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Higher education

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Original poster

Anyone with experience of: Exeter, Nottingham, St Andrews, Edinburgh Unis?

51 replies

Frodont · 17/01/2021 09:05

Dd has good offers from Exeter, Bristol and Nottingham. She's visited Exeter and Bristol and likes both, but for obvious reasons we can't visit Nottingham, Edinburgh or St Andrews yet. I've been to Nottingham a few years ago with another dc and liked it..

Sorry I realise this is a how long is a piece of string question, but any info will help! We live in England, so the Scottish unis will be a very long way away

She's studying Theology/Philosophy if that helps anyone!

OP posts:
HeadNorth · 17/01/2021 09:11

Edinburgh is a big University in a European city with a major international festival. St Andrews is a small seaside town where everyone ends up knowing everyone by the end of 4 years. Very different student experiences, so it depends on her background and personality which would be a better fit. Both are ancient research intensives with a strong international reputation.

Covidcovid · 17/01/2021 09:15

I went to Nottingham years ago. Lovely campus.

Exeter has a bit of a reputation for being the place for public school type kids to go to. Not sure if that would be a good or bad thing for her.

ifigoup · 17/01/2021 09:20

Of the courses you mention, Exeter’s is the most modern/innovative, and the Scottish ones are the most traditional/staid. Edinburgh is quite fusty. Nottingham’s is quite “macho”. Bristol’s department is a bit eclectic and if she is interested in Theology per se she’d do better at any of the others - the course at Bristol isn’t very cohesive.

Obviously bear in mind that the Scottish unis will be offering 4-year courses where the stuff they do in years 1 and 2 is much more general. The English ones are 3 years and they get stuck into their specialist stuff much sooner.

All are very good departments - Exeter has a particularly good reputation for pastoral care and student satisfaction.

Of the cities, St Andrews is small and sleepy; Exeter is still small but with plenty going on in terms of arts and culture; Bristol is hip and fun; Nottingham is a cool city; Edinburgh is majestic.

weebarra · 17/01/2021 09:28

I did philosophy at Edinburgh (a long time ago!) and it was very traditional, lots of white male philosophers. I don't think we studied any female or non western philosophers.
It's a great city though, I still live there!

EvelynBeatrice · 17/01/2021 09:57

I live in Edinburgh so am perhaps biased. As an incomer I’m still in love with it after 20 years. So pretty, walkable and safe as cities go. Lots of central greenery and parks. Good public transport. Princes street shops with Princes Street Gardens opposite and backdrop Edinburgh castle on hill, view down through New Town streets out to sea, the Botanic Gardens, the art galleries and museums,, the ‘ spot an author ‘ with Alexander McCall Smith, J K Rowling, Maggie O’Farrell ...who all live here.
The university is well regarded and Russell Group. Wealthy judging by building projects and renovations - currently huge project to convert old Edinburgh Royal Infirmary to university buildings. University union in great part of town close to huge open space of meadows (full of picnicking students in summer), loads of cafes and pubs etc alongside happy mix of school kids from neighbouring schools and office staff from nearby offices.
St Andrews is really lovely very small town with magnificent blue flag beaches. More traditional campus university experience with lots of traditions including Sunday walk in gowns along prom. Very well regarded uni too. My niece was very happy there. Depends on what your child would prefer. Edinburgh really isn’t a big scary city but if a student is from a more rural place, I can see that they might prefer somewhere smaller. Happy to answer any more questions you have that I can...I’m sympathetic as my child will be studying ‘down south’ possibly Bristol or Exeter which is far away for us too and we haven’t been able to visit either.....

RoganJosh · 17/01/2021 09:59

Are the Scottish ones a year longer course/second year entry?
That and the distance would put me off those two. The others are good.

EvelynBeatrice · 17/01/2021 10:05

I’d be surprised incidentally if the Edinburgh course remains ‘fusty’ male and stale, although I appreciate that theology attracts a certain male type. I knew a school mum a few years back who studied theology at Edinburgh and she certainly didn’t give me that impression.... I know a few academics there in different fields ... all female professors. Hopefully the online open days will give you more of a feel.

With ‘traditional’ subjects like law and theology it’s sometimes nice to study somewhere with hundreds of years of history and famous philosophers amongst the alumni....

Original poster
Frodont · 17/01/2021 10:10

@ifigoup

Of the courses you mention, Exeter’s is the most modern/innovative, and the Scottish ones are the most traditional/staid. Edinburgh is quite fusty. Nottingham’s is quite “macho”. Bristol’s department is a bit eclectic and if she is interested in Theology per se she’d do better at any of the others - the course at Bristol isn’t very cohesive.

Obviously bear in mind that the Scottish unis will be offering 4-year courses where the stuff they do in years 1 and 2 is much more general. The English ones are 3 years and they get stuck into their specialist stuff much sooner.

All are very good departments - Exeter has a particularly good reputation for pastoral care and student satisfaction.

Of the cities, St Andrews is small and sleepy; Exeter is still small but with plenty going on in terms of arts and culture; Bristol is hip and fun; Nottingham is a cool city; Edinburgh is majestic.

That is so helpful!
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EvelynBeatrice · 17/01/2021 10:10

I don’t understand the worry about the extra year. I understand the money issue but otherwise what’s the rush? Can’t kids have a bit of breathing space after exam and Covid misery without being rushed on to the work treadmill asap... In most cases you can do an ordinary degree at Scottish universities in three years. You can opt to do a fourth year for an Honours degree which most do. Gives you chance to understand the subject in more detail. Advantage in my view. Maybe look at graduate employ statistics and not just employment statistics post university in making a decision.

ThePricklySheep · 17/01/2021 10:17

Evelyn
It just seems like a waste of time. The first year of study is aimed at those who have done highers, not A levels. So it’s overlap. Use the time and money to do something else (travel if possible) and then do a three year degree in England.

Original poster
Frodont · 17/01/2021 10:18

She hasn't heard from St As or Edinburgh yet so... she's keen on the course at Exeter - she's currently at an all girls school and very used to passionately discussing the role of women in everything so male and stale wouldn't be a good fit!

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Original poster
Frodont · 17/01/2021 10:19

@ThePricklySheep

Evelyn It just seems like a waste of time. The first year of study is aimed at those who have done highers, not A levels. So it’s overlap. Use the time and money to do something else (travel if possible) and then do a three year degree in England.
I think this system has advantages and disadvantages. Certainly she'd be frustrated if she was covering a lot of old ground, however there's a choice to study something completely different in your first year, have I got that right?
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ifigoup · 17/01/2021 10:49

@Frodont In that case I think Exeter’s course would suit her very well: they do plenty on gender, race, disability, culture, art. It’s also one of the few TRS departments in the country with mostly female professors - lots of positive role models!

Original poster
Frodont · 17/01/2021 10:52

[quote ifigoup]@Frodont In that case I think Exeter’s course would suit her very well: they do plenty on gender, race, disability, culture, art. It’s also one of the few TRS departments in the country with mostly female professors - lots of positive role models![/quote]
Thanks! She's done a lot a research into the courses and I know Exeter is her favourite

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Original poster
Frodont · 17/01/2021 10:53

They gave her a fantastic offer too, if she firms it.

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HeadNorth · 17/01/2021 11:07

I think this system has advantages and disadvantages. Certainly she'd be frustrated if she was covering a lot of old ground, however there's a choice to study something completely different in your first year, have I got that right?

Yes, the first 2 years are broad and general before you specialise in years 3 and 4. You could enter University planning to do a degree in Philosophy and end up leaving with a combined honours in Russian Literature and Pyschology. There is a huge amount of choice within the humanities and many students end up taking honours in a subject they possible never had the opportunity to study before they attended University - that is the great advantage of the 4 year system, it encourages intellectual curiousity and exploring other disciplines before focussing on a specialism.

BringBackDoves · 17/01/2021 11:11

I went to Edinburgh and there was no overlapping or covering old ground in the first year. Yes years 3 and 4 are more specialist but frankly I loved an extra year at uni plus getting an MA out of it - it was one of the major reasons I went there. Plus, it’s fabulous.

weebarra · 17/01/2021 11:16

I really liked the fact that at Edinburgh you could take an extra one (in my case because I did joint honours) or two subjects in the first year. I did classical literature which I loved

Original poster
Frodont · 17/01/2021 11:26

Yes that's a really appealing idea.

Bit niche...but I don't suppose anyone knows anything about extra curric drama/acting at any of those unis (her other great passion!) She seems to think Nottingham best for that.

OP posts:
HeadNorth · 17/01/2021 11:50

Well, Edinburgh has an international arts festival with a huge fringe where many students put on shows of varying quality and success every year Grin

Original poster
Frodont · 17/01/2021 11:51

@HeadNorth

Well, Edinburgh has an international arts festival with a huge fringe where many students put on shows of varying quality and success every year Grin
Ha ha! Of course it does! Hopefully that will all happen again one day...
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HeadNorth · 17/01/2021 11:58

Ha ha! Of course it does! Hopefully that will all happen again one day...

I know - it feels a million years ago!

PearlyPinkNails · 17/01/2021 12:03

There's quite a few parents of Edinburgh, Nottingham and Exeter parents on WIWIKAU Facebook group who never mind answering questions.

Nottingham is a fab city for students, loads to do, reasonable accommodation and easy to navigate.

PearlyPinkNails · 17/01/2021 12:04

Sorry meant parents/students. Not much sleep last night here.

Movinghouse2015 · 17/01/2021 12:07

My DS is in his second year at Nottingham. He was loving his first year on campus in halls, before covid struck. He loves the city and cannot wait for restrictions to lift so he can return. He is house sharing this year.

If she is considering Nottingham I would recommend she speaks to students who in the first year stayed in accommodation on campus and off campus. According to my DS both are a very different experience.