The Student Room Group

Scroll to see replies

Reply 20
VTHS
Thank you! I've visited both and Soton has more of a buzz, but Holloway will have three of my really good friends. I know it shouldn't be a factor, but I can't help it being one.:s-smilie:


Friends are definitely a factor but don't overestimate how much you'll see them as depending on your halls and who else you meet you might not see them very often. It's good to have old friends nearby though just in case you want a break from uni/uni people.

social life in roho takes a bit more effort initially than my friends at other unis describe as Egham is like an old movie set - lifeless. When you've made some friends though, it is close enough to London to go in for the day/night (night bus/early train back), there are a lot of coach trips going to big-name clubs if that's your things, and Windsor is pretty cheap and easy to get to for run-of-the-mill shopping and clubs like Liquid. Roho is more expensive than Soton but you get the London loan to compensate.

personally there's a lot of stuff I wish Royal Holloway had that it hasn't got, but I've found it's well enough connected that as long as you're a bit organised you aren't really missing out. It's a bit tougher to be spontaneous but find decent friends and you'll have a great time.
VTHS
Oh that's cool. Do you find it a tad lifeless? It's important to me. I like life!


Knowing Soton like I do (one of my local cities at home) life would be at a much busier pace down there to what it would be in Egham. Egham reminds me of home so in that sense it's no different. It's a commuter town, that's it given the trainline so it's busy between 7 & 9 and then again between 5 & 7. If I'm honest, I'm not the best person to ask re: nightlife as a.) if we go out, we tend to go to one of the pubs and b.) as a postgrad, I've not (and the rest of my friends) haven't been out that much all year! There always seems to be plenty going on re: nightlife on campus and the local pubs are really student friendly.

Night out in London is possible but last train is at half 11 ish.

The campus is gorgeous though and I've certainly been in worse places.
impsmith
Soton will have better nightlife but Royal Holloway has the "best Music department in the UK" according to the most recent research ratings, and the languages department is pretty good also. You'll have a good time at either--try visiting both and seeing where you feel most at home.


Hmm... conflicting information here:

"Welcome to the Faculty of Music of Oxford University, one of the largest and liveliest music departments in the country, and an internationally renowned centre of musical teaching and research. The Faculty came top of the ‘research power’ rankings in the most recent (2008) Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), with 50% of its research rated as ‘world-leading’ and the largest number of research active staff submitted by any Higher Education Institution in the UK. It gained the highest (5*) rating in the two previous RAEs of 1996 and 2001, and was ranked best UK music department by both The Times and The Independent in their most recent surveys.

Source: www.music.ox.ac.uk

OP, great idea to try and attract general attention from current students as well as asking musos on the muso thread. Hopefully this will help! :smile:
Reply 23
The_Lonely_Goatherd
Hmm... conflicting information here:

"Welcome to the Faculty of Music of Oxford University, one of the largest and liveliest music departments in the country, and an internationally renowned centre of musical teaching and research. The Faculty came top of the ‘research power’ rankings in the most recent (2008) Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), with 50% of its research rated as ‘world-leading’ and the largest number of research active staff submitted by any Higher Education Institution in the UK. It gained the highest (5*) rating in the two previous RAEs of 1996 and 2001, and was ranked best UK music department by both The Times and The Independent in their most recent surveys.

Source: www.music.ox.ac.uk


Shrug, RHUL seems to think its Music Department was 'top' in 2008 (http://www.rhul.ac.uk/Music/News-and-events/2008RAE.html) and Oxford seems to think it was top of 'research power'. I don't know enough about the RAE to know what's "better". I'm not even sure that great research translates into great undergraduate teaching - some of my English professors know an awful lot about their specialism but they couldn't teach a fish to swim. Just thought I'd tell the OP since he/she was considering Soton/RHUL but I'm sorry if you thought I was lying to a prospective student for giggles. I wasn't.
Reply 24
apotoftea
Where do you want to live and what sort of night life do you want? As Soton's quite different to Egham.

RHUL's a lovely uni, gorgeous campus, decent halls, good location in relation to Windsor/London BUT it is a little quiet at times and Egham's not exactly busy. Definitelly visit if you haven't already.

Soton - you've got the opposite to be honest. A busy city, good shopping, better nightlife etc. Coast vs in-land (not sure whether that would be a factor?)

Is it odd that I picked RHUL over Soton because of this?
VTHS
Where abouts?

roho babe.. true, a little bit out of the busy world but worth it as it has an amazing campus and the people here are nice not stubborn (exceptions apply to the rule ofc :p: )
impsmith
Shrug, RHUL seems to think its Music Department was 'top' in 2008 (http://www.rhul.ac.uk/Music/News-and-events/2008RAE.html) and Oxford seems to think it was top of 'research power'. I don't know enough about the RAE to know what's "better". I'm not even sure that great research translates into great undergraduate teaching - some of my English professors know an awful lot about their specialism but they couldn't teach a fish to swim. Just thought I'd tell the OP since he/she was considering Soton/RHUL but I'm sorry if you thought I was lying to a prospective student for giggles. I wasn't.


Oh I didn't think you were lying for giggles, or even lying at all. I assumed there was clashing info on both the departments' websites but just thought it worth pointing out. Maybe there's a difference between research and research power? :dontknow: As far as I can tell, there's excellent undergrad teaching in both departments.

Sorry, didn't mean to imply that you were lying :smile:
i'm at royal holloway ,it's pretty dead here to be honest!
polka_dott
Royal Holloway is very close to London so you could always go into London if you wanted a bit more excitement for a night out?


And if you wanted to be skint the next day...
VTHS
It's not that small. According to the prospectus it's one of the largest. It's cosey. Then again, that is a prospectus, but when I saw it, it was sweet.


One of the largest :eek: ! I think the prospectus is lying or definitely embellishing the truth a bit .
Reply 30
RHUL has it's own converted house dedicated to music. It's also got its own library, and whilst it may have a good reputation, the feedback from the course is much to be desired. There aren't very many practice rooms, either. Have a look in the RHUL forum on here for more about the music department.

Languages at RHUL are highly recommended though.

Even though there's not much to do in Egham, it does actually help out financially. Some of the more social halls mean you don't have to go out to have fun (ie, Founders) and there's always nearby Windsor to go to for nightlife. London isn't that far away, but getting back may prove to be difficult.
BJP
Soton, although as SamTheMan says it seems to be most renowned for Physics, Engineering etc.


True, but Southampton's French department is either 3rd or 4th in the country. My friend studying there told me the course is brilliant :smile: As or Music, I can't comment.
GilbertLam
One of the largest :eek: ! I think the prospectus is lying or definitely embellishing the truth a bit .


It could mean one of the largest in a different sense, like the amount of tutors? For example, when I applied Oxford was (possibly still is) the biggest Music Faculty in the UK. If you go into the physical building though, it's actually pretty small. What they were referring to is the amount of tutors and the amount of students they take in :smile:
Reply 33
kat2pult
RHUL has it's own converted house dedicated to music. It's also got its own library, and whilst it may have a good reputation, the feedback from the course is much to be desired. There aren't very many practice rooms, either. Have a look in the RHUL forum on here for more about the music department.

Languages at RHUL are highly recommended though.

Even though there's not much to do in Egham, it does actually help out financially. Some of the more social halls mean you don't have to go out to have fun (ie, Founders) and there's always nearby Windsor to go to for nightlife. London isn't that far away, but getting back may prove to be difficult.


What have people said about the course?
Reply 34
VTHS
What have people said about the course?


That it was badly organised, not enough practice rooms, not enough course books for the amount of people, too much work all at once, ridiculously long course list, boring topics, etc etc.
3105
Is it odd that I picked RHUL over Soton because of this?


Not at all; the quiet definitely has its perks
Reply 36
Thank you for all your advise!! I decided to go for Royal Holloway in the end.
VTHS
Thank you for all your advise!! I decided to go for Royal Holloway in the end.


Congrats on making a decision! :smile: