The Student Room Group

Portsmouth vs essex

Hi guys, I am a possible new student in one of these two English universities. I am not from the UK, and I don't really know what to expect from this experience and it is also for this reason that I'd like to ask to somebody who knows both these universities, which are the pros and cons? I honestly need to say that so far Portsmouth has fascinated me the most!!

Reply 1

Original post by serenam00
Hi guys, I am a possible new student in one of these two English universities. I am not from the UK, and I don't really know what to expect from this experience and it is also for this reason that I'd like to ask to somebody who knows both these universities, which are the pros and cons? I honestly need to say that so far Portsmouth has fascinated me the most!!

i would choose Portsmouth too. not for academic reasons but socially. i personally wouldn't firm any uni without visiting first, especially essex.

Reply 2

thanks for your reply! I would have liked to visit the unis first but I couldn't. Portsmouth gave me this impression of a small and cute city, where everything is close and well connected. Do you know if Is it so?
Original post by A Rolling Stone
i would choose Portsmouth too. not for academic reasons but socially. i personally wouldn't firm any uni without visiting first, especially essex.

Reply 3

i think it's decent for student nightlife, but i wouldn't describe Portsmouth as anything remotely like the Garden of Eden... do you have any other unis that you could consider?!
Original post by serenam00
thanks for your reply! I would have liked to visit the unis first but I couldn't. Portsmouth gave me this impression of a small and cute city, where everything is close and well connected. Do you know if Is it so?

Reply 4

I got in Portsmouth, Essex (Colchester) and Brunel. the last one doesn't really give me any emotion tbh.
Original post by A Rolling Stone
i think it's decent for student nightlife, but i wouldn't describe Portsmouth as anything remotely like the Garden of Eden... do you have any other unis that you could consider?!

Reply 5

i think your instincts are very good tbh. Portsmouth is the best choice if you can't visit. It's a working class city but is not dangerous at all (just don't leave your bicycle unchained) unlike London... my colleague went to Portsmouth and she's doing really well in her career :smile:
Original post by serenam00
I got in Portsmouth, Essex (Colchester) and Brunel. the last one doesn't really give me any emotion tbh.

Reply 6

Original post by serenam00
Hi guys, I am a possible new student in one of these two English universities. I am not from the UK, and I don't really know what to expect from this experience and it is also for this reason that I'd like to ask to somebody who knows both these universities, which are the pros and cons? I honestly need to say that so far Portsmouth has fascinated me the most!!


Hi! I’m a current second year student at Portsmouth! So if you have any further questions, feel free to ask.

Lots of things in Portsmouth are very close. All the university buildings are within a 10/15 minute walk of each other. It only takes about 10/15 minutes walk to get to Gunwharf keys where lots of shops and restraints are. Commercial road is very close to the station and some of the uni buildings. The student accommodation is spread out throughout the city and is within walking distance of the university buildings.

Reply 7

I am studying at Essex myself and have had two friends from Portsmouth that have decided to drop out due to ‘how boring it is socially’ & ‘not good with content teaching’. Essex is a great uni and a lot bigger than Portsmouth people wise so if you want the real uni experience I’d suggest Essex.
Original post by serenam00
Hi guys, I am a possible new student in one of these two English universities. I am not from the UK, and I don't really know what to expect from this experience and it is also for this reason that I'd like to ask to somebody who knows both these universities, which are the pros and cons? I honestly need to say that so far Portsmouth has fascinated me the most!!

Reply 8

Original post by serenam00
Hi guys, I am a possible new student in one of these two English universities. I am not from the UK, and I don't really know what to expect from this experience and it is also for this reason that I'd like to ask to somebody who knows both these universities, which are the pros and cons? I honestly need to say that so far Portsmouth has fascinated me the most!!

Hi @serenam00

So glad you are thinking about joining Portsmouth University. It's a really great place to live, you are right in saying that its small and everything is close and well connected. It is also cute, but mostly quirky. We have some lovely restaurants and cafe's and the community feel here is great, most students don't explore out of the city centre until their second year - but I would thoroughly recommend just taking a walk around to experience everything. We are also only an hour and a half away from London which is great for transport links and just for the odd day out!

As a university itself we are doing very well, we gained a gold award for the Teaching Excellence Framework which is mostly rated on student experience and how happy they were on their course and with the University in general.

I was a student here myself and graduate 2 years ago, I loved my experience at Portsmouth and wouldn't have changed it for anything. Its opened up a lot of opportunities for me and many employers regard Portsmouth students highly.

Hope this has helped, let me know if you have any other questions.

Alex - UoP Rep :smile:

Reply 9

Hi, I just applied to Portsmouth through clearing, can you give me a little insight about the university and the city?

Reply 10

Original post by Ysuhail
Hi, I just applied to Portsmouth through clearing, can you give me a little insight about the university and the city?

Hi @Ysuhail

That is great news! Fingers crossed for you.

What course have you applied for?

Portsmouth University is situated in the centre of Portsmouth, and all of the university buildings are close by to each other. Depending on what course you are studying you might find yourself in a similar area for your lectures or spread across the different buildings.

We have lots of societies which you can join, they will all be at the freshers fair in the first week of University. You can meet people and see what society most appeals to you. Students like it here because it can feel quite tight knit and you can have friends from a multitude of courses from all over the world.

Our lecturers are really helpful, they will go above and beyond to make sure you get the best grade. You will be assigned a personal tutor who you can go to for anything, either academic or personal. We also have a variety of support services available to all students, such as the maths cafe and academic skills unit.

The city itself is quite small but there is lots to do. It's described as a quirky seaside city, we have a great social scene. I loved being a student here because it is very much a student city, everywhere you look there are students. We have some really great local businesses here who create a real community feel. Everything is within walking distance here.

Southsea is also lovely (area of Portsmouth), this is where you'll find lots of independent bars and restaurants and amazing cafes. We also have Gunwarf Quays which is an outlet shopping centre with cinema and bowling and lots of restaurants on the harbour front.

What kind of information did you want in particular, if you let me know I can tell you more!

Alex - UoP Rep :smile:

Reply 11

Original post by University of Portsmouth
Hi @Ysuhail
That is great news! Fingers crossed for you.
What course have you applied for?
Portsmouth University is situated in the centre of Portsmouth, and all of the university buildings are close by to each other. Depending on what course you are studying you might find yourself in a similar area for your lectures or spread across the different buildings.
We have lots of societies which you can join, they will all be at the freshers fair in the first week of University. You can meet people and see what society most appeals to you. Students like it here because it can feel quite tight knit and you can have friends from a multitude of courses from all over the world.
Our lecturers are really helpful, they will go above and beyond to make sure you get the best grade. You will be assigned a personal tutor who you can go to for anything, either academic or personal. We also have a variety of support services available to all students, such as the maths cafe and academic skills unit.
The city itself is quite small but there is lots to do. It's described as a quirky seaside city, we have a great social scene. I loved being a student here because it is very much a student city, everywhere you look there are students. We have some really great local businesses here who create a real community feel. Everything is within walking distance here.
Southsea is also lovely (area of Portsmouth), this is where you'll find lots of independent bars and restaurants and amazing cafes. We also have Gunwarf Quays which is an outlet shopping centre with cinema and bowling and lots of restaurants on the harbour front.
What kind of information did you want in particular, if you let me know I can tell you more!
Alex - UoP Rep :smile:

Hello, could you tell me about the accommodation in Portsmouth and how the society works.

Reply 12

Original post by serenam00
Hi guys, I am a possible new student in one of these two English universities. I am not from the UK, and I don't really know what to expect from this experience and it is also for this reason that I'd like to ask to somebody who knows both these universities, which are the pros and cons? I honestly need to say that so far Portsmouth has fascinated me the most!!

Hey there!👏

I am really happy that you're considering Essex as your University!🌟 At Essex, we’re all about making your uni experience unforgettable: a vibrant campus buzzing with activities, clubs, and societies just waiting for you to join! Whether you're into sports, arts, or just hanging out, there's something for everyone. 🏀🎨🎉

In terms of your academic life Essex is home to top-notch programs and world-class professors who are super passionate about what they do. From cutting-edge research to hands-on learning, you'll definitely be set for success. 📚💡

When it comes to our beautiful campus it's a mix of modern facilities and lush greenery. It's the perfect place to chill between classes or have a picnic with friends. Plus, with events happening all year round, there's never a dull moment! 🌳🎤

Ready to make lifelong friends and create amazing memories? Essex is calling your name! 🌈✨

Join us, and let's make magic happen! 💖👩*🎓👨*🎓

Catch you on campus? 😎

Cheers,
Essex Student Rep - Renaldas 🎓✨

Reply 13

Original post by apsyj0001
Hello, could you tell me about the accommodation in Portsmouth and how the society works.

Of course!

We have a few halls of residence which are applied to via the University. Our housing team works with the accommodation providers to allocate rooms to students, however, you can also apply directly through most halls. We recommend doing it through the University so they can help you if any issues arise.

Most university-affiliated halls will be in shared apartments, which means you get your own bedroom and en-suite and share a kitchen (usually shared between 4 - 10 other students). Some halls also have studio apartments where you get your own kitchen - these are more expensive and some students find these slightly more isolating than traditional accommodation. It all depends on what you prefer.

All of the halls we recommend can be found on our website. These are all either owned by the University or are in partnership with the University. Be careful if you are looking at private halls of residence which are not featured on our website, these can be expensive and tie you into longer contracts.

Societies are run by the Students Union, and sports teams are run by the Sport and Rec's team.

What kind of society are you interested in? We have quite a few different types of societies i.e. cultural ones such as Indian Dance Society, religious like the Hindu Society, hobbies such as the Board Game Society and more.

We also cover most sports, and the teams have different levels you can apply for, so you can play for fun or competitions. Our Wednesday afternoons are free of lectures and Seminars so that you can do society or sport activities. This is normally when our teams go to competitions.

When you join the University we hold a fresher's fayre which allows you to meet sports teams and societies, join in taster sessions and decide which ones you might want to be a part of. Some of them are free and others have costs associated. You can find a list of our societies here. If you can't find a society you like you can create your own, or adopt an inactive society - you just have to find others to join you.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you want any more information.

Alex - UoP Rep 🙂

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