Exeter or York for insurance

[ExeterYork]

For PPE.

DC like both and visited. It will be insurance choice. Predicted A*.

Exeter wants AAA and York AAB.

York has an older PPE course. But is Exeter better for prestige, or not?

Feedback from anyone having done PPE or economics would be most welcome.

Yes, on their website

I would go for York.

Fab! At the open day last summer I was told they wouldn’t guarantee unless you formed. I’m

Where did you see on the website that York guarantee for insurance? This is all I can find

Don’t forget York is collegiate. Not sure if Exeter is. I think that helps with a sense of belonging. Certainly did for DD1 when at Durham.

York all the way... think Exeter would be massive culture shock from London as so little round there. York is a beautiful small city but has an international feel and is really easy for leeds and other big cities if that's what you're after.

Course at York seems slightly better and the offer is lower... campus is ugly but college system help to make friends and make it less impersonal.

And I went to York so there's that.

Exeter isn't a quiet town!

York as it's for an insurance. They have equal prestige IMO, and York is a great city.

York of course. Amazing university, city and Leeds, Manchester, London and Newcastle within 2 hours (2.20 back to London)

Having looked at both, York wins hands down.
Gorgeous campus, resident ducks, walkable to town (or get the uni bus), collegiate system, fab freshers week, fast train to London.

2nd year accommodation is expensive - that's the only downside.

I would go for York as lower offer, accommodation and is a beautiful city.

www.york.ac.uk/study/accommodation/undergraduate/how-to-apply/

first paragraph under the header.

Hi @ExeterYork, if your DC's potential decision to put U of York as insurance is heavily contingent on the expectation that those insuring are guaranteed accommodation, then I would encourage them to check your assumption with the university first.

The para you refer to states that those who have put U of York as their firm or insurance choice can apply for accommodation as soon as the 2023 entry accommodation portal opens.

Elsewhere it is stated that those firming get priority over those insuring (at the time of the 'great sorting') immediately after A-level results day. In additional, in yet another section, as flagged by @Tree543, it states there is a guarantee for those firming by a specific deadline but does not mention those who have put U of York as their insurance choice.

My interpretation of the confusing info is that, for those happy to put U of York as their insurance option at this stage, there is benefit to doing so soon as they can join the accommodation 'queue' as soon as the 2023 entry accommodation portal opens. At the time of the 'great sorting' they will be behind all those who firmed and stated accommodation preferences by York's cut-off date (usually June) but would be at the top of the list of those who had insured (as, within each category, sorting is by date of applying via the accommodation portal); this is not the same as a guarantee but does improve the odds. However, my reading of the situation may not be correct, that is my overall point!

One of the issues is that of U of York has clearly not updated its text since the 2022 entry cycle apart from some intro paras, adding to the potential confusion. So, your assumption may be correct (which, I agree, would be great) but it might also not be correct, hence my suggestion that your DC clarifies if that aspect is important to them. I hope that helps to some extent!

Yes, you are right. They don’t guarantee it for insurance!

Well, at least you and your DC are aware of that fact at this stage @ExeterYork. U of York's website info re: accommodation is a real dog's breakfast, isn't it?

Accommodation at U of Exeter is also constrained but at least the info appears to be clearer and more transparent. I am not sure if you have seen that, on the U of Exeter webpage about their 'accommodation guarantee' (for those firming), there is a link to a handy pdf detailing which accommodation was under or oversubscribed last year. That would, at least, help your DC see what accommodation was likely to be 'left over' after those firming got first dibs.

Finally, a PP mentioned that accommodation Exeter is tight because of tourism. I know both cities reasonably well and would say the tourism pressures are probably now greater on housing stock in York as, since the pandemic, it has become a year-round domestic tourist destination. Both are very nice places to live and study, so I am not steering you one way or another - simply trying to shine light on some of the detail.

Thanks for all your help with this. The pdf with the accommodation availability was very helpful.

We’ll go on the offer holder days so she can have another look, hopefully she’ll get the grades for her firm….

I’d go for lower offer, plus York is lovely.