[TimetoSucceed]

I am torn between these two, can you guys offer some info/advise please.

Night life is NOT important to me at all, strictly academic wise pretty much.

[IcedTea&PotNoodle]

I'm pretty much in the exact same situation as you. I'm trying to decide between Southampton, Nottingham and Warwick. I think I'm going to end up picking Nottingham just because it's a more lively and exciting city. The campus is also much nicer at Nottingham. I was slightly put off at Southampton by the campus.

[sammy-lou]

(Original post by IcedTea&PotNoodle)
I'm pretty much in the exact same situation as you. I'm trying to decide between Southampton, Nottingham and Warwick. I think I'm going to end up picking Nottingham just because it's a more lively and exciting city. The campus is also much nicer at Nottingham. I was slightly put off at Southampton by the campus.

So glad I saw this thread! I'm torn between Southampton and Notts for English. Not much help to OP (Sorry, at least this will bump the thread a bit!) because I know nothing about mechanical engineering and nightlife is important to me.

I didn't really get a chance to look around the cities on open days, what did you think?

I thought the campus at Notts was lovely, and also at Southampton there was one halls block that I hated and one I thought was quite nice, and there's no guarantee where I'd be put.

I did like Southampton though, and its a bit closer to home which is good for me. Ahhhhhh!

[IcedTea&PotNoodle]

(Original post by sammy-lou)
So glad I saw this thread! I'm torn between Southampton and Notts for English. Not much help to OP (Sorry, at least this will bump the thread a bit!) because I know nothing about mechanical engineering and nightlife is important to me.

I didn't really get a chance to look around the cities on open days, what did you think?

I thought the campus at Notts was lovely, and also at Southampton there was one halls block that I hated and one I thought was quite nice, and there's no guarantee where I'd be put.

I did like Southampton though, and its a bit closer to home which is good for me. Ahhhhhh!

I did look at both cities after their open days. There's nothing really wrong with Southampton, it's very picturesque with the water, old city walls and ships going past but there just doesn't seem to be much there. Everything just seemed to be focused around that west quay shopping centre. Everywhere else you went it was just very quiet and it looked like there wasn't much to do.

Nottingham on the other hand is a proper city, maybe not as pretty as Southampton but it's definitely got some stunning parts. The central square is probably the best part of the city. There's the massive council building on one side and then the other sides are all shops and restaurants and the centre has a load of fountains, it's really lovely. Theres also two quite big shopping centres and It looked like their westfield was undergoing regeneration. It also seems like the nightlife was good because I could see quite a few nightclubs which there didn't seem to be too many of at Soton. I could keep going but the greatest part about Nottingham is that it has trams! I don't know where you live but there aren't any where I live so I think that's completely awesome.

Which was the nicer accommodation at Southampton because I only had a chance to see one and it wasn't very nice. And what was the cost like at the nicer one?

[sammy-lou]

(Original post by IcedTea&PotNoodle)
I did look at both cities after their open days. There's nothing really wrong with Southampton, it's very picturesque with the water, old city walls and ships going past but there just doesn't seem to be much there. Everything just seemed to be focused around that west quay shopping centre. Everywhere else you went it was just very quiet and it looked like there wasn't much to do.

Nottingham on the other hand is a proper city, maybe not as pretty as Southampton but it's definitely got some stunning parts. The central square is probably the best part of the city. There's the massive council building on one side and then the other sides are all shops and restaurants and the centre has a load of fountains, it's really lovely. Theres also two quite big shopping centres and It looked like their westfield was undergoing regeneration. It also seems like the nightlife was good because I could see quite a few nightclubs which there didn't seem to be too many of at Soton. I could keep going but the greatest part about Nottingham is that it has trams! I don't know where you live but there aren't any where I live so I think that's completely awesome.

Which was the nicer accommodation at Southampton because I only had a chance to see one and it wasn't very nice. And what was the cost like at the nicer one?

Wow, yeah I did think Southampton looked kind of quiet when I was driving through, but wasn't sure if I was just seeing the quiet bits! Nottingham sounds nice! I'm going up for the visit day in March so hopefully will get to see around then

I visited Glen Eyre and Wessex Lane - annoyingly now having trouble finding which was which!
Maybe if you look here: http://www.soton.ac.uk/accommodation/halls/index.html
you'll be able to see which one you visited?

Although I've just google mapped it, and I reckon it was Glen Eyre I liked best. The rooms just seemed altogether much nicer, more modern. But it's all a matter of opinion really. From what I remember there wasn't much, if any, difference in prices, but you'll be able to check that on their website.

Sorry if this post didn't make much sense, you've sort of got a running commentary of my chain of thoughts while I was trying to work out which accommodation I did and didn't like haha

[TimetoSucceed]

so confused =[

[sammy-lou]

(Original post by TimetoSucceed)
so confused =[

have you looked at course content? There will be different compulsory/optional units at both unis.

[Red Richie]

(Original post by IcedTea&PotNoodle)
I'm pretty much in the exact same situation as you. I'm trying to decide between Southampton, Nottingham and Warwick. I think I'm going to end up picking Nottingham just because it's a more lively and exciting city. The campus is also much nicer at Nottingham. I was slightly put off at Southampton by the campus.

whats off putting about southampton's campus?

not that I've seen much of it apart from the prospectus photos

[IcedTea&PotNoodle]

(Original post by Red Richie)
whats off putting about southampton's campus?

not that I've seen much of it apart from the prospectus photos

I think you have to see it in person to see what I mean. Admittedly I went on a day where it was absolutely pouring down with rain which may have clouded my judgement. The engineering department just didn't seem like anything special. And the actual campus was all just a bit average. Nothing stood out for me apart from the curly fries they were serving at the SU cafe.

[PatrickC]

Finally some aspiring Engineers who've done their research!

I'm at the end of my first year in mech eng at Nottingham. I looked extensively into unis because I thought since you're spending 3/4 years there it's worth making a really informed decision. Southampton and Nottingham were my two first choices, and in my opinion from league tables etc are the best in the country for mech eng, just after Cambridge then imperial (however didn't want to stay in London and didn't want to go Cambridge)

The first thing I would say is to LOOK AT THE UNIs. Definitely the most important thing as I wasnt sure before all the open days and then when I went around I was sure about where I wanted to go. Southampton seemed quite good, very relaxed, just as picaresque at Nottingham, great teaching and good uni life. However for me Nottingham was the clear choice due to it having a real campus feel (look up the university park campus which is the main nottingham one) with the massive SU in the middle, but then we still have a city only 10 minutes on a bus for a quid. Brilliant Nightlife (probably one of the best and INSANELY cheap if you're coming from the south) and the campus I have to say is stunning.

In terms of teaching, Both are excellent from all my research, and since I'm going to be bias towards Nottingham (where ever you go you will think is the best) I can't say the teaching here is better.
However one thing I can say is that Engineers tend not to build things themselves, they learn the tools to make drawings and designs that other people can understand and build for them (technicians). In EVERY uni they will show you masses of engineering rooms that they will kid you into thinking you will be using, but really you don't get to use any of it it is all just research done by professors and PHD students. So they just give you a space in the corner to mess around with materials a bit. I was shown to Southampton's workshop privately because I arrived late so got a got a bit extra added onto the day, and it was minuscule. Nottingham's is about 6 times the size and you do get to learn to use the machines a bit (which if you did DT is always more interesting then the boring impractical learning).

Lastly I'm sure they work you hard at Southampton as well, but here is insane. Friends at Oxford are doing far easier work then what we're completing. However if you actually want to do well and work hard you will be able to do it (needless to say I haven't and am failing horribly), But that's what you sign up to in Engineering at any of the top universities, if you don't work, you will find it tough. I was told the other day that Nottingham's just been rated second in the country after Cambridge but not sure if that's true.

Anyway massively long speech from me, obviously I'm hugely bias towards Nottingham but at the end of the day where ever you go will be amazing just make sure you go to see the unis before you choose because that was what helped me.

If you have any more questions don't hesitate to ask

[helen-a-ravenclaw]

(Original post by PatrickC)
Finally some aspiring Engineers who've done their research!

I'm at the end of my first year in mech eng at Nottingham.Lastly I'm sure they work you hard at Southampton as well, but here is insane. Friends at Oxford are doing far easier work then what we're completing. However if you actually want to do well and work hard you will be able to do it (needless to say I haven't and am failing horribly), But that's what you sign up to in Engineering at any of the top universities, if you don't work, you will find it tough. I was told the other day that Nottingham's just been rated second in the country after Cambridge but not sure if that's true.

Anyway massively long speech from me, obviously I'm hugely bias towards Nottingham but at the end of the day where ever you go will be amazing just make sure you go to see the unis before you choose because that was what helped me.

If you have any more questions don't hesitate to ask

Your post was really interesting, thanks!

I'm going to Nottingham in September for Product Design and Manufacture and I've been told that all first year materials, mechanical and manufacturing engineering courses are pretty much the same bar a couple of modules.

Interesting to hear about how much work there was. I knew it was going to be a 9 - 5 degree, but harder than Oxford? Wow!

Still, it's made me more excited for September. Rep for you!

[mikeorchard]

(Original post by PatrickC)
I was told the other day that Nottingham's just been rated second in the country after Cambridge but not sure if that's true.

http://www.thecompleteuniversityguid...al+Engineering

2013 2012
1 1 Cambridge
2 2 Imperial College London
3 4 Bristol
4 3 Sheffield
5 8 Southampton
6 6 Loughborough
7 9 Bath
8 5 Surrey
9 11 Newcastle
10 15 Leeds
11 7 Nottingham

Though it's good to hear from people who've seen the campuses first hand.

[PatrickC]

(Original post by mikeorchard)
http://www.thecompleteuniversityguid...al+Engineering

2013 2012
1 1 Cambridge
2 2 Imperial College London
3 4 Bristol
4 3 Sheffield
5 8 Southampton
6 6 Loughborough
7 9 Bath
8 5 Surrey
9 11 Newcastle
10 15 Leeds
11 7 Nottingham

Though it's good to hear from people who've seen the campuses first hand.

I'm not sure who on my course told me or where they got it from, although it does depend where you look.
Maybe they got it from here? the guardian 2013:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/...ng-mechanical-

Anyway I would recommend looking at unistats.direct.gov.uk/ that's really good to get an idea of which you'd prefer.

(Original post by helen-a-ravenclaw)
Your post was really interesting, thanks!

I'm going to Nottingham in September for Product Design and Manufacture and I've been told that all first year materials, mechanical and manufacturing engineering courses are pretty much the same bar a couple of modules.

Interesting to hear about how much work there was. I knew it was going to be a 9 - 5 degree, but harder than Oxford? Wow!

Still, it's made me more excited for September. Rep for you!

Yeh the great thing is that you're part of the Engineering school in Notts so the product design is more engineer based rather than art based if that's what you prefer. a few modules are different but generally I have a lot of lectures with product designers although they seem to get a bit more of the fun design side which is gutting cus I miss that

Yes it's hugely tough where ever really. My friend at Oxford said she has lots of cw twice a week, but she mentioned something about their pass mark being 30% not 40%? Not sure what she was on about there..
We don't have 9-5 every week, lectures are half the day and labs the other half, but we're lucky sometimes because each group has labs at different times so sometimes you get half the day off for a week! Still means early mornings though

The main annoyance is doing so much coursework for very little module credit gains... although once you've done it all it's a blessing! My best mate here only had to get pass marks of about 10-30% to be able to pass his modules because he'd done well in the cw

Good! I couldn't wait till the start of it the first week's insane, so jealous of you! Let me know what hall you get into!!

[helen-a-ravenclaw]

(Original post by PatrickC)
Yeh the great thing is that you're part of the Engineering school in Notts so the product design is more engineer based rather than art based if that's what you prefer. a few modules are different but generally I have a lot of lectures with product designers although they seem to get a bit more of the fun design side which is gutting cus I miss that

Yes it's hugely tough where ever really. My friend at Oxford said she has lots of cw twice a week, but she mentioned something about their pass mark being 30% not 40%? Not sure what she was on about there..
We don't have 9-5 every week, lectures are half the day and labs the other half, but we're lucky sometimes because each group has labs at different times so sometimes you get half the day off for a week! Still means early mornings though

The main annoyance is doing so much coursework for very little module credit gains... although once you've done it all it's a blessing! My best mate here only had to get pass marks of about 10-30% to be able to pass his modules because he'd done well in the cw

Good! I couldn't wait till the start of it the first week's insane, so jealous of you! Let me know what hall you get into!!

That's why I chose Nottingham for my course! It's a design course but it's still got a heavy focus on the Engineering side of things as well! The designing bit does look like so much fun!

Oh, that's interesting to hear. Hopefully i get a few half days each term then!

I'm glad there's quite a lot of coursework though, it's better for me than exams!

Haha I can't wait Still, four months to go...

I'm in Hugh Stewart! Closest to engineering. Sweeeeet.

[PatrickC]

(Original post by helen-a-ravenclaw)
That's why I chose Nottingham for my course! It's a design course but it's still got a heavy focus on the Engineering side of things as well! The designing bit does look like so much fun!

Oh, that's interesting to hear. Hopefully i get a few half days each term then!

I'm glad there's quite a lot of coursework though, it's better for me than exams!

Haha I can't wait Still, four months to go...

I'm in Hugh Stewart! Closest to engineering. Sweeeeet.

You should get a lot more than a few its the beginning really that's intense and full days, after that they expect you to be working in those slots

they main problem with having lots of coursework is that the coursework is only worth it once you've done all of it which is huge amounts of hours and courseworks. But in the long run probably is worth it! I much prefer them to exams too.

Yeh my hall is Willoughby which is a treeek on the opposite to eng, but on the bonus side you get 24 hour tescos quite close and the exam hall is right next door. Ahhh Hugh Stew, you must be loaded :P

Hope you enjoy it!!!

[helen-a-ravenclaw]

(Original post by PatrickC)
You should get a lot more than a few its the beginning really that's intense and full days, after that they expect you to be working in those slots

they main problem with having lots of coursework is that the coursework is only worth it once you've done all of it which is huge amounts of hours and courseworks. But in the long run probably is worth it! I much prefer them to exams too.

Yeh my hall is Willoughby which is a treeek on the opposite to eng, but on the bonus side you get 24 hour tescos quite close and the exam hall is right next door. Ahhh Hugh Stew, you must be loaded :P

Hope you enjoy it!!!

Oh, haha I see. 'Working slot's. Gotcha.

How many exams do you have in the first year? Something I've wondered about due to the large amount of coursework.

We didn't get a choice in the halls, just put down the room type and we got allocated a hall based on that. It's just luck that I got Hu-Stu. It looks so nice!

Thanks Might see you around the Engineering buildings next year!

[PatrickC]

(Original post by helen-a-ravenclaw)
Oh, haha I see. 'Working slot's. Gotcha.

How many exams do you have in the first year? Something I've wondered about due to the large amount of coursework.

We didn't get a choice in the halls, just put down the room type and we got allocated a hall based on that. It's just luck that I got Hu-Stu. It looks so nice!

Thanks Might see you around the Engineering buildings next year!

Haha. Well I had 5 in January and I've got my 6th and final one tomorrow (hence the procrastination of being on here). The January exams were quite easy its worth getting as many marks as possible on them)
SO basically lots of cw and lots of exams

Yeh I remember now, well good luck I'm sure you'll love it! Maybe I will! Feel free to add me and I can give you some help next year if you like.

[RobertWhite]

Southampton is notoriously good for Engineering. That's all I have to say.

[helen-a-ravenclaw]

(Original post by PatrickC)
Haha. Well I had 5 in January and I've got my 6th and final one tomorrow (hence the procrastination of being on here). The January exams were quite easy its worth getting as many marks as possible on them)
SO basically lots of cw and lots of exams

Yeh I remember now, well good luck I'm sure you'll love it! Maybe I will! Feel free to add me and I can give you some help next year if you like.

So you've had 5 in January and one in the summer?

Or five in january and six in the summer?

Well, I did know there was going to be a lot of work for an Engineering degree!

Thanks

[PatrickC]

(Original post by helen-a-ravenclaw)
So you've had 5 in January and one in the summer?

Or five in january and six in the summer?

Well, I did know there was going to be a lot of work for an Engineering degree!

Thanks

Sorry I wasn't very clear on that, 6 in the summer, 5 in Jan.