Opinions/experiences of Liverpool University and city?

[cryinglightning]

May seem trivial in light of what is going on in the world but thought some people might be able to use a distraction!

DD is holding a Liverpool offer for Psychology which she is planning to use as insurance (ABB). First choice will almost certainly be Sheffield (AAB). She looked round Liverpool last summer and really liked it but didn't get a chance to attend offer holder days before they were cancelled due to Covid-19. She is (reasonably) confident that Liverpool will be an appropriate insurance and is on track to be given the grades for Sheffield anyway - so is unlikely to take up the insurance offer - but was wondering if anyone had any experiences of the uni or city to put her mind at rest before entering her choices into UCAS?

Any general info or thoughts welcomed! Thanks in advance :)

im local and my DD has a firm offer for the uni. its an absolutely wonderful city, four unis so massive student population. great night life and small - most places can be walked to. very friendly, well thought of in league tables. cant recommend it enough - loads of people come for uni and never ever leave

Liverpool is a fabulous city. I love visiting and wish I could live there.

My DD graduated from there last year - different subject. She had a fantastic time and I think she will end up moving back there at some stage in her life. DD2 had it as her insurance choice but ended up at her firm choice.

I haven't visited the university but it's an interesting city with a strong personality. Uni residences are some of the most expensive in the country (outside of London) so do have a look at the accommodation website before you commit.

My friend has just finished that exact course at Liverpool. She was a mature student but highly recommends the course. She didn’t really participate in student life but enjoyed the company of the younger students at the lectures. It is a great city! Can’t go wrong going there.

My sister went to university in Liverpool as did her husband. A vast majority of their uni friends stayed in Liverpool after their degree. She absolutely loved Liverpool and had a great time, really enjoyed the course and only has great things to say about the university and the student experience there. She still goes back regularly.

If your DD is happy with a city university rather than a campus which it sounds she is, I think Liverpool is a great choice. Can't comment on the specific course, but everything I've heard suggests it's a great option with a good mix of student and city living, plenty of places to rent as students and lots of activities etc...

I went there as did DH.
Lovely friendly city, worked there for 10 years after graduating.
Miss it and go back often.

Dreadful experience on visit with DS. Nothing to like about it.
" you can go if you want son but don't think we're paying for it".
Awful city still in the throes of waiting for regeneration on the walk from the station.
No parents allowed on the visit to agriculture and vet school ( go and entertain yourselves for 3 hours parents) Thanks for letting us know in advance Liverpool uni. Long wait for uninspiring subject talks.
Definitely not in DS2's list of visits

Oops Visit for DS1

It's wonderful - and accommodation is not that expensive - I know because I have two dc and one is in a FAR more expensive city. Private accommodation is plentiful and cheap. My DS loved, loved , loved his time there - and is still there 5 years later.

DS1 is st Sheffield and it's been great. Supportive staff and well respected course - trounces Liverpool any day and a nicer city with good links to countryside etc.

Know both cities well. Liverpool, without doubt; the sense of being by the sea, the World Heritage site, the architecture (2,500 listed buildings), the people....and it's best kept secret....the beaches !

Are you sure you are talking about the right City PBLR ?

I was VERY impressed by Liverpool as a City on the two occasions I've visited over the last 4 or 5 years.

OP My DN graduated from there last Summer. She loved it there. Lots of students all mingled in across the City Centre. Everywhere really walkable.

Her accommodation was very expensive posh - it has all been privatised and is rather nice.

@pblr you would really withhold money from your child's education and living expenses simply because the school couldn't accommodate parents as well as students on a visit? Everywhere in Liverpool is in walking distance from the university - you could've gone shopping or had a walk around or sat in a cafe, for crying out loud. Otherwise you are saying they should accommodate three times the number of people just so the parents can visit. They are treating the students like adults - surely you want that?

Well it might have helped if the 3 hours of entertain yourselves parents had been forthcoming before we arrived Hollowtalk. Other unis did manage to accommodate parents as well even when a coach trip was involved, Nottingham and Bristol for sure.

I do think that that if people ask for views on here then we should be able to state our experiences without being so aggressively responded to. Yes, I am talking about the same city, and yes, our children are part of our family and it helps if we are on the same page when it involves decisions that affect all of our family members in some way thank you

I think Liverpool has dodged a bullet there!

Having been with DDs to several universities over the years, I didn’t expect to be entertained by any university. I went to a few bits and pieces but let DDs get on with it. I’m perfectly capable of entertaining myself when DD was in talks and info sessions. Exeter doesn’t want parents in talks either and that’s a campus university.

As there are so few vet schools, it’s not really a family decision. It’s who will offer DC a place. Most people are not that choosy because the places are hard to secure. I let my DDs decide on university based on their needs not mine!

I graduated in Psychology at Liverpool in 2008. I’m sure the course will have changed somewhat but I really enjoyed it.

I stayed in the city for years after graduating, couldn’t leave. Still visit from abroad every year. It’s a captivating city and I’d recommend anyone to go there.

Dd started there this year and loves everything about it, her course, the city, the extra curriclar stuff, her job at Anfield. Yes accommodation is pricey first year ( she went into private halls for this reason) but after that in private housing it's a lot cheaper.

It's been done up really well, loads of museums, places to eat and drink. When we went on visit day with Dd1 they'd organised taxis cos it was raining. And they did a coachieve tour of the city.

" you can go if you want son but don't think we're paying for it".

WTF!

So entitled. Why should the uni cater to parents as well? Madness.

Well they usually do put on talks for parents. I expect with vet science, prospective students got a trip out to the other vet teaching area. It’s a farm. I expect transport was limited to Prospective students. Quite reasonably. Vet students only go there for y4 onwards. It’s not the end of the world for parents to find something else to do in Liverpool. A great city to have a wander around.

It is my son's insurance choice, and we did attend both an Open Day and an Offer Holders Day.

We had never been to Liverpool before but loved the city - the architecture, the sense of being by the sea, the people, everything.

We were impressed by the facilities, the accommodation and the welcome.

On our Offer Holders Day, everyone attended a welcome talk and then students and parents were separated. The parents had a very informative talk about supporting your child at university. They were very frank about homesickness, mental health issues and the struggle to adapt to independent living. I really got a sense that they cared about their students.

Accommodation was amongst the best we'd seen anywhere, but it was expensive.

On our way home we did pass through some areas that were badly in need of regeneration, as a pp put it, but what city doesn't have those. Statistics show that it is a safe city, which I think is more important.

I went there and thoroughly recommend it. Great location close to city centre for convenience but not spread out all around the city like some unis. Liverpool has great shopping, nightlife, culture, transport, people and football and is a really attractive city with lots of Georgian buildings and modern developments, parks, river. And also easy access to countryside, beaches, etc. I didn’t want to leave but had to take the job I was offered in the south. But I jumped at every chance to go back for various client secondments in my previous job. No opportunities in my current job so hadn’t been back for a while but went back for a conference last year and added on some annual leave to spend more time there and confess I cried with happiness at being back!

They have an ambitious plan to improve the campus with new buildings but don’t think it will affect the vets school.

Liverpool is a fabulous city. I'd move there in a heartbeat if I could. So much to do, such beautiful architecture, such brilliant people. I feel so at home there. It has my heart completely ♥️ I'd say go for it

Dd is there, currently coming to the end of first year and is studying Psychology. She really enjoys the course and loves the city. She is in Uni accommodation which is expensive but good quality and she has made some good friends. She chose it mainly because of their study abroad programme (hopefully she will get to go) but she loves it.