Manchester History vs Cardiff History

[viktoria]

Does anybody have a DS/DD at Manchester or Cardiff doing History?
Those two unis are my DS top choices and I would be interested in hearing about the courses/cities/student life etc

Can we broaden it to Manchester vs Durham vs Warwick vs Cardiff 😀
DD in Yr12 but it's always good to hear any views (mind you, she may do Politics or a joint hons instead!!)

I know that Warwick were in clearing for history this year and taking students with 2 grades lower than normal offers.

Wow - although I had heard that most places were in clearing last year. I think 2001 was a particularly low birth rate which should make things easier too.
It's hard to know where to start when trying to narrow down choices. Her choices obviously, but I know I will be dragged into it.......it would be nice to start with a position of at least a basic knowledge

My rd is doing history and it is hard to narrow down. It might be worth looking more into how it is taught for example is it all end of year exams. Other than that I would go on which city suits your ds best.

DD’s got two friends doing history at Manchester. They’re both enjoying it - seems to be a good range of modules as one is enjoying doing some economics modules. Both are very outgoing, big night life people and are enjoying the social aspect too.

Her friend doing politics and IR at Cardiff is also loving it and another at Warwick is having a great time. Both are, again, big night life people so we were surprised at the latter enjoying Warwick so much - but she loves it. Both missed law grades (one for Newcastle and Liverpool so ended up at Cardiff through clearing and the other got A*AB so called up warwick who let her do History with a law conversion instead). Are there post offer days your DS can visit?

bpisok Durham history I don’t know anything about but if there are any MH issues for your DD I have to recommend against it. Their treatment of one of DD’s vulnerable friends has been truly outrageous, although it may just be the vice principle at her college. DD has still applied there because she loves the course (not history, more obscure - has applied to Durham only for liberal arts and other niche courses elsewhere) but is waiting until she ensures she’s not allocated to her friend’s college before she makes a definite decision.

I would look at outcomes for jobs for History and Politics grads. Humanities grads tend not to get jobs based on what they have studied unless they become lecturers or political advisers! Therefore I think there is a need to think beyond the course and consider employment. Which university is the best for employment?

I would also consider if Warwick suits because it’s campus and no city is in walking distance. Manchester is obviously huge and Durham is a small city with Cardiff in the middle.

Options are not guaranteed to run. However a university with a large History Dept should offer a good variety. So unless there are stark differences that mean one university stands out, I think what you study isn’t going to be hugely important to anyone other than you. If you want that niche module, and the lecturer goes on maternity leave, then you are not going to get that dream module!

University rankings put Durham above the others. (From what I’ve seen). With humanities subjects, I think trying for the best university makes more sense than nuances of the course.