Birmingham, Leeds or Nottingham for maths

[Joltek]

My daughter is struggling deciding where to firm. She was set on Birmingham but had a great offer day at Leeds which has confused things. Her Nottingham offer day isn’t till the middle of April. Everyone we speak to who has been to Leeds seems to love it but we haven’t come across anyone who’s been to Nottingham or Birmingham other than to tell us the cities themselves are a bit rough. Any opinions to add to our melting pot would be gratefully received.

I don’t think Birmingham or Nottingham are any rougher than Leeds tbh; all big cities with potential issues and rougher areas.

Nottingham is maybe suffering a bad rep bc of the horrific attacks there. But it’s a great uni and a vibrant student-oriented city. As is Leeds obvs.

Friends of my dc have gone to Brum and enjoyed it. Obvs it’s a very big city with the cultural offer that entails - hosting the Commonwealth games gave it a big boost (and the athletics stadium is set to host some big events if that’s your thing). It’s a very strong uni for sport too, again if that’s your thing.

They are all great places to be a student tbh. Does looking at detail of course modules help at all? Is transport to one easier?

Birmingham maths department came across as lovely and nurturing to me on their Offer Holder day. For example, they had 2nd year student 'parents' like at Oxbridge and lots of maths department events to try and help the (traditionally introverted!) maths students to integrate.

Nottingham! DS studied another quant subject there but said the maths building was very nice and they had a photo of Ramanjuan.

My dd is third year at Nottingham, but not Maths, and has enjoyed it. I don't think you'll really get any more clarity though, because you'll find most students are happy at these three universities.

Nottingham and Birmingham are more similar to each other, being big leafy campuses a couple of miles out from the city centre. I work at Birmingham and one benefit there is that most second/third year students live in Selly Oak, which is right next to campus, whereas in Nottingham they live in Lenton (although some do live in Beeston) which is a bit of a walk (maybe 40 minutes) or bus ride - unless Maths is at Jubilee campus which is nearer? But I'm not sure these differences are significant enough to be deciding factors. I'd go on course, and travel distance from home.

DD is in her final year at Birmingham (not maths) and has really loved it.
She lives in an all-girls house in Selly Oak and goes out a lot but has never had any issues with safety/feeling unsafe at all.

DD is at Nottingham and loves it.
Its a great city and The Campus is lovely
The City can be a bit rough around the edges like all big cities but as long as you keep your wits about you its ok
I know Leeds very well and its a great city too but we live too close for DD to go to Uni there and not live at home really

I think of those three, Leeds is the best city. (I went to Leeds too, but know Nottingham well).

B’ham is really coming on in Maths. B’ham Maths is currently the strongest of the three Schools of Maths in terms of both the student focused league tables such ad the Complete University Guide and the most recent national research assessment (REF 2021-22). And IMO B’ham has the nicest campus.

Having said that, Leeds is possibly the best city for students with the campus essentially in the city centre. And truthfully, there isn’t that much daylight between the Maths programmes at the three universities; they are all very good. I think your DD should go to the place she likes best.

Nottingham is where they film Numberphile I believe.

I’m not sure about maths specifically but dd is at Nottingham and I’d highly recommend going to the offer holder day or even just going and having a walk round the campus if you don’t want to wait till the offer holder day.
All three unis your dd is considering have a strong academic reputation.
Leeds is close to the city centre and my dd liked the shops there. However we found the campus quite built up and lacking in green space. Dd was not that keen on the accommodation she saw there as she was quite particular about wanting self catering ensuite. Obviously these things might not be an issue for your dd. I know of students there who are very happy.
Birmingham is supposed to have a lovely campus but we were not keen on dd being in such a big city even though the uni is at the edge of it.
The campus at Nottingham is beautiful and accommodation is plentiful for first and subsequent years. Most of the university park accommodation is catered but there are very good self catered halls near Jubilee campus and people walk or take the Hoppa bus between the two.
There are trams and buses to the city centre. Coming back late at night dd uses Ubers which are cheap in Nottingham if a few friends share one. The city centre is not pretty picture postcard but it has a good range of shops and the fact it isn’t a tourist city makes it more affordable for students all round.
overall we have found it a friendly uni and city. There are also conference hotels on the uni of Nottingham campus with good rates for parents for B&B. There are nice places to go when visiting such as Wollaton Park near the university.

DS is currently at Birmingham (not maths) and loves it. His cousin was a maths student there a few years before him - she loved it so much she stayed on to do her masters. I always think Birmingham is the best of all worlds - glorious campus with a big city on the doorstep with all the benefits that confers (and a train station on campus which makes getting around easy). Some students stray no further and it helps (as a PP pointed out) that when you move out of halls most students live in Selly Oak which is essentially a campus extension, indeed my DS is now closer to his gym, lectures and the library than he was when he lived on campus his first year.