DD. Cardiff was the uni I missed out on- also worth researching).

smilethoyourheartisbreaking · 27/06/2017 15:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LondonGrammar · 27/06/2017 15:17

Yes, of course we all do. We survey every single module, and sometimes twice. I ask for face to face feedback about the ways in which a module developed students' learning, and where they had difficulties.

But it doesn't make the NSS a good instrument, nor valid in terms of the scholarly scientific standards usually applied to the best work of our universities.

LondonGrammar · 27/06/2017 15:28

In fact, some of the stuff I hear about the way particular universities "train" their students to answer the surveys, including the strong implication that the higher they score the university, the more value accrues to their degree.

The whole thing is very dodgy.

And I say that as someone who works in a department which is generally in the top 5 of the discipline, at a RG university with Gold TEF. So it's not sour grapes. It's complete cynicism about the way people are sold a rubbish idea by the government.

titchy · 27/06/2017 15:28

*London some Universities actively do work on their NSS

They do*

Yes - as i said it's because it affects league table position and hence recruitment. Not because it's any good.

doglover · 27/06/2017 16:04

Wow! Thanks everyone for your responses.

Basically, I agree with a lot of what people have said. Our dd is bright - should safely achieve ABB - but is very borderline to achieve an A in Eng Lit next year. This means that certain universities which definitely require an A in this subject are possibly going to be out of her reach eg Exeter, Warwick, Bristol etc. (She's not great under pressure so I think that a realistic offer would suit her better than a truly aspirational one).

If she puts Reading, for example, as her preferred option, we would need to find a uni with LOWER entry requirements as her possible insurance .............. that's why I broached U.W.E.

She is absolutely determined to study Eng Lit and Film at a campus location which does limit her options.

Particular thanks to NEWESTBRIDE for your insights: I'll let my dd know your thoughts.

OP posts:
cowgirlsareforever · 27/06/2017 16:11

I was going to suggest Liverpool University but given that she wants a campus university it wouldn't be suitable.

titchy · 27/06/2017 16:18

East Anglia would be a better bet than Reading tbh, and achievable grades-wise. Remember she gets 5 choices though so one aspirational would be good.

Lucysky2017 · 27/06/2017 16:35

What about Nottingham? A step up from UWE but likely to accept her (mym son this year even got an unconditional from nottinghm (which he did not accept - he is hoping to go to Bristol and his offer is AAB by the way there although not for English).

newestbridearound · 27/06/2017 16:37

If she decides to aim for a university like Exeter or Bristol and they offer her a place based on getting AAB, tell her to make sure she would be equally happy with going to the insurance choice she puts down. She sounds a lot like I was; I could have potentially got that but on the day one exam flawed me and I got a B in that paper instead. There was no room for negotiation at all with Cardiff and I imagine at many places with fantastic reputations and oversubscribed courses it would be similar.

Of course it seems logical to say have a second choice she loves, but many people in my sixth form were aiming solely for one place they had their heart set on and the second choice was merely applied for because of formality. It never occurred to some they may actually go there if the results weren't as expected! If her results could go one way or the other like mine did it's worth having that back up of a place she'd be equally as content with as her primary choice.

Best of luck to her. It's been 10 years since I had to choose, I don't miss those days!

P1nkSparkles · 27/06/2017 16:46

I went to UWE & so did my husband... both of us loved it, got good degrees and walked into relevant graduate jobs at the end of it.

This was in 2012 & they were both different professional qualifications, so can't comment on the English department... or where it falls in league tables etc, but we were both on very different courses and had a brilliant time.

BubblesBuddy · 28/06/2017 17:39

It is highly unlikley Exeter and Bristol would offer anyone AAB for English Lit without stipulating the A in English Lit. They both say they want AAA and I expect they get students with AAA. They are more sought after than Reading or UWE and I would think Nottingham is too.

If she is not secure about getting an A in English Lit, your choices narrow. I do not agree about employability regarding English Lit and Film Study students. A recent survey is not encouraging. They are competing against History, Philosophy, MFL, History of Art, Classics, Law, Psychology, Geography, Sociology, Anthropology, Archaeology and any Arts subject graduate you can think of for graduate jobs. They all produce students with transferable skills. This is the reason why she needs the best university. The ex polys do practical/professional courses very well but are rarely the best option for English.

Why is she fixated on a campus? They can empty out at weekends so research this carefully.

I have also heard that students, where there are several universities in a city, do goad each other a bit. You just have to be resiliant. If you did not get the grades for the better university, you didn't. But that does not stop you liking where you are and not eveyone is so childish. DD never socialised with anyone from UWE at all and hardly went clubbing. Most Bristol students don't share flats with UWE students either because Bristol has their own accommodation. I assume UWE does too so avoid the Unite city centre flats or similar!

You must have an insurance choice that you are prepared to go to. Or take a year out and apply again next year if she has aimed too low and her results are better than expected.

catslife · 29/06/2017 09:59

Although I don't think UWE is on the list of approved MN universities there are many positive points to the new unis.
Yes they don't have the research base but many have a stronger emphasis on teaching undergrads as a result.
If you are considering the South West would also suggest that you look at Bath Spa University as well as / instead of UWE. The 2 courses may make a good comparison.

LondonGrammar · 29/06/2017 11:39

Although I don't think UWE is on the list of approved MN universities there are many positive points to the new unis.

Yes there are. But not for English Literature when a candidate has a chance of ABB-AAB. That is the point - it's not something you can generalise about, it's very discipline specific.

BubblesBuddy · 30/06/2017 13:48

Bath Spa is in the middle of a field and again is hardly Bath. Just not a good choice for English Lit.

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