The Student Room Group

Sheffield or Birmingham?

I’m in a complete dilemma on choosing my firm choice uni, uni of Sheffield or uni of Birmingham.

I attended Birmingham’s summer school so I’ll receive a contextual offer for BBB to do PPE, the course looks good although I wasn’t sure the graduate outcomes were as good as Sheffield’s. However, the uni halls at Birmingham is social and only £105pw, this is very ideal as it means I can afford uni life and not worry as much about finances or rely on hand outs from my parents.

Sheffield is ABB to do politics, I much preferred the politics department, they had great opportunities which weren’t available at Birmingham. However, Sheffield accommodation is very expensive, the cheapest uni accommodation is £149pw. I get minimum student loan which does not cover my rent. I’d have to rely on my parents who can’t really afford to send me a lot, alongside getting a part time job. Overall having a less social experience and means I’m unlikely to be able to save up for things like I could at Birmingham.

I get this is quite a subjective thing to answer and there’s no necessary right or wrong decision, but any advice would be appreciated!

Reply 1

Financial pressure is real and can affect both degree outcomes and mental and physical health. I will avoid putting myself through it if I have a choice. The way the UK economy is going, I'll personally tread more carefully.

Reply 2

Original post by heidiimogen
I’m in a complete dilemma on choosing my firm choice uni, uni of Sheffield or uni of Birmingham.
I attended Birmingham’s summer school so I’ll receive a contextual offer for BBB to do PPE, the course looks good although I wasn’t sure the graduate outcomes were as good as Sheffield’s. However, the uni halls at Birmingham is social and only £105pw, this is very ideal as it means I can afford uni life and not worry as much about finances or rely on hand outs from my parents.
Sheffield is ABB to do politics, I much preferred the politics department, they had great opportunities which weren’t available at Birmingham. However, Sheffield accommodation is very expensive, the cheapest uni accommodation is £149pw. I get minimum student loan which does not cover my rent. I’d have to rely on my parents who can’t really afford to send me a lot, alongside getting a part time job. Overall having a less social experience and means I’m unlikely to be able to save up for things like I could at Birmingham.
I get this is quite a subjective thing to answer and there’s no necessary right or wrong decision, but any advice would be appreciated!

Financial pressure is real and can affect both degree outcomes and mental and physical health. I will avoid putting myself through it if I have a choice. The way the UK economy is going, I'll personally tread more carefully.

Reply 3

Original post by heidiimogen
I’m in a complete dilemma on choosing my firm choice uni, uni of Sheffield or uni of Birmingham.
I attended Birmingham’s summer school so I’ll receive a contextual offer for BBB to do PPE, the course looks good although I wasn’t sure the graduate outcomes were as good as Sheffield’s. However, the uni halls at Birmingham is social and only £105pw, this is very ideal as it means I can afford uni life and not worry as much about finances or rely on hand outs from my parents.
Sheffield is ABB to do politics, I much preferred the politics department, they had great opportunities which weren’t available at Birmingham. However, Sheffield accommodation is very expensive, the cheapest uni accommodation is £149pw. I get minimum student loan which does not cover my rent. I’d have to rely on my parents who can’t really afford to send me a lot, alongside getting a part time job. Overall having a less social experience and means I’m unlikely to be able to save up for things like I could at Birmingham.
I get this is quite a subjective thing to answer and there’s no necessary right or wrong decision, but any advice would be appreciated!

I firmed sheffield and im in the same boat. Honestly, it's gonna be pretty rough but if you can get a full time job in the summer (which im hoping to do) and save you should give yourself a decent cushion, and in my personal opinion, Sheffield is far and away the better city. 100% its gonna be tougher financially in Sheffield though either way.
Original post by heidiimogen
I’m in a complete dilemma on choosing my firm choice uni, uni of Sheffield or uni of Birmingham.
I attended Birmingham’s summer school so I’ll receive a contextual offer for BBB to do PPE, the course looks good although I wasn’t sure the graduate outcomes were as good as Sheffield’s. However, the uni halls at Birmingham is social and only £105pw, this is very ideal as it means I can afford uni life and not worry as much about finances or rely on hand outs from my parents.
Sheffield is ABB to do politics, I much preferred the politics department, they had great opportunities which weren’t available at Birmingham. However, Sheffield accommodation is very expensive, the cheapest uni accommodation is £149pw. I get minimum student loan which does not cover my rent. I’d have to rely on my parents who can’t really afford to send me a lot, alongside getting a part time job. Overall having a less social experience and means I’m unlikely to be able to save up for things like I could at Birmingham.
I get this is quite a subjective thing to answer and there’s no necessary right or wrong decision, but any advice would be appreciated!

Hi heidiimogen, 👋

Sorry to hear you are facing this dilemma. Both universities are great choices!

I did my BA, MA, and now I'm doing my PhD here at Sheffield and I feel like I made the right decision. In my personal experience, I have found that living in Sheffield is not hugely expensive and there are lots of great social events and venues to attend that won't break the bank. There are the student's unions club nights and all the cinemas and theatres offer student discounts and reduced ticket prices! 🤩

There are also lots of funding options available at the university. I was able to receive a bursary during my undergraduate and I also applied for and was awarded a postgraduate scholarship during my MA. So these options would be something you could look into. I will link the funding page here.

Please let me know if you have any questions about studying and living in Sheffield and I would be happy to help! I love the city (and how close it is and easy to access the peak district) so I haven't considered any other university. 😄

All best wishes,
Phoebe 😀
Student Ambassador - PhD in English Literature
Original post by heidiimogen
I’m in a complete dilemma on choosing my firm choice uni, uni of Sheffield or uni of Birmingham.
I attended Birmingham’s summer school so I’ll receive a contextual offer for BBB to do PPE, the course looks good although I wasn’t sure the graduate outcomes were as good as Sheffield’s. However, the uni halls at Birmingham is social and only £105pw, this is very ideal as it means I can afford uni life and not worry as much about finances or rely on hand outs from my parents.
Sheffield is ABB to do politics, I much preferred the politics department, they had great opportunities which weren’t available at Birmingham. However, Sheffield accommodation is very expensive, the cheapest uni accommodation is £149pw. I get minimum student loan which does not cover my rent. I’d have to rely on my parents who can’t really afford to send me a lot, alongside getting a part time job. Overall having a less social experience and means I’m unlikely to be able to save up for things like I could at Birmingham.
I get this is quite a subjective thing to answer and there’s no necessary right or wrong decision, but any advice would be appreciated!

Hi @heidiimogen,

I don't go to UoB, but I do live in Birmingham so hopefully I can give you more input on life here if it helps you. I would definitely say that Birmingham is an affordable city to live in, in comparison to other parts of the UK. Here’s something to think about: if money and stress around finances are going to affect your overall uni experience (which they often do), that’s worth taking seriously. Birmingham would give you more breathing room financially, cheaper halls, contextual offer, and that can go a long way in helping you enjoy uni and not constantly worry about budgeting or burning out from working too many hours.

Sheffield does sound amazing for Politics, and if it weren’t for the cost side of things, it might be a more straightforward choice. But if you're already thinking you'll need to work, rely on your parents, and possibly have a less social experience, that could take a toll on your university experience. It’s okay to prioritise your wellbeing and financial stability, even if it means compromising slightly on the course.

Whatever you choose, trust that you'll make it work. Rooting for you!

Danish
BCU Student Rep

Reply 6

Original post by Smorf
I firmed sheffield and im in the same boat. Honestly, it's gonna be pretty rough but if you can get a full time job in the summer (which im hoping to do) and save you should give yourself a decent cushion, and in my personal opinion, Sheffield is far and away the better city. 100% its gonna be tougher financially in Sheffield though either way.

Why did you choose Sheffield over Birmingham? I'm in a dilemma about which to firm too

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