i've been at hope since september and i like it, the fact it's a smaller university appealed to me and the course i'm studying has a really good reputation amongst employers.
as far as league tables go, it's what you put into the course that matters. i think a lot of people turn up at uni expecting the lecturers etc to do all the legwork for them and the moan when they get bad results for not revising! it's not true of everyone but i've lost count of how many of these people i've come across.
my tutors and lecturers are great, they all practise in the field and have tons of experience, you can bounce ideas off their heads and get in heated debates with them. i study design though, i have no idea what the less practical courses are like.
the SU is dire, don't even factor that in. i haven't bothered going back since freshers week and i doubt i will in the future. coming from manchester where the SUs are fairly central, put on good nights and get a great mix of people, to that at LH was right bloody shock! it's the total opposite. i've heard students are pushing for a SU at the creative campus so hopefully that'll go ahead (i study at the cornerstone so the closer proximity alcohol the better!).
like any uni there are good and bad points but i'm still really glad i decided to come here, liverpool's a great city too