Bristol or UEA?

I’m in year 13 right now, and I’ve got offers from both UEA and Bristol for literature based degrees. However I’m unsure of which to put as my first choice and the other as my backup. Any advice/opinions from anyone about the unis and the student culture or what you think I should do is greatly appreciated.

Reply 1

McGinger

Original post

by Anonymous

Look carefully at the individual unit choices available in all 3 years of each course - and think about what you would actually choose if you went there. If you can't find this info easily on the Uni website just email the Uni and ask for this info.

Are there any 'extras' on offer like Study Abroad or work placements - these add heaps to your graduate CV.

The Unis are very different - Bristol is big and spread across a large city campus area, UEA is a smaller 1960s campus Uni. Which will suit you best - where would you feel most comfortable?

Bristol is expensive - rents are at the same level as London. Norwich will be far cheaper.

Reply 2

UEA Rep Fatma

Official Rep

Original post

by Anonymous

Hi! 🙂
Firstly congratulations on the university offers!!!
I just wanted to say, no one can make this decision for you, as it depends entirely on you and your preferences of uni culture, city life etc... Attending open days or applicant days will help you chose as you get to see the universities themselves.

I can't give you much information about Bristol university, but I'll share my experiences with UEA.
UEA is based in Norwich, with is a pretty quiet city, but very unique. There are many independent cafes, shops, book shops etc... most of which are budget friendly as they offer student discounts. As well as this, Norwich is pretty close to beaches, various broads etc... which make for great days out with friends, or just peaceful strolls!

UEA itself has the UEA Broad, which I know lots of people go on walks during short breaks between lectures. There are great views and it's really peaceful!
Whilst I don't do a literature based subject, I have a friend who does creative writing and she often finds that when she feels like she wants new ideas for writing, she goes to the UEA Broad for inspiration.

As UEA is a campus based university, there are many facilities on campus, such as the Sportspark, many different catering outlets etc...

I'd recommend you ask yourself what you want to get out of university, not just in terms of academics. Do you want to join a sports club for example? A society? Do you want to live in a smaller, quieter city? These answers will depend on you as a person (no wrong or right answer) and will help you choose between UEA or Bristol. Visiting these universities, or even just the cities, may help you confirm your choice further.

I hope this helps, if you have any questions about UEA, please feel free to ask!
I wish you the best with your application and future university life! 🙂
Fatma
Natural Sciences student.

Reply 3

Clearing and Applications Advisor

if you're interested in creative writing or American literature then UEA has a very strong reputation in those areas.

Reply 4

UEA Rep Daniel

Official Rep

Original post

by PQ

if you're interested in creative writing or American literature then UEA has a very strong reputation in those areas.

Absolutely! If you’re interested in creative writing or American literature, UEA is genuinely one of the best places you could go. It’s home to the UK’s first MA in Creative Writing, and its alumni list is a who’s who of award-winning authors (like Ian McEwan and Kazuo Ishiguro). The American literature department is also highly regarded, with a particular focus on transatlantic studies and contemporary US fiction.