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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Decent campus unis with a vibe

62 replies

Globules · 17/06/2023 21:29

DD is looking to do Classics or History. She's very keen on a campus uni over a city one.

We went to Warwick today and she loved it. We visited Sussex a fortnight ago...she liked it at the time, but has been superseded by Warwick as it has a much better vibe in her opinion.

Any other campus unis that you'd recommend we look that have a buzzing life and lots of societies no further north than Coventry, no further west than Portsmouth.

Thanks

OP posts:
Jetlaggedgirl · 17/06/2023 21:48

you’re limited by geography as there are great unis in the north. Lancaster, York etc Royal Holloway was popular for classics not a great vibe . Maybe expand your search ?

pisspants · 17/06/2023 21:57

Why the arbitrary geography? To find the right uni, wouldnt she consider another half hour or hour of travel? Is she dead set on a full campus or somewhere where it's all close together but not an actual campus?
Places I can think of that meet those and might be slightly outside the area you gave are UEA, Kent at Canterbury, Southampton, Surrey, Bath, Birmingham and Nottingham. That adds a few more options in there and quite a range of different types of city.

Original poster
Globules · 17/06/2023 22:09

We live on the south east coast and she wants to be a max 3 hours from home, but not London. Her call.

Dead set on a full campus. She likes the "small town" feel to it, over the spread across the city feeling.

Will investigate Kent and Surrey.

OP posts:
pisspants · 17/06/2023 22:11

fair enough, I forgot Loughborough as well

Hotandverybothered · 17/06/2023 22:12

Shame she will not go a bit further. We live in South East one went to Nottingham with a fabulous campus and my son went to Lancaster which had a gorgeous campus as well.

Hebditch · 17/06/2023 22:39

Exeter is wonderful. Fantastic campus and lovely city.

cheapskatemum · 17/06/2023 23:04

Came on here to say Exeter too @Hebditch! It's definitely west of Portsmouth though.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 17/06/2023 23:05

cheapskatemum · 17/06/2023 23:04

Came on here to say Exeter too @Hebditch! It's definitely west of Portsmouth though.

West of Portsmouth though

annahay · 17/06/2023 23:07

Globules · 17/06/2023 22:09

We live on the south east coast and she wants to be a max 3 hours from home, but not London. Her call.

Dead set on a full campus. She likes the "small town" feel to it, over the spread across the city feeling.

Will investigate Kent and Surrey.

I'd recommend UEA for a small town feel. Norwich is delightful and the campus is really friendly.

SmartHome · 17/06/2023 23:11

Reading is a full and very nice campus, dont think it is more West than Portsmouth? My geography isn't great though.

Ylvamoon · 17/06/2023 23:17

I would recommend to look at some city based unis as well.

My DD was dead set on Campus/ Essex, and I can say from a parent point of view it felt very safe and sheltered, so all round would have been a good choice!
But when we had a look at Sheffield & Birmingham, we also looked at how the courses are structured and what support they offer to students.
And unfortunately also a deciding factor was the cost of living at uni.
In the end she's decided to go to a city based uni...

Toddlerteaplease · 17/06/2023 23:31

Nottingham has a beautiful campus.

eggsbenedict23 · 17/06/2023 23:36

Are the green campus unis enjoyable in the winner and autumn? When often the greenery etc is all muddy and damp?

lastdayatschool · 18/06/2023 00:07

Yes, @eggsbenedict23 - they all have footpaths 😉 from which you can view the foliage etc

gogohmm · 18/06/2023 00:12

Nottingham is full campus but like most universities they live out in later years (is she aware that Warwick means Coventry or bussing in from lemington? I'd strongly advise looking at course content as they vary a lot, and consider the overall university, does it meet her needs (not wants)? Warwick for instance can be a bit sink or swim from personal experience (not classics) whereas others are more supportive

Original poster
Globules · 18/06/2023 08:45

SmartHome · 17/06/2023 23:11

Reading is a full and very nice campus, dont think it is more West than Portsmouth? My geography isn't great though.

Reading could be a goer. 2 hour drive ☺️Thanks

She ruled out Exeter on the first sift.

OP posts:
Original poster
Globules · 18/06/2023 08:47

Ylvamoon · 17/06/2023 23:17

I would recommend to look at some city based unis as well.

My DD was dead set on Campus/ Essex, and I can say from a parent point of view it felt very safe and sheltered, so all round would have been a good choice!
But when we had a look at Sheffield & Birmingham, we also looked at how the courses are structured and what support they offer to students.
And unfortunately also a deciding factor was the cost of living at uni.
In the end she's decided to go to a city based uni...

We have.

That's why she knows she doesn't want to go to one.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 18/06/2023 11:09

@Globules If she can get into Warwick why would she look at much lower ranked unis? How many of these actually do classics? Warwick will want top grades and it’s ranked above most of the others in your geographical orbit. So I would look at her possible results and be sensible about choices and not just stick to geography. After all, she’s not coming home every week! So add in Bristol and Exeter for sure. Plus Loughborough, Birmingham, Nottingham and Surrey if they do the course she wants.

History grads do need to think about jobs afterwards. Most do not work in “history”. So what uni gives best options for her future?

lastdayatschool · 18/06/2023 15:26

@TizerorFizz - why do you assume the OPs daughter isn't going to go home every weekend?

There's always a number of students who do.

She may play for a sports club at home or have a boyfriend/girlfriend in her home town.

ShanghaiDiva · 18/06/2023 15:33

@Globules
my ds studied at Warwick. Living in leamington in years two and three is a popular choice, but getting the bus to campus can be a real drag and due to the time it takes you end up staying on campus all day as it’s not worth going home and back for seminars later in the day.
ds lived in Coventry which was more convenient and cheaper.

Radishgreen · 18/06/2023 16:08

'Vibe' is in the eye of the beholder, some people go to Warwick uni open or offer holder days and find it anything but vibey.
I think having geographical boundaries is fine, if you know that is important to you, fair enough.
Have you thought about Royal Holloway? Really not London.

Piggywaspushed · 18/06/2023 16:29

Birmingham! Does her subjects. or at least does the history/classics bit and offers everything she seems to want.

trulyunruly01 · 18/06/2023 16:52

Winchester worth a look?

BabyDubsEverywhere · 18/06/2023 17:41

I did history at Birmingham (left in 2020) I did Ancient and Medieval history so I was able to do a mix of modules from across history and classics, which might appeal to your DD?

It's a full campus and takes over most of Edgbaston. They've got an in-campus train station, stationary/ supplies shops, food shops, cafes, a bicycle repair shop, food stalls, pubs, massive library, loads more.

I was a mature student so I didn't stay on campus or join in the socials (kids to get home to) but there was so much going on those on my course seemed to be having a blast!

I chose Brum over Warwick because of course content and the general vibe. It was also easier to get to with the in house train station Smile

redspottedmug · 18/06/2023 18:37

Look at travel times.
York ticks all boxes for history.
LNER rail service into Kings Cross is 2-2.5hrs.
Depending on her onward journey home, it could be do-able.

We are south coast and have DC at York, they love it. Don't come home mid term though.