Anyone tell me about the University of Leicester please?

[Puffypuffin]

DD put it down as her last choice for English & History but was unwell on the open day so hasn't actually seen it. We'll be going to the offer holder day but can anyone give their experiences please? It seems to get a good name?

This was the only open day I went on (as it was my Alma mater) and so went with DD in late 2021. DD loved the flexibility of the English course. There were options for all sorts of things from teaching to creative writing but with a core of solid English Lit too. The sample lecture was informative and well run. She would have been happy there and put it on UCAS, they wrote a lovely letter very personalised stating how they loved her personal statement topics and the types of lecturers who specialised in the areas she had expressed interest in. She only didn't go as she had an offer from Cambridge and is now very happy there. I think Leicester gets stuck between the 'not RG' and 'not ex-poly' and is a bit of a gem for the right student. It did me proud way back when and has clearly invested in facilities and accomodation since then. Good luck to your daughter.

I went to Leicester too, 30 years ago and revisited last November (law).
It’s a really good University. The campus has a nice feel and close to city centre. I particularly like the Oadby halls set up, they call it the village now. The halls are close together in a leafy suburb so students can socialise.
It wasn’t on my dc’s list as she didn’t want to go where we went but I was very impressed seeing it again and having done numerous uni open days this year it compared very favourably.
I understand accommodation is plentiful and reasonably priced.

One of my nieces is happy there (2nd year) having got a place through Clearing. They made her very welcome on a visit during the Clearing process and she got accommodation even at that late stage. Seems to have worked out really well for her.

Agree with others, I think Leicester is a bit of a hidden gem. My dd got in through clearing for Eng lit and it was great for her in many ways.

Her experience was hit by Covid and also ill health, but module flexibility was great and the dept was so so supportive. Her PT was lovely.

I think it’s overlooked bc it’s not RG but it is a good uni with a super set-up. Cheap accom in the city too.

My ds is very happy there - his route in is the same as @Marisquita described. I think it’s very underrated.
Accommodation is plentiful and reasonable - he went back into a uni flat this year with friends and it’s less than £100 a week / pretty much on campus.
He’s doing very well on his course and I think he thrives because it’s not huge and far more personal than a massive department.
Happy to answer any questions you may have

Oh this is so encouraging, thank you all so much. Coincidentally, I was talking to someone at work today whose daughter graduated from there this year and said her daughter was so happy there and didn't want to leave, which was lovely to hear.

DD2 is now in her Masters year there and it's great. She is a scientist so I can't comment on English/History. However, it is a great, inexpensive city and the people there are lovely.

DD was meant to have a year abroad but her host country didn't issue a visa until March of that year. Leicester offered her a room in a shared flat at Oadby on a weekly contract for as long as she needed it because at the time our home internet was too dire for her to access the course abroad. When she had had enough of living with freshers, they honoured the weekly contract and she came home. On the rare occasions she has had issues, they have been dealt with promptly and she has been very happy. The careers people are also good; DD had a meeting online during the summer and has managed to secure her first job interview as a result.

Some people on MN turn their noses up as Leicester is not RG. Personally I couldn't give a stuff, especially as DH has worked at a RG uni and found it to be completely rubbish, so it's not all it's cracked up to be.

@Malbecfan that's great. I agree about RG, I went to one myself and it was no great shakes to be honest. I just want her to go somewhere that she's happy.

DS & I went to offer day there in March 2022, offer applicant day. We liked the Uni campus, the student residences village, the accommodation is very good price relatively, the route between campus & village. Not keen on the city centre itself, although we had a nice meal out.