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Higher education

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Original poster

Help! Manchester or Warwick for CS?

34 replies

multivac · 10/05/2023 23:22

I know this is a good problem for him to have; but ds is struggling to finalise his choices for next year. He has offers from Warwick, Manchester and York - and is really torn. If he firms M, then he'll put W as his insurance; if he firms W, M will be out of the picture. Barring a last minute disaster, he should get the grades for M (it's 3 x A star vs 2 A stars and A for W) - so it really does come down to where he will be happier, and have the better experience... I don't suppose anyone has any inside info they can share?!

For example, what's it like in W living so far away from campus in year 2? Can you find peace and green space in Manchester? Relative pastoral care?

Anything that will help him tip the balance one way or the other would be great, thank you!

OP posts:
Katiecan · 11/05/2023 03:41

Warwick is so very different to Manchester so it really should be an easy choice to make! Does DS want to live on a campus in his first year and then spend 20-40 mins commuting in from Coventry/Lem? Or does he want to live in the thick of a city throughout? It really is that simple and such a contrast. All best to him - both are great options

user4750 · 11/05/2023 07:47

As per the pp above they are worlds apart so it’s about the environment he wants to live in for three years. Campus based in Coventry or big city based non campus in Manchester

nearlyemptynes · 11/05/2023 08:42

Coventry is pretty grim, which is where he could be living.

GeriKellmansUpdo · 11/05/2023 08:44

DS turned down Warwick because he didn't like Coventry very much and the housing is in Lem Spa. I think you should make a visit. Manchester is much more buzzing.

SavetheNHS · 11/05/2023 09:13

All three of those offers are fantastic and I'm sure he would enjoy the course at any of them. However, there may be specific elements to the course that he prefers at one uni. Also, as pp have said, the unis themselves are very different. I would recommend visiting if you can and see if he prefers a large city or a small campus uni. My DC was put off Warwick as it is so far from anywhere, but my sister went there and loved it. If you can't visit, maybe have a wander around on Google maps. Also, you may want to consider how easy it is for him to get home at the end of term or at weekends. Manchester is a big city uni which would suit some people but not others. You might also want to consider university accommodation and whether it is guaranteed in first Year. Also, how easy it is to find second year housing and how expensive it is. Ultimately, they are all amazing unis, good luck!

Original poster
multivac · 11/05/2023 09:20

Thanks - that's really helpful. He's been to Manchester and has got an offer holder day for Warwick on Saturdays, about which he is wavering. I'll suggest he goes to get a feel for the place...

OP posts:
belgianbunny · 11/05/2023 09:22

Manchester is the most fantastic city. Several members of my extended family went to Manchester uni and my nephew is there now and they all absolutely love it. And we all love visiting!

I can't speak for the pastoral care but there are abundant green spaces, and public transport is amazing so it's a doddle to travel further afield too.

Unbridezilla · 11/05/2023 09:27

Warwick is (imo) an odd set up. V small campus uni in year one to suddenly commuting 30mins afterwards.

Coventry centre is one of the few city centre places I have ever felt unsafe after dark, however i believe students tend to socialise on campus. But Leamington Spa is great and a good atmosphere. Very expensive though. Kenilworth is closer, but quieter, more expensive and tends to attract grad students.

LegOfTable · 11/05/2023 09:27

Definitely get him to to Warwick offer holder day, if he can talk to whoever is touring them round student wise as they are probably not first years. Both of mine sacked off Warwick. Ds1 after an offer, lockdown meant no in person open days so all research had to be online. Ds2 won't consider it all due to second and third year housing options and having to commute in. There are videos on YouTube of Warwick students saying that buses are often completely full and just drive past.

As Ds1 is now at uni it is easy to see that being able to walk to lectures, even if it is 30 minutes is preferable to waiting at a bus stop and hoping it isn't too full. You can set your own schedule for walking too, rather than having to be at a bus stop at X time. You have to consider being able to get back to your house/flat in between lectures too or just sack off getting back and spending your time between lectures at the library or in a study space. As Ds has 3 or 4 hours between some of his and a 20 minute walk he can get back, make food, have a nap and then walk back. That would probably not be possible for Warwick.

Warwick campus is also a bit dead on weekends as no one has a reason to commute in so mainly first years on site and lots will be in rooms. I think this may be the case with a lot of campus universities. Also very different than when we went to uni as entertainment in now on laptops so you can just stay in your room.

I also find it interesting that Manchester is now 3 A stars, a couple of years ago it was 1 A star for computer science. Manchester is a bustling, vibrant city. I can't comment on Coventry or Lem. Ds isn't at Manchester but he is doing computer science.

Era · 11/05/2023 09:27

I'd personally pick York over Manchester and Warwick (Coventry) as a place to live. But obviously the course itself needs to be the biggest factor and I suspect for that subject Manchester and Warwick rank more highly

user4750 · 11/05/2023 09:30

LegOfTable · 11/05/2023 09:27

Definitely get him to to Warwick offer holder day, if he can talk to whoever is touring them round student wise as they are probably not first years. Both of mine sacked off Warwick. Ds1 after an offer, lockdown meant no in person open days so all research had to be online. Ds2 won't consider it all due to second and third year housing options and having to commute in. There are videos on YouTube of Warwick students saying that buses are often completely full and just drive past.

As Ds1 is now at uni it is easy to see that being able to walk to lectures, even if it is 30 minutes is preferable to waiting at a bus stop and hoping it isn't too full. You can set your own schedule for walking too, rather than having to be at a bus stop at X time. You have to consider being able to get back to your house/flat in between lectures too or just sack off getting back and spending your time between lectures at the library or in a study space. As Ds has 3 or 4 hours between some of his and a 20 minute walk he can get back, make food, have a nap and then walk back. That would probably not be possible for Warwick.

Warwick campus is also a bit dead on weekends as no one has a reason to commute in so mainly first years on site and lots will be in rooms. I think this may be the case with a lot of campus universities. Also very different than when we went to uni as entertainment in now on laptops so you can just stay in your room.

I also find it interesting that Manchester is now 3 A stars, a couple of years ago it was 1 A star for computer science. Manchester is a bustling, vibrant city. I can't comment on Coventry or Lem. Ds isn't at Manchester but he is doing computer science.

Yes DS1 didn't really like the "feel" of Warwick when we visited. Library is really run down but they do have some fantastic buildings there. BF's DS is there and he struggled at first with the fact that there isn't as much of a social scene as other places. There are a lot of international students there who socialise differently.

MerryMarigold · 11/05/2023 09:35

I went to Warwick. The campus feels a bit safer/ homely in your first year (especially if you're not from a big city). I lived in Leamington for 2nd and 3rd year which is very nice, green but plenty of student places to go out. The commute isn't nice though, but I had a boyfriend with a car. If he can drive, I'd look into that though no idea what parking etc is like these days. If he hasn't been to any open days then I'd go quickly as they will feel totally different. What's the area where you live currently like? What kind of character does he have? (Ie. If he's a quieter person who doesn't really enjoy LOUD and manic places, maybe Manchester isn't the place!).

Tree543 · 11/05/2023 10:27

Era · 11/05/2023 09:27

I'd personally pick York over Manchester and Warwick (Coventry) as a place to live. But obviously the course itself needs to be the biggest factor and I suspect for that subject Manchester and Warwick rank more highly

I'd agree with this, York would be the best place to live in my opinion. My ds has offers for CS at different unis but we did research all of them. He may have applied to York if it had been nearer, though having had a look at the course modules it seem to focus a lot more on the hardware than other courses. Warwick does seem an odd set up and I had heard about the issues with the buses. Manchester seemed very city and ds wanted campus so didnt consider it.

UrsulaBelle · 11/05/2023 10:38

My DS1 went to Warwick to do maths, my DS3 is currently finishing his maths degree at Manchester. They are very different universities.

Warwick is a campus, great in the first year but accommodation is then a fair distance away. Most go to Leamington which is lovely, but a fair trek. My DS lived in Coventry which was closer, cheaper but not as good for socialising. Most of the parties and clubbing went on in Leam. Coventry isn't the nicest city centre.

Manchester is a thriving city, full of life and very busy. A mix of old industrial and new shiny blocks. Very much a party place. It's also a city university, though the accommodation at Fallowfield is it's own campus. Uni accommodation seemed a bit tired at the affordable end.

In retrospect, my DSes would have been better off in each other's universities, as DS1 is the party boy and DS3 would have been better off in a quieter campus. But DS1 found his people at Warwick and had a great time. He didn't stay in the area after uni, however. DS3 will stay in Manchester. It wins hands down over Coventry as a city. Manchester uni is big! You need a certain confidence, i think, but it's big enough to find like minded people if partying isn't your thing.

UrsulaBelle · 11/05/2023 10:52

Also, for maths, Warwick is a top flight uni, Manchester is in the next 10 down. So DS1 needed 3 x A stars and DS3, AAA. Hence DS1 being more attracted to Warwick. There isn't the same distinction with CS though. They're both equally highly rated. Which of the two courses does he prefer?

Owlplant · 11/05/2023 11:02

I went to university in Manchester and stayed for nearly 20 years. Love the place, loads to do, green places etc. I moved to Coventry 5 years ago, it's bloody horrible, I'd leave tomorrow if I could.

Original poster
multivac · 11/05/2023 12:29

I knew Mumsnet would come up with the goods (not sure ds believed me; but I've sent him this thread 😎) - thanks, all, for sharing so many useful experiences.

In terms of the courses, they are very similar; perhaps with more of a leaning towards industry at Manchester, which ds is finding appealing. 'Prestige' does matter to him to a certain extent, and he's a bit confused about that, given that Warwick is ranked more highly for CS in the UK, but the reverse is true for global listings. But really, you're all right, in that it comes down to where he will feel most comfortable, and be happiest - and I suspect the commuting aspect of Warwick may prove a deal-breaker. He's an adaptable soul; a busy city would push him out of his comfort zone a little (we live rurally)... but I don't see that as bad thing at all.

OP posts:
Bizzyone · 11/05/2023 12:44

100% visit then visit some more! I thought I was set on Warwick with Manchester as 2nd choice but on visiting both I completely went off Warwick immediately haha (too quiet and remote for me which I hadnt appreciated until I went there).. ended up choosing Manchester and been here ever since (20yrs...)

Obviously my experience is totally outdated and I didnt do CS but would still stand by idea of getting a feel for the place and choosing the one he will enjoy the most as they are SO different 😀
And as much as rankings etc matter on some levels, there is so much more to uni life so Im glad I spent 3yrs somewhere I felt happy and also happened to also have plenty of opportunities for new experiences/student jobs/transport links etc

NameChangeSorryNotSorry · 11/05/2023 12:49

So many more opportunities in Manchester post degree for employment. He’d have more friends locally, rent is as affordable as it’s gonna get in a big city. I’d 100% choose Manchester over Warwick.

Aurea · 11/05/2023 12:52

Hi Multivac

I remember you as a fellow comp sci applicant from the oxbridge thread.

I'm glad your DS has received some great offers.

My DS has/had a similar predicament. Edinburgh offer (unconditional) versus Durham (AA) both for computer science integrated masters.

He firmed Edinburgh which was nationally lower in the league tables (19th versus 6th for Durham) but much higher globally (23rd globally versus 300+).

I think he's happy with his decision.

Good luck to your DS for making his

Original poster
multivac · 11/05/2023 13:06

Ah, thanks, Aurea; and I'm glad your ds is happy with his decision.

OP posts:
UrsulaBelle · 11/05/2023 13:19

As far as prestige goes, Manchester is a very recognisable name on the global scene but in the UK I'd think they were similar for CS. The fact Manchester is asking for slightly higher grades is maybe more to do with it being a slightly more popular choice for students for reasons other than the CS course itself.

MagicSpring · 11/05/2023 14:42

God, well done him for getting three good offers. There are many CS applicants with excellent predictions but rejections all the same.

Original poster
multivac · 11/05/2023 14:48

MagicSpring · 11/05/2023 14:42

God, well done him for getting three good offers. There are many CS applicants with excellent predictions but rejections all the same.

Yes, he's very chuffed (got rejected by UCL, and pooled but not taken up by Cambridge); it's insanely competitive this year, it seems.

OP posts:
HumourReplacementTherapy · 11/05/2023 15:59

My DS went to Warwick.
I paraphrase...
It's full of Tory toffs who see it as an extension of boarding school
But struggle because they've been tutored to get the grades to get into a RG uni. privileged wealthy white middle class kids and have no idea what it's like to live in the real world.
As you can probably tell my left leaning DS hated it
Nightlife is rubbish
Leamington is a dump
Support woeful
It's a nice campus but that's if no use after yr 1
So it depends, but my DS did not fit in at all.