Uni of York or Manchester

I have offers for law from both these universities. I'm really struggling to make a decision.
Manchester is closer to home and more convenient. I also really like the idea of doing a year abroad which Manchester has so many more destinations available than York. Manchester also lowered my offer too.
York however seems to be very reputable for law, in particular the way it teaches. York also seems to be a much nicer place to live, however, I do like the idea of living in a bigger city like Manchester.
I'm just struggling to way up the positives and negatives and was wondering if anyone could offer any further insight. Thank you!

I have attended Yorks open day but not Manchester. I agree with you about York gap year - they really did not emphasise it.
Thank you so much!

Go to Manchester.

I have offers for law from both these universities. I'm really struggling to make a decision.
Manchester is closer to home and more convenient. I also really like the idea of doing a year abroad which Manchester has so many more destinations available than York. Manchester also lowered my offer too.
York however seems to be very reputable for law, in particular the way it teaches. York also seems to be a much nicer place to live, however, I do like the idea of living in a bigger city like Manchester.
I'm just struggling to way up the positives and negatives and was wondering if anyone could offer any further insight. Thank you!

Hi, I’m from Manchester but study at York! I would personally recommend Manchester if you’re looking for a more social, party based uni experience. The city is amazing and because it’s so big has so much to do, whereas I found that after doing every touristy thing in York after the first month it was boring - there’s also only 4 clubs. However a pro of York is the college system which is designed for making friends and playing sport. Manchester accommodation is generally quite bad and a lot of it is in Fallowfield just outside of the city centre, meaning you usually have to take a packed bus and spend more on ubers for nights out, whereas York is definitely a walkable city. Additionally all of my friends who go to Manchester complain about the lack of support from tutors and teaching quality, whereas York is generally more supportive. All my friends who do law really enjoy the PBL way of teaching.

I’m not too concerned about going out so York in that way would a better fit. However, like you said, I am concerned I would get bored! This has given me a lot to think about and was very helpful. Thank you!

I would definitely recommend visiting both places before accepting an offer - I’m not sure I would’ve firmed York if I’d been beforehand. I think a large part of it is where you already live as I know some people who come from small villages and love York as it doesn’t feel too big, whereas others from big cities such as Manchester and London might find it too small and boring. I’m happy to answer any specific questions if you’re still struggling between the two 🙂

Thank you so much. I live in North Wales so definitely used to being in rural areas!
I have recently been to York for the open day and I went to Manchester campus back in Feb and an open day in Sep. My worry with York is its small size and also that it doesn't have brilliant study abroad options. At the moment I'm thinking of Manchester as there's so much to do and very easy to get home, but I'm not a massive drinker or someone that goes out lots, do you think this would be an issue there? Also do you know anything safety wise for Manchester? No worries if you don't know and sorry for all the questions!

I’m not too concerned about going out so York in that way would a better fit. However, like you said, I am concerned I would get bored! This has given me a lot to think about and was very helpful. Thank you!

Ah I actually know quite a lot of people from North Wales who go to York! I’m not too clued up about study abroad options as I didn’t take one, but I know people who are studying in Amsterdam and Belgium currently. I think the only problem in Manchester would be if your flatmates or neighbours choose to have a party or pres/afters, but obviously there’s still chance of that at York.
One definite pro of York is how safe it is - I’ve walked home at all hours of the night and never once felt scared, whereas I would never do that at home. The centre of Manchester (except Piccadilly Gardens) is relatively safe, it’s more so the outskirts that tend to be more dangerous. The only real danger is pickpockets, which I’ve never experienced personally.
I think York is one of the universities with the most amount of societies - there’s one for absolutely everything - and if you get stuck in from fresher’s week it definitely is a great way of making friends. There’s also both uni sports and college (accommodation) sports which are more chill and prioritise the social aspect which allows you to meet people in your college of all years and courses, which is very helpful.

Even if you do get bored of York, Leeds is a nearby city with lots of activities and things to do for students, so this is something to consider. I know people at both Manchester and York and from what I've gathered, Manchester is definitely a more social scene in terms of nightlife, so if you aren't big on this, you might feel a bit out of place. That being said, it really depends on what accommodation you choose. If you opt for big Fallowfield accommodations such as Unsworth Park, if you're not someone who likes to go out a lot, you might find it quite loud there. On the other hand, there are quieter or 'less active' accommodations which tend to be closer to the university, so you might feel more comfortable there, despite them not being as social. I'm part of an access programme at York and have heard nothing but positive things from their law students and the PBL teaching style. It's something that will weigh heavily on my own decision next year (currently in Year 12). The collegiate system definitely helps in creating a more social atmosphere and York is a beautiful city with people from different backgrounds anyway. Like I said, Leeds is very close and if you're someone who prefers being closer to a big city, there is no reason why you can't live in off-campus accommodation in Leeds for your second and third year and commute to York (travel time is around an hour on public transport from Leeds City Centre, but could be as little as 20 minutes if you choose to live further out). Accommodation in Leeds is also a lot cheaper than student accommodation in York, which is something you might want to consider.
I would advise picking the place you feel you would be the happiest over the next three years.