Unis less affected by strikes

[User26673]

having observed her brother’s terrible experience reading history at a top RG uni (umpteen strikes, no marking, FA contact hours), DD wants to apply to unis that have not had such disruption. She also wants to read History and is predicted A*AA. She wants to avoid RG and is thinking of Kent, UEA, Leicester, Lancaster and Sussex. Does anyone know whether the strikes have disfigured those unis to the same extent as at top RG unis?

@User26673 Ds at UEA, history, now doing masters. Def some strike disruption, although he never mentioned any marking delays in the past when an undergrad. He has really enjoyed being at UEA and Norwich itself fwiw

Whether students have yet experienced issues or not depends on its academic calendar.

Not all universities start and finish at the same time. Universities who start and finish early, and who are already well into the examation weeks, will have already been affected by the current marking boycott.

Those universities who have yet to go into their examination period will shortly experience the effects.

DS is at Lancaster and says strikes are dependant upon the lecturer. He's doing Maths and only 2 of his lecturers have been on strike, the others have carried on as normal. But he says a couple of his flat mates have been very badly affected doing other subjects (Sociology was one, I don't know the other).

Why avoiding RG? I mean it's no skin off my nose but if she thinks only RG is affected by strikes she isn't correct.

UEA is great but in huge financial trouble, I gather. I would imagine if se is year 12 now, strikes will be resolved by the time she goes. I mean, touch wood, but surely??

Those unis are all good for history. But, Lancaster aside, with those PGs she may be underselling herself.

My DS is at Birmingham doing history and has had minimal disruption. a few cancelled sessions but nothing that has really affected him.

That's a good point about the UEA financial difficulties @Piggywaspushed can't believe I overlooked mentioning that. 😀

I'd also agree about not ruling out the RG en masse. Yes its more than a bit up itself as a marketing group but all of its 24 unis should not be dismissed out of hand.

Thanks for all the replies so far. I didn’t know UEA is in trouble - that’s a pity as it is a lovely uni. DD hasn’t ruled out all of the Russell Group - well not quite. She will entertain the idea of Southampton and possibly Exeter although she is out off by “all the rahs in red chinos” as she puts it. I’m put off Exeter by the cost!

Sussex is pretty unionised from that list, and UEA in financial dire straits which could affect student experience. It will very much depend on the lecturers she has though. Historians are more left wing than scientists, but not as much as sociologists

I'd hope the strikes would be over by 24/25 though - please. There's no longer a pension dispute, and there is agreement on a way through some of the four fights actions.

Tbh with History she really needs to go somewhere that covers the periods she's interested in though. Courses will be very different.

DD is at Imperial and says the same as @Kazzyhoward. She has not been affected but others have.

I'm.just really intrigued now ! Non 'raah' Birmingham and York don't feature in her thinking??

As other pp have said, with those predicted grades she really does have a lot of options. I think a number of students mistakenly begin selecting universities first rather than focussing on the courses that are offered. History degrees will vary massively from uni to uni. Also the perception of a uni can differ from the reality. I’d strongly advise she doesn’t rule anywhere out just yet but delves into the variety of history courses available and which of those really spark her interest.

You mentioned possibility of Southampton OP. They have lots of pickets out on strike days. I don’t know how badly affected student life is but from experience of living nearby I’d say the unions there are very active and vocal.

I am not sure you can predict what sort of experience you'll have with strikes. Some lecturers strike, some don't, some departments are more unionised than others . Some strikes affect some universities more than others depending on when they fall in the semester.