Which universities have a more quirky/alternative student body?

[cheeseclothshirt]

DS is in Y12 and considering either Music or Geography. We are hitting the Open Days soon and as well as thinking about reputation for subjects, I'm also thinking about where he is most likely to find like-minded people. DS is quite quirky, practical and creative and generally drawn to similar types. Not a huge party person, likes doing outdoors stuff. He really likes Falmouth for its mix of creative/outdoorsy.

I work at one of Durham/York/Bristol/Exeter and I know that DS would not feel at home in our student body (delightful as they are and much as I enjoy teaching them!). I gather Nottingham has a similar demographic and I imagine Warwick too?

London is probably out due to cost/size.

Anywhere we should be adding to our list? We are already visiting Falmouth, Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham, Huddersfield. I am wondering about Lampeter?

My Autistic DS went to Lancaster and loved it.

@waltzingparrot Weird and wonderful sounds....wonderful! Thanks for the recommendation, I hadn't come across UCA.

@Monket That's definitely in the mix - as I'm in the sector myself I'm luckily fairly well placed to find out that sort of information. And as somebody who teaches in a very well-regarded RG institution, I also know that it's not the be-all and end-all and that there's a chemistry to doing the right degree in the right place that really helps students blossom and thrive.

Lampeter used to have that exact vibe you were looking forward. Unfortunately they’re ending undergraduate courses there. End of an era.

Also, people tend to find people similar to themselves, so a quirky person is likely to find other quirky people, so any larger university may suffice.

@gundogday I actually had a very quirky friend who went to Lampeter - that's probably why I mistyped! Sad to hear that they are no longer teaching there, there are not enough small quirky institutions in my view (I teach at a very big and unquirky one).

When did they study there?

Also had a renown geography department back in the 80s/90s.

I went to Sussex and really liked it. All sorts of people there and I found the course way more interesting than other unis I looked at.

Falmouth is very cool, great music scene.

@Gundogday Oh it must have been back in the 80s/early 90s!

I would suggest Sussex. It does have an alternative vibe and is positioned on the outskirts of town, literally on the South Downs. Brighton itself has a good music scene and a lot to offer young people. It also has a very good reputation in development and sustainability.

I went to both Lancaster and York. They are very similar in terms of demographic and vibe

I have a very quirky Nephew who found his tribe, did music at Leeds.

USW in Cardiff might hit the spot if he wants to do something music tech related.

Maybe Bristol?

My son studied environmental geography at Lancaster ,he really enjoyed it there plus having the Lakes on his doorstep. He is very ‘quirky,deep,intelligent,possibly ASD and he really found his tribe there.
Cannot recommend Lancaster enough,brilliant Campus,liked the college system and the accommodation on campus really lovely.
Edit to say he is a consultant ecologist now ,Lancaster very high rankings for Geography based degrees.

Yeah,not cool and certainly not in the spirit of Brighton! Brighton as a place though overall would be great for the OP’s dc.

I think Durham/Bristol etc might have a high proportion of 'Oxbridge rejects' i.e. ex-public or independent school pupils who didn't quite make it to Oxford or Cambridge and went for the next tier down.
So possibly rather less homogenous than say Lancaster, Sussex or York.
(DH, ex state school, went to Durham and found quite a lot of Hooray Henrys and Henriettas there, became friendly with quite a few but sadly dropped rugby as he felt he didn't fit in with the rugger-buggers.)
I only mention it because i think some places might indeed be rather like the OP has said, although I'm surprised York was on her list.
Has your DS considered any of the London colleges that make up the university, OP? They might be more culturally and ethnically diverse.

Sorry, I now see you have discounted London.

@DustyMaiden
Agree Lancaster is excellent for those who are “quirky”
Our autistic daughter absolutely loved it there. They have lots of societies e.g. Who Soc and Potter Soc.
Collegiate system is great and the campus is safe. There’s a large sports centre.
Friendly community and really good reputation.
Not far to the coast and the lakes for outdoor pursuits.

Warwick has lots of outdoor type societies. Huge sports hall on campus with giant climbing wall. He can always set up a society or social group if there isn't one niche enough for him. Sheffield is probably good as it's very close to Derbyshire Peaks

I also recommend Sheffield - it's a wonderful vibrant creative city and the university reflects this. There's a thriving music scene with some excellent venues and it's definitely very quirky and alternative. Also as someone already mentioned, the Peak District is fantastic for walking, hiking, cycling. Sheffield is also reasonably close to Manchester so you're spoilt for choice when it comes to live music. My friend took her also very quirky and alternative DS to an open day at Leeds to check out the music department and they both strongly disliked it, found it very elitist and homogenous and she is someone who's judgement I trust implicitly. They also went to an open day at Sheffield and both loved for all the reasons I initially mentioned. Liverpool has a few options to consider and Manchester would be worth looking into but Sheffield would be my top recommendation!

Glasgow

DD is at Aberystwyth and seems very happy. She's a bit of a loner but has made plenty of friends.

The town itself has a very distinct vibe - it feels to me likeca hippy and prosperous version of a Northern town.

Doesn't have a music course though.

In which case I’d say York would be an excellent fit for music (and the ND, gender non-conforming bit).
The ‘likes doing things, rather than analysing them’ is the bit you need to consider if he goes to a more academic Russell Group Uni like the ones you mention.
I’d really drill down into the course models at different unis to find out how they are assessed - is it all exams, or is it 50% coursework assessment etc.

DS2 (also ND) did a creative humanities subject at one of your four but chose the course on a combination of reputation of uni for subject and also the course structure.

I’m a Southampton graduate and still here a couple of decades later. I’d say the student population has always been very diverse and may well be a good fit. Also an easy train ride out to the New Forest

Or if your son is so inclined, an easy cycle - I pop out to Lyndhurst as a short ride for coffee most weeks