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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Campus/Collegiate/Smaller Uni ideas

115 replies

nacras · 03/10/2021 19:44

Hi - my anxious DC wants to go to smaller collegiate type uni. Keen on Durham because of collegiate system which makes everything less intimidating. However its 6 hours away. Also liked Bath but doesnt do sugject. Any suggestions of campus type Unis appreciated. Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
nacras · 05/10/2021 06:23

Lancaster sounds good but as mentioned we are south coast so over 5 hour drive away, hence concern re Durham. Train is no better as most "Northern" Unis involve 2 hours train to London & changing.

OP posts:
TheBugHouse · 05/10/2021 06:36

Another vote for aber
Great uni, lovely small town, great geo and Earth science dept. Can stay in accom any year. And it it’s on the beach … a beautiful long prom walk next to it past the castle ruins and amazing scenery. Easy on the train too! It’s right in the middle.

MarchingFrogs · 05/10/2021 06:41

Sussex?

Mumdiva99 · 05/10/2021 06:58

When I chose my degree I felt the same as your son. Having spent a night in Hull and realising you could go to the student union and it was so big you might not bump into anyone you knew.....I started looking for smaller options. I went to a University college of Manchester away from Manchester.....that sort of thing might suit your son....has he explored those options?

Also what about University of Glocester as a bigger option?

Original poster
nacras · 05/10/2021 07:13

Thanks but looking at somewhere requiring grades similar to Oxbridge/Durham where previously had offers, that said does it really matter if they are happy there...

OP posts:
sashh · 05/10/2021 07:20

Another vote for Keele, I did my PGCE there. It's not a small uni but students refer to it as the 'Keele bubble' and it does feel like a village.

Busses run through the campus and everything you need is there, GP, shops, bars.

Close to the M6 and trains from Stoke-on-Trent to most places. I know there is a direct train to Southampton, but I also know 'south coast' can be hundreds of miles to Southampton.

piefacedClique · 05/10/2021 07:22

I second Royal Holloway. Lovely uni. Many live in halls in years 1 and again in 3. All very compact.

Swansea is enormous now and based over two campus’ which are quite far away from each other. Lots live in private blocks of flats rather than halls which seem to be popping up on a weekly basis.

sammyjoanne · 05/10/2021 08:11

@nacras what about Reading? We are going to visit there with younger DD on an open day next year and she picked it for its green space and the town.

MarchingFrogs · 05/10/2021 08:30

@nacras

Thanks but looking at somewhere requiring grades similar to Oxbridge/Durham where previously had offers, that said does it really matter if they are happy there...
DS2 has taken his A A A grades off to his firm choice, UEA (lovely green campus on the edge of attractive - to us, anyway - quirky, not enormous cathedral city; long way from the south coast, though) for ABB entry requirement History of Art and, one week in to teaching at least, isn't complaining about the lack of intellectual capacity of his fellow students... Mind you, ABB was the going rate at most of the universities he looked at, even Warwick and Bristol.
Piggywaspushed · 05/10/2021 08:35

I think if you want campus, with high entry grades but not going through London you are limiting your options. Not sure how accessible Exeter is from you as 'south coast' is pretty long but otherwise there are really quite limited options. All the high entry requirement campus style unis (Southampton excepted) are either very SW (Exeter), or North of London (Warwick, Loughborough, Birmingham, Nottingham are possibly closest).

it's a bit like Location, Location, Location : you might need to compromise on something.

Piggywaspushed · 05/10/2021 08:36

But this is not to say that I actually think those unis are always best : juts looking at your requirements. I agree UEA is excellent but also not very easy to get to from south coast.

TizerorFizz · 05/10/2021 09:23

Yes I agree the choice is limited. I would add Bristol to the list. If you are western south coast it’s ok to get to. If it’s Kent, not so great.

As I’ve said earlier, most students in a city university won’t notice the size of it. You are not in a huge campus. There is no campus at Bristol to feel overwhelmed by. There are discreet halls of residence at Stoke Bishop or in Clifton and the faculties are in Clifton but quite spread out. So I don’t think it feels large because you are not together on one campus such as Warwick and Exeter. No universities are truly small but I do think you can feel “at home” by making friends and being in a good teaching faculty that meets your needs.

I think geography often has different offers from history of art.

Mumdiva99 · 05/10/2021 11:15

@nacras

Thanks but looking at somewhere requiring grades similar to Oxbridge/Durham where previously had offers, that said does it really matter if they are happy there...
Your child needs to prioritise their needs. If small, friendly, small campus and halls I the top requirement then you might need to compromise on grade requirements. Honestly, unless they want to be an academic does a 1st from one uni or another really matter in the future? Which employers judge the choice of uni? With big employers focusing on inclusion and diversity I don't think they can cherry pick from specific Unis.
Lovecatsanddogs · 05/10/2021 11:20

I am based on the south coast and both DC limited choices to not too far away ie past Midlands and campus/collegiate. One is at Exeter and one at Cambridge and both equally happy with their choices.

Hdhdjejdj · 05/10/2021 11:23

Honestly @Mumdiva99 that is sadly bad advice. In a lot of industries, a huge amount is placed on which university candidates attended. I wish that wasn’t the case but it is.

Mumdiva99 · 05/10/2021 12:23

@Hdhdjejdj Which industries? Which companies?

Hdhdjejdj · 05/10/2021 12:26

Just look up the league tables for universities that companies target. That should answer your question.

Mumdiva99 · 05/10/2021 12:49

@Hdhdjejdj so no actual evidence then? No proof that getting good grades at another University will stop you progressing?

Hdhdjejdj · 05/10/2021 12:54

There is lots of evidence. Too much to repeat here. Just look at outcomes when comparing universities. Lots of people I know who work in this sector get very frustrated at the differences in opportunities for graduates depending on which university they attended. Law is particularly competitive.
If you don’t believe me, or don’t want to believe it there is not much I can do.

Hdhdjejdj · 05/10/2021 12:59

The top 10 universities targeted by employers are Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial, Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds, Warwick, Bristol and Manchester. As such, is you are at, for argument’s sake, Liverpool John Moores, you will have a bigger challenge when trying to appeal to graduate employers.
I don’t think it’s right, but this is why a lot of students target these universities.

ccxxzz · 05/10/2021 14:28

Top ten according to whom?

Better off looking at top ten for particular subject studied.

Your list omits Durham and LSE. Both top ten universities for several respective departments.

Oxford and Cambridge are obvs safe bets as have best brand recognition and plus many recruiters in top careers will be alumni of the two. People like to hire people who remind them of themselves when young. It's human nature!

Due to the above it's hard to break Oxbridge's stranglehold on the market.

titchy · 05/10/2021 14:43

@Hdhdjejdj

There is lots of evidence. Too much to repeat here. Just look at outcomes when comparing universities. Lots of people I know who work in this sector get very frustrated at the differences in opportunities for graduates depending on which university they attended. Law is particularly competitive. If you don’t believe me, or don’t want to believe it there is not much I can do.
Maybe read the thread before pronouncing your 'wisdom'. Then post something relevant to the OP's child's subject and needs.
Hdhdjejdj · 05/10/2021 14:46

I’m not claiming to have any wisdom. I am just stating facts. I don’t know why Durham isn’t on there. I am just quoting the stats from November 2021.

Hdhdjejdj · 05/10/2021 14:53

The source of this top 10 list is the Graduate Market in 2021 survey which asked the top 100 UK employers which university graduates they preferred to employ. If you don’t like the fact that Durham isn’t on there, complain to them!

Phphion · 05/10/2021 15:27

The High Fliers target list is developed by asking employers across different sectors where they target for their outreach activities such as careers fairs. It then just tallies how many employers target each university.

Due to the mix of employers asked, it favours big universities teaching a broad range of subjects because these universities are relevant to the largest number of employers on the list.

Because it is focussed on outreach activities, it also favours universities located accessibly in big cities that can serve as hubs for a number of surrounding universities.

It is not a definitive list of which universities employers prefer graduates from.

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