MFL universities - specifically Exeter

[Hockeyplayer321]

I have been reading old threads on here about modern foreign languages because that is what my DC wants to study. I was taken aback to see on one thread that Exeter is not well-regarded for MFL. Is this actually true? It is the uni my DC likes the look of the most - both the uni and the MFL course. They are also considering Southampton (which we know is good for MFL) but that is as far as research has got so far.

@rampantivy thank you for that - it is so good to get a positive recommendation. We will certainly look into Newcastle

He says St Andrews or Edinburgh, both of which gave him offers. He lives in Germany now and is fluent. My other DS, who did three languages (AAB) at A level, can barely order an icecream. Being truly fluent is jolly hard. I second Newcastle as a place ... really friendly, cheap, good transport. Nice looking uni but I don't know anything about the course. Good luck. So few take MFL offers are low from good places. How about York?

@InDIYHell may I please ask where your DD applied to and is thinking of firming and insuring? Is she interested in doing two languages or three?

@Thepleasureofyourcompany

I know, I live there (well near) and don't understand why students would pick it because there's such an issue with housing.

Dd loved Southampton but wasn't doing mfl so can't comment on course content. She liked the city and found it easy to get pt work.

@Hockeyplayer321 DD is looking at 2 languages, she also likes the culture aspect and some lit as well. She has offers from Durham (AAA), Warwick(AAB), Exeter (AAB) Nottingham (ABB) & Lancaster (ABB or BBB if firmed) but hasn't decided which to go for! She focused on campus unis but added Durham into the mix due to the Harry Potter vibes - doesn't help that she's been allocated to castle college! She'd be happy at any which is why she's struggling choosing. I suspect she'll firm Warwick (closer to us, offer holder sessions were excellent and in her words - there's nothing wrong with it. BUT she won't get to live/eat in a castle....)

Dd1 has similar ones on her list but ended up firming UCL and insuring Manchester. Reasons were in no particular order... transport to and from where we live, eg distance from home; wanted a big city for the vibe and also the opportunities to get a job. Multicultural cities. Course.

She eliminated Lancaster because opposite of.above (too small, campus uni, etc)..didn't like Newcastle (eve though both were highly recommended). Loved Liverpool but student satisfaction scores for her course were diabolical but she loved the city and the uni and would have had it as a third and would probably choose it if in clearing.

Didn't look at Exeter, Bristol, Bath as way too far (eg a 5 hour plus journey each way)

These offers are low! Is that because MFl is not popular?

I went to Sheffield 10 years ago and they did an excellent 3 language degree (BAMLC) with lots of choices of language - I actually studied 4 languages having changed from beginners Russian in 1st year to beginners Dutch for 2nd and 4th year, keeping French and Spanish the whole way through and splitting my year abroad in France and Spain. A lot of my friends did the course too and we all had different language combinations + interesting culture modules, definitely worth looking in to!
Also Sheffield is an ace city to live in as a student (and my mum loved visiting too!)

@travelban all best to your DD with A-levels! May I ask how you find out student satisfaction at course level please?

@Thepleasureofyourcompany They were all the published standard non contextual offers. Durham responded first (!). I suspect you are right that there's not much competition compared to say, economics!

My dd needs higher than that for sports science (the most shunned degree on mumsnet)

@Thepleasureofyourcompany Im not sure why you are posting. Sports science is popular because loads of Dc have the qualifications to get on the courses. I thought everyone would know MFL is hard and offers are low (ish) due to low numbers taking MFL in 6th form. It’s not comparable with sports science.

There is no evidence about more drug taking in one university over another. Purely anecdotal. However student destinations isn’t. Universities do know where students end up after graduation.

Most DC don’t need much back up for insurance.

@Hockeyplayer321 I would strongly advise against 3 MFL. Year abroad won’t be the same. 2 is far better. Few employers want 3 MFL. Yes, vital to see what is taught as a module and what’s at degree level. 2 for Joint honours is best. Look closely at the actual degrees and if she’s only got 2 MFL at A level, don’t add 2 new ones.

@Thepleasureofyourcompany subjrcts like sports science and economics are popular and thus offers can be high.

My dd had AAB and ABB from Warwick and Brum (Eng lit) and ds2 had AAB and ABB from RG unis like Newcastle and Leeds (and lboro ! ) for biological sciences so it really depends on the course. MFL these days is a lower offer than some.

Ds did french at Edinburgh and pretty sure he needed AAA (got AA A star). I am surprised Bs are fine. This was a few years ago now, maybe less attractive as a degree these days.

I grew up near to Exeter and it has always had a good reputation for MFL. I know someone who went there and now works in France.

You should take your DC to look around Exeter and a few other units DC is interested in and see for themselves.

@Thepleasureofyourcompany
There are issues with mfl due to native speakers. Both at degree and A level. In case you had not noticed, the number of DC doing A level MFLs has plummeted.

At the best unis it’s academic. It’s hard. Fewer and fewer schools offer a choice of MFL A levels and few take 2 MFL GCSEs, so often take 1 MFL A level after 1gcse. Two A levels is better. When students do ab initio, 2 ab initio can mean one is not degree level. The other MFLs are often bolt ons. Modules or options. They might not be part of the year abroad. Therefore it’s better to limit ab initio and stick at 2for joint honours. More MFL is not better. It can skim the surface. 2 gives better in depth teaching too.

Contact hours vary. MFL students doing ab initio will study alone quite a lot. It’s the options that make MFL interesting and depth is important.

It's a bit depressing that a B grade is considered a low grade at A level.

@RampantIvy I am not saying a B is low. I am saying that some courses, at some unis,can ask for 3 x Astar or A star AA, while other courses, maybe at the same uni, will have lower offers. If your dc applied for sports science at Lboro and was offered Astar x 2 plus A, they might be surprised that my ds was offered AAB at the same uni. But I don't think he regards his B in maths as a low grade tbh. I don't think anyone here is disparaging a B at A level. Hope not.

Re the drug taking - I don't suppose Bristol is any different from any other university.
Three students died in the halls that DD had been in at Newcastle in 2020 from drugs overdoses during freshers week. It made the national news.

I think it's more prevalent in the bigger cities / non-campus universities.

DS did see some sites when he was researching universities which listed top Universities for Drug Usage (not claiming they were accurate/scientific in any way) and Manchester, Leeds and Bristol were ranked 1-3 in all of them.

@RampantIvy Execrly. It’s always trotted out that Bristol has drug takers without knowledge of anywhere else for balance! Of course students elsewhere take drugs. Do we also not think drinking to excess is an issue too? It’s fairly easy to choose a quiet hall and choose friends like you. It’s also very wrong to allude to only privately educated Dc take drugs. If that was the case, Exeter and Durham would be drug central. Newcastle has long been viewed as a party university. It’s very sad that any student does drugs but, of course, so do parents! So why anyone is surprised that Dc do mystifies me. Plus many Dc do at school.

Regarding accommodation: Unless anyone has not noticed, landlords are pulling out of the private rented sector. This affects everyone who rents and students too. It is not just Bristol affected by this. London is very much affected. Anywhere with a desirable university in fact. I was speaking to people recently who had sold rental houses in Lincoln. They won’t be rented out by their new owners. This forces prices up everywhere with a housing shortage. The advantage of a bigger city is that there is choice. There are places outside the obvious student areas.

It still matters where you study. The ambitions of those around you snd how the MFL course is structured matter. Partner universities will increasingly matter too. Working abroad is becoming more difficult so the university route is likely to be increasingly popular.

I am pretty sure it was Discover Uni..

Bristol has had a druggy rep for years. I live nearby. Of course it doesn’t mean everyone that goes there will take drugs! But anecdotal evidence would suggest it is still as druggy as ever. Friends dd was the only one in her flat not to take ket (so she says!). It is definitely where the wild ones go from dds private school. Reputation attracts those who want that lifestyle I guess.