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Higher education

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

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Original poster

UCL or York

27 replies

Bigclockface · 28/09/2022 16:44

My DS has his grades from this summer and is applying for UCL and York for 2023. Maybe others. We have visited both. He prefers the course at UCL, but felt a bit underwhelmed because, not being a campus university, it seems quite disjointed. He is not the most sociable or confident person (no friends from sixth form) but I know he does want to be. I can see it would be easy for him to take the easy option there of just going between lectures and his room, but I don’t think he would be happy doing that. Does anyone have a shy DC at UCL? Are there societies and other places just for UCL students? Do you think it is harder to start there than a campus university?
Also looking for any opinions of York from people with similar DC.
Thanks for reading.

OP posts:

Whalesong · 28/09/2022 17:18

I have one who is just starting at UCL. It was the only one he considered in London precisely because it's a campus university. For him (he's a city person who loves going to concerts etc and enjoys all that London has to offer) it offers the perfect combination of campus and city living. But everyone is different. He hated Warwick and wasn't keen on Durham (he's doing Maths so they were high on his list) because they felt too remote. I personally loved Durham and it would have been my top choice of his offers, but I'm not the one going, lol.
He's moved into one of the Intercollegiate halls 5 minutes walk from campus and is having a ball so far.

Whalesong · 28/09/2022 17:21

Oh and the great thing about the Intercollegiate halls is that they're catered, so you HAVE to socialise, and not just with a handful of randoms who happen to be in your flat. They also have great common areas. For a shy student I'd strongly recommend looking at these. Lots of UCL students in the 4 that are very near the Bloomsbury campus.

ElephantePicante · 28/09/2022 17:26

I went to York. It's very pretentious, but excellent teaching, the city gets boring (nightlife) after a month, you can live on campus and never leave as it has everything. Those who had a great time were from tiny villages who'd never experienced big cities before. I (being from a big city) loved the teaching, found the people posh and stuck up and the city beautiful but dull. Being shy, and York being a smaller uni, they might love it.

Piggywaspushed · 28/09/2022 17:46

I went to York and that doesn't resonate at all !

I loved living there, loved the pubs stayed there every holiday working in the zillions of student jobs available. Much cheaper than London! I came from the 3rd biggest city in the UK.

For a RG uni, York has a reasonably high state intake. Always has done.

I know people who have been to York recently and they have loved it. It has a reputation as suiting quieter types but some people there are very sociable. Its college system is very pastorally supportive.

I know little of UCL. Despite teaching in a school only 60 miles from London, very few of our students go there, because of cost. It does have an excellent academic reputation of course.

ElephantePicante · 28/09/2022 18:05

Your story doesn't resonate with me. Different strokes, different folk.

Eukanuba · 28/09/2022 18:06

My dd is at York- 2nd year , she loves it . She's quite shy and reserved, despite this , She's joined several clubs with lots of like - minded students . Whenever I've visited , the City is so welcoming, very friendly folk .

Piggywaspushed · 28/09/2022 18:11

Agreed elephante but I've never heard anyone call York pretentious, in all honesty. And the state school stats do suggest it isn't posh. Unless you were in Derwent...!

Everything you describe as disliking may be things that better suit OPs DS, anyway. The quiet bit, anyway.

I sometimes think I must be odd that I didn't choose uni for its nightlife.

ValerieDoonican · 28/09/2022 18:14

My DD had a very sociable time at UCL despite covid - on a small-intake course and made close friendships with others on the course, mainly. But she has always been serious about putting effort into friendships (as well as studying!)

She stayed in London to work after graduating and, as I did at the same age, loves it there. But dear Lord it was, and is, expensive. London rents would make you weep.

Chocrock · 28/09/2022 18:18

I know people who have been to both and enjoyed both. UCL is rated much higher academically.

Piggywaspushed · 28/09/2022 18:26

That depends on the subject...

JellyBabiesSaveLives · 28/09/2022 18:32

Hmm, York has 87% from state school and UCL has 67%

where do UCL students live in 2nd year? Still in the city centre or a bit of a commute?

pennyfairweather · 28/09/2022 18:46

ElephantePicante · 28/09/2022 17:26

That wasn't my experience at York. There was a mix of state and private school, but definitely more state. There were quite a lot of "oxbridge rejects" but they didn't seem too bitter about being there!
It is a proper campus university, we had load of stuff to do in the evenings and it's lll be far better now as it's finally got a dedicated student union building.
Its got a great reputation academically, and it'll likely be far cheaper than UCL.

NuffSaidSam · 28/09/2022 18:48

I went to York as well and don't recognise @ElephantePicante description. And I'm from London so it's not down to being from a tiny village.

But that said, I am quite quiet/shy/boring. Was absolutely not interested in amazing nightlife, just wanted good pubs (which York had in abundance) and didn't need any clubs. I think it is very quiet in terms of nightlife. But York is a big tourist city so there's loads to do outside of clubs.

Moving from London I found the people generally very friendly in York itself. Some of the other students (the private school ones generally) were a little stuck up sometimes but I'm sure you'll get that at any good uni tbh. Most people were great though and made some fab friends.

Would highly recommend.

ValerieDoonican · 28/09/2022 21:11

UCL students live where they want in the second and third years, in ordinary commercial rentals - houses and flats. A lot of them seem to end up in Camden as that is handy for the campus.

SkygardenTower · 28/09/2022 21:23

I have a dd just started at York. Very supportive start from both university, course and college. She chose it as she loves the course, she really isn’t into clubs or alcohol so the city will suit her well.

Original poster

Bigclockface · 28/09/2022 21:48

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to reply. He is somewhat blinded by the academic reputation of UCL but I’m not sure he has thought it through properly yet. I suppose there is time yet. He likes pubs but not clubs and likes smaller social groups so maybe York would suit him. He loves London but I fear he would take the easier opportunity to be anonymous at the expense of happiness. Really appreciate your replies

OP posts:

Piggywaspushed · 28/09/2022 22:04

What subject is it OP?

TizerorFizz · 29/09/2022 19:11

@Bigclockface
I think clubbing isn’t going out of fashion. My London based DDs don’t go any more. They prefer restaurants, cocktails and karaoke! Not on student budgets but plenty of overseas students do have money in London. That’s also quite a big difference. UCL has a big international pull. London as a whole attracts a lot of overseas students. It is undoubtedly more cosmopolitan than York.

My Dsis went to UCL and couldn’t afford Camden! It is expensive. A best friend couldn't either: Tufnell Park for him. More students end up further up the Northern Line in places like Tufnell Park or Archway. It also means students really spread out and lots live at home. Rents are now very very high and don’t compare to a Northern uni. Often rental will be for a year and you must expect £800 a month for anything half way decent.

Where you choose might be important re careers. UCL is handy for city internships. No extra rent needed! Lots of DC will be looking for these. If working in London is not a priority, I really would not pay the premium to be there! York is a safe bet.

TizerorFizz · 29/09/2022 19:12

Aaaah! I think clubbing IS going out of fashion!

Original poster

Bigclockface · 29/09/2022 20:26

Subject is linguistics. Not always the most popular, so I imagine fairly small departments. Unsure what he will do after, but suspect it might be further study.

OP posts:

Piggywaspushed · 29/09/2022 21:09

York does have a very good reputation for linguistics. I'm sure UCL does too but I'm not convinced the gap will be vast.

ProfessorLayton1 · 29/09/2022 21:22

Dd is currently studying in UCL. She went from a small city to London and adores it. Lot of overseas students and her friends circle is very cosmopolitan. She was in Camden for the last two years but has moved out a bit further away this years. She pays nearly 800 pounds per month. One main difference between London and a non London student accommodation seems to be that you for have to pay rent for 52 weeks a year in London.

TizerorFizz · 29/09/2022 22:28

Yes. DDs was 52 weeks. It does push the price up. However it’s useful for holiday work.

If DS is doing linguistics and isn’t motivated to work in London, I’m not sure it’s worth it. Unless he really wants to live there. However, he should choose. If he’s looking for future study, maybe London would be an option then?

Luana1 · 30/09/2022 09:39

It depends really on how much they want to spend on rent! I lived in halls in my first year, then a shared flat in Camden in my 2nd year, and then a shared house (with the same housemates) in Willesden Green in my 3rd year. I did have friends that stayed more central, but they were being heavily bankrolled by their parents!

OP I had a great time at UCL, it is a very social place and if your son prefers the course at UCL then that should be the number one deciding factor. Chandler House where linguistics is based is a lovely building with social spaces, and I always thought it was a friendly feeling place - I used the library there a few times.

TizerorFizz · 30/09/2022 11:45

Also when you look at UCL, lots of the international students are privately educated prior to university. Look at the fees they pay UCL! They are not all from uk independent schools!

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