Where do your DC go to uni, and what are their thoughts?

[electricfeel]

I have a Year 12 DS starting to look ahead to the university open days he would like to attend this summer. He is keen to pick a uni with a decent academic reputation (though probably not Oxbridge etc standard) in a city which he really likes. I was hoping to gather some opinions for him to consider on the unis which your DC attend and the cities they are in?

He's vaguely considering Bristol, Nottingham, Manchester, Sheffield and Cardiff so far but frankly insider feedback/info on any uni would be helpful as he/we are a little clueless

My Dd is in her final year at Sussex doing Biology. She loves living in Brighton and may stay on to do a masters.

So moral is, they'll have a fab time wherever they go'!! Course is the most important thing.

@hellsbells99 what courses did your DC study at Liverpool and Leeds respectively? DS is becoming increasingly keen on both

DS is in his first year at UCL and loves it.

DD graduated a few years ago from Uni of Birmingham with a law degree and loved it there. My year 13 DD is now going to firm Birmingham for Psychology. It's a beautiful campus with it's own station.

My youngest is final year at Exeter and very happy.
Eldest did Manchester and enjoyed it but we found it a long distance when she was unwell. Pastoral care was far superior at Exeter.

@zzzzzzzx or any other Birmingham parents, what is the Birmingham nightlife like?

OP, Birmingham is the second largest city in the UK! It is not some sleepy backwater....

@Piggywaspushed I never said it was! But some universities have more of a party reputation (Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle etc) while some less so (Durham, York, Exeter etc) and I didn't know where Birmingham fits into that.

Apparently it's great. I heard a fair bit about nights out clubbing although DD wasn't massively into clubbing.

@zzzzzzzx good to know. While on the subject, does anyone have experience of what the nightlife is like in Sheffield?

My dc is at Lancaster and loving it. It's a small city and that suits him. I went to Sheffield and had a ball

electricfeel, there are plenty of 'Socs' to choose from on campus, plus well, yes, quite a lot of bars and clubs in the city centre (DD reckons on about £5 - more on Saturday nights - for an Uber to / from her halls on Bristol Road, but if going out early enough for the train, it's two stops into New St from University station, three from Selly Oak).

Apologies OP if I sounded snippy but the emphasis seems to be on partying over the course choice!

As I said, loads of my students love Birmingham.

I genuinely don't think most large, well established unis are quiet places devoid of entertainment.

I think DCs tend to know where to go if they want a bit of City life! It’s not all about the course! It’s about fitting in to the right place in order to get the most out of the course! There is more to university than just studying and a student that is in the right city or campus will feel they have all they need.

“Lively” university cities are usually considered to be Newcastle, Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool, Sheffield and Leeds. Obviously the universities are different but there are large cities available on the doorstep and some students love that. Add in Nottingham, Birmingham, Southampton and Cardiff and you cannot go wrong on that front.

My DDs went to school with DCs from London and Newcastle was a firm favourite! Very much targeted by fun loving DC! It’s cheap too.

I don't know if Sheffield is as wild as it used to be, I was there in the days of Pyjama Jump

My friend’s DS is currently at Sheffield. There was quite a drinking culture in his hall and he loved it. Slightly less drinking in subsequent years.

A DD in my village just left and had a great time too. If you don’t join in, I think it might be an issue in some halls. It seems to attract DC who want to enjoy themselves at the same time as studying. DH went there and said it’s always had that reputation!

DH was a pyjama hump (jump) guy too! And Ents Committee!

Pyjama Jump was utter carnage, not surprised it got banned.

There's plenty of nightlife - clubbing and pubs in Brum plus a good music scene which DS enjoys. Easy via uni station to get into centre. Exeter quieter but still plenty of nightlife if you like it -DD more of a 'spoons' girl rather than a clubber so it suits her. Centre is walking distance.

OP I'd recommend he has a think about whether a campus uni is something he'd like, or whether he'd prefer it if the university was based in the city itself. Personally I found the campus thing a bit insular and could be lonely if you didn't find your clique to hang out with, but others love it of course.

OP, he could still consider Newcastle. It's a fabulous city with beautiful architecture, gorgeous coastline and countryside, superb nightlife, river walks, fantastic culture - art, music and theatre scene. The two unis next door to each other in the city centre give it a strong, lively student vibe and although it's way up North, the train is very fast and not too expensive. Could take longer chugging up a slow line from Exeter, depending on where you live.

Durham is fantastic.If your DS is unsure of the course subjects they want to take they have brilliant combined honours courses. In particular the most flexible of which is the combined honours in social sciences, which includes all ‘art and humanities’ subjects and is a great course as they can discover and follow their interests. Durham is also a lovely city with all university building within easy reach.

DD1 absolutely loves UEA - Norwich is great, not too big, very safe, accommodation not too expensive, and the university is super-friendly. Bloody windy, though.

My DS has just left Warwick. It’s everything your DS doesn’t fancy! Campus uni and nearest city is Coventry but most students live in Leamington which is 8 miles away. DS absolutely loved it, though.

He had a great social life, threw himself into a couple of societies, including Real Ale, became political and loved both halls in first year, where he made a lot of friends, then loved living out in second and third year. He worked hard, played hard and got a first. He’s now working in Manchester, which is a much better city to be a student in!