Lancaster vs Durham vs Southampton

Hi, so I'm in the process of deciding my fifth choice and ive narrowed it down to these three universities (PPE for the first two and Politics and economics for Southampton). I initially put down Durham as I know its highly regarded and has a good reputation (and i have a two grade reduction for it meaning it could work as an insurance) but I went to its summer school in the summer and while I enjoyed it I didn't really feel fully comfortable during the week, and I'm aware that it's not the most diverse uni, a factor which is important to me as a black girl so I'm worried there won't be as many people i can relate to. Lancaster and Southampton are both good unis and have lower grade requirements so would work as insurances in place of Durham as well, so I guess I just need to decide between reputation and comfortability i guess? I just feel silly not applying to a top ten uni (durham) when i've been gifted a grade reduction

Hi, so I'm in the process of deciding my fifth choice and ive narrowed it down to these three universities (PPE for the first two and Politics and economics for Southampton). I initially put down Durham as I know its highly regarded and has a good reputation (and i have a two grade reduction for it meaning it could work as an insurance) but I went to its summer school in the summer and while I enjoyed it I didn't really feel fully comfortable during the week, and I'm aware that it's not the most diverse uni, a factor which is important to me as a black girl so I'm worried there won't be as many people i can relate to. Lancaster and Southampton are both good unis and have lower grade requirements so would work as insurances in place of Durham as well, so I guess I just need to decide between reputation and comfortability i guess? I just feel silly not applying to a top ten uni (durham) when i've been gifted a grade reduction

Hello @Tee098,
I can understand it’s quite a stressful time for you choosing which universities will give you the most whilst also it being the best fit for you. Spending a minimum of three years at a university, it’s important to consider everything - so not just the reputation and the name, but the course itself and the quality of student life.
As you have said you’ve previously felt uncomfortable at Durham when visiting, and I would say that enjoying your time at university is very important as otherwise it could be damaging to your wellbeing and your uni experience. Southampton and most other university’s usually offer societies for culture and nationality to ensure everyone feels welcomed within the community - you can have a look at some of ours here to get a feel https://www.susu.org/opportunities/categories/culture-and-international.
Most employers as well would be wowed by a prestigious University such as Oxford and Durham but really it would come down to your skills, knowledge and whether you are truly best for the job. So it’s best to ensure you enjoy your time at university and the course itself and get the most out of it rather than worrying about the name behind it.
So my overall advice would be prioritise which uni offers the best course suited to where your interests lie (have a look at module choices) and which offer the student life you’re looking for (through societies, nightlife, and their student union), rather than choosing a "top ten" university.
If you have any questions about Southampton specifically, please don’t be afraid to get in touch!
Lucy - 2nd year geography student 🙂

Hi, so I'm in the process of deciding my fifth choice and ive narrowed it down to these three universities (PPE for the first two and Politics and economics for Southampton). I initially put down Durham as I know its highly regarded and has a good reputation (and i have a two grade reduction for it meaning it could work as an insurance) but I went to its summer school in the summer and while I enjoyed it I didn't really feel fully comfortable during the week, and I'm aware that it's not the most diverse uni, a factor which is important to me as a black girl so I'm worried there won't be as many people i can relate to. Lancaster and Southampton are both good unis and have lower grade requirements so would work as insurances in place of Durham as well, so I guess I just need to decide between reputation and comfortability i guess? I just feel silly not applying to a top ten uni (durham) when i've been gifted a grade reduction

Hi, thank you so much for the advice so would you say southamptons quite diverse?

Hi @Tee098
Personally I've always found Lancaster an incredibly friendly place. It really feels like an community, and it feels like everyone knows everyone. I've found the vast majority of people incredibly welcoming and I've not struggled to make friends or felt uncomfortable on the campus. I'm white british so I don't know if I can give the most relevant option/perspective on diversity on campus, but hopefully another ambassador will see this thread and be able to offer more relevant information.
If you think it might be helpful, you might also like to check out the social media of the Lancaster ACS? I know they're regularly organising events, and they recently collaborated with our student union nightclub Sugarhouse to celebrate Black History Month.
I personally chose Lancaster over other universities with a "higher reputation" because I felt so comfortable here. I think that's a really important part of university, and feeling happy helps you with everything from grades to social life.
In the end, the decision is up to you! Good luck with your applications!
Rebecca (Lancaster Student Ambassador)

I would say that the uni is predominantly white British, but saying that there is still a lot of diversity. Southampton has a large amount of exchange students and the city itself definitely accommodates for this. There are many international and Asian food shops (most of these can be found on Portswood Broadway, 15 mins away from the uni). I'm white British so I feel I can't personally comment on whether I have found Southampton a comfortable place, so hopefully another ambassador will be able to add to this.
But there is a lot of support from the uni in the cases of discrimination, where I've personally seen faculties acting fast when cases have been highlighted. The Student Union also does a lot to promote cultures from other countries as well as I've already mentioned the inclusive range of societies too.