Warwick vs Durham?

Why not ask some Durham students about societies they offer? Maybe you dont like it cos you dontk now about it yet? Go to Durham uni forum and ask!

I liked Warwick because at the open day you could do all sorts (like languages, salsa dancing, music lessons, random classes ect) whereas they didn't mention any of that at Durham at all.

Ahh, I see.

What are your grades like?

Putting either Durham and Warwick as your firm and SHU as your insurance would be like a big big drop if you really care about uni reputation. However, go to where you want to.

Oh that's another thing too! I really liked the idea of going abroad to study and as far as I gathered Durham didn't offer that.

The college that I'm going to in Durham doesn't have formals or balls (which I would have loved ! ) they do fancy-dress or informal things instead, which I can't decide if I like more or not haha.

Not much was mentioned about night life at the Warwick open evening, and some of the open evening people said they didn't rate it much? I'm a clubbing sort of person so will I enjoy myself there? Is it easy to get to Birmingham?

Eee dear!

The college that I'm going to in Durham doesn't have formals or balls (which I would have loved ! ) they do fancy-dress or informal things instead, which I can't decide if I like more or not haha.

Apparently the nightlife at Warwick is not very rated highly. People associate it with Coventry, which is quite depressing to be honest. ....... Not sure though.

Last year I got ABBB (as) an this year I'm predicted A*, A and B (sociology, psychology, english language) not including general studies. In the most recent exams I got a C, B, B, C in Sociology, Psychology, General Studies and English Language. I can still achieve my grades as long as I keep consisant in my work load.
I'm resitting Sociology, English Language and General Studies.
I need 4 more marks in the next exam (out of 120) to get a B, I need to get 56 marks out of either 80 or 120 in the Psychology exam to get a B and I've got a B/C (depending on coursework) in English Language, but I'm not sure about exact marks.
Sorry about the detail but it looks like the grades I need for either are deffo do-able but I'm not entirely sure.

:/

Ooh which college are you going to? I enjoyed St Aidens but it wasn't my first choice!

I really liked the sociology course in Warwick and didn't like it much in Durham. But my friend said I should pick which Uni I prefered because I can get used to the course.

I don't think Durham offers the same in nightlife or uni life as Warwick tho. :/

No one goes out in Coventry for nights out. It's all about Leamington Spa. I've been here for two years and I've been to cov for clubbing once. No one goes there!

I prefered Warwick uni because of all the socities and things they offered, and the course seemed much more interesting but everyone keeps mentioning Durham as better. I'm very conflicted haha! When I went to the Durham open evening no one mentioned any socities or anything :/

I disagree.

Durham has a world-beating reputation. It's not necessarily a better university (I think Warwick is far better for things like engineering and mathematics) but I think Durham's reputation is way out ahead of Warwick's.

That's a good idea! Thanks!

Durham's not really that much better. It gives that impression because it's in a castle and it's been around x hundred many more years than Warwick, but each uni as as good as the other really. If you're shallow/silly enough to think that older = better then by all means pick Durham, but really it should be more about where you feel comfortable. If you feel more comfortable in the older architecture than you do in Warwick's newer stuff, then Durham would be the one.
It's probably also worth pointing out that Warwick's accommodation can be very cheap. I know my loan/grant would barely cover my accommodation at the college at Durham, whereas I get over £2'500 for the Warwick college I've chosen (Durham was self-catered, but even considering that it's still damn expensive).



Warwick also has a world-beating reputation. It beats Durham on the world stage I think you'll find. Domestically they're about the same. Durham is ahead some years, but it wasn't too long ago that Warwick was ahead. There isn't really anything between them, unless you subscribe to the view that the older the place, the better it is, which is rubbish in my opinion. Unless you're really splitting hairs, Durham and Warwick are pretty much equal prestige-wise. In my opinion at least.

Durham's not really that much better. It gives that impression because it's in a castle and it's been around x hundred many more years than Warwick, but each uni as as good as the other really. If you're shallow/silly enough to think that older = better then by all means pick Durham, but really it should be more about where you feel comfortable. If you feel more comfortable in the older architecture than you do in Warwick's newer stuff, then Durham would be the one.
It's probably also worth pointing out that Warwick's accommodation can be very cheap. I know my loan/grant would barely cover my accommodation at the college at Durham, whereas I get over £2'500 for the Warwick college I've chosen (Durham was self-catered, but even considering that it's still damn expensive).



Warwick also has a world-beating reputation. It beats Durham on the world stage I think you'll find. Domestically they're about the same. Durham is ahead some years, but it wasn't too long ago that Warwick was ahead. There isn't really anything between them, unless you subscribe to the view that the older the place, the better it is, which is rubbish in my opinion. Unless you're really splitting hairs, Durham and Warwick are pretty much equal prestige-wise. In my opinion at least.

Durham accommodation is expensive for the first year yes - catered in £5000. But that does include 21 meals a week and you really do get a lot for your money: sports facilities in your college, college library, use of college facilities (eg computer room, dance/music studios, etc.) for all 3 years. Also there are loads of opportunities to get involved in societies/sports clubs in college, so you don't have to be a national level athlete to play sport, you can never have played sports before and still have a go. And having so many clubs and societies - and a JCR - means there are so, so many opportunities to get on a committee and develop loads of skills, meet new people and add things to your cv.

Warwick isn't even in the top 200 world universities according to the Times. Durham is 85th.

That said, I don't place much faith in league tables.

Durham does certainly have more prestige though. If you stopped the average man or woman on the street, and asked them to name as many universities as they could in 30 seconds, they'd probably say

Oxford
Cambridge
Durham
St. Andrews

and then a few local ones depending on where you asked people.

Durham is a more prestigious university than Warwick. I understand if you don't want to think so due to going to Warwick.

Warwick is f*cking fantastic, but I still think Durham is better. It'll always have that appeal to it. It'll always be the alternative to Oxbridge. Like I said, Warwick kicks Durham's arse for some subjects, but Durham is in a similar vein to Oxbridge.

As someone who recently declined Warwick for Durham, I can give you my reasons, although the main reasons were course specific if I'm being honest:
More flexible course with better reputation for my subjects
The open day was very impressive (did you go? This should have given you a good idea of whether you liked it)
College system and being able to imagine myself in my
college
Not having to travel in from leamington etc. in later years
Possibly a slightly better rep overall (but this depends who you ask and really wasn't a big deciding factor)
You can't be catered at Warwick. Again, this didn't bother me but you might have a preference.

Night life seemed similar to me - both have a few clubs/bars but you'd need to travel to Newcastle/Birmingham for a big night out or shopping trip.
Overall, I would say go with the place where you think the course will be best - this is what I did. I know nothing about Sociology, so I can't really help there. I hope this has given you some stuff to consider though.

You know what, I really don't want you to risk yourself putting SHU as your insurance. I am not even being snobby. I just believe that someone with grades like yours could do better somewhere else even if you don't get into your firm (be it Warwick or Durham).... If you really like Warwick then firm Warwick... Although, Durham gives you the offer of ABB which is higher, with the inclusion of General Studies (if you are determined to get an A in it) should make it acceptable to put Durham as insurance. My friend did the same thing for Leicester and Sheffield. She had exactly the same problem and offers as yours just at differnt uni. She firmed Leicester and insure Sheffield despite it having higher offer (but it includes General Studies which makes it easier).... So yeah...

Many people might think I am being snobby here. I am just expressing what I think, that's all.