Manchester, Newcastle or Sheffield for quiet non party-er?

[Mueslikid]

Anyone with a quiet introvert at any of Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester or Newcastle?

Dc, who has asd, will apply in the winter. Likes these best for the course, though a bit worried about the rest of student life in a big “party” city.

Thought would prefer a campus but has rejected a few campus unis because course looks “rubbish”.
Chosen course is not offered that widely anyway.

Newcastle was favourite, but dc was put off by the phrase “work hard, play hard” about the student accommodation village and thinks it just means everyone will be noisy and partying all the time.

Sheffield doesn’t offer catered accommodation, which is a big negative, though does have “quiet accommodation” which is a big positive.

Manchester is the biggest city and uni, so quite overwhelming.

Don’t know about Leeds.

Anyone have any insights?

Yes Castle Leazes is the only catered in Newcastle and I think it is a lot more 'vibrant' than other non-catered options. DS is glad he didn't choose that option
as it would have been too much for him. I think Sheffield sounds lovely too, it was my DS's insurance in the end.

Please don't let your disapproval of ready meals prevent your dc choosing the best course and accommodation for them. As a quieter person, I would have jumped at the chance for 'quiet' accommodation. They could eat a cooked meal in the refec at lunchtime and have a sandwich for tea. No need to making cooking a deal-breaker.

I see DC has relegated Manchester but as an Introvert who studied there I loved it.

I found it easy to find quieter places and there were plenty of societies that if partying wasn't your thing then you could meet like-minded ppl.

Newcastle is known round here as a party university. This came up on another thread recently and it was interesting because generally Yorkshire students perceive Newcastle as party central but MNs from further south didn't know it for that.

I took DS to a recent offer holders' day at Sheffield. One of the academic staff coincidentally joked that students go to Sheffield for the climbing and cycling and go to Newcastle for the nightlife. All I'm saying is it was a cold, rainy day and some of the staff were wearing shorts (not lycra!).

One dc went to Newcastle - I absolutely love the city, it’s small enough to walk around (only takes about twenty minutes to walk up from the Quayside to the university) but has everything. She was in self catered halls which were quite quiet - she did enjoy the nightlife for the first year but after that didn’t go out in town so much. Spent a lot of time working in the library, apparently it gets busy!

Another dc is at Manchester - he goes to a lot of gigs but doesn’t really have a wild lifestyle 😀He lived in Whitworth in his first year and would mostly go out to the pub on site and play pool. There’s plenty on offer for everyone there, and I was very impressed by the breadth and variety of their student support services.

If your DC looks at Leeds, then look at the Devonshire Hall accommodation.

Another vote for Sheffield but I would tell your DC to avoid the halls around scotland street / west bar as they tend to be more “rowdy” and the west bar ones in particular have always been handy for pre drinks due to their proximity to west street.

the ecclesall road student places would be similar, although close to the peaks too.

If you visit Sheffield this hotel is on Endcliffe student village. Ranmoor village across the road from Endcliffe is meant to be the quieter of the two but not far away.

www.halifaxhall.co.uk

if you apply for accommodation before a date in June you can “self select” meaning you can look at profiles people have chosen to share (you don’t have to share info).

it’s obviously not foolproof but you can see who has said
”I like parties and clubbing. Here’s my insta”
”I like tv, reading and I’m quite tidy”
”I like sports and cooking and I’m doing a busy course so will be getting up early in the week”

not sure about the others on your list but I know Liverpool tries to match on lifestyle asking if you are early riser/early to bed, early riser/late to bed, late riser/early to bed, late riser/late to bed.

Museli you may find this thread about a shy person choosing uni halls interesting

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4526844-To-think-university-halls-may-be-hell-for-me

I would definitely say Sheffield. Great city, great uni. Certainly attracts a good proportion of non party animals.

I agree not to let catered halls put him off. I went to uni unable to cook and muddled along for three years. He needs to learn to feed himself at some point and good to muddle along with others at a similar stage. I’m sure he can manage jacket potatoes, beans on toast, tuna pasta, oven chops and chicken. Bung some fruit in to the mix and he won’t starve or get scurvy and will gradually add more stuff into his repertoire.

Loughborough.

Some unis have quiet non party halls. That's the best solution

@HannahDefoesTrenchcoat

You live and learn. I’ve lived in Sheffield most of my life, never known that hotel!

Arse it looked like the university had built halls in the old hotel grounds. It’s a lovely site.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow have you not? I’m Sheffield too and I thought it was quite well known.
It’s near Notredame school.

No never heard of it! Live just up the hill from NotreDam too.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow if I remember correctly it’s not really visible from the road but I remember going to a wedding there years ago.
I did go to Notredame so maybe that’s why I know it.

Thank you for the other thread from someone with some similar concerns - and similar choice of unis. Dc and I both read it, lots of good advice and lots to think about.

Dc has decided that the “vibrant” catered accommodation at Newcastle is definitely not the right choice. But Newcastle itself could still be the right choice, though Sheffield definitely has the edge now - I think we’ll have to be flexible about catering, and prioritise quieter accommodation instead.

Dc main concerns about cooking are poor dexterity, so cutting self, scalding, dropping things, and it being boring and taking up time that could be better spent elsewhere.

My concerns are forgetting to go shopping, forgetting to start cooking until already ravenous, injuring self, eating something still frozen/raw because you have followed the cooking times rigidly and taken it out when it is supposed to be ready rather than when it is cooked, and leaving the kitchen looking like a tornado has hit it.
But the idea of eating a hot meal in the refectory (if there is one) at lunchtime is a good one!

And to the pp who asked, it doesn’t have to be in the North! But Dc has done lots of research into the course, and that has been the main criteria (although London was discounted immediately, and I think Scotland too because acquaintances in years above had some negative experiences around covid in Scotland and also very high offers.)
York would have been a lovely location but the course wasn’t right, and I know Keele and Loughborough don’t offer it. Warwick is “rubbish” apparently, despite DH trying to sing its praises.

It may be worth checking with Sheffield accommodation service or their student support about hot meal options? I’m sure they’d understand. It can be quite hard juggling cooking and washing and the course for some students especially if they are ND/dyspraxic. The organisation needed can be challenging and uni (and school and work) is more tiring. If there is good access to a hot meal then managing cereal/sandwiches/pot noodle is easier and there will be plenty of NT students doing exactly that.
my DC has chosen halls and then checked the justeat options. A friends DC tried to persuade me it was cheaper for her flat to share a takeaway with vouchers than to cook.
Maybe everyone needs to be able to cook but to have other options in your first term sounds sensible.

I am glad DC is now more interested in Sheffield as it did seem suitable for them in so many ways.

‘Warwick is rubbish?’ I realise this may be someone of strong opinions but this is the first time I have heard that! Whenever I visit I think the place has a great vibe, the students are friendly and seem happy, and it would seem to be your DC’s kind of place. But in my field the offers are very high indeed.

It does sound sensible to avoid the Newcastle catered accommodation. Just worth mentioning that there are lots of inexpensive eating options dotted around the University www.ncl.ac.uk/catering/eat/#viewlist . DS does cook a reasonable amount but they also always seem to have vouchers for something and it is good to have these as accessible options when things get busy. They also share takeaways in their flat fairly regularly.

I couldn't disagree more with this. DD dislikes clubbing and partying hard, yet loves Newcastle. She is in her third year and has met many like minded people. Partying is optional.

Not all students party hard yet every university has students who do.

However the only halls in Newcastle that has a catered option does have a party reputation (and a reputation of where all the rahs stay) and are rather shabby and showing their age. Plus the food isn't great, and there is the potential of missing meal times after late lectures.

If the course she wants is offered at Lancaster, she should definitely explore that. Beautiful place and under-rated uni.

DD went to Leeds but she’s a party animal, and it suited her to the ground. Her cousin also went there and he is very shy and studious and it suited him too. It’s a huge campus, great city, close to the Dales, loads to do, very diverse clubs and societies.

and leaving the kitchen looking like a tornado has hit it.

That won't go down well with other flatmates TBH. Also, your DC won't be in student accommodation after year one, so how will they manage food-wise then?

What is the subject? Nottingham is the university that springs to mind that has the most catered options.