Choosing between Durham and Lancaster

So if im doing M2 now the compulsory module shouldnt be too difficult?

Do you go to Lancaster currently? If you do did you find the jump from living at home to having to cook for yourself and everything else a big jump?

Lancaster, because then you might see me in the lectures


Just kidding. But have you visited them both?

You should be fine

I think Lancaster is massively underrated. It has been in the top 10 UK unis in all three rankings; The Guardian, The Times and the Complete University Guide for the past 3 or 4 years. Yet this is often overlooked. Durham is excellent too. I would choose based on which I liked the feel of most.

The impression I get is that you prefer Lancaster and want to be convinced that it is as good as Durham. If that is the case I think you should just go there, you would regret going to Durham if you really wanted to be at Lancaster.

It seems like Durham is more targeted by employers which helps with networking etc, which is why the starting salary tends to be higher. If you were applying for some random job I don't think you would get rejected because you 'only' went to Lancaster - the advantage of Durham is that there might be more opportunities to meet representatives from large companies and wangle an interview. The average starting salary from Durham maths is around £25k according to Unistats, whereas Lancaster is £19k, so there clearly is a difference for whatever reason.

I do really like the place of Lancaster but i really think Durham would be good for me. I really like the collage system and the beneifts that come from that. I think I am currently swaying more towards Durham but we'll see. You any closer to a decision?

I think I'm going to firm Durham tbh. I didn't warm to Warwick on the open day as much as I did to Durham - it just felt a bit less welcoming, and I'm not sure whether I'd be happy on an isolated campus, in a bubble. When I imagine what it would be like starting freshers week at Durham I get quite excited, whereas with Warwick I don't, and that surely can't be a good sign.

I think I'll be able to decide for sure in the next couple of weeks.

I'm studying Maths at Durham and I dispute what you say about the accommodation, Durham comes really high in rankings for accommodation. The course is challenging but it's worth it and it's really flexible, particularly if you want to keep up other subjects from A-Level. The collegiate structure is also really nice, each of the colleges have their own feel and it's just a great atmosphere to be a part of.

How challenging is it? Is it much of a step up from further maths? Is there a lot of places to go for help if youre stuck? So you don't have to do purely maths, you can pick modules from other subjects?

It depends which modules you did and how easy you found them. I went up to FP2 and didn't like that module so I'm finding it challenging but not too difficult. It's a step up but the first bits of the modules aren't very different from A-Level and there's a lot of cross-over between modules.

If you get stuck, you get given 'academic parents' which are basically students in the higher years that are there to help/support you. You can ask your lecturer if you don't understand and there are weekly tutorials so you can ask you tutor as well. There's plenty of support around.

I'm doing Maths as a degree but I'm currently doing a module in Spanish, I've got friends doing modules in Physics, Computer Science and French. I know I've got the option now to continue with Spanish for another few years and I think that you can with others. (They changed one of their policies so you can always do a language option, I think other subjects you can continue with it as long as you have done the modules required).

Im going up to FP3.
Have you never had a problem finding the help you needed then?
Also which college are you at?

My friends who have done FP3 have found it helped a lot!
No, I've never had a problem, I've either asked friends, older students in my college or seen my tutors once or twice.
And I'm at Trevelyan College

So although the degree is challenging its not too hard to do it and manage it

I think I'm going to firm Durham tbh. I didn't warm to Warwick on the open day as much as I did to Durham - it just felt a bit less welcoming, and I'm not sure whether I'd be happy on an isolated campus, in a bubble. When I imagine what it would be like starting freshers week at Durham I get quite excited, whereas with Warwick I don't, and that surely can't be a good sign.

I think I'll be able to decide for sure in the next couple of weeks.

Thought I should tell you that I have made a decision!!!! Ive firmed durham! I went for another walk round yesterday and I just felt comfortable there so that plus the other benefits made me decide to firm it