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Students at Cornwall campus, University of Exeter
University of Exeter
Exeter

Exeter or Bristol

I am trying to choose between these two unis for business and so the courses are basically the same. I was just wondering which people would recommend based on student life. I have so many pros for both but my cons for each are Exeter - I worry may be a bit SW London cliques and small and Bristol I am worried maybe druggy. Any help would be appreaciated!

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I went to Bristol and it was great! A very pretty place to live and study, and the university seemed quite caring. I don’t know how they’ve been dealing with COVID since I went to uni before all that. There were a couple of druggy people in my accommodation but they never really made any problems.
Students at Cornwall campus, University of Exeter
University of Exeter
Exeter
Depends what you want from your student life but id think Bristol would be a more fun for typical student atmosphere, more clubs, bigger city (but not too big either), 2 universities so bigger student population, more bars/restaurants/cafes.

Exeter is quite a small place, minimal nighttime economy students rely more on house parties and things I think but supposed to have a nice campus.

I dont see why Bristol uni would have significantly more drug use then Exeter uni although everyone has heard that reputation, ultimately students will be students wherever you go, some people will take drugs at every university, just dont take them and if you dont want to socialise with people that do then that's fine as well (Exeter has 23,000 student, Bristol has 27,000 you'll encounter people who make different choices whichever university you choose).
Reply 3
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Original post by anosmianAcrimony
I went to Bristol and it was great! A very pretty place to live and study, and the university seemed quite caring. I don’t know how they’ve been dealing with COVID since I went to uni before all that. There were a couple of druggy people in my accommodation but they never really made any problems.

What accommodation were you in if you don't mind me asking?
Original post by Anonymous
What accommodation were you in if you don't mind me asking?

I was in Clifton Hill House and it was lovely. Fairly convenient in terms of getting to the main campus area, and just a really nice place. Somewhat expensive but they serve two tasty meals a day and if you take full advantage of those, you spend a lot less on groceries and takeaways.
I've enjoyed the nightlife at Exeter, you have the four/five main clubs and whilst it's not as big as Bristol it's not bad.

One big difference is all the clubs at Exeter (bar Saturday) basically only run student nights. This doesn't necessarily impact on the quality of the nights, but you won't find any locals... some people really like this (I like it, I find you tend to be around similar people and your friends more) but some people find it almost 'samey' and not as great if you want to meet new people whilst out clubbing.

It's not as druggy as Bristol comparing it to my friends there, but that's not to say people don't do drugs here. I wouldn't say it's that cliquey, unless you really do tend to end up in those bubbles (but it definitely isn't as diverse as Bristol).
When I was at Exeter the student paper did an investigation and found traces of cocaine in every campus toilet, so I doubt Bristol will be more "druggy" than Exeter :tongue:
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Original post by anosmianAcrimony
I was in Clifton Hill House and it was lovely. Fairly convenient in terms of getting to the main campus area, and just a really nice place. Somewhat expensive but they serve two tasty meals a day and if you take full advantage of those, you spend a lot less on groceries and takeaways.

I was thinking of applying to the North Village but do not know much about it would you be able to give any advice?
Original post by Anonymous
I was thinking of applying to the North Village but do not know much about it would you be able to give any advice?

Unfortunately Clifton Hill House isn’t in the North Village so it’s hard for me to comment much. I’d encourage you to pay close attention to how close your accommodation is to the campus, though - long commutes can be unpleasant.
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Original post by MatthewAteYou
I've enjoyed the nightlife at Exeter, you have the four/five main clubs and whilst it's not as big as Bristol it's not bad.

One big difference is all the clubs at Exeter (bar Saturday) basically only run student nights. This doesn't necessarily impact on the quality of the nights, but you won't find any locals... some people really like this (I like it, I find you tend to be around similar people and your friends more) but some people find it almost 'samey' and not as great if you want to meet new people whilst out clubbing.

It's not as druggy as Bristol comparing it to my friends there, but that's not to say people don't do drugs here. I wouldn't say it's that cliquey, unless you really do tend to end up in those bubbles (but it definitely isn't as diverse as Bristol).

Yh one of the things I like about Exeter is the fact it is a campus so I feel like it is easier to have more of a community feel and make friends more easily
Original post by anosmianAcrimony
I was in Clifton Hill House and it was lovely. Fairly convenient in terms of getting to the main campus area, and just a really nice place. Somewhat expensive but they serve two tasty meals a day and if you take full advantage of those, you spend a lot less on groceries and takeaways.

also sorry I have another q i was just wondering if you felt like you ever missed out on social opportunity with Bristol not being a campus?
Original post by Anonymous
also sorry I have another q i was just wondering if you felt like you ever missed out on social opportunity with Bristol not being a campus?

Not really, but that’s probably because I’m a really asocial person. Just going to lectures every day and seeing other people was more socialising than I was particularly comfortable with :biggrin:
Original post by Anonymous
I was thinking of applying to the North Village but do not know much about it would you be able to give any advice?


Exeter is FAR better - Bristol is very industrial and some very dodgy areas. I don't often disagre with mnot but Exeter has plenty of student life. It is not a sleepy city
Original post by Muttley79
Exeter is FAR better - Bristol is very industrial and some very dodgy areas. I don't often disagre with mnot but Exeter has plenty of student life. It is not a sleepy city

oh i heard that bristol is very safe
Original post by MatthewAteYou
I've enjoyed the nightlife at Exeter, you have the four/five main clubs and whilst it's not as big as Bristol it's not bad.

One big difference is all the clubs at Exeter (bar Saturday) basically only run student nights. This doesn't necessarily impact on the quality of the nights, but you won't find any locals... some people really like this (I like it, I find you tend to be around similar people and your friends more) but some people find it almost 'samey' and not as great if you want to meet new people whilst out clubbing.

It's not as druggy as Bristol comparing it to my friends there, but that's not to say people don't do drugs here. I wouldn't say it's that cliquey, unless you really do tend to end up in those bubbles (but it definitely isn't as diverse as Bristol).

I come from a big city so was just worried that i would find it too small but i get the impression you do not think that i will
Original post by Anonymous
oh i heard that bristol is very safe

https://www.police.uk/pu/your-area/avon-somerset-constabulary/performance/compare-your-area/?tc=BN193
Original post by Muttley79
Exeter is FAR better - Bristol is very industrial and some very dodgy areas. I don't often disagre with mnot but Exeter has plenty of student life. It is not a sleepy city

Have you been to Bristol? Where the campus is based (Clifton) is an absolutely stunning area. Where the main student population will be living (Clifton, Redland, Kingsdown) are really nice areas and aren't dodgy at all. There are some sketchy places like Gloucester Road at night time, but usually you would only end up here if you were going to one of the many clubs and would typically be wish hoards of students anyways.

To OP, as a current Bristol student all I have to say is that my experience here has been fantastic. I picked Bristol over Exeter for reasons other users have stated above - better nightlife, larger city and more vibrant. There's just loads to do and explore. In terms of the drugs reputation, I can guarantee you that every uni will have students doing drugs (I really don't get why Bristol has this rep when my friends at various Russell Groups all over the country have said drug use is pretty common at their unis too).






I was in North Village (Stoke Bishop) in first year, so happy to answer any questions. I had an amazing time, the student village feel is really nice and couldn't recommend enough. West Village (i.e. Clifton) is also a nice area to live in if you want to be a bit closer to uni.
Original post by Muttley79






This literally says "the crime rate in Bristol was about the same as the average crime rate across similar areas." I don't get the fuss - it's a big city so obviously will have more crime but that's the case with all the other large student cities.
In regards to the crime rate in Bristol being higher than average for the Avon & Somerset area, I'm not surprised. There's not much going on in the other places categorised in the Avon & Somerset region.
Original post by Anonymous
Have you been to Bristol? Where the campus is based (Clifton) is an absolutely stunning area. Where the main student population will be living (Clifton, Redland, Kingsdown) are really nice areas and aren't dodgy at all. There are some sketchy places like Gloucester Road at night time, but usually you would only end up here if you were going to one of the many clubs and would typically be wish hoards of students anyways.



Yes - a number of times - it's not somewhere i would want to live. I know a number of people brought up there and ALL have moved away as soon as they could. Why anon btw???!!!
Original post by Anonymous
I come from a big city so was just worried that i would find it too small but i get the impression you do not think that i will


It depends on what you like. I like small cities, and the communal feel. But if you like a large city then Exeter maybe isn’t for you.

It’s something that I didn’t realise I liked having lived in London the whole time. I know some people who didn’t like it and found it quite cliquey and in a bubble (which isn’t necessarily incorrect).

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