Help finding a Uni that fits this criteria please!

[orinoci]

Hi

DC has had MH issues in the past, and so their safety blanket is a Uni that meets the following criteria - but we're struggling to find an easy way to search so I thought I'd ask for recommendations!

DC wants to study either English or Sociology, or some combination of the two (eg liberal arts) so most Unis seem to offer something along those lines. Predictions for A Levels are AAB at the moment, bearing in mind we're at the start of Year 12, teachers say possibly higher if DC puts the work in.

But DC would like it to be :

• a small campus University with halls on site
• within a maximum of two hours drive/100 miles of Nottingham/Derby
• ideally allow returners into halls (this may not be an issue one year in but it's a thought now)
• ideally allow halls students to bring cars so they could get home if they needed to.

NTU at Clifton has all of these, and DC is very happy with that, but could do with some other options.

Any suggestions anyone?

Thank you

I think York might fit the bill? Not sure on the grade requirements, but it's a collegiate campus university and I think is just about within the distance too. Not sure about being able to take cars unless you have a mobility issue though.

You could also look at Warwick, Loughborough and Keele. Maybe also Lancaster and UEA though they probably don't meet the distance requirement. And although it's not a pretty city, Hull is supposed to have a great campus and really look after its students,

I forgot Birmingham as well - it has a lovely campus.

Hull will also let you live on site for all three years.

Ds at NTU and the halls and campus were lovely. He was in a flat of 6 in a quad set up with a grassy area in the middle which was good for low key get togethers. He is in year 2 and moved into a house now. He also took his car and could park right outside.

Birmingham is a lovely campus. The car thing will be an issue wherever you go unless you meet disability criteria - you can imagine that no campus would be able to accommodate thousands of student vehicles.

DD2 did undergrad at NTU, absolutely loved it!

She took a car as she needed it to get to sports training, they don't really allow students to park on campus during the day (they do in the evenings) as a rule, but they might make an exception for specific circumstances. As pp said when she moved into a house with friends she could park right outside.

Royal Holloway - slightly over the 2 hours? But might be worth a look?

I can't recommend any universities in the required area but I would not worry too much about access halls in second and subsequent years as every university I have asked (2 dcs with additional needs) have said that they can stay in halls as long as is needed for health/disability reasons.

The car will be your issue - plenty of unis fit all your other criteria, but unless a student has a blue badge cars will probably not be allowed on campus. Would good train services do?

My friend works at Newman Uni in Birmingham and it def fits that. It’s small and many students stay in halls for the full time. Def capacity for studying English

I'd have suggested Keele but they have a problem with on campus accommodation. It's lovely, but this year lots of 1st years have had to be housed off site.

And car parking at Keele is a MASSIVE issue being in a village with a lot of medical students.

I would say Keele would be a good fit. Birmingham maybe not the 'small campus' vibe she's after.

Keele guarantees all first choice students a place on campus. Not sure about what PP said - most first years got a place in halls this year, including a lot who came through clearing. There are spaces for third years too, but they do encourage second years to live off campus. Parking is an issue though, only students who meet certain criteria (e.g. do a degree with work placements) generally get parking permits.

Thank you all - some places to consider.

I think if there was good public transport links to Nottingham or Derby that would probably be ok.

And of course we're talking two years time when feelings might be different anyway!

You can get a train to Derby & Nottingham from Stoke or Kidsgrove.

Warwick?

Loughborough ( its not that small but its a campus uni , halls on site, returners allowed in halls but cars not allowed on site) and its also a very supportive uni

Lincoln? But not sure of the car situation

And although Courts (which are on site) are just for 1st years there's other halls accommodation like Pavillons, Junction & Brayford Quays (you can see the uni from the window) a stone throw from the uni

Whilst it has expanded over the last few years the Brayford site is a small campus compared to other unis

Loughborough ?

It sounds as though Lancaster might be a good fit.

Worcester? People get snobbish about some of the less well rated universities but they can be very nurturing.

I went to Warwick (many moons ago) and it fits all of your criteria - or did at least. It was fab!

Look at their disability teams and email each one (or get dc to), asking how they would look after a student like your DC.

Bear in mind that so much depends on the personalities involved. Russell Groups are not necessarily as good as post 92s at caring.

Is there any way they could live at home and commute?

With grades that good, Warwick? Or maybe Birmingham? Both have nice campuses and halls. The car thing is always a bit of a pain but lots of students have cars and make it work!