UoL or LJMU

2

Hi guys,
I still have a few months to think about it but I really dont know which one to choose as my firm choice. UoL is more prestigeous being a russell group which has its benefits however it has less of a variety for accom and it is on the expensive side. LJMU on the other hand has lower grade boundaries, more appealing and slightly cheaper accom. Can't think of any other pros and cons atm but this is really stressing my out and no idea how to decide

Reply 1

UniLancashire

Official Rep

16

Original post

by RibbonButterfly

Hi guys,
I still have a few months to think about it but I really dont know which one to choose as my firm choice. UoL is more prestigeous being a russell group which has its benefits however it has less of a variety for accom and it is on the expensive side. LJMU on the other hand has lower grade boundaries, more appealing and slightly cheaper accom. Can't think of any other pros and cons atm but this is really stressing my out and no idea how to decide

Hi @RibbonButterfly,

Deciding what university to go to and what to study is a big decision so choosing the right one is important. Have you visited any open days? Open days helped me decide where and what to study the most. I was able to get a feel for the university, ask any questions I had to current students and academics and imagine myself studying there. What is important to you? Ask yourself this before researching into the unis any further and create a detailed pros and cons list. As simple as that sounds, pros and cons list can be a great way to help decision making.

Finding ways to save money is on everyone's minds right now so well done for looking into that. What is the price difference? Everyone is different when it comes to accommodation. It's more important to some than others. For me, I wanted a space I was comfortable in and could happily study in, so I worked out my finances and stayed in a slightly more expensive accommodation during my second and third year. I'm sure you will make the best decision for yourself. You've got this!

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Hope this helps even a little bit 🙂
Best wishes, ^Zac

Reply 2

LJMUStudentReps

Official Rep

18

Hi @RibbonButterfly

Congrats on receiving offers from both LJMU and UoL — that’s a great position to be in, even if it feels a bit overwhelming right now. It’s completely normal to feel unsure at this stage, especially when both options have different pros and cons.

If you’d find it helpful to get a better feel for LJMU before making your decision, we’ve got an Open Day coming up on Friday 20 June 2025. You can book a place here: https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/undergraduate-open-days

We also have our LJMU On Demand platform where you can watch course presentations by the teaching staff that go into more detail than the webpages, including info on what to expect, career prospects, and more. You can check it out here and just search for your course (no login needed): https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/on-demand/login

As someone who’s studied at both a polytechnic and a red brick university, I’d say the Russell Group label mainly relates to research activity and funding which tends to have little impact on your actual teaching experience. Every university has its own strengths, and much of your uni journey will come down to what you make of the opportunities available — placements, support, societies, and so on.

If you have any questions about student life at LJMU, accommodation, or anything else, please let me know and I’m happy to help however I can!

Take care and try not to stress too much — you’ve still got time and you’re clearly thinking it through carefully 🙂

Megan (LJMU Postgraduate Rep)

(edited 8 months ago)

Reply 3

McGinger

20

Original post

by RibbonButterfly

Hi guys,
I still have a few months to think about it but I really dont know which one to choose as my firm choice. UoL is more prestigeous being a russell group which has its benefits however it has less of a variety for accom and it is on the expensive side. LJMU on the other hand has lower grade boundaries, more appealing and slightly cheaper accom. Can't think of any other pros and cons atm but this is really stressing my out and no idea how to decide

If you are applying next year for 2026 entry, you have time to make a careful and considered decision about where to apply and which offer to eventually make your Firm choice. You do not decide this before you apply and depending on your grade predictions and degree subject, you could apply fpr both UoL and LJMU.

The usual advice for your 5 UCAS choices is :

•

1 choice just above your predicted grades - 1 grade and not in a vital subject

•

3 choices at your predicted grades - these are you most likely offers

•

1 choice well below your predicted grades - your potential Insurance choice

Reply 4

Israel Jones

9

Original post

by RibbonButterfly

Hi guys,
I still have a few months to think about it but I really dont know which one to choose as my firm choice. UoL is more prestigeous being a russell group which has its benefits however it has less of a variety for accom and it is on the expensive side. LJMU on the other hand has lower grade boundaries, more appealing and slightly cheaper accom. Can't think of any other pros and cons atm but this is really stressing my out and no idea how to decide

The Official Redbrick (U of L)

UoL or LJMU

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