Universities with a ‘Brighton vibe’?

[SlouchingTiger]

Hi all, which universities would you recommend for someone who wants the sort of vibe that you get in Brighton, where no one would bat an eyelid at piercings, extreme hairstyles and very supportive in terms of LGB issues?

So… Brighton but not Brighton?

And maybe where to avoid too, lol!

*your second post

So many really helpful posts. Struggling to acknowledge them all on my phone.

@OuiOuiBonjour that’s great advice. And same to @PatsArrow and ODFox.

And absolutely we’re looking at grades, courses and mental health support. This thread addresses just one of the factors in the decision making process.

And of course ‘alternative’ need not mean piercings and blue hair.

I knew an undergrad who proudly wore, every day, all the tweed suits and Mackintosh raincoats they had recently inherited from a very elderly relative. Another, who blew their entire first term’s grant at a particular designer shop, famously wandered around looking like an Edwardian princess, just because they had so much of the same brand.

There’s room for pretty much everyone at university. Isn’t that what it’s for?

Exactly what edmontinas put. Is there such a thing as 'alternative' these days for students?

OP, as someone who works at a post-92 ex-poly university where your DC would definitely fit in, I'd say that some of their issues seem to have been cuased by the school environment. They may encourage uniformity, or have issues with dyed hair, but universities do not.

Focus on finding a course that interests them and a place where they feel at ease. A number of ex-polys do really well in terms of welfare support for students, mental health etc. if you feel that would be of use to your DC, so do ask about that at open days.

@MichelleScarn

Exactly what edmontinas put. Is there such a thing as 'alternative' these days for students?

At my workplace, if a young woman walked in dressed like Kate Middleton (no piercings/tattoos/natural haircolour/minimal makeup/formalish gendered clothing or basic countryside wear etc) that would be as alternative as anything lol!

Although we do have a student who is still identifiying as male, fully bearded, 6ft5 and stocky who does often wear skirt suits or shift dresses, pearls and court shoes and no one bats an eyelid.

Goldsmiths?

This might be helpful to read:
www.ucas.com/corporate/news-and-key-documents/news/lgbt-freshers-looking-forward-being-open-and-out-university-new-ucas-research-shows

I think students find their tribe. Subject friends won’t matter if you join societies and clubs with like minded people.

I think being alternative at uni these days would mean being a straight, Tory-voting omnivore with no piercings or tattoos.

OP, I hear you. You should start with the subject they want to study and then narrow it down from there. English in Manchester is great, for instance, but in some other unis would be v.very conservative. Similarly, History in Warwick has always been v.conservative and there were some scandals about student behaviour - they were specifically History students. It does depend on the department.

Another advice it to pick a uni that has an art school, - or a town with an art school.

They are unis and departments with a high proportion of what my DS calls 'rugby boys'. It is perfectly possible to find tory-voting student contingents, not necessarily straight - nevertheless obnoxious

Durham you might not think of. But St Aidans prides itself on this. As it were. It's known as the rainbow college. Trouble is no guarantees you will get assigned there. But it does seem one fewer choose partly because of the climb. Otherwise Bristol?

Manchester

York has an inclusive lgbt+ scene. We saw a few dedicated bars/clubs and quite a few same sex couples able to just be comfortable. It actually made me happy to see as although I’m straight I believe love is love.

Most universities are like this in my experience. Over the past couple of years I’ve had to visit about 20 and spend extended periods at two (one near a small town and the other in a big city) and I can’t imagine someone who is a lesbian with colourful hair raising eyebrows at either.

I think most universities are at least in bits like this.
Goldsmiths was really like this but tolerance of difference was actually quite superficial talk in our experience.

There is a difference between having current blue tick approach to life and actually being accepting of difference if it doesn't square with your thinking.
I thought York was great for that.

Bristol isn’t a good shout. Somewhere with liberal minded courses and a city with an alternative scene that students access is better. Better still are university clubs and societies that reflect the individual. They provide space to be yourself and meet like minded others. You cannot choose a subject that doesn’t interest you! So history or English might not be possible with the A level mix being studied. London is a very obvious choice.

As I said earlier, it’s really hard to scroll through and acknowledge all contributions on my phone by I’m so grateful for all advice on here.

@TizerorFizz why not Bristol? Bristol ( UWE) is the current favourite… and @Dazeddaisy disagrees!

None of the universities in London suggested offer the course she wants (it’s a vocational rather than academic course).

I have the idea in my head that a campus university might be better in terms of community feel but it’s just occurred to me that there.

Durham is too far north and also aiming a bit high tbh…although she’s predicted A grades I think anything C or above would be realistic (and perfectly acceptable) based on variable past performance and our views on not piling on academic pressure.

*that a campus could also end up feeling quite lonely if you don’t make loads of friends quickly.

Cardiff?

UWE isn’t the same as Bristol. I just saw Bristol mentioned. There is a big difference between the universities. Most students make friends with like minded people they meet in halls or on their course. If none of your friends accesses what’s in the city, the city won’t matter. If you do want all a city has to offer, most students don’t do it in their own. They go with friends. So the universities that might have students like you are important. Not the city. It’s also difficult to judge isn’t it? Who knows who is applying to where until you all turn up!

What course does DC want?

I don't know about rainbow hair etc but you're right, my son is set on going to a uni in London and recently speaking to my friends who went to university they've all said the London ones lacked the support and community feel of ones which were campus universities.

Falmouth has a lot of "arty" students wandering around.

London students make friends and that’s the “feel” of the university. My DD went to a London uni and Dsis. Lots of students live at home. Lots of students from abroad. This will feel very different to uwe