Sheffield, Exeter or York for Politics?

Surely it comes down to personal preference when choosing between such evenly matched universities? None of them are any more prestigious or better than the other?

I would probably say York > Exeter > Sheffield but I am clutching on straws. They are all RG unis.

Reply 22

Rhis Aces

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Original post by alicekyra

I plan on studying Politics and IR too - I think I'll be putting Exeter first myself. It depends on the modules you like the look of as well as course/uni reputation though

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Exeter is a BSc which is actually quite good in a way, however the entry requirements are higher than both the other two. I could apply for straight politics and get a BA but the statistics modules may help me when it comes to employment further down the line. I do love the location though as it's 20 minutes from Exmouth and not too far from where I live.

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Original post by alicekyra

I plan on studying Politics and IR too - I think I'll be putting Exeter first myself. It depends on the modules you like the look of as well as course/uni reputation though

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10 years ago people would have likened Exeter to Lancaster, so be wary of thinking that Exeter is up there with Durham and Warwick for reputation, is certainly isn't anywhere near them.

Reply 24

Original post by King of the Ring

10 years ago people would have likened Exeter to Lancaster, so be wary of thinking that Exeter is up there with Durham and Warwick for reputation, is certainly isn't anywhere near them.

And 10 years ago people used to criticise Tony Blair's premiership. They don't anymore because times change, bud, times change.

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alicekyra

Original post by King of the Ring

10 years ago people would have likened Exeter to Lancaster, so be wary of thinking that Exeter is up there with Durham and Warwick for reputation, is certainly isn't anywhere near them.

I personally like the modules available & it ranks highly on most leaderboards that I've seen. Also, when I've done university and course comparisons it's ranked quite favourably against others that I've considered, in my opinion

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Reply 26

Original post by callum_law

And 10 years ago people used to criticise Tony Blair's premiership. They don't anymore because times change, bud, times change.

10 years isn't a long time, and employers will only notice Exeter in another 10 years time. By then they will be cursing having to re-pay their debt they have acquired from their recent spending plans, and with it a steady drop in all rankings.

Reply 27

Original post by alicekyra

I personally like the modules available & it ranks highly on most leaderboards that I've seen. Also, when I've done university and course comparisons it's ranked quite favourably against others that I've considered, in my opinion

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Not in the World rankings, nor in REF 2014, nor in university employer targeting tables. Exeter only joined the Russell Group in 2012. When they start re-paying their spending debt, they will fall in league tables.

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Original post by King of the Ring

10 years isn't a long time, and employers will only notice Exeter in another 10 years time. By then they will be cursing having to re-pay their debt they have acquired from their recent spending plans, and with it a steady drop in all rankings.

10 years ago it was Lancaster-tier and in 10 years' time it will be dropping in the ranking. You're a mix of a historian and a futurologist with an especial aversion to the present.

Reply 29

Original post by King of the Ring

Not in the World rankings, nor in REF 2014, nor in university employer targeting tables. Exeter only joined the Russell Group in 2012. When they start re-paying their spending debt, they will fall in league tables.

So did Durham.

Reply 30

Original post by callum_law

So did Durham.

I also think Durham and St Andrews will suffer the same fate as Exeter with a drop in the UK rankings over time, as they couldn't possibly sustain their current spending over the next 5-10 years by just borrowing. It is interesting how such universities borrow lots of money and merely struggle to pay the interest rates back, even when in surplus.

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Original post by King of the Ring

I also think Durham and St Andrews will suffer the same fate as Exeter with a drop in the UK rankings over time, as they couldn't possibly sustain their current spending over the next 5-10 years by just borrowing. It is interesting how such universities borrow lots of money and merely struggle to pay the interest rates back, even when in surplus.

They all incur a bit of debt. Similar drop in rankings for Notts. Maybe they will decline at a steady rate together, and so the status quo is effectively maintained. However, as we're not in 2025, I don't think prospective undergrads should heed your advice to avoid Exeter or Durham.

Reply 32

Rhis Aces

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Original post by King of the Ring

I also think Durham and St Andrews will suffer the same fate as Exeter with a drop in the UK rankings over time, as they couldn't possibly sustain their current spending over the next 5-10 years by just borrowing. It is interesting how such universities borrow lots of money and merely struggle to pay the interest rates back, even when in surplus.

Will the same fate befall York? And which universities, wheb you look in to your crystal ball, do you see rising?

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Original post by Rhis Aces

Will the same fate befall York? And which universities, wheb you look in to your crystal ball, do you see rising?

York has just spent a whopping £750 million on developments, so they have a big debt to pay back!

The ranking of a university in UK league tables goes in cycles, according to the finances and debt levels of the university, and on their spending plans. Those universities that have spent heavy over the last 10 years will be spending the following 10 years spending far less.

Reply 34

Original post by callum_law

They all incur a bit of debt. Similar drop in rankings for Notts. Maybe they will decline at a steady rate together, and so the status quo is effectively maintained. However, as we're not in 2025, I don't think prospective undergrads should heed your advice to avoid Exeter or Durham.

Nottingham indeed fell in the UK rankings, after an absurd amount of spending on overseas campuses, but at least they will get this money back in the longer term through the extra students they take on. It was a clever longterm investment.

I am not saying avoid Exeter or Durham, I am just saying they won't sustain their UK ranking forever.

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