University of Plymouth

[thetailorofgloucester]

My DS has an offer to study Oceanography and Coastal Processes at Plymouth. He will be going to the offer holder day this month but has anyone got any insights about the course and living in Plymouth as a student?

Steady on people, some of us call this wonderful city home. Granted it's not got the glitz of some cities but it has many fabulous qualities and you can't beat the barbican on a sunny day. Calling it a dump? Wash your mouth out my bird!

University of Bristol doesn’t have a campus.

Also live there and came 38 years ago to study at the then Polytechnic. Agree that the city is a bit sad but they are doing some work with it at present. Plymouth comes into its own if you love sea and moors however and the students seem to have a good enough time. We do seem to have loads of student accommodation.

@Megapint I live here too, it's a dump, but stuck here for now

My DS is going to start there in September to do oceanography. Chose it over Southampton, didn’t even apply to Liverpool. It is a really excellent department, well taught, masses of practical and boat work, HSE diving, good marine facility right on the sea, huge wave tank, brilliant aquarium used as a resource, masses of research and good work going on and money pumping into Plymouth re marine science at the moment. When Southampton do their field week they come to Plymouth and use plymouths boats as Southampton hasn’t really got the coastline or the fleet that Plymouth and Plymouth sound can offer.

The city is much better than I remember it - Barbican is charming and full of good places to eat and drink, the hoe much lived, royal William yard also good, big new shopping centre, good new buildings in the small but well planned central campus. Nightlife great for students, lots going on. Cheap to live there and everything in walking distance, Dartmoor a short distance away.

He is really looking forward to it. He wants to make a career in marine and everywhere in the world (where Russell group means nothing) knows and respects Plymouth for that.

@Delphigirl
Southampton have a waterfront campus with their own boats. Not sure why you think they don’t. It’s a top 50 world ranked university for this course. The entry requirements are much higher than Plymouth. It’s also ranked higher than Plymouth in the uk. It offers study abroad, not just a week in Plymouth. Everyone is entitled to make a choice but at least be honest about comparisons. The world rankings consistently show Southampton above Plymouth. USA universities lead the way though.

I heard Plymouth described as "Coventry on Sea" and thought it an excellent image.

It's a very solid university though.

I didn’t say that Southampton didn’t have a waterfront campus nor did I say they didn’t have boats. They have a huge waterfront building! But their coastline there starts as massive working ports and opens into very busy shipping lanes and it is not as conducive to fieldwork as Plymouth sound. It also does not have the fleet of boats that Plymouth does. The main craft used by Southampton for undergrad work previously was retired a few years ago and they chose not to replace it. They do have a large research vessel and another one but for the number of post grads and undergrads requiring them, they are underserved.
that is why for field week they go to Plymouth and use Plymouth’s facilities

I also was not dissing Southampton, of course it is excellent for oceanography. OP said her DS’s first choice is Southampton. I was answering the question of whether Plymouth was a realistic second choice. I was pointing out that it was, and for some people it was first choice. It really depends on how you learn - Plymouth more practical - and what you want from a town and uni.
its not a competition!

Sorry should have tagged you when I responded @TizerorFizz

Plymouth was brilliant for marine studies even when it was just a Poly. I did work experience there when I was a teenager actually and loved it. I consider Plymouth pretty safe, as an older teen I used to walk the 7 miles home after clubbing to save money - that was quite a few years ago now though! Also I lived east of the centre - I probably wouldn't have walked if I'd lived that far north or west, Millbay docks at the time was known for prostitutes but it's all been done up down that way now. It's a pretty good town centre, got everything you want and is right next to the university. Everywhere is very walkable, the Hoe and Barbican are great for a drink and some fish and chips - and if you go and visit and want a really good restaurant then Fletchers is highly recommended. There's loads to get out and about to as well if you have a car, the moors, beaches like Bigbury and Bantham, gorgeous little villages like Noss Mayo and Newton Ferris (The Ship restaurant also very good there). I wouldn't have a problem with DS going there - I like Southampton too, but don't know it nearly so well.

I lived in Plymouth for 15 years - just moved away last year to be with ageing parents. Honestly, it's a brilliant city for ocean studies and student life. The massive marine aquarium is an amazing resource, and the Plymouth Sounds is world renowned for its ocean life. It is big enough that you can find a supermarket open late when you need it. But it's not so big that you think the city will swallow you whole.

Ocean salty air, Cornwall on your doorstep, 3 hrs by train to London. If I had the choice, I would never want to live anywhere else.

Any city has its dodgy parts. But the students aren't wandering around in bad neighbourhoods for kicks after dark, are they? I have friends who won't visit even central London because they're so concerned about crime. So it really is about perspective. You kid has nothing to lose by just checking it out and seeing what the vibe is like.

I have a friend who is a lecturer on that course, and coincidentally work with one of his graduates in a completely different part of the country. It is a great course, and well regarded. My experience of visiting Plymouth maybe 10 times in 15 years is that it's not a bad city. It's not as big and buzzy as Manchester or Birmingham, but big buzzy cities are not for everyone (I went to a countryside campy uni). I can't see it being a bad choice, especially if yiu want proximity to sea and moors.

Yup. Pretty shoddy at Southampton!

My daughter is currently in her 3rd year there not that course though. She is hoping to stay on for her masters. Absolutely loves it there, feels very safe, has a great group of friends. We live in a bigger city with far more choices but her bf goes to stay with her most weekends as they both seem to prefer it to our city.

Both my DSs went to university in Plymouth and loved the city. DS1 was a party animal and embraced the nightlife and social/ sports scene of the Uni. DS2 is quieter and currently in his third year. His first two years were restricted by covid but the university is catching up now. I am surprised by how much they like the city as I thought it was a bit grotty!

Just catching up on all the responses. Thanks for the first-hand experiences and insights. The fact Plymouth offers the HSE diving course is very appealing to DS. Let's see what the offer holder day is like on Saturday.

@TizerorFizz the only person who used the word shoddy is you! Why are you spoiling for a fight? OP says her sons first choice is Southampton, your honour is not besmirched!

sheesh

Hope he enjoys it. Def get some fish and chips at the Barbican, and have a look at the marine station, and if a lot of people stay in private halls so you might want to drop into IQ Astor House which is sort of equidistant to campus and marine station and lots of oceanographers stay there in 1st year (as well as medics - on the bus route to the hospital). Cheaper too.

@Delphigirl Thanks for the tips! We are making a weekend of it: going to the theatre; visiting the National Aquarium and I have now added fish and chips at the Barbican to the list! Will look at Astor House too. Looks like there is plenty of student accommodation to choose from.
I'm feeling so much more positively disposed towards Plymouth now. I did hesitate posting about Uni of Plymouth as most threads seem to be skewed to Oxbridge and Russell Group so it was reassuring to hear about students choosing Plymouth and loving their time there.

I was exactly where you are now, last year. We looked at Southampton, very impressive, fabulous reputation, well deserved; looked at Cardiff for marine geography, great city nice department but a bit of a different course; then I went to Plymouth with a big smile plastered on my face thinking “Plymouth was a shithole last time I was here in 1998, but let’s be positive”. Really was just going through the motions. But I was so impressed by what I saw. And more importantly, could really see it suiting DS in terms of the hands on nature of the course, the diving, the really involved and accessible staff, the small but fun city…
Took a while to rationalise the whole walking away from Russell Group, league table etc etc thing, but when DS put Plymouth as his first choice (I didn’t get involved in that decision) I was pleased as I think it will suit his learning style better, and I think he will have a great time and great opportunities there.
DS’s girlfriend is now at Southampton (not oceanography, no gap year) and he goes there to visit her a lot, and likes it, but still doesn’t think he has made the wrong decision so that’s good.
let us know what you think! Hope the sun shines for you - that certainly helps.

My daughter is currently in her first year at Plymouth - lives in Astor House. She is absolutely loving it there - but after growing up quite rurally, living in a city/town brings a certain level of excitement.

When we drop-off, pick-up or visit, we usually get a cheap room in the Jurys Inn (now Leanardos) via GroupOn.

As others have said, everything just seems so close by - within 10 minutes walking from Astor House you can be in the sea or Lido (we like cold water swimming!), in the city centre shopping or walking around the Barbican. Plenty of good places to eat and drink too.

Nice to hear that @AnotherOneGone - and that she likes Astor House. Now that she has looked about a bit, would she still choose Astor if she was going to do it again or would she make a different accommodation choice?

She is going to rent a house with friends next year, but plans to go back to Astor for her final year. Rooms are modern (quite compact though), as is the very large kitchen (2 fridge freezers, 2 induction hobs, 2 ovens, plenty of storage and area to sit and chill).