What are thoughts on these universities and the cities they are in?

I am applying to these 5 universities to study Geography, mainly Human Geography, and was wondering what student opinions were on the cities and the universities. The unis are Birmingham, Southampton, Cardiff, Loughborough and Reading

Reply 1

mesub

Clearing and Applications Advisor, Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post by elin0r.a

I am applying to these 5 universities to study Geography, mainly Human Geography, and was wondering what student opinions were on the cities and the universities. The unis are Birmingham, Southampton, Cardiff, Loughborough and Reading

ooo I do love a good bit of human geography.
All sound good and I think they've got a mix of entry reqs off the top of my head.

What are your predicted grades?

I can't speak for Reading or Cardiff.

Birmingham is a big city, some parts are nice, some parts aren't. The campus is quite nice.
Lboro is a university town. Good campus, but of course it won't have the city vibe.
Southampton is by the sea and is alright

Reply 2

totallyfine

12

Cardiff is a lovely, and relatively small city and the Uni is within it.
Reading is a beautiful and green campus on the edges of the Town

Reply 3

normaw

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

19

Original post by elin0r.a

I am applying to these 5 universities to study Geography, mainly Human Geography, and was wondering what student opinions were on the cities and the universities. The unis are Birmingham, Southampton, Cardiff, Loughborough and Reading

Have you been to any open days? It's the best way to work out if it is the right uni and location for you.

Original post by elin0r.a

I am applying to these 5 universities to study Geography, mainly Human Geography, and was wondering what student opinions were on the cities and the universities. The unis are Birmingham, Southampton, Cardiff, Loughborough and Reading

Open days are a great way to get a vibe of the unis you're interested in, as others have said! :biggrin:

unfortunately the open day for Cardiff was today, so it had just passed, but I recommend having a look on the uni website for any future events.

In general, I've found Cardiff a really lovely place to live! I think its nice if you want a good mix of nature and the city. Its smaller than your usual major city, but it means that everything is at a walkable distance - I never really have to take public transport. There's still lots of things to do, so nice if you want to experience living in a city but get a bit overwhelmed by the bigger cities :smile:

~ Fatiha, Cardiff University Student Rep

Reply 5

McGinger

20

As above - go to Open Days, listen to the subject presentations (not all Geography courses are the same), ask questions and look around. Think about the reality of being in that environment, and that city for 3 or 4 years.

Original post by elin0r.a

I am applying to these 5 universities to study Geography, mainly Human Geography, and was wondering what student opinions were on the cities and the universities. The unis are Birmingham, Southampton, Cardiff, Loughborough and Reading

Hi @elin0r.a

Visiting the University will be the best way to get an idea of whether it is the right place for you. The University has its last open day of 2024 on the Wednesday 27 November. There will be offer holder days, also, in the early part of 2025. Additionally, you are more than welcome to visit the university any time that suits you to get a feel for the University.

Southampton has a nice mix of city and of nature. The main campus (where Geography is based) has alot of green space. Nearby to the main campus is the Southampton Common which has 365 acres of green space. The city is not far from campus. It is only a short bus ride away. In the city, there is a large shopping centre as well as an array of bars and restaurants. Southampton also has historical features such as the old city walls. The sea is also nearby.

Best Wishes,
Gulcin
Student Ambassador

(edited 1 month ago)

Original post by elin0r.a

I am applying to these 5 universities to study Geography, mainly Human Geography, and was wondering what student opinions were on the cities and the universities. The unis are Birmingham, Southampton, Cardiff, Loughborough and Reading

Good afternoon @elin0r.a

I am a second-year ecology student at the University of Reading. It is excellent to hear you are considering applying.

I believe the surrounding area is excellent. The university is situated in Earley, primarily surrounded by large housing and schools. The main town centre is only a 15 minute walk or 10 minute bus ride. The transport links into the main town are great, and we have a regular bus service which runs every 10 minutes from the middle of the whiteknights campus. There are two different buses. One goes to the local Asda, and the other goes directly into town, where many grocery shops, clothing shops, and train stations can be found.

Within the local town centre is a large shopping mall called the Oracle, which has all the leading high street brands and more. There are nightclubs that students tend to enjoy at the weekend and lots of pubs and restaurants. Additionally, there are three cinemas ( Vue, Showcase, and the Biscuit Factory). I have also written a blog about the local museums, which can be accessed here.

Similarly, there are also annual events to celebrate, like Diwali, Christmas, Chinese New Year, Halloween, Hanukkah, and many more. I have attended many of these events, such as the Diwali party, where we made clay Diwali lamps and had lots of food, all provided by the University of Reading. Another good event was the Halloween pumpkin carving; seeing so many people come together to celebrate was great. My favourite event this year must be Christmas with the community, where the University of Reading organised a gingerbread house decorating evening. Around 100 people from the university came together, as well as locals, and we watched Home Alone whilst decorating gingerbread houses without friends; there was also a selection of pizzas, biscuits, and drinks throughout the evening. All these events have been free of charge as a courtesy of The University.

The University of Reading also offers over 30 study spaces available for students. These are a selection of quiet, silent and group study zones. The library has five floors, with thousands of academic literature to borrow; there is even a section of books free for everyone to keep; donations are these books but are first-come-first-served. Here is the library's Instagram page for more information on our modern library.

There is also a range of restaurants and cafes; some are included within the university for reading meal plans. These are great for lunch or dinner when families visit you at university. Also, they hold events such as live music and quizzes throughout the year.

Also, there are two on-campus bars/ pubs, two on the Whiteknights campus called Park House and Mojos and one on the London Road campus called The Dairy. The Dairy has live music from a local band every Monday, and Mojos has a free pool and games nights. Also, other events are going on throughout the week, like quiz karaoke and mocktail nights. More information can be found [url= https://www.hospitalityuor.co.uk/bars-and-pubs/.]here.

I hope this information helps and isn't too much to process, as it is a lot of information at once.

If you have any questions or don't quite understand something written, please let us know, and we can help.

All the best,
Ella 😀
BSc Ecology

Original post by elin0r.a

I am applying to these 5 universities to study Geography, mainly Human Geography, and was wondering what student opinions were on the cities and the universities. The unis are Birmingham, Southampton, Cardiff, Loughborough and Reading

Hi there!

I studied Human Geography and Planning at Cardiff, and found it a great course, uni and city - ive now chosen to stay and do my Masters!
For me Cardiff is a perfect city, especially to be a student in, with everything in walking distance.

If you missed the open day at the weekend, we have upcoming webinars you can sign up to here:
https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/open-days-and-visits/undergraduate/webinars

Also what I did a bit of, is go on youtube to see the city and uni, as I couldn't visit in real life.

Hope this helps, any other questions please let me know!

Grace :smile:

- student rep

Reply 9

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

16

Original post by elin0r.a

I am applying to these 5 universities to study Geography, mainly Human Geography, and was wondering what student opinions were on the cities and the universities. The unis are Birmingham, Southampton, Cardiff, Loughborough and Reading

Hi @elin0r.a
Visiting each university on an open day or offer holder day can be a great way to get a feel for the university and the city for yourself, to see if you could imagine yourself living and studying their.
I would also recommend looking at the differences between the geography course at each of these universities, as different universities may cover different modules and see which university has module options that your most interested in.
Hope this helps!
-Jasmine (Lancaster Student Ambassador)

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