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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Anyone with a DC at Keele University

41 replies

Phonicfail · 23/05/2025 12:21

DC has put this as their firm choice. It looks like a great campus but a little small. Has anyone had a dc go there & how did they like it?

Thanks :)

OP posts:
Juja · 23/05/2025 18:10

A neighbour's daughter went and absolutely loved it - they left about 4 years ago. A cousin was a Professor there and did some amazing stuff.

Only good reports that I've heard - hope your DC has a great time.

Jayinthetub · 23/05/2025 18:13

I do sessional work there and it’s a lovely campus with some great teaching and good pastoral support. I also did a PG degree there and loved it. Nothing bad to say and I’m hoping my DD wants to go there too as I think she’d also love it!

L00pyLou · 23/05/2025 18:15

I went there :) actually biggest campus in the UK - loved it

Pleasenomoreglitter · 23/05/2025 18:22

Another who went themselves. Absolutely loved it, albeit quite some years ago now!

Catstare · 23/05/2025 20:46

My dc went there 5 years ago.
it is a very contained , friendly , safe and accessible campus .We were impressed.
Buses from campus to mainline Stoke train station were frequent.
Dc found that academic advisers and lecturers responded quickly to any query.
It didn’t work out for our dc (who has SEN) but that was no fault of Keele’s ( or dc obvs!) . They were very supportive and tried to put lots in place for them to continue. Really good pastoral support
I couldn’t fault the place tbh

Pieceofpurplesky · 23/05/2025 21:28

DS just finished his third year. He has loved it. It’s not a real party place but lots of nights start in halls before moving to SU. Pastorally has been great and he has loved the lectures - he got AAA* at A Level but chose Keele based on the lecture we went to on the open day!
what is she studying?

Alongthetowpath · 24/05/2025 09:37

This is interesting, my niece is considering Keele.
Hasn’t visited yet.
When she looked at the website of the SU, a lot of the societies seemed quite medic-oriented, and that did put her off a little. Is there a good social balance between medical school students and the rest?

L00pyLou · 24/05/2025 11:32

@Alongthetowpath the medical school is relatively new, while it's been there for years (and I believe is pretty state of the art - at least it was when I was a student), originally the degrees were awarded by Manchester University. I think Keele qualified to award the degrees in their name about 12-15years ago.

The university also has a large science park, some of the work there has been very high profile, so I imagine their strategy is to focus on their science/medical profile because I think this generates a lot of money.

When I was there, late noughties, there was very much a good balance between medical and non-medical students. Because almost every student read dual-honours there was a great balance between all subjects.

Student life has definitely changed since I was there, students don't drink as much as we did, but I believe Keele has the highest student bar ratio of all campuses so if a student wants the party lifestyle then they have the opportunity.

...I assume they still have the night bus for any students living off campus.

Pastoral care was great in my day, too, and the teaching standards of various subjects was on a par with Oxbridge (according to the published ratings assessments of the time)

Pieceofpurplesky · 24/05/2025 12:19

@Alongthetowpath DS has friends and has lived with medical students and non medical students, they all seem to get along. The medical students drink the most!
Lots of active societies, loads of sport, SU and the KPA (pub) on campus alongside a Greggs, couple of cafes, co-op. Often have craft markets etc.
Library is great and the church a beautiful space. The grounds are fantastic, DS loved walking through the woods.

Naifreak · 24/05/2025 15:02

My eldest is currently at keele uni and is loving it .. they have joined social clubs and have many friends .. they live on campus and love the independence they feel

Alongthetowpath · 24/05/2025 17:04

It sounds good! Will pass on to niece that it’s worth a second look.

L00pyLou · 24/05/2025 18:56

@Pieceofpurplesky do they still have summer raves in the woods?

Bunnymist · 24/05/2025 19:46

I went to Keele. They were excellent from start to finish. I was genuinely sad to leave.The campus is the largest uni campus in England or maybe even the UK. Great for walks. Staff were also fantastic.

Aolbob1 · 24/05/2025 20:59

Hiya, my youngest is just about to graduate from Keele, it's been a journey, our DC did not flourish in uni halls of residence, it appeared the intake administration did not look at what interests and try to match the occupants, so our DC struggled the 1st, they then moved into a student flat in Newcastle under Lyme and they have got on so much better there, but the staff have been supportive and guiding, do think the amount of tutor/lecture time is very low for the fee they are paying,

L00pyLou · 24/05/2025 23:24

@Aolbob1 I'm really sorry its been such a tough time for your child.
I've never heard of any university placing people in Halls interest though.
It took me a while to find my people at first too.

Duffybearblue · 24/05/2025 23:53

My son is there, he did his undergrad degree there and is now doing his masters. We only live 30 minutes away so he drives there, but many of his friends have stayed on campus or in Newcastle under Lyme. No complaints from anyone, the campus is lovely, it feels very safe.
The lecturers have been fantastic, always there when you need them. Keele is one of only 15 universities that have been awarded the Gold Standard in both teaching and research.
There are lots of sports societies to join. My son has really enjoyed his time there and he would definitely recommend Keele.

MarchingFrogs · 25/05/2025 01:48

I've never heard of any university placing people in Halls interest though.

I think a few ask questions like 'lark or owl?' / 'Do you want a quiet flat?' (and having answered Yes to that, more than a few - ?possibly ones pushed into it by parents with a horror of their PFB mixing with the sort of people who party - discover that to their flatmates it doesn't mean evenings sitting companionably round the kitchen table drinking cocoa and playing scrabble before turning in at 10pm, but rather almost never leaving their room and certainly not actually making conversation).

At least one of the universities with 'choose and book' accommodation invites students to include a short biography when booking, so others can see which flats might already have someone with similar interests, but I don't think the university gets involved in the 'matching' process.

L00pyLou · 25/05/2025 11:49

@MarchingFrogs at the risk of being accused by my fellow millennials of sounding like a "boomer" (awful term) I think being thrown in at the deep end in Halls and having to learn how to live with people you may or may not gel with is critically important.

Have I now reached the age where I think the younger generation is overly coddled? Shit.

Pieceofpurplesky · 25/05/2025 11:54

@L00pyLou they certainly have bbqs, picnics and gatherings in the woods - not sure about the raves any more. Anytime the weather is nice the grounds are full of happy students chilling on the grass!

TizerorFizz · 25/05/2025 12:46

What super fun? Like a boarding school for students. Seems a bit tame maybe?

Pastit12 · 25/05/2025 12:55

My eldest son went there and met my daughter in law who was also studying at Keele
He enjoyed as did she and I was impressed when I visited for his graduation .
He made a few nice friends and did well in his studies .
Also my GP at that time used to spend part of the summer at Keele for different seminars it used to be a Manor House with vast grounds I don’t know who but the family who originally lived there bequeathed as a university.
The best was he didn’t have to move away from the campus for accommodation
he had a room in the halls for the first year and shared a flat which was on the campus with 3 other boys for the last two years .This was the case with my daughter in law also I’m not sure what the situation is now.

MadameCholetsDirtySecret · 25/05/2025 12:59

It’s a great campus and university. I’m sure your DC will thrive there.

Phonicfail · 25/05/2025 14:44

Thanks everyone - it looks to be a very impressive campus and dc immediately got good vibes from it.

We were surprised that it seems quite far down the league tables (dc’s other offers were much further up the league table scale but after visiting Keele, feels it is the one for them so fingers crossed they are right! )

OP posts:
BakedBeansforabrain · 25/05/2025 14:53

Pastit12 · 25/05/2025 12:55

My eldest son went there and met my daughter in law who was also studying at Keele
He enjoyed as did she and I was impressed when I visited for his graduation .
He made a few nice friends and did well in his studies .
Also my GP at that time used to spend part of the summer at Keele for different seminars it used to be a Manor House with vast grounds I don’t know who but the family who originally lived there bequeathed as a university.
The best was he didn’t have to move away from the campus for accommodation
he had a room in the halls for the first year and shared a flat which was on the campus with 3 other boys for the last two years .This was the case with my daughter in law also I’m not sure what the situation is now.

I live in Keele

The Keele estate was purchased by William Sneyd, the family moved to the estate in 1544. The estate was owned continuously by the Sneyd family for over 400 years

it was sold I think in 1948

Pastit12 · 25/05/2025 14:58

BakedBeansforabrain · 25/05/2025 14:53

I live in Keele

The Keele estate was purchased by William Sneyd, the family moved to the estate in 1544. The estate was owned continuously by the Sneyd family for over 400 years

it was sold I think in 1948

That’s interesting to know I was very impressed as I said when I went there for my sons graduation and thought how lucky the family who owned were to live there. Didn’t have time to see much of the surrounding area we live in London area but it did look a nice area