Russell group universities - which are best for creatives ?

[Asparagusluvva]

Anyone have any knowledge on which RG universities would suit a creative , politically left leaning student type ? DD is considering Birmingham, Exeter, York and Warwick. She loves the look of Exeter but worries about fitting in there. Any advice/thoughts/experience would be welcome.

I'm not sure Exeter is ranked that highly for art history. Bristol would be a good fit by the sound of it. Although even posher than Exeter and the uni of choice for all the drug takers from the local private boys school

@Pippi1970

I'm not sure Exeter is ranked that highly for art history. Bristol would be a good fit by the sound of it. Although even posher than Exeter and the uni of choice for all the drug takers from the local private boys school

I'm not sure I'd agree about Exeter. It's ranked 7th in the Complete University Guide 2022 for art History and 9th for English and has a fantastic Art History/ Visual Culture course which has close ties to both English and Drama!

That said, I think York is also worth considering OP - strong on both English and History generally (although I don't know about the Art History side).

Actually, on checking again, Birmingham is second.

York is fourth. But we haven’t managed to get up to visit. She likes the look of it online though.

Those four are all excellent universities to be honest, although I would rank them Warwick, Exeter, York, Birmingham in terms of prestige, academics etc.
Both Exeter and York are historic cities which lend a certain charm and cultural vibrancy which your creative DD might appreciate. Warwick is a campus in the middle of nowhere really and neither Coventry or Leamington Spa have the same charm.
I don't know enough about Birmingham to comment really.

If you have looked up rankings that seems to suggest that is more important than the tribe! Studying art history guarantees access to arty people obviously, but I would point out it's quite a 'privileged' subject.

Warwick and York are excellent for English followed v closely by Birmingham and Exeter. York has a longstanding reputation for art history.

I'd consider other league tables too.

A girl I taught last year has gone to that exact degree at Leeds, having rejected offers from York and Birmingham.

@piggywaspushed - I disagree, tribe is just as important as course ranking, just trying to form as rounded a picture as possible. I do agree that History of Art can be ‘a privileged’ subject , that is partially why I posted initially. Birmingham seemed to be really diverse though Leeds and Sussex may yet be considered , though time is pressing on.

But, as everyone keeps telling, you every large university has every type of person.

A very early post by you said that your DD doesn't like running with the crowd but increasingly you are making her sound quite invested in finding a 'crowd to run with'. I will confess to being a bit confused.

Is this coming from her, predominantly, or you, out of interest?

Reading between the lines, you are a Londoner?

When we went to Birmingham Open day the lad who showed us around (very sporty btw) was from Bolton. he said nearly everyone was from the midlands or South and most people he met didn't know where Bolton was. He was perfectly happy but it is worth noting 'diverse' means different things to different people.

It's she's a proper leftie, rather than a champagne socialist, Liverpool. It's a great city, full of art and architecture and a very left wing attitude.

The opposite of Goldsmiths! Performative right-on.

Personally, I can't imagine anyone with a daughter even considering Sussex right now.

I second those who suggested Nottingham though, a broadly campus university in a very diverse, multi-cultural city with lots to offer.

I don't know enough about what she's after. If she wants left wing then Bristol could be a good choice. However eg my sons went to a mostly not white school (although we are white) and some of their friends went to places like Warwick and LSE as they wanted universities with more people who are not white whereas my sons were happy in Bristol.

Exeter York Warwick (and Bristol added to her list) are the kinds the better more academic students go for along with Durham (and of course the better London ones and Durham). Birmingham I would put a tier below.

It's also quite dangerous to predict what and where the "tribe" might be at any university as it's constantly changing. Those pursuing the socially elite tribe would probably have only opted for Oxbridge in the past, whereas St Andrew's and Durham would be stronger contenders now due to Oxbridge's admissions policies. For a long time Loughborough was seen as the 'sport tribe' uni, however virtually all the serious sportsman at the DS's school who want to play (but not study) sport are now heading to Nottingham! It's fluid.

I would say concentrate on the course first, then the environment (campus, city etc).

What sort of clubs societies is she likely to be interested in, OP? That might help, because as others say, if it's music or drama then some unis are better placed than others for those.

If she wants left wing then Bristol could be a good choice.

Times have changed then because Bristol used to be famous for private school Oxford rejects.

@MrsTerryPratchett

If she wants left wing then Bristol could be a good choice.

Times have changed then because Bristol used to be famous for private school Oxford rejects.

I was there in the 80s. It was, as you say, awash with private school oxbridge rejects. It was also trendy to be socialist - the sort of champagne socialism which evolved into New Labour.

I remember that some of the most vocal left-wingers were sons of Tory cabinet ministers and peers - doing it no doubt to 'rebel'. I remember the Labour Club hosting parties in a £3m Clifton Village apartment which one of its student members lived in, courtesy of his father, who'd bought it for him as an investment.

I remember the Labour Club hosting parties in a £3m Clifton Village apartment which one of its student members lived in, courtesy of his father, who'd bought it for him as an investment.

Yes, that's what I mean. Not exactly grassroots activism.

@Piggywaspushed to clarify I suppose I mean DS has previously not ‘ran with the crowd’, partly through lack of like minded people. She has been independent enough to stay true to herself but would very much like to ‘find her tribe’ at university. She has been warned by others (including her sibling who is already at university) that Exeter may not be the most suitable place for her, socially. Which is a shame, as she quite liked it on the visit.

I think she should trust her own instinct, rather than listen to her sibling then! Students at universities have a tendency to stereotype those at other Unis - websites like The Tab encourage it. But if there are 24000 students at Exeter I'd be very surprised if your DD couldn't find a sufficient number of like-minded friends?

I agree with @Jng1 and @Piggywaspushed.

Exeter has over 20,000 undergraduate students and it's not as if she is defining 'her tribe' as some kind of niche basket-weaving anarchists group.

All the universities she is considering will have plenty of people who consider themselves left-leaning creative types, thousands of them.

She should consider the course and whether the university or its surrounding area has outlets for however she wishes to express her artistic or political interests.

DS2 is currently a first year, BA History of Art at UEA (campus on the edge of a smallish city, plenty of arty quirkiness - both DS2 and the city). He is really enjoying the course.

Unless you are looking at Oxbridge, the 'going rate' for History of Art doesn't seem to stray much above ABB / AAB. ABB for UEA but A A A DS2 doesn't appear to feel it's 'beneath him',entry requirements-wise.

As to the political inclinations of his friends, I have absolutely no idea, although I do know that he gets on well with all 9 of his flatmates.

some kind of niche basket-weaving anarchists group

This sounds fun. Out of interest , is there a uni you would recommend where I could sign up myself to said group?!

It seems ridiculous to be warned off Exeter by a student who doesn't even go there! It's a really good uni!

My house mate did history of art and I did classics at Warwick.

I'm obviously biased but my experience was that there was a tribe for everyone. Sometimes it was course based, sometimes halls based and sometimes extra curricula based.

First year is a bit of a melting pot and halls can be a bit hit and miss but later years you find your friends and live with them and socialise with them.