What are Leeds, York, Notts, Newcastle & Birmingham Universities and cities like? No open days = no clue!

[Notdonna]

DD yr12 and all open days cancelled. We haven’t done much UK travel and don’t know the cities at all that DD has on her list. So if anyone has an insight to Birmingham, Leeds, York, Newcastle, Nottingham - the cities and their unis it’d be very much appreciated. Huge thanks!

[partystress]

DS just finishing second tear at York. Loves the uni and the city. Bits of the campus are ugly, but interesting. The lake is lovely imho, but yes some goose poo!

Easy bus to City. His friendship group is 90% state school. Diverse, but all home students - I think the international students are perhaps not in his college. The college system seems to work really well - a very supportive home base.

[My0My]

But they would dispute that Birmingham or York is the best out of these for History. So it is best not to list subjects when you are not really sure of what you are saying. I know Warwick is hard to get into for Maths but the others subjects you listed do not have a straight science or engineering subject among them.

[Piggywaspushed]

They were examples. If it doesn't matter, there wouldn't be league tables, which MN wouldn't be do obsessed with! I did not say any of those unis were bad for any subject.

York is not so good for maths , so I hear.

I have repeatedly said that all of those unis are excellent. Some of them have gold standard reputations in some subjects and that is What I have listed. Have no idea what I have done to annoy you, but students with such wonderful choices should be able to base their decision on reputation for subject. Much like I'd say to someone who specifically said they wanted to do Creative Writing to look at UEA.

I freely admit sciences are not my field. But lots of posters asked OP the subject so they must think it is relevant.

[ShaunaTheSheep]

DS is hoping to go to Leeds in September. Once he’d established the course suited, his choice came down to the place he could see himself living. The uni is a small campus right on the edge of the city centre, best of both worlds. Plenty going on in both the uni and the city, accessible on foot or bike, cost of living and accommmodation not too expensive, decent train links home.

I don’t know the other cities, but a friend’s DC has loved being at Newcastle.

[BackforGood]

Wave to @ShaunaTheSheep
dd love Leeds and has put as her first choice too
Fingers crossed for results day

[NotDonna]

@Piggywaspushed it’s economics. But as I say the unis with a great reputation want AAA. (Warwick, LSE, Durham, Bristol, Bath, Exeter etc). Even Notts is A*AA, Leeds & Birmingham are AAA which are all (imho) a huge ask. But she’s keeping them on her list & in the mix for the time being. Birmingham say it’s AAB if she gets A in maths (I think that’s right). The other 2 (York & Newcastle) are AAB and slightly more realistic perhaps but it’s early days for predictions.

[Decorhate]

@Notdonna Apart from Oxbridge & some very oversubscribed courses such as medicine, there is usually some wiggle room on results day. The key is getting the offer (or having the predicted grades which will lead to an offer). Last year Ds’ firm wanted A*AA. He got AAB and got in. Another uni with the same standard offer took ABB in clearing.

And some places will make an offer even if your predicted grades are slightly lower than what they are asking for.

I would say there is probably no flexibility at LSE or Warwick normally but that may change next year if the number of overseas students is still low.

So your Dd is right not to rule out any of the unis she likes just yet.

[NotMeNoNo]

One of our friends is a long standing member of Economics Dept staff at Nottingham, it would be a very solid choice.

[Piggywaspushed]

Thanks, OP : competition will be ferocious for Warwick, for sure , for economics but why not try anyway?

All great places : might be worth also thinking about price and quality of accommodation, journey time and ease,and those sorts of things.

Someone upthread mentioned York being collegiate (as is Lancaster if she hasn't considered that : it's good for economics). They are proper colleges (not quite in the Oxbridge sense) with the sense of community built around college identity,which is very good pastorally.

[Juo]

DS graduated from York last year, he loved the city and the campus. The only thing I would add to what others have said is that they have an abundance of accommodation. This means students can, if they wish, stay in halls for the duration of their degree. DS chose to live in private rental in year 2 but went back into halls in y3.

[Bayleaf25]

@Ihaveoflate can I ask a bit more about Leeds Beckett. DS was thinking about there for Film Production but wondering what it has/doesn’t have in its favour? Thanks

[cologne4711]

The Headingley campus of Leeds Beckett is lovely but I am not sure if they do film production there or in the city centre.

[Ginfordinner]

My0My partying hard at Newcastle is optional. DD is there and loves it. She has CFS and doesn't have the energy or inclination to party hard, and she hates clubbing. But she has met her tribe and has a great social life. They do pub quizzes have themed group meals, do pub crawls and go to the odd party. They don't fit the stereotype of a Newcastle student.

As a city Newcastle has lots to offer and is compact enough to get around on foot. DD hated Warwick and York. The 1960s "eastern bloc" architecture at York is hideous. She thought Nottingham was OK. A main consideration is that most first year accommodation at Nottingham is catered, and DD definitely did not want catered.

[cologne4711]

DS has got Leeds, York, Warwick, Exeter and Cardiff on his list. All of which we've been to (not necessarily the uni but seen the city). He's not sure what to study but considering law/politics combination.

Leicester is also a possible and is the one place I really don't know at all as I've only been once to visit a cousin of my mother's on the outskirts. Does anyone have any views on that? I do know someone who studied there but it was back in the early 90s :)

[Ginfordinner]

DD had an interview at Leicester and liked it.

[LettuceOnly]

DS went to Birmingham and loved it and he's now got a job there. Costs are reasonable too.

[lekkerkroketje]

Since its economics, Birmingham has the advantage that it's got the HSBC headquarters and several big corporate offices in the city centre. It's also nearly commutable to London for internships and work experience, and its certainly easy for job interviews. It's going to be a bit of a drag getting to London from the other places and would probably require a hotel for assessment days.

[Piggywaspushed]

Leicester is a good uni : my understanding is that it's a bit scattered about and the accommodation in particular is a bit scattered. I am not sure how accurate that is.

I think the 60s architecture could be relative to where some DCs went to school themselves! York's main buildings aren't going to win any beauty prizes, for sure! King's Manor and Heslington Hall are lovely and the city itself makes up in abundance. York Minster is hard to beat. UEA is another plate glass. For some reason Ziggurats (much discussed with marchingfrogs and others on other threads!) ahs a cult following!

[Ginfordinner]

DD loves York as a city to visit, but hated the campus. It felt soulless. We live an hour away from York so have frequently visited. Living rurally meant that DD wanted to be very much in the middle of things. She didn't much care for Lancaster either.

[Piggywaspushed]

It's all different strokes, Isn't it? Not sure how virtual Open Days can show this, sadly.

[PointeShoesandTutus]

Warwick is quite hard work and aggressive - I went there and there was very much a hands off approach, with students fending for themselves. Not very hand holdy! I can see why they haven’t dealt with the sexual abuse allegations - it was after my time but even when I was there there was a culture of ‘you’re adults now, get on with it.’ The campus is in the middle of nowhere. On the plus side the academics are cracking, Leamington (where a lot of people live) is a fantastic little town, and the sports are exceptional. If you’re a hard worker, it will open doors for you.

Leeds is a great student city with lots going on. A lot of Leeds students stay in Leeds forever, so I can only assume they have a good time. It’s quickly climbing the ranks as a prestigious university too. Leeds Beckett is exceptional for some subjects - Film, sport, physio to name a few. Most subjects are taught in the city centre now I think. Leeds Beckett certainly has a very good pastoral side too.

[ShaunaTheSheep]

@BackforGood

Wave to *@ShaunaTheSheep*
dd love Leeds and has put as her first choice too
Fingers crossed for results day

@BackforGood Dare I ask what course and preferred halls? DS has applied for engineering and requested'Monty Bs'

(Have namechanged btw before anyone gasps )

[dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby]

Has she tried looking on Google Maps street view to get an idea of the feel of various places? You can also zoom out, helicopter and see where the university is in relation to the town, train station etc.

[Twizbe]

I went to Warwick if anyone has questions on that.

Birmingham uni seemed nice when I visited for careers fairs, close to bourneville for any chocolate lovers.

I didn't like Nottingham. The halls I saw were on the far side of this huge field. I asked the girl showing us around about safety and she said there is a flood like and they give you a rape alarm!!

[My0My]

Apart from historical culture at Warwick (and they WILL have changed, economics there is going to be considered to be better there. The others won’t make much difference and it will be what DD makes of it. Warwick snd less cuddly universities are respected by top employers for that reason.

Law and Politics is respected at all those universities but if DS wants an internship and top law job, look at which university comes top of the law recruitment tables. That tells you which course is most respected. If he doesn’t want that career then it really won’t matter. Just enjoy the city and the university.