Loughborough or Oxford Brookes for Graphic design (or other)

Ackie · 2025-05-02T09:42:29+00:00

My daughter received the bad news today that she hasn't been accepted from her first choice Uni for Graphic Design = Edinburgh. She holds offers from LBO, OxB, Bristol and Man Met. She doesnt want to go to any of them. She is distraught and not willing to discuss it. WE know LBO is the "best course" after Tees (more illustration) but she know LBO as her brother is there and doesn't want to do Nottingham has a student town as LBO town is a "sh%* hole". She doesn't like the Bristol course so at this stage Man Met is the next best she thinks. However, I think OxB would suit her but reluctant because of that "reputation": those who wanted to go to Oxbridge/Exeter/Dur etc but not bright enough...dont shoot me...that's what she feels, with her cousins been/at DUR she got the story from there and some of their friends from boarding school went to OxB for that very reason. My daughter state educated, struggled with lockdown and wanted a more collegiate feel to uni hence Edin. Then again Man Met will be massive..... Anybody has direct experience of either or both? thanks

AFrolicOfMyOwn · 02/05/2025 10:55

Okay, I know nothing about either the course or OB’s ranking for it - but OB as a place to spend three years could be absolutely magical. I live in Oxford and have many occasions to stroll through their glorious new accommodation and study areas in the middle of woodland close to the centre of town. I’ve been involved with a few unis in my time, including both Oxford and Cambridge, and in terms of environment I’d honestly be delighted to find myself studying at OB. And Oxford as a city would surely appeal to someone who wanted Edinburgh?

clary · 02/05/2025 11:38

I would say Lboro but then I would haha.

My DS is there and it’s great. A very highly rated uni, only Bristol on your list is higher rated in general (fwiw; I am not a fan of uni ratings) and for GD Lboro is well known.

Otoh if she is not keen on the place then it’s a long three years.

Manchester is a great place to be a student and Man Met is a good uni. Tbh I think all four choices are pretty good. Tho if she has that view about OB (my dd calls it Oxford {cough} Brookes so I do see what she means) then she should maybe avoid that one too.

Puzzled as to why she applied to Lboro if she knew she hated it?

If she really "doesn't want to go to any of them" then maybe she should take a gap year and reapply? There must be some other possibilities that would hit? Otoh if she is just disappointed re Edinburgh (I see that) and "don't like any of the others" is a reaction to that, she should maybe have a think and take a bit of time (not that there is much!). Can you visit any this weekend?

AreYouShittingMe · 02/05/2025 11:55

OB is struggling financially at the moment- lots of cuts going on. I know the whole area of HE is struggling financially but from what I’ve heard/ read OB are in a worst position than others. Not saying DD shouldn’t go there, but just she should maybe look into it a bit more, especially given what’s happened to the course she really wanted to do.

Original poster

Ackie · 02/05/2025 12:05

AFrolicOfMyOwn · 02/05/2025 10:55

Okay, I know nothing about either the course or OB’s ranking for it - but OB as a place to spend three years could be absolutely magical. I live in Oxford and have many occasions to stroll through their glorious new accommodation and study areas in the middle of woodland close to the centre of town. I’ve been involved with a few unis in my time, including both Oxford and Cambridge, and in terms of environment I’d honestly be delighted to find myself studying at OB. And Oxford as a city would surely appeal to someone who wanted Edinburgh?

thanks for the feedback....I know it would

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CraftyNavySeal · 02/05/2025 12:05

If she doesn’t want to go to Loughborough I would pick Manchester.

With courses like Graphic Design it’s vital to get experience during your degree and Manchester will have more opportunities for that.

If she is really unsure I would take a year out though, studying graphic design in 2025 is questionable. Current designers are struggling to keep their job god only knows what it will be like for juniors in 3 years time.

Original poster

Ackie · 02/05/2025 12:07

AreYouShittingMe · 02/05/2025 11:55

OB is struggling financially at the moment- lots of cuts going on. I know the whole area of HE is struggling financially but from what I’ve heard/ read OB are in a worst position than others. Not saying DD shouldn’t go there, but just she should maybe look into it a bit more, especially given what’s happened to the course she really wanted to do.

Interesting to know, another bit to add into the equation. Thanks

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2025ishere · 02/05/2025 12:12

Nottingham Trent and Kingston are alternatives

Original poster

Ackie · 02/05/2025 12:18

CraftyNavySeal · 02/05/2025 12:05

If she doesn’t want to go to Loughborough I would pick Manchester.

With courses like Graphic Design it’s vital to get experience during your degree and Manchester will have more opportunities for that.

If she is really unsure I would take a year out though, studying graphic design in 2025 is questionable. Current designers are struggling to keep their job god only knows what it will be like for juniors in 3 years time.

I guess that is because of AI? Could you point to some back up to that? Worth thinking about that too.

She was thinking about a year skiing anyway so perhaps this will decide it. She knows LBO is up there re the course after the Tees more illustration course...
We know MCR well as I did my masters there and we are both northerners and so it is strange she likes MCR but doesnt want to go to Nott - I think its more to do with she know loads of people from home that go to Notts.

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Original poster

Ackie · 02/05/2025 12:22

clary · 02/05/2025 11:38

I would say Lboro but then I would haha.

My DS is there and it’s great. A very highly rated uni, only Bristol on your list is higher rated in general (fwiw; I am not a fan of uni ratings) and for GD Lboro is well known.

Otoh if she is not keen on the place then it’s a long three years.

Manchester is a great place to be a student and Man Met is a good uni. Tbh I think all four choices are pretty good. Tho if she has that view about OB (my dd calls it Oxford {cough} Brookes so I do see what she means) then she should maybe avoid that one too.

Puzzled as to why she applied to Lboro if she knew she hated it?

If she really "doesn't want to go to any of them" then maybe she should take a gap year and reapply? There must be some other possibilities that would hit? Otoh if she is just disappointed re Edinburgh (I see that) and "don't like any of the others" is a reaction to that, she should maybe have a think and take a bit of time (not that there is much!). Can you visit any this weekend?

Edited

Thanks for the ideas - course or the place dilemma, Edin for her seemed to tick both. Bristol not so much for GD but she liked the place, but not the course. I think time out and or clearing maybe the options....she's not wanting to talk about it right now, she is so cut up

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CraftyNavySeal · 02/05/2025 12:33

Ackie · 02/05/2025 12:18

I guess that is because of AI? Could you point to some back up to that? Worth thinking about that too.

She was thinking about a year skiing anyway so perhaps this will decide it. She knows LBO is up there re the course after the Tees more illustration course...
We know MCR well as I did my masters there and we are both northerners and so it is strange she likes MCR but doesnt want to go to Nott - I think its more to do with she know loads of people from home that go to Notts.

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I’m a software engineer who has worked with designers for 10 years. 10 years ago it was hard to get a junior job as a designer, I can’t even imagine what it’s like now.

Some of its AI, also the industry has changed. Graphic design for print no longer exists, graphic design for web is vanishing because everything now looks the same.

I’m worried about my own job existing in 5 years time tbh. If I was an 18 year old now I would be looking at something like nursing because at least it’s fairly AI proof

Apollinare · 02/05/2025 12:37

Liverpool John moores.. graphic design in the top 10 in the country. No staff cuts, no strikes and it's Liverpool!

AmusedGoose · 02/05/2025 12:39

Loughborough is a lovely campus university. Hard to get work in graphic design and it's not that well paid. My son went to Warwick and has told me that the 'lesser' universities tend to get better teaching as those attracted to the RG, red brick are there for prestige and to do research so she may want to rethink her snobbery. She's upset atm. She might change her mind as time goes on and accept an alternative more gracefully. Edinburgh was DD second choice and frankly I found it very middle class.

clary · 02/05/2025 12:49

AI is a threat to lots of jobs but Yy to GD for sure @Ackie

I work in a creative workplace and ppl are very worried. If she wants to be a graphic designer she needs to be aware of the issue. Lots online about it.

Original poster

Ackie · 02/05/2025 14:37

Apollinare · 02/05/2025 12:37

Liverpool John moores.. graphic design in the top 10 in the country. No staff cuts, no strikes and it's Liverpool!

and me and me Julie went to the Liverpool uni!
We tried, we did try....

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Original poster

Ackie · 02/05/2025 14:39

clary · 02/05/2025 12:49

AI is a threat to lots of jobs but Yy to GD for sure @Ackie

I work in a creative workplace and ppl are very worried. If she wants to be a graphic designer she needs to be aware of the issue. Lots online about it.

It is a challenge for the poor mites. Our friend on the street has his own design agency and he is less worried about AI and in no way has he drawn in a sharp breath, but what you say is true too...its so hard

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Original poster

Ackie · 02/05/2025 14:41

AmusedGoose · 02/05/2025 12:39

Loughborough is a lovely campus university. Hard to get work in graphic design and it's not that well paid. My son went to Warwick and has told me that the 'lesser' universities tend to get better teaching as those attracted to the RG, red brick are there for prestige and to do research so she may want to rethink her snobbery. She's upset atm. She might change her mind as time goes on and accept an alternative more gracefully. Edinburgh was DD second choice and frankly I found it very middle class.

I think she like the scale of Edin. Came back from college and still not wanting to talk about it.

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AFrolicOfMyOwn · 02/05/2025 15:01

Has she visited all the places she’s received offers from?

Original poster

Ackie · 02/05/2025 15:55

AFrolicOfMyOwn · 02/05/2025 15:01

Has she visited all the places she’s received offers from?

She knows LBO, brother there, Edin yes, Bristol yes, Manchester yes....OxB..no.

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mathanxiety · 02/05/2025 16:24

I would encourage her to take the gap year and reconsider GD altogether. It won't exist as an industry in five years' time.

She would be far better off doing a degree in something related to healthcare or exercise. Even a cert in personal training would be a better idea. Other areas to consider would art teaching, fashion buying...

almostbloody50 · 02/05/2025 16:33

As the owner of a global branding agency tell her to go where she loves.

Farnham is actually great and London central st martins if she’s deadly serious. But the key to my industry is to get the most work experience. We get students coming to us who can bind a book 🤣 we kind of need them to solve a clients brand issue in a day, she’s only going to get commercial from work experience be prepared to travel overseas and really stand out.

Tell her to embrace AI learn everything and be as commercial as she can be.

We don’t look at the unis as much as the experience and portfolio. Oh and people skills so work the jobs. languages are great Spanish for US brand work etc tell her to travel, work and enjoy her degree that will come across in heaps.

Also lots of jobs in the UK Bristol area btw it’s a buzzing design hub.

AFrolicOfMyOwn · 02/05/2025 16:34

I did wonder which aspect of Graphic Design she’s particularly drawn to - especially given the job prospects. If she has an independent interest in art there could hardly be a better place than Oxford to foster it. A lot of what happens at The Ruskin is open to everyone, not just Oxford Uni students. Breathtaking galleries in the city - and she’d be 50 minutes by train to London for even more.

Get her to come and see Oxford on a sunny day. She’ll never want to leave.

blueleavesgreensky · 02/05/2025 16:46

It’s a very specific creative course. Don’t let the traditional rankings and snobbery get to you. In the case of the course she’s looking at look for the course modules. Her future career will not come from the name on her resume but the content of her portfolio and the work experience she has.

Gundogday · 02/05/2025 16:58

I agree with pp, Oxford would be a lovely place to study, especially if they were planning on Edinburgh, another historical town.

Also know nothing about the courses.

mugglewump · 02/05/2025 17:12

Is she a country girl or a city type? L'boro = grey, concrete blocks outside a city, Man Met = buzzing, integrated city life.

The place where you study is as important as the course.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 02/05/2025 17:13

Gundogday · 02/05/2025 16:58

I agree with pp, Oxford would be a lovely place to study, especially if they were planning on Edinburgh, another historical town.

Also know nothing about the courses.

Oxford Brooke’s isn’t in Oxford, it’s in Headington, though of course you can go into Oxford on the bus ( until the City Council close the road). The campus in Harcourt Hill is closing unexpectedly ( money troubles). Oxford is expensive because of University, Headington is expensive because all the teaching hospitals are on that side of town.