UEA vs University of York for Actuarial Science

Hi,

I have just received offers for all of my UCAS applications, I will leave the details of them all below:

1) University of York - ABB (Contextual - reduced from AAA)
2) University of East Anglia, UEA, - BBB (Contextual - reduced from AAB)
3) University of Leicester - BBC (Contextual - reduced from ABB)
4) University of Essex - BCC (Contextual - reduced from BBB)
5) University of Kent - CCC (Foundation Year).

I am currently thinking of firming York and putting UEA as my insurance. Personally, I think that the year in industry is invaluable for my career path and could allow me to secure a graduate role before graduation.

I was wondering if anyone has any advice about either the universities or the courses I have applied to at each of them, as I don't really know how highly they rank for Actuarial Science in the UK. (In terms of which ones will provide me a better education).

In terms of comparing courses, they all provide me 6 exemptions for IFoA exams. The course at UEA has more optional modules than York but mainly about coding from what I have read, which I wouldn't necessarily be bothered missing out on if I go to York.

Mainly I am drawn to York because of its prestige as a Russell group and I have always looked at it as a university I would like to go to before I applied and chose to pursue an Actuarial Science degree. I've been to the area on holiday and l'd prefer to live there over Norwich but I was more concerned about the quality of education at each of my offers.

Another factor is I know the lecturers at UEA have both been actuaries for 20-30 years so they obviously know the course and the day to day role of actuaries inside out. Where as I don't yet know much about the course lecturers at York.

I don't know so much about either of the other universities as I haven't researched around them as much.

If anyone has any advice or information to share I would be extremely grateful!