Sheffield or Glasgow for politics and IR?

[Smartysmitty]

DS can't decide between the two, any views would be welcome! He has unconditional offers from both (grades in hand) and dismissed other options that are at a campus university. He started at another uni last autumn but dropped out at Christmas and wants to get it right this time.

Forgot to say - because of the location of the uni it never felt like a city. I lived in Broomhill all 3 years so lots of little shops, cafes etc. Sheffield has a high number of students who choose to settle there afterwards too

Glasgow is a marvellous option- I've encouraged both of my two to accept their offers from there (what do I know, I'm only their mum 🙄). The major down side that put DD off is how hard it is to get accommodation. Changes to Scottish laws around privately rented accommodation have put a lot of people off being landlords. It's had a big knock on effect for students.

I'm going to sound really Mumsnet here but The Guardian rankings are a bit odd.

On the CUG, Glasgow is 14th and Sheffield 24th . It's a bit more 'robust'

I'll be right back with The Times rankings.

I would say both unis have a good social science reputation.

The Times has Glasgow 9= and Sheffield 14th but very little between the overall scores.

I don't want to pry but you obviously will have had a very unhappy DS last year at Southampton and probably needed to give him lots of TLC. I am not saying the same will happen again but you and he obviously want to get it right. I think distance could be a bigger factor than it might be for some with thta in mind.

Glasgow (uni) is VERY big and sprawling in terms of the city and the accommodation locations. Sheffield is far more compact. I felt the staff were really approachable and it has an excellent NSS rating and it seemed to me really good union support and pastoral care. It really stood out from the 10 or so unis I visited for its friendliness of academic staff (along with Hull and Aberystwyth as it goes!).

The Guardian is a very odd league table and has some rogue rankings. I’m sure you probably know Glasgow is not really ranked second for IR. The CUG puts it at 14. Sheffield 24. That’s more realistic. Plus what job does he want? Many of these students don’t get jobs influencing anything to do with IR. Most don’t have MFL skills or join the FO or negotiate on treaties and trade. Lots do work for NGOs and of course get jobs but often the minutae of what you have studied at undergrad is irrelevant. However study what is of most interest and DS will do well in.

He goes where he’ll be happiest

@TizerorFizz I’m sure you probably know Glasgow is not really ranked second for IR.
Nope, I don't know this, I don't know much about the different university rankings, I think a lot of people don't

@Piggywaspushed I do think students should ignore who else is at a uni regarding tribe but this is politics. You won’t find much conservative politics in Sheffield. Nor Glasgow one assumes. So political life there, if you want to get involved and you are not lab or SN, could be a challenge. If both unis heve Con societies, I’ll apologise now. As cities they clearly lean one way. In Sheffield I would suggest conservative students studying politics would be fairly difficult to find. Momrntum was very big in Sheffield. That is a fact.

Thank you, these are good points

So where do Tory politics students go? Assuming there is such a thing...

When you do a politics degree you literally sit in lectures and tutorials like all other subjects. You meet friends from that course and others and find your tribe.

I can't think of a single university that doesn't have a society for all the main parties. The LibDems are probably mud in Sheffield because of Nick Clegg. The other famous Sheffield MP was Blunkett who is hardly Tony Benn or Derek Hatton.

I studied at Sheffield and there is a high student retention after. Great if you like outdoors, it’s one of the greenest cities in the UK. Great independent bars and food. I loved my time there and 10 years later still living there. Personally I would get him to spend time in the city, yes the course is important but if they are fairly level then get him to spend some time a weekend or something exploring each one

Oxford and they do PPE

Oh yes,obviously!

What if they aren't 'clever' enough?

My DS told me Tories do history and history and economics is where you find the Tory academics.

When I went to Sheffield the union was voted no.1 by various surveys! And I can see why - it was absolutely amazing. I had such a great time there

I’m from Glasgow and I think it’s probably a better city but I’m glad I went to uni in Sheffield.

Glasgow uni is great though. Many of my friends and siblings went there and loved it. The campus is absolutely gorgeous.

Tough choice!

I agree @Piggywaspushed the Sheffield campus seems more compact and the general friendly homely feel of the university is quite good for the kind of people who might feel homesick or intimidated being in a new place.

Glasgow does have a Tory party society along with the other mainstream political parties

@Smartysmitty I think most people who are looking at university recognise Oxbridge, LSE and a few others as elite. I assume you have heard of them, They occupy the top slots in most league tables. Therefore when the Guardian suggests Glasgow is no 2, most people would be a bit ? So I’m just suggesting look at more info about ranking. There’s nothing to separate the two DS likes but they are not really top 10.

‘I assume you have heard of them’
How patronising

Glasgow is currently No 2 in Scotland this year, after St Andrews.

@Bluepetergarden Tongue om cheek. I think the is being economical with the truth. Yes. Second in Scotland. Does the Guardian rank just Scotland?

Jeez I googled it and the Guardian does indeed list Glasgow at number two in the UK for International Relations. But it didn't even make the top 20 in its 2023 league table.
League tables can be useful but they can be odd. For example the Complete University Guide ranks Oxford as number two for Sociology and it doesn't even offer it as a degree!

He got voted out. We now have Olivia Blake (Lab) who is amazing.

It does in combination with other subjects in one of its degrees. But I agree it does seem strange to include it.