Bristol v Newcastle

I would say that it wholeheartedly depends on what you prioritise. If, say, you have an overwhelming obsession with the word 'like' then head north. But, if you care more about prestige, teaching, job prospects, location, weather and things like that you should go to Bristol.

Oh such snobbery! Then again, I can't say that I disagree .

I do, however, on average, find Northerners to be nicer than people down South.

Bristolians are perfectly friendly!

Well Northerners are super-friendly then .

Are you from Bristol/studying at Bristol? How do you find it?

It depends on the course and its research reputation, as both Bristol and Newcastle are on the same tier. I have heard, however, that Bristol is slightly more prestigious and recognised, but that depends on what only a few of my friends have suggested.

I was born in Bristol and live in North Somerset (when not at uni), but Bristol is my nearest city/big town.

I love Bristol It's a great city with plenty to see and do. It pretty much has everything; great restaurants, night life, the shopping is amazing, there are some really good museums, the music scene is really good...
feel free to ask me any questions.



Also, lol at getting negged for my last post

I've received an offer from Newcastle, and although I haven't received one from Bristol yet, I am (touch wood) expecting one.

I know that in terms of reputation, Bristol seems to be held in higher regard than Newcastle, but how much higher i'm not sure?

Now considering this, my choice should be straightforward but having visited both places, I absolutely loved Newcastle, and as well as preferring it to Bristol, I haven't heard too many good reports about the teaching at Bristol, as well as it having very low student satisfaction ratings.

Considering all of this, which do you think is the best university for me, and which would you personally choose and why?

Thanks.

I really have to disagree, they are not on the same tier. Bristol is second tier (albeit towards the bottom of the second tier), Newcastle is towards the top of the fourth tier (with the likes of Manchester and Birmingham being third tier) alongisde places such as Exeter, QMUL and Leicester. But I do admit that it's subjective. Still, the reputation of Bristol is better than Newcastle and I think that it would be unfair to mislead the OP.



Ah thanks for that, I got the impression that it was quite vibrant.

What I meant to say was that Bristol and Newcastle are the same in terms of their identities as Russell Group universities. I heard that people gave equal respects to them; Therefore, I initially suggested that both were equally competitive.

You are right that Bristol is the better place; the RAE 2008 reveals 0% world-leading research for Law at Newcastle. On the other hand, Bristol's law department carries 15% world-renowned research, which goes to show the better university for the course.

Exeter as part of the fourth tier? Thought it reached the top 10 in the Times.

Ah I see. True, they're both in the Russell Group, but that doesn't make them equally competitive. For example, by your logic, Cardiff is equally as competitive as the LSE. Though the gap between Newcastle and Bristol isn't as large as the comparison given, they are not equally competitive. That does not, however, mean that Newcastle isn't competitive.

By fourth tier, I mean fourth tier of the 'top' UK Law Schools, not of all the universities which provide Law degrees. I took the information from the sticky on university rankings in this section. To quote:

"(Each group in no particular order):

Oxford
Cambridge

KCL
LSE
UCL
Nottingham
Durham
Bristol

Manchester
Birmingham
Warwick

(to a lesser extent):
Newcastle
Southampton
Leicester
Exeter"

As you can see, all fine Law schools.

What I meant to say was that Bristol and Newcastle are the same in terms of their identities as Russell Group universities. I heard that people gave equal respects to them; Therefore, I initially suggested that both were equally competitive.

You are right that Bristol is the better place; the RAE 2008 reveals 0% world-leading research for Law at Newcastle. On the other hand, Bristol's law department carries 15% world-renowned research, which goes to show the better university for the course.

Exeter as part of the fourth tier? Thought it reached the top 10 in the Times.

After three years of Bristol law I couldn't tell you what most of the leading researchers in this department look like. Undergraduates are kept as far away from them as possible.

I really wouldn't get hung up on research ratings...

I would say that it wholeheartedly depends on what you prioritise. If, say, you have an overwhelming obsession with the word 'like' then head north. But, if you care more about prestige, teaching, job prospects, location, weather and things like that you should go to Bristol.