Nottingham University - what is going on with the League tables?

[BobtheFrog]

Like a few others in this forum, my young adult has just finished their Year 13 mocks and didn't get the grades they had hoped for. Firm and Insurance choices remain unchanged but we have been considering some more modest alternatives

• digging around was surprised with Nottingham data, it had the biggest drop in applications in 2024 of any uni (-3600) is sitting around 60 with the Guardian and even #30ish with CUG and Times. Not long ago I would have expected mid 20s

Anyone know what's going on?

Same here - three trains and a bus from where we live.

Yes, journey is definitely worth considering. My dd was very independent when she went off to uni, and we didn’t worry too much about distance. However she ended up about an hour and a quarter away and it’s been so handy - when she had glandular fever and tonsillitis for example, and when she’s just needed some downtime away from socialising. Ds is also very independent but I’m going to encourage him to think carefully about distance.

Mine didn't want to be any further than 2 / 2 and a half hours away by train, and it had to be direct train route because it's an absolute pain having to change 2 or 3 times, especially with how late/unreliable trains always are.

especially with how late/unreliable trains always are.

I hear you. Hourly trains here (Northern Rail, when they aren't cancelled or on strike) then Trans Pennine Express (when they aren't cancelled).

I think Open Days can be illuminating, making generalisations about them all isn't terribly helpful. It isn't always true that all the info can be found on line - one we took DS too, he said about 5 minutes into the talk 'we might as well go, this course isn't what I want at all', even though on paper it was exactly the same course as he applied for everywhere else. The devil was in the details. Another time the talk was given by the course leader and it was so dreadful that his reaction was that if that is an indication of the level of enthusiasm and organisation in this person's department, then no thanks.

Contrary to some PPs, I actually believe that 'feel' is an important factor too. After all, 3 years is a decent length of time to spend somewhere, you want it to be a place you like! So it's a perfectly valid criterion to employ imo.

Yup, that's ds's journey from Stoke to Leeds!

Yup, that's ds's journey from Stoke to Leeds!

Yep we're midlands up to York. Trains consistently late, cancelled or striking, and rammed so full when they do arrive you can barely get in the door. Ridiculous.

Just remember that London to Nottingham is East Midlands Railway - I have not yet had a journey that hasn't had a problem somewhere.....

He was working in York over Christmas. He was supposed to get to Leeds by 8.30pm one night from York and ended up in Sheffield at 10.30pm with the choice of getting a hotel or waiting for a coach.

The service to Nottingham seems to be terrible no matter where your journey starts. The station is awful too.

I suspect that EMR are prioritising the rote between London and Sheffield. They have increased the service from hourly to half hourly, and they are always full.

If you look at the photos from the main UoN night out "crisis" so so many of the girls have their knickers out! Like purposely showing over their trousers.

A bit late to the thread but DS loves Nottingham uni. He had a tough first year and eventually found all the support he needed. If he hadn't been in catered halls, he probably wouldn't have eaten. He's currently on a year abroad but was back in Nottingham seeing friends this weekend. His only negative comment was about the public transport not being as good as his current city. When he first went there he thought the transport was amazing (coming from a village with a couple of buses a day to nowhere he wanted to go). He's never had a problem getting to Nottingham by train or coach - we're about 90 minutes away - and used the trams when he lived on campus but buses when he was in Lenton.
I didn't think the open day/offer days were very good but DS only wanted to go to Nottingham and the campus sells itself. His subject has always been highly regarded but had dropped down the rankings in recent years. It has now bounced back to top 10.
As a contrast DD is at a uni which is a long 6+ hour train or coach ride to get to and she had pretty much ruled out. She then received a personalised letter from the Head of Department inviting her to the offer day. The offer day was fantastic, for students and parents, and very much a representation of the course and uni life. She hates the journey and doesn't come home during term time but is happy with her choice.

In many cities the very bad areas are easy to avoid in Nottingham stuff spills over boundaries. Just yesterday someone got stabbed inside Primark near Market Square. May turn out be a gang incident, no idea as yet.

I don't understand the relevance of this point?

So what?

He was working in York over Christmas. He was supposed to get to Leeds by 8.30pm one night from York and ended up in Sheffield at 10.30pm with the choice of getting a hotel or waiting for a coach.

Blimey. Would have been quicker to walk 🙄

Ah this reminds me of the good old 90s when we all wore our jewelled G strings showing over our hipster jeans 😆

Sad to see young women still being judged for how they dress.

Like superman or thongs showing, early 00s style? If the latter it's Y2K fashion, back in. I used to do the same at the time. Won't be bothering this time around.

Sorry what’s this about Nottingham night out crisis ? Have I missed something ?

I don't think that Nottingham has invented that trend.

I assume PP is referring to this:

https://crisisnottingham.com

Oh thanks for explaining I thought maybe there had been a spree of sexual assaults or something

A student died on the campus yesterday when 2 bikes collided, that’s not just an issue with Nottingham it’s an issue with E bikes , very sad obviously.