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Cardiff vs Liverpool for MArch?

I have to choose between Cardiff and Liverpool for the MArch program, which do you think is the better choice? I prefer Cardiff, but I'm having difficulty securing an internship, which is a crucial part of the coursework there. Should I consider going to Liverpool instead, or would it be better to wait a year and reapply to Cardiff? I'm really confused and would appreciate any advice that could help me make a better decision.
Reply 1
Original post by arushi_g
I have to choose between Cardiff and Liverpool for the MArch program, which do you think is the better choice? I prefer Cardiff, but I'm having difficulty securing an internship, which is a crucial part of the coursework there. Should I consider going to Liverpool instead, or would it be better to wait a year and reapply to Cardiff? I'm really confused and would appreciate any advice that could help me make a better decision.

Hey I made a similar decision earlier this year between Cardiff university and Oxford Brooke’s and university of Wolverhampton
I picked Cardiff because of the internship ngl it’s hard securing one especially as an international student who is still processing the right to work documents
But I will say that experience is one you can’t miss but going to the other Uni I mean if you care about internships you can always do that during summer
Original post by arushi_g
I have to choose between Cardiff and Liverpool for the MArch program, which do you think is the better choice? I prefer Cardiff, but I'm having difficulty securing an internship, which is a crucial part of the coursework there. Should I consider going to Liverpool instead, or would it be better to wait a year and reapply to Cardiff? I'm really confused and would appreciate any advice that could help me make a better decision.

Hi there,

I've just started my fourth year here at Cardiff, going into my masters in Urban Design. My best friend has just started the MArch programme at Cardiff, after doing her undergrad there as well. Shes an international student and found it hard to secure experience for sure, but she recently secured a part time paid role. I know it wasnt easy for her and other students, but you have until January to secure work experience, and it can be part time, it can be unpaid and it can be experience in another country. I agree with what was said before, that the experience is really valuable not only for your second year in the Masters, but also when you finish to have experience already is a big advantage for you. Cardiff's Welsh School of Architecture is highly rated, and I work partly in it now and I am very impressed with the facilities they offer and all the teachers in my experience are really good! I may be bias but I do think it's a great uni, and course and if you have the opportunity to I would try Cardiff!

Hope this helps and if you have any other questions let me know!

Grace - Cardiff Uni Rep
Reply 3
Hey, sorry if this is a bit too late. I'd pick Liverpool as it's got a better reputation overall. Cardiff Uni has been declining for a number of years now and you'd be much better off career-wise with Liverpool.

Hope this helps :biggrin:
Reply 4
Original post by Carpetshiz
Hey, sorry if this is a bit too late. I'd pick Liverpool as it's got a better reputation overall. Cardiff Uni has been declining for a number of years now and you'd be much better off career-wise with Liverpool.
Hope this helps :biggrin:

True Cardiff has been declining badly
Yeah our rankings in Architecture have declined by a couple places in recent years, however we still remain in the top 5 in the UK. Personally studying here I haven't noticed a change in the quality of education or software, and I think the lecturers are of a very high quality.
In addition to this I love the student life in Cardiff, in the uni and in the city as a whole. I may be bias but I would definitely still recommend Cardiff.
Maybe check out open days at Liverpool to help compare the two, as cities and as uni's.

Hope this is useful,
Grace - Cardiff Uni Student Rep
Original post by Carpetshiz
Hey, sorry if this is a bit too late. I'd pick Liverpool as it's got a better reputation overall. Cardiff Uni has been declining for a number of years now and you'd be much better off career-wise with Liverpool.

Hope this helps :biggrin:


What's your source for this?
Reply 7
Original post by normaw
What's your source for this?

Hi, there isn't really any media online, just as there isn't any media online about many universities' performance, just word of mouth in academia.

I think asking for qualification on a statement like that is being a bit pedantic anyway; not sure every sentence on here needs a source. As you can see, plenty of people above have helped to support it!
Original post by Carpetshiz
Hi, there isn't really any media online, just as there isn't any media online about many universities' performance, just word of mouth in academia.

I think asking for qualification on a statement like that is being a bit pedantic anyway; not sure every sentence on here needs a source. As you can see, plenty of people above have helped to support it!


Do you work in acadamia? Anecdotal evidence or heresay isn't a good enough reason to suggest one uni above another.

We are not being pedantic about sources. If you are stating that a uni is in decline and the OP should choose the other option, then it needs to be backed up. They could take your advice and end up at a uni they don't really like and be unhappy there for the duration of their course. If your advice is coming from uni league tables, then bear in mind that they are highly subjective (The Guardian in particular) due to the focus on student satisfaction.

The reality is that for architecture (which the OP is asking about), they are both highly regarded courses.
Reply 9
Original post by normaw
Do you work in acadamia? Anecdotal evidence or heresay isn't a good enough reason to suggest one uni above another.
We are not being pedantic about sources. If you are stating that a uni is in decline and the OP should choose the other option, then it needs to be backed up. They could take your advice and end up at a uni they don't really like and be unhappy there for the duration of their course. If your advice is coming from uni league tables, then bear in mind that they are highly subjective (The Guardian in particular) due to the focus on student satisfaction.
The reality is that for architecture (which the OP is asking about), they are both highly regarded courses.
Please provide your source for them both being highly regarded.

Whose reality is that?
Original post by normaw
Do you work in acadamia? Anecdotal evidence or heresay isn't a good enough reason to suggest one uni above another.
We are not being pedantic about sources. If you are stating that a uni is in decline and the OP should choose the other option, then it needs to be backed up. They could take your advice and end up at a uni they don't really like and be unhappy there for the duration of their course. If your advice is coming from uni league tables, then bear in mind that they are highly subjective (The Guardian in particular) due to the focus on student satisfaction.
The reality is that for architecture (which the OP is asking about), they are both highly regarded courses.

Also, OP asked a question about which university is better and I answered.

What other sources are there except league table performance and general perception?
Original post by Carpetshiz
Please provide your source for them both being highly regarded.

Whose reality is that?


Original post by Carpetshiz
Also, OP asked a question about which university is better and I answered.

What other sources are there except league table performance and general perception?


RIBA architecture school reports, President Medals, Architects Journal awards and articles, etc.

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