Manchester or Loughborough

[WhichUni2020]

Hi, my dc is stuck and not sure which to choose from these two options. Likes both but marginally prefers Loughborough but thinks it may be better to choose Manchester. Grades required are the same for both. Anyone have any experience of either of these & willing to share - subject is Economics
Thanks

My DS is engineering at Loughborough and likes it. Very supportive uni with good facilities.

Probably better nightlife in Manchester but workload for DS is so great he doesn’t really mind.

Thanks, an offer has also been made by Nottingham which is not currently in her top 2 - now wondering if the choice should be between Nottingham & Loughborough!

She has to live there for 3 years so needs to like the city and lifetstyle - Loughborough is very different from Nottingham, the town centre is dull with not much going on but Notttingham has a much better night life.

Both campuses are great though - she needs to visit both.

Manchester for Economics, much more respected course.

I think campus and social life wise Manchester. I also get the impression it's well respected (I didn't go there)

Manchester all the way.

Last year my DS had very similar choices. He firmed Nottingham and put Looughborough as his insurance (for Economics). He's at Nottingham now and is really enjoying the campus and his course. Lots of info from the Economic society about help with job applications etc.
If it matters, then Nottingham is well respected for Economics - what actaully matters is getting a good degree from any of Machester, Nottingham or Loughborough.
Based on DS's experience last year I would imagine that Nottingham are offering higher grades that Loughborough.

Manchester every time. The course is better, the university is better and the city is much better. No contest.

In order of which course is better for economics, the tables say Nottingham, Loughborough, Manchester in that order so I'd go Nottingham or Loughborough depending on which one appeals as a place to live more.

My son is facing this exact problem. He's applied to Manchester, Loughborough x 2, Kent and Sussex and has been offered all 5. Of your list, I'd say Nottingham is best for Economics.

Be careful of those telling you Manchester is best, best course, best degree. They haven't asked if your DC has applied for the BA or BSC so how do they know what's best?

I know rankings are of limited use but Manchester is well below both Loughborough and Nottingham on the 'complete university guide'

www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings/economics

The guardian - www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2018/may/29/university-league-tables-2019

again has Manchester well down with Nottingham highest of the three if you select Economics from the dropdown list.

My son is strongly considering Loughborough based on his impressions of the placement team, they seemed really switched on whereas Manchester was hit and miss with placements when we went to the open day. Loughborough is very different to a city based Uni, it has a US style campus feel, everything is on one site including the accommodation. Have you and your DC visited?

@jc33483 - Would completely agree with everything you said!

Sheffield is another one that offers both a BA and a BSc in Economics.
Nottingham only offers a BSc, and I believe the same is true for Loughborough (certainly that is the course that my DS was interested in last year).

Very different settings - big city vs small town. Which would suit them most?

The full name of course is actually Bsc in business economics and finance. She has an offer holder day next week for Loughborough which will hopefully help her decide! She’s been offered Newcastle & Liverpool as well. Definitely putting Liverpool as insurance and it’s a toss up for Manchester, Nottingham or Loughborough for firm choice.

Personally I hated Loughborough. If you're into sport in any way, it would be awesome, but I wasn't and felt like an outcast much of the time! It depends on the lifestyle you want tho - Loughborough is a very safe campus and very much looks after you in that respect. My second choice was Liverpool for engineering, and tbh I wish I had gone there - the lifestyle was more exciting. Nowt to do in Lufbra so you have to travel to Nottingham or Leicester which are both awesome cities! But then, that's not the whole reason you go to uni anymore is it!!!
Also, go for red brick - most people thing Lufbra was a poly (no problem with polies, but it wasn't!)

(having said all that, I am actually going back to Lufbra to do my MSc!)

Manchester is basically in a different class of uni to the other two, on a par with Durham and the like. There will be employers who will filter out applications from Loughborough and accept Manchester.

Nottingham, Manchester then Loughborough. (I went to Manchester (London lawyer) and my daughter Nottingham (London lawyer)).

Here is a list of where London law firms who want the best graduates tend to take people frojm. It will be the same ranking as it were for most well paid jobs too.

[https://www.chambersstudent.co.uk/where-to-start/newsletter/law-firms-preferred-universities-2019]]

For business finance / management / accounting Loughborough pips Manchester. But for Economics Manchester pips Loughborough - so it all depends on what your DC wants to do with the degree. If the aim is to get an ACCA or CIMA then Loughborough has far better links to local and big-4 accountancy firms in Leicester and Nottingham.