Geography suggestions

28 replies

Suffolker · 06/01/2025 11:38

DD is keen to apply for geography and I’d be interested to hear about anyone’s recent experiences/recommendations.

We’ve already looked at Sheffield (which she liked a lot) and we’re also planning to visit York and Lancaster. She’s keen to go ‘north’ (but not Scotland) and doesn’t want to go to London. I think smaller cities would suit her best.

She’s also not much of a ‘party’ girl (at least, not yet😁) and seems to want to avoid cities/universities with a hardcore partying reputation. She has already discounted Leeds and Nottingham on this basis, but I’m not sure how accurate this is!

I would have thought Newcastle and Manchester are also quite big ‘party’ places, but I’m probably way out of date.

Grateful for any suggestions!

OP posts:

BarnacleB · 11/01/2025 23:46

Ladybrows · 09/01/2025 08:47

My DD is at Lancaster studying Geography. I would highly recommend for a number of reasons.

Lancaster runs a major/minor system (I think like US colleges), so that in the first year, everyone has to study a minor subject alongside their main degree subject. We didn't really understand this when she applied, but it's actually brilliant! You can choose from a whole range of minor subjects, and if you really enjoy it, you can continue it in years two and three as part of your degree and graduate with E.g. a Geography and Economics degree. Of course, you don't have to do this, you can just drop it after year one.

It has a collegiate system, which encourages bonding and socialisation between college groups. This has been so helpful to my DD, and allowed her to settle quickly.

Accomodation is plentiful and of a high quality, and the surrounding areas are beautiful.

It's not party central, but lots of socialising on campus, as each college has its own bar etc.

I could go on, but I would definitely recommend. It's not Russell Group, but Russell Group Plus (along with St Andrews, Bath and Loughborough). It seems to have its own unique approach and doesn't follow the herd. Top ten in Complete University Guide too. DD loves it.

My DD is also at Lancaster and is studying Human Geography, and in this first year is also doing Sociology and Politics. We live very close to you and although it is a bit of a trek to get her there, i am so pleased that she picked Lancaster, because so far she appears to be really enjoying it.

Xenia · 12/01/2025 13:50

Two of my lawyer children did geography - both did a BSc - one at Bristol which the person here will probably rule out as not in the North and the other at Nottingham University. I am from the NE so those of my children who rejected Durham offers for Bristol to firm up - that was fine but Durham is great (my father and uncle went there). My Bristol over Durham children chose it simply because of Bristol being closer to home than Durham. I would have been happy either way.

I went to Manchester for law as rejected by Bristol and Durham and even then it was a party place - and I was a classical choral church music singer (and I still managed to do loads of at Manchester but I suspect a different university might have been a better fit for me). I am from Newcastle - I agree that is quite a fun place too for night clubs etc (as is Bristol) but every university will have quiet and noisy students.
My advice is go to the hardest to get into university and look at linkedin profiles online of new graduates in the jobs where the student might want to get and see where the graduates went to university (given how much money will be spent on the degree)

Dobbyismyabsolutefav · 12/01/2025 20:28

My DD has just graduated with a BSc Geography with applied GIS at Exeter, which she loved. Her insurance was Sheffield and her other northern offers were Durham and Lancaster.

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