Has anyone DC attended Harper Adams university?

[Cardiganwearer]

DD is interested in the zoology courses. I’m a little worried about how small it is, not many people maybe. It’s also rural so I’m wondering what the public transport is like if any. We’ve got an open day coming up so we’ll see soon but could do with a steer if anyone knows anything. Thanks very much!

I went there by public transport for a work trip once. Its between Stafford and Telford which are both on the mainline rail. It was doable, but took forever. And that was 10 years ago, I'd imagine the service is worse now though.

I know your main question is about the public transport, but this is interesting for me as I live not far away. HA a well respected university and a leader in many aspects of agricultural research. The students I’ve known there have been very happy and have all found good jobs on graduation. I’m not sure what the public transport is like, but Newport is a town dominated by students and so I’d imagine it has good bus links to Telford, where Birmingham is easily reached by train. Having visited, I got the impression that many students are car owners and being rural, I’d imagine that car sharing would be an option. If your DC went there I’m sure they’d be very happy.
However, having had a DC who also looked at Zoology courses, our impression of HA was that the course was a bit of an ‘afterthought’. Small department, happy students, personable tutors, but it felt like a theoretical subject in a university that specialises in vocational and technical subjects. My DC preferred the Zoology departments at Aberystwyth, Lincoln and Bangor which felt more established. Just our opinion, and I’m sure others with equally valid opinions will come along and disagree!

Thank you @turkeyboots and @Xmasbeckons Really appreciate your replies. I hope DD will be able to drive and have a car by then but who knows. We are down south and I think she’ll want to come back regularly to start with, so the transport is important. I was also wondering about zoology within an agricultural and vocational university. The plus points are that nearly everyone will be animal oriented so she would love that. She wants to do entomology really and it’s the only degree we’ve seen that specialises in this at undergraduate level. Although some ecology and wildlife conservation degrees offer modules in entomology so you could specialise that way. Thanks for the zoology recommendations. I think they are a bit further away again. So hard all this, isn’t it?

A couple of the students we spoke to last year had switched from other Zoology specialisms to the entomology option, so it sounds like a course she should definitely consider! I hope she loves it when she visits. Shropshire is a great county and HA has a good reputation so I wouldn’t let concerns about public transport put her off.

@Cardiganwearer HA has transformed itself over the last few years and has a very dynamic VC - and is doing some excellent cutting edge research. Almost everyone I know was very happy there - they mostly were from rural backgrounds so were comfortable with that setting. I think being able to drive would be a big asset especially in the 2nd and 3rd year when lots live out in villages etc.

I think when your DD goes to visit for the open day she will quickly decide whether it is the place she would like to be.

There's regular buses to Telford which has a train station so I think she'll be fine. I grew up in the countryside near by, most HA students do drive to be fair just because it's always easier and the buses, while regular, aren't as frequent as they might be in town.

Ento tends to be a post grad specialism and Harper are outstanding for it. I have no doubt the zoology with ento specialism undergrad will be great. I loved Harper but your DD needs to be comfortable in a full on countryside/agric environment. It dilutes out for post grad but for undergrad it’s serious young farmers vibes. I don’t say this to disparage it one bit but it is what it is. Public transport is rubbish, Harper run a shuttle bus from campus to Newport and Telford.

Thank you everyone for all the help! While it does sound a great university and a shame to miss out on the entomology course I don’t think it will suit DD. We are not a farming family and we don’t even live rurally. It would be a massive culture shock for her I think. She’s also quite alternative in various ways so I think a larger university will be better for her to find her tribe. You’ve saved us a very long drive and a hotel stay! I’ve told DD what you’ve all said and she agrees, this uni isn’t the right one.

Does anyone have any insights on Sparsholt? It would be the wildlife conservation degree there. I imagine it’s similar to Harper Adams. I think we will go and see it anyway as it is near home!