Exeter or Southampton

[ExetervSouthampton]

Trying to choose between Exeter and Southampton. Overall uni rankings are v similar (13th and 16th in Sunday Times Guide); student experience and teaching quality similarly ranked; subject rankings within two places of each other. We haven't visited either (for reasons I won't bore you with). Which would you recommend please? Will be insurance

Have a look at the availability of halls accommodation at the two of them. Seems lot more scare for insurance applicants at Exeter

Can you not squeeze a visit in at Easter? Seeing the places can make all the difference.

I believe Exeter is regarded as the more aspirational university. Lots of DS1's classmates were desperate to go.

I say this as someone who went to Southampton Uni myself and had a wonderful 3 years.

I appreciate you may not want to but visiting really helps. DS1 changed his first choice recently after visiting all 5.

Try and get to the Exeter offer holders event on 1st April if it covers your dc's subject esp as the train strike may be off. We went last weekend (train strike so parent heavy) and it put my dc off the course and uni, it seems much more isolated when you have to drive there. It's mega sporty too if that is their thing.

Also what is their first choice to compare to?

@redrobin75 - if it's mega sporty, that's great for my DS! First choice is Lancaster (one grade higher). Daughter has a big birthday on 1st April so we have a huge party planned that will clash with offer holders day

(My opinion only!) Exeter is a bit claustrophobic- it's a bus ride in to town. Southampton less so. Exeter has more "prestige" which I know is a nebulous concept! If at all possible, he/she should visit.

What's the subject?

Modern Languages @Piggywaspushed

Maybe get her to look on Instagram at the sports teams at each uni for the sports she likes.

Exeter isn't a bus ride into town. The campus is as close to town as you can be. There are buses, but you would only be on them for 5 minutes. Availability of accommodation good and growing all the time. Good sports accommodation. Swimming pools. An out of doors society that does walks to Dartmoor, Exmoor and other places. City a bit sleepy. Not a clubbin' place like Leeds or Manchester. There is a theatre on campus, The Northcott, that is a general one with touring companies, but also stages student footlight performances, too.

Availability of accommodation good and growing all the time.
This was my concern about Exeter - worried about where he'd live in 2nd and 4th years (3rd year would be spent abroad). Also how costly it is to rent houses there?

I have been to Exeter uni and a close friend went there. It's such a nice city and the halls seemed quite nice too. I don't live too far from Southampton and would say it's a lot edgier than Exeter. So it depends on personal taste a bit. Exeter might be too out of the way for some

OK, interesting. Lancaster definitely right top choice!

I'd say Southampton for languages. It's pretty well known for it.

didn’t know Southampton was known for languages - or Lancaster tbh (I know v little about them - no idea where DS got his linguistic abilities from!). Thank you - will pass on @Piggywaspushed

Likely a more diverse student body at Southampton. Exeter 35% undergrads from private schools (only St A , Durham & Edinburgh higher among mainstream unis). Southampton 13%. Lancaster 11%.

Rents are very expensive in our experience.

Have had dcs at both in recent years. Exeter is generally more highly regarded (imo), very sporty (you have to be VERY good to get into teams) and attracts a lot of posh people (according to dc). Had a great time there and made some excellent friends.

DC at Southampton didn't have a very satisfactory experience academically, but loved the city and stayed on for work.

If cheaper accommodation in the 2nd and 3rd year etc are a preference then definitely Southampton.

Exeter is definitely a more aspirational University for private school students. Southampton does also have its fair share (from experience) but there is definitely more of a mix.

No it isn't. Dd is on Streatham campus and walks into town all the time.

It keeps them fit 🤣

I wouldn't get caught up in all the 'aspirational' university hype about Exeter. It is mostly based on it being in a group of acceptable universities for those who can't get into Oxbridge or Durham from private school circles. It's no better or worse than a whole range of other universities for many subjects. It's just a tribal thing. Southampton has a very solid MFL reputation. I would say it should purely come down to personal choice with your DC, although be aware that Exeter is £££ for accommodation.

I don't think if the DC has ( sensibly) put Lancaster first, that public school prestige is in the criteria...

I was addressing the views of some that Exeter was 'aspirational' not the OP's views, which seem quite sensible. I would absolutely agree Lancaster first (linguist here).

U of Southampton guarantees first year accommodation even if you only put it as insurance; Exeter emphatically does not and your DC will most likely end up in accommodation away from the campus.

Exeter is much loved within the independent education sector in the SE and SW but is actually only a relatively recent joiner of the Russell Group. U of Southampton is an older uni with a fuller and deeper research tradition.