What to put as Firm and Insurance

I have had offers from University of Exeter , University of Liverpool , Loughborough University and Lancaster University to study International relations but I am unsure what to put as my Firm and Insurance ; anyone got any advice ?

Reply 1

University of Bath

Official Rep

Hi there!

Congrats on those offers from those 4 very good universities 🙂

Just start by asking yourself...

Which course appeals to you more? (structure, module choices, assessment method, placement opportunities)

Which campus did you feel most at home at? (do you feel happy, safe and can you see yourself enjoying life there?)

Which city (if you've visited them) would you be happiest living in for 3-4 years? (what is there to do, what do you like about each one, what's the cost of living like and the proximity of amenities?)

What might you want to do after uni? (and which of these courses would help you get there?)

Have you had the chance to go to offer holder days at these places? These are a very good way to confirm in your mind where you see yourself best. And if travelling to each is difficult, then there are generally virtual alternatives, and many unis (Bath included) offer a travel bursary scheme where, if you are eligible, the uni can help financially towards travel costs.

Sometimes, although a bit old-fashioned, a proc and cons list on an A4 page split into four might help you visualise your thoughts on each uni and help you order your thoughts 🙂

Hoping this helps a bit and best of luck!

Reply 2

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post

by BriannaHaseldine

Hi!

Congrats on getting offers from some great universities- that’s a really good options for you!

If you’re deciding between them, it can help to think about a few things: course structure, campus feel, support available, and where you think you’d be happiest living for the next few years.

I am currently at Lancaster University studying psychology however, I know a few of my friends are currently doing the course that you are looking into, they all highly recommend it! The campus is all in one place, so it’s really easy to get involved in societies and meet people, and the college system gives you a smaller community within the university. There are also lots of opportunities to study abroad or take internships depending on the route you choose.

That said, your Firm choice should really be the university you can most see yourself at, both academically and personally. Your Insurance is usually somewhere you’d also be happy going but with slightly lower entry requirements, just in case results day doesn’t go exactly as planned.

If you’re able to visit the campuses (or attend offer-holder days), that can make the decision a lot clearer. If you have any questions about Lancaster, I’m happy to help!

~ Elaine (Lancaster University Student Ambassador) 🙂

Reply 3

Kingston Eve

Official Rep

Original post

by BriannaHaseldine

Hi @BriannaHaseldine,

Congratulations on receiving four great offers!

Which unis you should choose to put as your Firm and Insurance choices really comes down to personal preference. Have you researched the locations of each university and their associated course, or looked at their course structures/module content?

Remember that you don't need to make your choice immediately - take your time to research universities and attend Open Days/Offer Holder Days if possible.

Hope this helps and best of luck,
Eve (Kingston Rep).

Reply 4

BriannaHaseldine

Original post

by Lancaster Student Ambassador

Hi!
Congrats on getting offers from some great universities- that’s a really good options for you!
If you’re deciding between them, it can help to think about a few things: course structure, campus feel, support available, and where you think you’d be happiest living for the next few years.
I am currently at Lancaster University studying psychology however, I know a few of my friends are currently doing the course that you are looking into, they all highly recommend it! The campus is all in one place, so it’s really easy to get involved in societies and meet people, and the college system gives you a smaller community within the university. There are also lots of opportunities to study abroad or take internships depending on the route you choose.
That said, your Firm choice should really be the university you can most see yourself at, both academically and personally. Your Insurance is usually somewhere you’d also be happy going but with slightly lower entry requirements, just in case results day doesn’t go exactly as planned.
If you’re able to visit the campuses (or attend offer-holder days), that can make the decision a lot clearer. If you have any questions about Lancaster, I’m happy to help!
~ Elaine (Lancaster University Student Ambassador) 🙂

Hi !

I have a taster day this Saturday is there anything you recommend I should look at while I am there ?

Reply 5

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post

by BriannaHaseldine

Hi !
I have a taster day this Saturday is there anything you recommend I should look at while I am there ?

Hi,

I'm working as a student ambassador for Natural Science on Saturday- so can definitely give some tips as to what to look at and where to go. Some of these will be generic, and things you can look at in every university that you visit, and other are more Lancaster specific!

Lancaster University has an amazing library, that is open to public during the offer holder event. Its a very central study spot for a lot of students, and so having a look on Saturday will give you a good idea as to what a typical weekend during term time feels like in the library. The staff are super friendly, and sometimes there are tours of the library on open days/ offer holder days. If you don't get time, here's a link to the library website, which includes a video about accessibility in the library: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/library/visit/ .

For an offer holder day, you will get the opportunity to tour the department, meet staff and chat to student ambassadors. To make the most of the day, I would recommend both yourself, and any parents/ supporters ask any questions you can possibly think of. We're always happy to answer any questions that you have, about Lancaster, student life, and studying.

If you haven't been to Lancaster Campus before, I would also recommend having a look at the different accommodation types; these tours are running from 14:00 to 17:00, with the last entry into accommodation at 16:30. There are also campus tours running between from 14:00 to 16:00, which I would recommend going on, so that you can have a think about which college you like should you choose Lancaster.

The Learning Zone will have lots of information stands which you can visit from 14:00 to 16:30, where there will be people to answer your questions about most aspects of living and studying in Lancaster, so I'd recommend checking in there as well if you have non-departmental related questions/ questions you forgot to ask whilst in your subject specific activities.

If you have the chance, I would also recommend heading into the city to have a look around. Saturday is normally market day in Lancaster city centre, so the town centre is normally pretty bustling and lively. There is some really good cafes etc in town if you fancy a bite to eat, and the castle/ priory is really pretty at this time of year with all the flowers in bloom. As parking is free on campus during offer holder events, you can get the bus into town from the Underpass on campus- the 100 and 1/ 1A, are the most popular (they normally come every 5-10 mins), and take you directly to the city centre.

If you fancy a short walk, I recommend Williamson Park, which is equally lovely at this time of year, and where, if there are no private events, you can head up the Ashton Memorial tower, and get views (on a clear day) from Blackpool in the South West, right the way to the Lake district to the North, and right the way over Morecombe bay.

I hope that you have a lovely day tomorrow, and get answers to any questions that you may have. If at any point during the day you get a bit lost, or have any questions at all, you will see both departmental ambassadors in their different coloured hoodies, or central university ambassadors in their bright red coats. They will all be more than happy to help with anything you need.

~ Niamh
Natural Science Student Ambassador at Lancaster University