best unis for lgbt student life/queer nightlife?

hi! i’m looking at universities over the summer, just wondering what universities are best as a lesbian student looking for a place with good, queer student life? i’m a BBB student, so something that i actually have a chance of being accepted to please!

also would be a plus if it’s something with a good digital media/marketing courses. thank you!

Reply 1

username7708060

Manchester. Sorted.

Reply 2

University of Bath

Official Rep

Original post

by emilywallwork

hi! i’m looking at universities over the summer, just wondering what universities are best as a lesbian student looking for a place with good, queer student life? i’m a BBB student, so something that i actually have a chance of being accepted to please!
also would be a plus if it’s something with a good digital media/marketing courses. thank you!

Hi there!

Manchester is a good call! Lots of life, very diverse and a very fun and student-friendly city. Manchester's marketing course would be a push as an aspirational choice as they are asking for AAA. However, Manchester Met are asking for BBB. Manchester Met is approximately 1km away from Manchester uni (about ten minutes' walk).

You might also want to look into Liverpool. Again, very diverse city, home of the Beatles and host of Eurovision 2023. They ask for AAB for Marketing and are very high-performing for the subject, so could be worth a try as an aspirational choice (Liverpool Hope ask for BCC for Digital Marketing).

Birmingham also ask AAB for their Digital Media & Comms course, and Birmingham City ask for BBB for their Digital Marketing course.

Why don't you do a bit of digging online as to where you might want to be, look through a few course catalogues to see if theres a course you really like the sound of, and go to a few open days in the autumn round to see a few places, get a feel for them and see if you like the cities? You can also go to a few course presentations and chat to current students and lecturers, who are possibly one of the best sources of info out there!

I hope this helps, best of luck!

University of Bath

Reply 3

Kingston Grace

Official Rep

Original post

by emilywallwork

hi! i’m looking at universities over the summer, just wondering what universities are best as a lesbian student looking for a place with good, queer student life? i’m a BBB student, so something that i actually have a chance of being accepted to please!
also would be a plus if it’s something with a good digital media/marketing courses. thank you!

Hi @emilywallwork

I think Kingston is a great places for queer student life. It is in London, but just 30 minutes from the centre so it is somewhat cheaper but you still get to enjoy all the perks of living in London. There are lots of great clubs and queer spaces around London, along with events and things always happening. Kingston University is a very diverse place.

The marketing course here is also great, it is ranked no.3 in London. Here is a link to the course website with more information Marketing and Advertising BSc (Hons) | Kingston University London

There is also a media course which I believe is part of Kingston School of Art, which I am also a part of, based at the Knights Park campus which has a great creative and collaborative atmosphere. Media Content and Communications BA (Hons) | Kingston University London

Here are a few links to previous posts I have done that you may find useful.
An Overview of Kingston's Four Campuses - The Student Room
An Overview of Knights Park Campus - The Student Room
My Deciding Factors For Choosing Kingston University - The Student Room
Social Life and Night Life at Kingston - The Student Room

I would also really recommend going to open days for any universities you are interested in as it is a great chance to get a feel for the university as to what it might be like to live and study there, see the facilities and speak to current students and lectures. This really helped me make a decision. Open Days and events | Kingston University London

I hope this helps :smile:

-Grace (Kingston Rep)

Reply 4

McGinger

Brighton or Sussex.
Brighton is the LGBTQ capital of the UK.

LGBTQ culture in Brighton and Hove - Wikipedia
Brighton’s LGBTQ+ Scene: Must-Visit Inclusive Places and Events – This Is Brighton L
GBTQIA+ Brighton Events, Bars & Experiences | VisitBritain

Reply 5

Hull Rep Callum

Official Rep

Hi!

There are some amazing suggestions mentioned above and with this being something important to you, you should absolutely factor this in when thinking of your university experience and where it is you would like to study.

As someone who identifies as a gay man myself, I found that this was also something high on my personal list of what I wanted to get out of my university experience. So I decided to apply for Manchester Metropolitan University - not solely because of the Gay Village in Manchester, of course! I applied for other reasons too, such as it not being too far from home, the subject area I wanted to study, amongst other reasons.

I now work at the University of Hull and Hull is the city I am from. Whilst Hull does not have the biggest options for LGBTQIA+ nightlife, this is something the city is working on. When I was 18 I spent most of my Friday or Saturday nights in Propaganda, which is now known as Broadway and another club called Fuel. These were places I'd always felt safe and free to be who I am. Now in recent years, more LGBTQIA+ bars and clubs have opened down Saville Street in the city centre - from speaking to their owners, I now know they are aiming to open even more bars in this area. Which can only be a good thing 😀.

From a University perspective, the University of Hull is most definitely a place in which I feel valued, safe and appreciated as a gay employee and I have no doubt that any LGBTQIA+ students will also feel the same way. We do offer a scholarship specifically for our LGBTQIA+ applicants. This was launched in 21/22 and was the UK's first LGBTQ+ undergraduate scholarship Jeremy Round LGBTQ Scholarship | University of Hull.

The University of Hull has a couple of undergraduate courses in Marketing to choose from which I have listed below if you wanted to take a look. Both of which ask an entry requirement of BBC:
BA (Hons) Marketing Course | University of Hull
BA (Hons) Marketing and Management Course | University of Hull

University life is definitely what you make it and I couldn't agree more with the previous posts on this thread. Definitely attend Open Days and get a feel of what it's like in other cities and their University's campus. It's important to explore all your options. I thrived and found myself in Manchester but for me personally, I'll always return home ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍

I've popped some more links below that you may be interested in:
» Pride In Hull 2025
LGBT Foundation – A national charity with LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do.
Explore The Village | Visit Manchester
Societies and Sports Teams | Hull University Students' Union
Nightlife | Pride in Hull

Reply 6

University of Strathclyde Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post

by emilywallwork

hi! i’m looking at universities over the summer, just wondering what universities are best as a lesbian student looking for a place with good, queer student life? i’m a BBB student, so something that i actually have a chance of being accepted to please!
also would be a plus if it’s something with a good digital media/marketing courses. thank you!

Hey! (:

Not sure if youve been looking this far out but ive found The University Of Strathclyde and Glasgow city to be super welcoming, vibrant and full of lgbtqi+ culture! - Just had a little look at our marketing course on our website and entry requirements are usually ABB-BBB for a-levels (:

The uni has a great LGBTQI+ society and the uni itself is also involved in lots of programs focusing on LGBTQI+ inclusion and has tons of support resources for queer students. The uni’s also involved in wider projects to do with education, industry, and society -so you’re not just supported socially but also represented academically! 😊

One of these types of things im aware of is that Strathclyde’s sports centre runs a weekly swim session specifically for trans, non-binary, genderqueer, and intersex people, open to both students and the public to build a space where people may feel a bit more comfortable to participate in these type of activities no matter their gender identity! 💜

Outside of the uni, Glasgow itself is amazing. The city centre has many queer-friendly clubs such as the Polo Lounge (short walk from the uni) , lots of safe spaces & events running throughout the year and a real sense of community! <33

ive lniked bellow some current events happening around glasgow + the universities events & resources so you can have a look!🌈 (:
Strath Union’s Campaign page for LGBTQ+ students at Strathclyde
Access, Equality & Inclusion Service LGBTQI+ at Strathclyde
LGBT+ events running in glasgow

Hope this helps you + anyone else in the LGBT+ community!! (:

Emily
Year 3, Chemistry
Official University Of Strathclyde Rep

Reply 7

dangermouse999

Original post

by McGinger

Brighton or Sussex.
Brighton is the LGBTQ capital of the UK.
LGBTQ culture in Brighton and Hove - Wikipedia
Brighton’s LGBTQ+ Scene: Must-Visit Inclusive Places and Events – This Is Brighton L
GBTQIA+ Brighton Events, Bars & Experiences | VisitBritain

Brighton was my first thought. I went there many years ago and it was great for LGBT even then.

Many of their degrees have an optional placement year working in your third year of four which is a strong thing to have in the current challenging grads job market.

Their Business Management with Marketing degree might be of interest. It's a broad based business degree with several digital/marketing modules in year 1 and 2.

(edited 8 months ago)

Reply 8

Anonymous #1

Original post

by emilywallwork

hi! i’m looking at universities over the summer, just wondering what universities are best as a lesbian student looking for a place with good, queer student life? i’m a BBB student, so something that i actually have a chance of being accepted to please!
also would be a plus if it’s something with a good digital media/marketing courses. thank you!

I think you start with seeing which cities have the best / safest gay quarters. You could get a part time job in a bar and get a social life there as well as being at University so you have a good mix of friends in uni and outside of uni. It's hard to be in your position and perhaps want a relationship with someone who is studying at the same place. My bias would be toward Manchester as it's a really friendly place and has great night life all year round. I went searching for the gay district in Birmingham with my friend and it looked tiny. A few bars on one street and appeared very male orientated. I don't know about media courses elsewhere but London is always a good bet on any course. Have a look at Newcastle. I went there with my son a couple of weeks ago to their open day and it was a really relaxed place with a plethora of different types of student and very friendly. Edinburgh could be good. That was really busy, appeared a huge place. Students cycle everywhere there. It's slightly more expensive. My friend's daughter went there for fine art and loved it. Bristol could be good as well. I think you need to look at courses then visit the places and get a vibe for where you would feel safe. Good luck.