Lancaster vs Durham for Physics

I guess your point seems fairly understandable. It looks like I was stressing about which one to go to for no reason. Thanks a bunch, really.

To be honest, I think I like Lancaster's course and accommodation a bit more, but the general environment of Durham and its prestige is also pretty attractive. Good to know that where I go won't matter as much since I'll be learning the same skills (given that I give the necessary effort).

OP, you've got two very good universities there. Neither one of them will diminish your chances of going to Oxbridge for postgraduate study all other things being equal. Please ignore Anon2 who doesn't have a clue what they're talking about. The reality is life isn't all about ranks, prestigious names, red brick, no brick thank goodness there is more depth.

@Serenity-M since you are a fellow physics student, would you like to share your opinion to help the OP please
(sorry for tagging you, I just feel like you could help)

Yh sure. Actually applied and got offers from both. OP, traditionally, academically Durham is viewed as better. However the entry grades are very high so it's potentially a risky first choice. However, I think Lancaster should be given credit too, it's physics department specialises in low temp physics and particle physics. I've been there several times and I can't stress this enough. The lectures are amazing, they know who their students are, they know what they are interested in and what they did their projects on. It's an incredibly supportive atmosphere which is why so many of its graduates are so highly rated. I never visited durham for physics but what Lancaster has I haven't come across at any of the other unis I have seen. So yh if you want to put Durham down first, fair, Lancaster is not shameful firm or insurance.

Damn writing this has made me question why I didn't put lancs first. 😂😂

Damn, looks like I found a really special place. Thanks a lot for the information! Looks like Lancaster it is.

@Physicsqueen my daughter has chosen Lancaster this years start for Physics, Particle physics and Cosmology, so she will be able to tell you from a students point of view. During the interview (last nov)the parents had a presentation whilst we waited for the students to finish, and they said that Lancaster do a lot of work placements in the summer, and it looks like the students get quite a good support network from tutorials and seminars and labs (lancaster also produced a statement on their website about covid and what they are doing to make the experience the best that there can be). And its got lot of green space too. There is a lancaster physics group (for firm and insurance choice students), also they are already chatting to online and on zoom and doing quizzes and that and getting to know each other before the course which is nice.

I'd like to take a minute to thank everyone for their assistance. I was awfully stressed out about whether I want to go to Lancaster or Durham, but you all made me realize that there are things a lot more important than prestige. I'll most definitely be going to Lancaster, as I like its course, accommodation, and general atmosphere a lot more. Thank you, everyone...

Ayyyy glad to hear it. You're going to uni this September? Who knows, we might bump into each other and never know 😂😂

Yup, I'll be starting this September. Will you be starting this September too? And yeah, I'd love to meet you!

I'm an international student and looking for a University to study Physics in. Nightlife is unimportant whatsoever, between Durham and Lancaster, which university is a better option, purely academical.

Yeah September too. I put Lancaster as my second choice though but I won't be annoyed if I end up going to lancs instead of Birmingham so who knows. 🤷😁

Was the stuff about the physics group sent by email? 😬

no i beleive its on social media