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Higher education

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

Original poster

Friendly-feel campus universities

107 replies

AlexAndrian · 30/07/2023 22:28

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.

OP posts:
stoneysongs · 03/08/2023 11:47

What about Liverpool, which I think is a campus in the city? The course has the option of a year in industry which could be good. I don't know much about it but seems like an academic degree with a broad range of options and Liverpool is a v cultural place, might be fun?

Original poster
AlexAndrian · 03/08/2023 12:04

The York course hasn't grabbed, not sure why exactly and with that and the distance, no haven't been (to the University), but is probably worth a look. Liverpool course looks really interesting. I think part of the problem is the northern cities (even MN pet fave Durham) don't really get a mention at school.

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 03/08/2023 14:28

Fair enough re York.

It would be a good test though because the city is very appealing , much nicer than Birmingham obviously, but a lot of young people seem to not like the campus, especially the older bits where music is. I don't have this problem at all, but DS didn't like it hugely when he visited ( it was pissing it down!) and loved Birmingham.

I went to York, do it wasn't lack of persuasion from me!

TizerorFizz · 03/08/2023 14:52

@AlexAndrian
My DD has a friend who was a music scholar at a very well known boys boarding school. Before that he was at a cathedral choral school. From a musical family. He went to Manchester for music. No. Not campus but very good for music and a lot going on. In its own area of the city. Sheffield is similar but not quite the same for concert halls within the city (if that matters). I would always choose course first. Nearly all music students will be friendly! Campus or not doesn’t really change that.

Royal Holloway does empty out at weekends and is not London. Old and attractive but definitely marmite.

WestendVBroadway · 03/08/2023 21:33

As I mentioned, my DD graduated from RHUL last month. She says it is a myth that everyone goes home at the weekend. Even DD's peers who had family homes an hour or so away very rarely returned home at weekends. Besides, considering the proportion of Overseas students there, it is extremely unlikely.

TizerorFizz · 04/08/2023 09:17

I guess different people find different things with their friendship group. Students are not friendly with a whole uni or purely overseas students, unless they are one.

pintery · 04/08/2023 09:41

TizerorFizz · 03/08/2023 14:52

@AlexAndrian
My DD has a friend who was a music scholar at a very well known boys boarding school. Before that he was at a cathedral choral school. From a musical family. He went to Manchester for music. No. Not campus but very good for music and a lot going on. In its own area of the city. Sheffield is similar but not quite the same for concert halls within the city (if that matters). I would always choose course first. Nearly all music students will be friendly! Campus or not doesn’t really change that.

Royal Holloway does empty out at weekends and is not London. Old and attractive but definitely marmite.

Not sure of the relevance of the friend's biographical information (does a boarding school music scholar's choice somehow carry more weight?!) but the OP is looking for suggestions of campus universities. So - not Manchester.

Bramshott · 04/08/2023 09:41

Yes I keep reading on here that RHUL "empties at weekends" but that's not been DDs experience. I guess like any small campus uni, campus feels fairly quiet at weekends, but that doesn't mean that everyone has gone home!!

chilliflakesmum · 04/08/2023 09:45

Bangor University has a great music BMus course. Amazing lecturers too and it's a lovely place to live. Its a small city, but you're next to the sea and the mountains so plenty to do when you have down time.

Original poster
AlexAndrian · 04/08/2023 09:47

It's really hard to know about RHUL as it seems to have become an accepted fact (on here) that it 'empties out at weekends' but obviously much of that is because those who have read it on here just repeat it. All campuses can be quiet at the weekend, that's often when students do work. It's really hard to tell as it seems 50/50!
A large city like Manchester is really not where DS sees himself. Course, whilst really important, does not trump all.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 04/08/2023 09:59

@pintery It does matter to musicians. They like to be with other talented musicians. They provide the friendly bubble. I know Manchester isn’t campus but how do you find a “friendly” campus when unis are all huge? You simply won’t know. The better way to look (I think) is consider where provides a fantastic music degree and has easy access to top class professional performance and music making opportunities. You then find like minded friends easily through classes and performance so campus becomes somewhat unnecessary. If Dc wants less essay based, then music making is very important. The big cities simply have more opportunities. Some unis mentioned will have virtually nothing to compare.

I used the illustration to show the thought process of a very musical DC who was into performance opportunities. Not for any other reason. Just an example that I thought might illustrate my point.

TizerorFizz · 04/08/2023 10:05

@AlexAndrian Just seen your update. I didn’t repeat what I read here. I know students who have come home from RHUL frequently because all their friends did. “Empties out” is a personal feeling. You keep losing friends each weekend so it feels empty to you. All city unis have uni buildings in a relatively small area. RHUL is very self contained with very little nearby for external entertainment. Do you know it?

stoneysongs · 04/08/2023 10:08

Bangor is a good shout, small, friendly, lovely surroundings, punches above its weight for music.

Original poster
AlexAndrian · 04/08/2023 10:10

Yes, Bangor is somewhere to be visited. I do know it, but not the University. Punches well above its weight for Music, which is both good and bad....!

OP posts:
stoneysongs · 04/08/2023 10:31

Punches well above its weight for Music, which is both good and bad....!

What's the bad part?
(Not challenging that, just curious!)

poetryandwine · 04/08/2023 10:32

It is a good point that the International students obviously won’t be decamping from RHUL at weekends, but how much do Home and International students there mingle socially? Reluctance can originate from either side and quickly spiral.

IME friendliness from Home students is generally appreciated and reciprocated. But because many International students are not fully comfortable with English, to really relax they may cluster with others who speak their native language. If the Home students really decamp at weekends, an awful lot of Mandarin may be heard around campus —- that is not a criticism, it’s just human nature.

I write this as someone who thinks a lot about how to integrate International students and has sometimes been dismayed at the lack of friendliness shown them by English peers

pintery · 04/08/2023 10:41

TizerorFizz · 04/08/2023 09:59

@pintery It does matter to musicians. They like to be with other talented musicians. They provide the friendly bubble. I know Manchester isn’t campus but how do you find a “friendly” campus when unis are all huge? You simply won’t know. The better way to look (I think) is consider where provides a fantastic music degree and has easy access to top class professional performance and music making opportunities. You then find like minded friends easily through classes and performance so campus becomes somewhat unnecessary. If Dc wants less essay based, then music making is very important. The big cities simply have more opportunities. Some unis mentioned will have virtually nothing to compare.

I used the illustration to show the thought process of a very musical DC who was into performance opportunities. Not for any other reason. Just an example that I thought might illustrate my point.

All of these places will be full of talented musicians though.

Despite your views on the "better way" of looking, the OP asked for campus university suggestions. Her DC does not want to study in a big city. Telling her that she's not looking correctly and that he should go to Manchester because a boarding school music scholar once went there is not very helpful.

Needmoresleep · 04/08/2023 10:53

If we are in the realm of "friend of a friend" anecdotes the DD of a friend really enjoyed RHUL. She had started at Exeter but had found it very cliquey (private school kids, not international) and RHUL was a big relief. Small and friendly. What she wanted, obviously not what everyone is looking for. She got a very good management consultancy job afterwards, so the MN snobbishness perhaps does not extend elsewhere. .

The other thing is that Egham is not a million miles from London and indeed a train from Waterloo (ie round the corner from the Royal Festival Hall) only takes 37 minutes. So you can have campus and performance.

Comefromaway · 04/08/2023 10:54

I do worry OP's ds is cutting off one of the most suitable places based on the fact he didn't like the street that the main train station is located (not even the closest station to campus) - a place where he probably would only have to visit a few times a year and that is currently undergoing major renovations.

My son's friend (also music) did something similar. He discounted one course (that would have been perfect for him) based on having visited a different area of the city with family. He accepted a place elsewhere.
He was then asked to take part in a performance at the university and spent a week living in halls with the students. He ended up absolutely loving the place, the city, the environment.

Piggywaspushed · 04/08/2023 11:14

Just to mention re 'emptying out at weekends' students virtually everywhere seem to go home more these days. But for donkey's years the main student nights have been Thursdays. DS's music also seems to be mainly during the week but UniBrass was a weekend, as was busking af Christmas. He also has football some weekends. The students who want to do this stuff don't go home.

The main emptying out seems to happen in June which is a shame as they miss out on a nice summer experience.

GodessOfThunder · 04/08/2023 13:01

AlexAndrian · 03/08/2023 09:46

As stated they found it a bit depressing and concretey. Stats about greenery won't help if that's the impression you get.

Show quote history

Shame. The area around the university is very green indeed.

Original poster
AlexAndrian · 04/08/2023 15:04

oh, he's not discounting the Uni
He's just decided that Birmingham isn't that nice.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 04/08/2023 15:06

My ds felt the same about Huddersfield. But the difference there was that Huddersfield Uni is in the town centre, the accommodation is miles away from the uni and he would be spending a lot of his time in those areas.

Original poster
AlexAndrian · 04/08/2023 15:10

Well just that it would be nice if it were as good at other things...

OP posts:
stoneysongs · 04/08/2023 15:18

AlexAndrian · 04/08/2023 15:04

oh, he's not discounting the Uni
He's just decided that Birmingham isn't that nice.

I know what he means about Birmingham, not my favourite place at all. But the uni is good and the campus is so lovely that I think it's worth it.
(I have a Y12 DD with Birmingham on her list - she hasn't seen the city yet though!)

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