University of Kent

I’ve had offers from Kent, Southampton and Nottingham. I’ve really preferred Kent on the whole although that was originally going to just be my insurance. I’m predicted AAA so feel I should take a Russell group offer but really preferred the feel, campus, accommodation and the city of Canterbury for Kent. Any views on Kent university please, thanks.

Reply 1

University of Kent

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous #1

Hi there,

I hope you're keeping well!

Thanks for reaching out and sharing your dilemma. I myself understand the feeling of being torn between a Russell Group option and a university that truly resonates with you. Obviously, choosing the university that's right for you is a huge decision, and so it is always important to prioritise both academic potential and the personal factors that will make your overall student experience more fulfilling.

Firstly though, let me just say congratulations on your predicted AAA grades! That's an incredible achievement, and you should be incredibly proud. You're right, it opens doors to some fantastic Russell Group universities. However, it's equally important to listen to your gut and consider what feels right for you. I can assure you though regardless, any University would be more than happy to take in a talented student like yourself!

Now, here's something to think about: Kent may not be a Russell Group university, but it boasts an impressive reputation for academic excellence. Our degrees are rigorous and respected by employers, and our alumni do go on to much greater jobs as a result of our close connections (I'm not too sure what you're applying for - but as I personally study Economics, I can tell you that many of our alumni return from Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, BoE, PwC, etc. to give talks). This is all to say, we're a surprisingly heavy-hitting University given the required entry grades!

Beyond academics, another thing which I think you'll agree does nicely set us apart is general atmosphere surrounding the University. As you mentioned (and frankly I too agree with), you loved the feel of our campus, the vibrant city of Canterbury, and the welcoming atmosphere. Myself, I love the fact that's its rural enough to look incredibly beautiful during Summer - especially with the wild animals, but close enough to the city to people-watch and go shopping during Winter and just throughout the year as well.

Honestly though, the best thing that I truly love about this University though is the amount of support which it provides it's students with. It's an incredibly underrated factor, however, for me it's been instrumental in helping my academic life evolve and improve since I joined.
I mean this in the sense that most major classes have:
Drop-in sessions, whereby it's really just an hour of questioning your lecturer
Consultation hours which is where professors have to drop everything they do and converse with you about any questions you may have,
Furthermore, you also have your own academic advisor - who are staff with specialised knowledge in your area of study whom you can contact to support you, if need be.
The University here also has a whole host of support departments which are around to give you necessary help, such as Mental Health Support. Work Opportunity and Job Searching Support, Academic Support, etc.

Ultimately, the decision is yours. And while I can't tell you which university to choose, I can assure you we would love to have a phenomenal student like yourself, both talented and interested in the city, to be a part of our community! As mentioned earlier, I can assure you that any University would be lucky to have you - and we're no exception!

Sorry for writing a lot haha, but I do honestly feel like Kent would be a great place for you to study. It has been for me after all! Anyways, I hope this has helped - even if just a bit.

If you have any further questions about Kent, our courses, or student life, please don't hesitate to ask :smile:

Wishing you all the best!

Warm regards,

David :smile:

University of Kent Representative

P.S. Please feel free to search for the staff page of whichever subject you wish to study and send an email to the head of admissions (or if you can't find them, ask some random professor for the head of admissions) and just ask them any questions you might want answered as well!
Don't worry - you won't get in trouble!! ;D