Studying in Kings Buildings

Hey Guys,
I have been offered MEng civil in Edinburgh and would like to know what peoples opinions of studying at Kings Buildings are? I presume as part of Science and Eng department most of my lectures/labs will be there.

I mean does the univeristy seem a bit split up between science and the rest, does it feel as if you are not really part of the main university or what? I studied previously in ireland where the campus was all one unit and would just like to know peoples feelings. Is all the administration and main facilities at Georges Square? Is it much hassle getting in and out to KB if you live near Georges square, how long by bus/bike would it be? Is it a pain in the ass?

Reply 1

tony_tigger

There are so many students at both locations i am always down KB and it is never lonely good facilities and all the ppl u need to see are there and so i have no reason to go to george square. i mean there are more shops near george square so u have more choice at dinner but have good places and even has gym and squash courts to pass the time. everyone goes out in the same place at night so don't worry its not a campus uni i did some time at loughborough - a campus uni and i much prefer the vibe of Ed just hate the walks. George square has a free bus between it and KB so no problems or its about 30 mins walk or 10 mins bike but no often you have to go between the two

Reply 2

sunjuice

its true that there are loads of students down at KB. its quite funny - in the morning there is a mass migration down there. this yeah i have had all my lectures down there - its ok i guess - however all the students there are scientists and sometimes is nice to get away from KB. altho everybody "gets along" there is still a kinda divide between KB and george square - ie. im not saying this applies to everbody. but just in general the way people dress and act. there are more boys in kb too.

but really its fine.

Reply 3

marcush

OP

Thanks for the responses guys. yeah I reckon a uni like edinburgh is better than campuis uni like warwick/loughborough. They sound very claustrophobic indeed.

Reply 4

Chaz_Hack_Rabbit

What are the services (SU, shops etc) like in KB???

Reply 5

sunjuice

the facilities arents *as* great as in george square (where there are loads of cafes and coffee places etc).

in KB there are several cafeterias/canteen, i can count at least five - and some are better than others. prices are ok.

there are also some shops like a blackwells for stationary and books.

there is a gym (havnt been yet).

so overall, its not amazing, but its fine.

for the clever ones, there is a shopping centre 5 mins from KB (cameron toll) that has sainsburys etc

im prob not painting the best picture here, but really its ok and u guys shouldnt worry about it.

as mentioned, i spend ALL my day there - it kinda prevents u from getting distracted *too* much cos ur not near home etc. then in the afternoon im back in the centre and can have fun.

Reply 6

Chaz_Hack_Rabbit

Sounds great...I'm definitely looking forward to getting there in September, what were your experiences of Fresher's week like???

Reply 7

oxymoronic

19

Its not as amazing as its made out to be. Thats all I'll say. It was an amazingly surreal week, where everyone tries to be everyones best friend and you spend hours and hours stood in queues, but it definetly wasn't what I expected, or anything like its made out to be. I've had much better weeks since being here, as its way better once you know where to go, have friends etc.

Reply 8

Dogberry

2

I enjoyed freshers week and unless they've changed the lecture locations you'll spend most of first year in George Square anyway.

Reply 9

michaelnicholson88

Fresher's Week is what you make of it- I didn't make very much of it last year, but, as a House Assistant, I've sort of got another shot at it this year!

Reply 10

arod

5

oxymoronic

Its not as amazing as its made out to be. Thats all I'll say. It was an amazingly surreal week, where everyone tries to be everyones best friend and you spend hours and hours stood in queues, but it definetly wasn't what I expected, or anything like its made out to be. I've had much better weeks since being here, as its way better once you know where to go, have friends etc.

I agree. I remember in Sept paying alot of money for a Freshers pack that I ended up never using and Pub crawls/scavenger hunts got abit boring after awhile.
There are about 12 Canadians from my school all scattered about different UK unis so we compared our freshers week experiences. Other uni's are way more organized on the fresher's front. Lots of activities to get people involved and make it easier to get to know one another and have a great time within the residences and/or within and between the faculties - just to generate a little rivalry! One floor of the residence would challenge another, and/or play pranks on anther residence. The photos stayed up in the common rooms all yr long and it looked like good fun. Each floor would get together and determine a name for themselves or a theme and just about everyone participated - great way to get to know everyone on your floor.
Lots of fancy dress stuff and weird challenges like sumo wrestling (you are picked at random to have a match and have to put on this suit that makes you look and feel like you're 500 lbs), lots of prizes, cheers etc.

One faculty e.g. biologists would challenge the lawyers to whatever. Different faculties had their own fresher t-shirts and specific colours, some had hats (e.g. the engineers) so if you met someone on the street you'd know at a glance that they were first yr Engineering, Languages, Architecture, sciences or whatever from the colour or the slogan of their T-shirt - so you'd just go up and talk to them. They also did alot of things to celebrate the end of exams, (not sure I understand the different colour of carnations during exams and being dumped with flour thing) whereas we all just seemed to go home at different times at the end of exams.

Reply 11

Olimpia

Most people don't really like KB, I must say. It's okayish, a bit boring at times as it's so far away from town and as some other posters said, facilities are not that great. It's okay in first year, as you'll spend most of your time in George Square rather than KB. There's also a free bus from the uni that takes you from GS to KB with one stop in summerhall, but avoid waiting for it 9 o clock in the morning as it's usually crowded.

Studying in Kings Buildings

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