Considering UEA??

[jld45]

My Ds is holding an offer for University of East Anglia to study Computer Science commencing Sept 2024. We attended the open day earlier this year and we were all really impressed with the Department staff and course content and whilst my son is predicted higher grades than required, this is currently his preferred choice. I do have some concerns though due to their financial state - a current advertise deficit of £30m, rising to £45m in the next 3 years, plus the addition of RAC in thier most iconic accommodation building. Is anyone’s Ds or Dd also considering UEA and should I be concerned? I understand the reason why they have this deficit but not sure how this may impact on the quality of facilities or teaching he may receive- he is looking to study a 4 year course.
Thanks

Honestly lots of unis are in a similar situation, some even worse.
My DD is at UEA - absolutely loves it there.
The RAAC situation is unfortunate - I don't know what the latest news on the Ziggs is. I know they managed to re-house all students last year when it was discovered about 2 weeks before term started. They generally have plenty of accommodation. Historically they have offered 2/3 year students campus accommodation so I can see that being reduced this year.
There are plenty of (relatively cheap) private houses for student shares in Norwich.

I think many (most) universities are having financial issues at the moment and many have buildings with RAAC issues.

As I understand it, UEA found rooms for the displaced students without too much delay. UEA has enough accommodation to go around, which in these times is not a given.

Regarding the financial difficulties, this is almost universal in higher education at the moment. I would imagine that Computer Science is less vulnerable than some arts / humanities subjects.

DS is in his second year at UEA and would choose it again.

Many thanks, we were certainly very impressed by the CS department, Im just a little cautious re the financial situation . My Son is trying to decide if York or UEA, he has predicted grades for York but is airing on the side of UEA as his firm choice rather than as insurance, he preferred the course content and the tutor that did the talk on the open day.

I think @Tumbleton is right in that cuts (if any) will be on the arts/humanities side.
They are actually investigating in a brand new building as part of the school of medicine - about to begin construction. So some areas definitely not affected. I think computing would be up there too.

Happy to answer any more general questions if I can. As I said my DD loves it there.

Around 80% of the compulsory redundancies (after rounds of voluntary severance and voluntary redundancy) were humanities. They are advertising constantly for new staff so I'm not convinced it's as bad as they said.

(I was staff, I jumped last year when all this began and was so up in the air, but I may yet return!)

Sorry - just been submitted for planning permission - not set to build just yet

https://www.uea.ac.uk/about/news/article/plans-submitted-for-a-new-high-tech-anatomy-centre-at-uea

@CocoPlum from what my DD tells me everyone returns eventually - staff and students alike! Sounds a bit like the Hotel California to me 😁

I think it's due to them being such a huge employer in an area of the country where people tend to stick around!

@jld45 Years ago I had to make the same choice between those two universities and I went to York, for the course. But I've met many people since who went to UEA around the same time, who I think in retrospect were probably much more my kind of people - fewer Oxbridge rejects and just more fun and creative generally.

My relative recently finished their CompSci degree at UEA. They absolutely loved it there - great teaching, great time etc. A really heavy focus on practical work which was great. They did do a LOT of group projects though so it was important to pair up with some competent people so you didn't end up carrying anyone.

Also worth checking the module ordering - some modules are designated as being able to be done in more than one year but actually build on each other. My relative had a nightmarishly hard module one year and then the next year an incredibly easy one that was the foundation in practice though not in name for the previous year's module. They were a last-minute.com type person though so it's entirely possible they could have found that out if they had read everything properly.

I can't comment on the financial situation though. RAAC is a concern but shutting the Zigs is a pretty major step so they are clearly at least taking it seriously.

My DD has applied for CS bit deferred entry for 2025. We're within an hour's travel of the uni and that has influenced her decision to apply - but regardless of that, I was very impressed by the uni and the CS presentation and the whole uni is very appealing. I also just hear great things about it - students seem happy there, and I rhi k it would suit DD well.

Thanks for the comments, we do have concerns about the type of people he will be with. My son is exceptionally capable, at A level he had a place at what is deemed the ‘top tier’ College, vast majority of students heading for Oxbridge, but decided on a middle tier, for that very reason - also he has discounted Exeter because of the number of Oxbridge rejected applicants that he felt would go there! I have to be honest out of all the visits the department talk at UEA was the best, the staff were very passionate, it is just the financial situation that is a slight worry.

I think you'll find a wide range of types and abilities there. DD is on an arts course, having got 3xA*s at a level. She has made friends through her course, halls and the clubs she has joined. There is a huge range of sports and other societies available which all seem very active so most seem to find their tribe somehow.

Is your ds thinking of doing a 3rd year work placement? During the talk we were at the lecturer said about 30 students choose/ get a placement but this that did sounded impressive. If your ds is a high flier, that is where he could especially shine and it will set him up for graduation, regardless of who his fellow students are.

@jld45
Its interesting you mention Exeter, as there was a thread recently about someone's DD who went to Exeter this year and hated it because she found the other students very traditional and conventional while she is LGBQT and has pink (or blue, can't remember) hair etc. I think she ended up transferring to UEA which had been her insurance choice anyway. Not sure what subject course though.

Hi, yes he has applied for the 4 year course, with a year in industry placement. We live close to Cambridge, he did a work placement this year at a tech company and is hoping to do his year in industry there - and live back at home, this would work really well for him.

I am important enough that the CS HoD at UEA tends to actually answer my emails...

I perceive that the new UEA VC (DM) is very on the ball, he's coming across well to me, wrt getting the Uni back on better financial footing. There is a clear strategy now that seems like it really can succeed & the fin. crisis will abate. Lots of cost-cutting & income-boosting strategies (that don't involve redundancies). I wasn't aware of any compulsory redundancies, but we all know lots of the voluntary ones. My prediction is that this year's recruitment focus will be on boosting Science school intake (for 2024). FMH recruitment is always high & last year's focus was on Business, Economics & one other dept... Psych?

I don't have insider knowledge on the Zigg RAAC but I am pretty sure that Estates are acting (in the closure) out of huge caution not any knowledge that the problem is unmanageable & unfixable. Also, the work to redo the LASDun is supposed to have gone back out to tender, so Estates may be waiting for any tied bids to Lasdun rennovations, before acting on the RAAC.

My DD went to UEA for undergrad and just finished her Masters there.
Very capable student and was so impressed at the offer holders day-at the end of the lecture I wanted to go-so interesting and everyone very passionate about their subject.

Loved it. Lecturers fantastic-very supportive with lots of time for students.
Highly recommend.

Norwich a great city-she is still there!

Did your daughter decide yet? Mine is choosing between UEA and Kent for sep 2024

My DS has put UEA as firm choice. He went to the offer holders day and loved it, he said he got a better feeling for it than he did at York, it just felt a bit more ‘him’. He has therefore put Kent as his insurance choice, as he needed somewhere with lower grade requirements than UEA for his insurance

Oh that's great to know! Dd went to the applicant day at UEA too and is going to Kent this weekend. I think she will end up with the same choices. I certainly felt very excited for her after that visit.

Another reason to choose UEA - meet Sylvester, Cat around campus. Although on this occasion (a rather damp Mother's Day afternoon) spotted over the way on Friends Road.

Obviously, this won't make much of an impression on the ailurophobics out there...

jld45 We were at the CS offer holders day recently and we were very impressed with the university and in particular the department. It was very well put together we were left with a great feeling about the staff and department.

We've another offer holders day to do before decisions are made by DD but she's applied for deferred entry anyway.

After visiting DH and I said we'd give up our jobs and we'd go to UEA to study again and she can get a job and support us 😁

There is something about Norwich and Norfolk that draws a lot of the graduates back.

My DS has just firmed UEA for CS as well. Like others he really enjoyed the offer holder day and felt very at home on campus.
I’m really hoping it works well for him.