Nottingham or Birmingham for Uni?

Heyyyy, I’m in Year 13 and I’ve applied to:

University of Nottingham – Accounting, Finance & Management

University of Birmingham – Accounting & Finance

I live in Nottingham, so if I go to Nottingham Uni I wouldn’t have to move out. But I really want the full university experience, independence, meeting new people, living in a different city, etc.

I’m just a bit nervous about leaving home because I’m close to my family, and I’m not sure how I’ll cope with being away. I’ve also applied to Birmingham’s Belong at Birmingham programme, which would allow me to get a lowered offer if I complete it.

Has anyone been in a similar situation or done something like this? How did you decide whether to stay closer to home or move to a new city for the uni experience? Any advice would be really appreciated!

Reply 1

peppermint42

I went to the University of Nottingham and absolutely loved it, but I’d 100% recommend moving out. I know a few people who stayed at home for uni and all of them wished they hadn’t. Birmingham is only a short, cheap train ride from Nottingham, so you can still see your family whenever you want. I’m really close to mine too, and I FaceTimed my mum nearly every day for all three years. But moving out honestly makes the whole experience so much better. I can’t imagine how different (and worse) it would’ve been if I’d stayed at home. Plus, your family probably wouldn’t appreciate you stumbling in at 4am after a sports night! Even if you’re not big on going out, living with people your own age is such a huge part of making friends and enjoying uni life. If you stay at home, you’ll mostly only meet people in lectures, which can be tougher, unless you really throw yourself into societies.

Reply 2

hallamstudents

Official Rep

Original post

by two-way-saying

Heyyyy, I’m in Year 13 and I’ve applied to:
University of Nottingham – Accounting, Finance & Management
University of Birmingham – Accounting & Finance
I live in Nottingham, so if I go to Nottingham Uni I wouldn’t have to move out. But I really want the full university experience, independence, meeting new people, living in a different city, etc.
I’m just a bit nervous about leaving home because I’m close to my family, and I’m not sure how I’ll cope with being away. I’ve also applied to Birmingham’s Belong at Birmingham programme, which would allow me to get a lowered offer if I complete it.
Has anyone been in a similar situation or done something like this? How did you decide whether to stay closer to home or move to a new city for the uni experience? Any advice would be really appreciated!

Hi there!

I was also unsure about whether to stay at home or move out for uni, but ultimately I decided to move out so I could experience the full uni life! I am so glad that I did this and it is important to remember that there will still be so many opportunities to see friends and family! Birmingham is not far from Nottingham either so if you do decide to go there it won't be a long train journey to get home, and it is nice to know that you could even visit for a day if you really wanted to.

FaceTime is great too and I always facetime my friends and family to keep up to date with what they are doing and it helps me to not feel as though I am missing out!

I hope some of this helps,

Lucy -SHU student ambassador.

Reply 3

McGinger

Sorry to be a bit obvious here but you can't have it both ways - if you want the 'independent, going to Uni and moving-away experience' then by definition you will have to actually leave home. At some point in your life, you will have to move out - its a great deal easier to do this by 'going to Uni' where you will be in what is essentially a soft-landing with supported-housing and wrap-around student services. And if you are not ready to do this, then you might like to defer your year of entry to 2027, and experience life a bit before you do go to Uni.