Can't decide between 2 universities

I want to do computer science, and I have received offers from Aston and Nottingham. Both are ranked in the top 30 respectively, with Aston in the top 10 for computer science in the Guardian rankings. I know that these rankings must be taken with a pinch of salt, however, this shows that Aston's computer science department is respected and can teach to a certain degree.

Now Nottingham has a better campus, is Russell group, and is seen as the better university on the whole in terms of prestige and reputation.

Nottingham and Aston both have fairly good computer science departments, however I feel as if I would have a better experience at Aston. Smaller university, more sociable. Very close to where I live, so no need of accomodation.

Would firming Aston be crazy, seeing as it is generally the less 'prestigious' uni?

I would have a better experience there as opposed to Nottingham. I'm from birmimgham and Aston is slap bang in the centre of Birmingham, I would have a better experience there.

I'll also be doing a year in industry at Aston so I'll have that much needed experience when I finish my degree.

Thanks!

A year in industry counts for a lot in computer science. If Nottingham doesn't offer that then Aston is the clear choice from my point of view.

Don't worship at the temple of the Russell Group. Aston, along with Leicester and St Andrew's, is one of many excellent UK universities not in the self-declared group. And living at home is a sensible choice that many students make to save money. You can still have a university experience this way and there's nothing stopping you moving in with friends later if you feel you would like to.
This is not a bad choice. It's eminently sensible, career focused, and rational. Don't be swayed by the very biased opinions you often find on here re: the Russell Group and living at home. Students and graduates moan and moan about the cost of living but then sneer at the idea of someone actively avoiding a good 50% of the debt that most students graduate with. You don't need that kind of reasoning affecting your decisions.

Nottingham hands down. It was seen as a top 10 university in the 90s, and although it isn't quite in that league right now, given the resources they are investing into the university, it won't be long before it is near that level. Not just in the rankings, but more so the calibre of students it attracts, and the hype it gets. It is a very underrated university on TSR. The campuses, the buildings, the halls of residence all reek of quality.

I would have a better experience there as opposed to Nottingham. I'm from birmimgham and Aston is slap bang in the centre of Birmingham, I would have a better experience there.

I'll also be doing a year in industry at Aston so I'll have that much needed experience when I finish my degree.

Thanks!

Obvious Nottingham student/alumnus detected.

It's nowhere near the top 10 nowadays, more like top 25. It's actually quite sad how far Nottingham has fallen in the past decade.



I think you have answered your own question. Living in Birmingham you would also save yourself from graduating with a lot of debt.

I'm not a Nottingham student or graduate (UCL infact). And Nottingham is not a top 25 university, that is ridiculous. The UK league tables (in which Nottingham ranks in at 20th and 21st in the Times and CUG tables) are not a premier league of universities. Nottingham is part of the elite Russell Group, a top 10 university for REF by research power, and a top 10 university for annual income (approx £600 million). They also feature in at =75th in the QS World rankings, and second only to Manchester last year for top graduate employer targeting from the Times top 100 graduate employers list. They also came 15th for taking the highest proportion of AAB+ students on intake.

Certainly Nottingham cannot now be seen as a top 10 university, but they are still easily a top 15 university, based on the evidence provided. Aston is only a top 35-40 university at best.

Oh God, your whole reply just reeks of insecurity. With all these stats, it's more likely you work for Nottingham's publicity Office.

The Times Higher Education World Ranking places it 22nd in the UK. The domestic league tables are being generous by placing it 20th/21st.

How much money a university earns has nothing to do with the quality of the university. Leeds has the 8th highest income in the UK, does that suddenly mean it's a top 10 university?? Furthermore, the proportion of the income which is derived from research income is very very little compared to its peers suggesting that it's not very good at winning research contracts.

Top 15? These universities are easily better than Nottingham:
Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Imperial, Edinburgh, UCL, St Andrew's, King's, Durham, Bristol, Warwick, Manchester, Exeter, Bath, York, Glasgow. And there are at least another further five universities which are on par with Nottingham.

Better at what exactly? Have you been to the campuses? Do all these universities offer Medicine or Veterinary Science? I'm defending Nottingham because your own position on Aston is so absurd it was bound to attract criticism.

Nottingham is ahead of Bath, and no worse than York (probably slightly better infact). Bath is great for undergraduate education, but beyond that it isn't that good.

If you want to know, all the stats I gave are straight from their own website. If you want to bring some stats of your own to show that somehow other universities are ''better'', then let everyone see them.

I'm telling them to choose Aston because they, themselves, said they'll enjoy Aston more than Nottingham. What exactly is so absurd about that?
What I found absurd was you claiming that Nottingham was anywhere near Top 10 university level. It is firmly Top 25 and Top 20 at a stretch.

We're discussing Computer Science, whether a university offers Medicine or Vet Med (a subject Oxford doesn't offer, but Liverpool does), bears no relevance to this thread.

P.S. even the Conservatoire of Dance and Drama has a higher proportion of AAB+ students than Nottingham.

A matter of speculative garbage and a delusion from reality. If you have any facts to share, please do so. Only until the last 2-3 years was Nottingham described as a prime alternative to Oxbridge by the Times.

I want to do computer science, and I have received offers from Aston and Nottingham. Both are ranked in the top 30 respectively, with Aston in the top 10 for computer science in the Guardian rankings. I know that these rankings must be taken with a pinch of salt, however, this shows that Aston's computer science department is respected and can teach to a certain degree.

Now Nottingham has a better campus, is Russell group, and is seen as the better university on the whole in terms of prestige and reputation.

Nottingham and Aston both have fairly good computer science departments, however I feel as if I would have a better experience at Aston. Smaller university, more sociable. Very close to where I live, so no need of accomodation.

Would firming Aston be crazy, seeing as it is generally the less 'prestigious' uni?

I would have a better experience there as opposed to Nottingham. I'm from birmimgham and Aston is slap bang in the centre of Birmingham, I would have a better experience there.

I'll also be doing a year in industry at Aston so I'll have that much needed experience when I finish my degree.

Thanks!

Better at what exactly? Have you been to the campuses? Do all these universities offer Medicine or Veterinary Science? I'm defending Nottingham because your own position on Aston is so absurd it was bound to attract criticism.

Nottingham is ahead of Bath, and no worse than York (probably slightly better infact). Bath is great for undergraduate education, but beyond that it isn't that good. Although I don't regard UK league tables, it is strange that Exeter was ranked in at 46th in 2007. Not yet a World top 100 university (at least not anymore).

If you want to know, all the stats I gave are straight from their own website. If you want to bring some stats of your own to show that somehow other universities are ''better'', then let everyone see them.