Friendly-feel campus universities

[AlexAndrian]

DC looking for somewhere in England or Wales to study music. Not a Conservative. Predicted A star, A star, A. Liked Royal Holloway. Wants good range of modules.

Very sadly Keele have also scrapped all their music courses apart from Music Production. I signed a petition against it.

I've just seen on their website! Was a good decade ago I was there so things have obviously changed. Very sad!

Several of ds's tutors at college studied at Keele. It is incredibly sad especially as this is an area where not many young people go onto higher education and lots need to stay at home to study for financial reasons.

What about Falmouth? A well regarded Arts University; smallish, friendly, modern campus shared with Exeter Penryn (so a really decent variety of societies). Amazing location if DS likes beach/outdoor life. Perhaps not so fab for serious clubbing (more of a pub/beach beers vibe) but DD had an absolute blast there.

Yes I remember there was a very significant number of local students when I was there. Obviously I'm biased but I loved it and still feel homesick for it now. They call it the Keele bubble. It's a special place.

I think the location might appeal. The course seems more contemporary/skills based than academic though.

Such a shame that music is not a universal course.
DS is part of the Keele bubble. Fantastic place

I'd say you are right Alex. It's the kind of course my son was looking for (except he wanted a big city) and it isn't particularly classical or academic in the musicology sense.

@AlexAndrian DD was Exeter Penryn (History) so music's not my bag; I just saw BA Hons Music and got carried away 😁. DD did, however, play in the orchestra and I have to say we attended some fab concerts!
Good luck hunting and enjoy the Open Day visits.

With those grades they could (and should) consider Oxbridge.

Obviously not campus universities but my daughter was at Oxford (studying music) and said that the whole of the city centre felt like a big campus. She was adamant that she didn't want Oxford until I made her go to an open day when she fell in love with it!

Her other choices were Birmingham (which she made her insurance), York, Nottingham and Durham.

What is it that DS likes about a campus? If its that its green and not in the city centre then he could think about Cambridge and apply to Homerton or Newnham which are out of the centre so a bit like mini campuses.

York is the obvious choice for a campus university with a good reputation for music. I'd also echo Southampton DN went there (not for music) and loved it and got involved in the student music and said it was good.

Oxbridge considered, but the impression is the courses are possibly too far the other way, very heavily essay-based plus performance... Very familiar with the environment (too familiar for one to be even considered!) and obviously it appeals in some ways.
Southampton always seems such an unlikely place to be great at Music! Not sure why. Good course though.

Would second the wanting to know.

Aware that he sounds terribly fussy. I sort of think you are allowed to be in this case though. Also, Music degrees vary so much. I'm sure all disciplines would say the same, but there are so many aspects and ways of assessing they are in no way interchangeable.

Has he been to an actual Open Day at Birmingham? Or anywhere else? That is often helpful.

Yes. Several.

Not several at Birmingham 😀

Surrey?

That might be above and beyond...

Why would you avoid Royal Holloway. My DD has just graduated from Royal Holloway, not music but another Arts subject. She loved it.

DD2 had an offer from RH (not music) and decided against it in the end. Partly its too near London (ie home) but also Egham is tiny and she felt that a city would be more interesting/exciting (but not London which I assume is where RH people go if they want a night out). I guess her logic boiled down to wanting a campus but with a city on the side so she's going to Nottingham.

I’d also recommend York. Campus Uni in colleges.

Course at York hasn't jumped off the page, and you appear to have to continue with solo performance in Yr 2 which is not preferred. Agree it would be worth a look though.

Yes, quite liked. Nice campus. Course does require you to keep on with either performance or composition, so a bit less flexible than some.

Can't speak for the music degree but my goddaughter has played a lot of music in her time at Durham. Whole range of orchestra/jazz/funded tour. DS is also there and Durham is such a small city that it feels like a large campus. He can't go out in the town without bumping into someone he knows and he lives up on the hill.