Edinburgh or Durham? (English lit)

I love Edinburgh! Very envious of your choices! haha.
Only problem with Edinburgh uni is that the accomodation is not exactly top-notch... whilst VM has the best accomodation in Durham (apparently!). Amazing city and nightlife but also alcohol will be more expensive than Durham (always an important factor!). ALSO if you take 2 Italian modules every year at Durham you get the degree certificated as English with Italian I believe so that might be a pro. Aaaand at Edinburgh (as it's a Scottish uni) there will be a fair few 17 year olds and after four years you might begin to feel a bit old... I don't know really! Durham doesn't feel that small actually according to my friends. It has a few clubs where you'll always be able to meet loads of new folk from various colleges etc. Also the collegiate thing is so cool! And you can walk everywhere! And it's closer to home :biggrin:

Plus the department at Durham is AMAZING! And I'll be there... So to summarise:
- Durham has cheap alcohol
- Durham has a good course
- Durham has me!!!

Woop!

Make a pros and cons list, then ignore it and go with your heart. Because you will know deep down which one suits you more. Good luck deciding. I heart both cities hugely...

Reply 2

rottcodd

3

Reblet

Make a pros and cons list, then ignore it and go with your heart.

Remind me to rep you tomorrow if I forget :smile:

Reply 3

Woop Woop! :biggrin:

Reply 4

^ that's a great line btw. (edit: Not "woop! woop!", it's the quoted one I mean)
as to the OP, go to Durham. Because Durham just sounds nicer than Edinburgh. I mean, the 'burgh' in Edinburgh just can't match the 'dur' in Durham.
Besides, as you have said, 'you went to durham and absolutely loved it.' :p:

Reply 5

It's SO pretty and you get matriculated in the cathedral... and formals! Gowns! PALATINATE! Mmmm.

But yes, it's all about what you want, what you're drawn to. Deep down you will know.

Reply 6

hobnob

14

toothwort white

^ that's a great line btw. (edit: Not "woop! woop!", it's the quoted one I mean)
as to the OP, go to Durham. Because Durham just sounds nicer than Edinburgh. I mean, the 'burgh' in Edinburgh just can't match the 'dur' in Durham.

But "Edinburgh" has four syllables as opposed to the measly two of "Durham". :p:

Reply 7

Kater Murr

20

Durham sounds quite dull to me, whereas I associate Edinburgh with the likes of Robert Louis Stevenson and David Hume.

I'd visit, but I find Edinburgh more appealing based on my first impressions.

Reply 8

River85

17

Kater Murr

Durham sounds quite dull to me, whereas I associate Edinburgh with the likes of Robert Louis Stevenson and David Hume.

I'd visit, but I find Edinburgh more appealing based on my first impressions.

And I'd associate Durham with its World Heritage Site, conservation area. With the Velenerable Bede (not that he lived there) and with....Tony Blair and Rowan Atkinson.....

Although, Tony Blair was actually born in Edinburgh. Hmmm. They both have a Tony Blair connection. :smile:

Anyway, Durham is only dull if you have no imaginaton. Arguable the centre€ (although not the capital) of the ancient kingdom of Northumbria and possibly the centre of Christianity in this country at one time?

True the nightlife isn't up to much. It's a tired old saying but Newcastle is 20 miles away (12 minutes by train), and Sunderland is nearby. It's not as if Durham is in the middle of nowhere which some people seem to think it is.

The department is amazing, as has already been said. You couldn't ask for a more supportive environment, even if the university's organisation can leave a lot to be desired....

I'd say go with your heart. That way, you can't go wrong.

Edit: - Don't get me wrong though. Edinburgh is possibly still my favourite city in the country. It may be sentimental trash, but follow your heart.

Reply 9

Why do you all think Edinburgh sounds better than Durham? Two syllables are so much cooler. Edinburgh just sounds pretentious and unnecessarily long. (just kidding) And Durham, with the word 'ham' in it, makes me think of food and hence makes me feel good.

Reply 10

I love Edinburgh BUT Durham forever! :biggrin:

There's a lot of Durham-bashing on TSR, even in the English forum :frown:

Very upsetting. Great uni, wicked course, fabulous people... What else could you want?

Reply 11

By fabulous people, do you mean yourself? :wink:

May as well be frank. :p:

Reply 12

UPsilamba

Reblet

Great uni, wicked course, fabulous people... What else could you want?

A city

J/K

Obviously nowhere is perfect...

Durham is everything you said above, but it just lacks in the cultural side for me :smile:

Reply 13

It is a city.

It's just not a capital city.

Reply 14

hobnob

14

toothwort white

Why do you all think Edinburgh sounds better than Durham? Two syllables are so much cooler. Edinburgh just sounds pretentious and unnecessarily long. (just kidding) And Durham, with the word 'ham' in it, makes me think of food and hence makes me feel good.

"Ham" makes me think of bad acting. :p:

Reply 15

Actually, I have to make a correction. The thought of food may make me feel good, but I am sure I will feel rather guilty if I have indeed eaten (a huge amount) of ham.
And after a great deal of thinking (and after reading hobnob's reference of ham actors), I realise I don't even like ham.

But nevertheless, I still stand by my claim that Durham sounds cool.

Reply 16

Durham is beautiful :biggrin:

So is Edinburgh. But it's uni-ness is ugly... and it's miles away... and you'll get obese :frown:

a fact I'm afraid.

Reply 17

Get obese???
Why? :shock:

Reply 18