Choosing a University

thephantom, what do you mean by that? Not quite sure I understand about the falmouth, exeter sharing thing!

I actually live in Exeter too!
 
Well, Exeter has two campus'. One In normal Exeter and one in Falmouth where they do Law, English and a view others.

But they share the campus in Cornwall with Falmouth College, sharing lecture rooms, accomodation and the like.
 
Ahhhright, cool!

What's it like down there then?

I'm just a bit worried for Falmouth being so far out of anywhere, and the industry I want to go into I don't know what the surrounding areas are like for it etc. I know they have good ties with a few agencies in London, but not much chance for placement etc.

Do you struggle with anything being so far down the country?
 
I take it you're going to be doing design? Two of my house mates are on one of the design courses so I can ask them about links to firms in london and the like.

Well, it's a hassle and always quite expensive to get anywhere else in the country and even trying to get a cheap megabus somewhere is a bit of a mission.

But, it is a lovely place, very calm and relaxed. The weather isn't too bad either. Famouth town itself has little to other via the way of night life (though by the time you get bored of the night life in second year it'll mainly be about house parties). It's not loads cheaper than london but enough to make a difference.

Rent for me at the moment is £330 a month including water but I do live in one of the more expensive houses at the moment.

The campus itself is very update, the accomodation is fantastic though quite pricy, currently £420 a month with all bills included.

The next nearest town is truro which is a twenty minute train ride or a roughly 45 minute bus ride. Lots of shops there, and plymouth isn't too far away either.
 
You struggle with civilisation as a whole in falmouth.
Its tiny, everything around it is tiny.
I love it as a place as its got a lot of charm, and theres some serious £££ kicking about, and some decent skirt - I live 20mins or so away, but im a northerner, and I did uni in newcastle, I really cant picture having a proper uni experience in cornwall for anyone, let alone someone who wants to try and do some music promo, compared to all the stuff that was happening in newcastle falmouth is quite dry.

I obv cant help with the graphic design as far as Falmouth goes, but imagine if its that good then it will have brilliant links with all over, I know people that studied up where I did and ended up getting jobs in Hong Kong, Spain, Italy - so if Falmouths the best then it must have better links!
 
The next nearest town is truro which is a twenty minute train ride or a roughly 45 minute bus ride. Lots of shops there, and plymouth isn't too far away either.

Truro is a city!
And dont lie, the shopping there is crap! Plymouth is the saviour though, god bless plymouth.
 
I can't help but feel that you're looking at this from the wrong angle. Going to university should not be vaguely swayed by social reasons - if it is, then I'd rethink your approach.

It's really easy to go to university and get a worthless degree these days, or a good degree with a poor result. What I'd urge you to do is to start by looking at a) where has a good reputation for your area of interest (Times University Guide is a good start if you're at a loss), and b) where has a good uptake of graduates from that discipline into related employment.

At the end of the day you're going there to set yourself up for the rest of your life, so I'd urge you to focus on your final goal and desires, and just do whatever is required for the 2-5years to achieve that. You won't regret it.
 
thats what hes doing...
Falmouths got a brilliant course on, but he wants to know about its industry links and if hes not going to be happy living there then its going to affect how he works and whether he will stay or not.

OP try and visit Falmouth, but literally everything you will see is everything the town has, theres no secret hiden night life area, no more shops etc!
 
Bristol is a fantastic student city and has a HUGE music scene. I've no idea what its like course wise for music courses, but its worth looking at I'd say.
 
I can't help but feel that you're looking at this from the wrong angle. Going to university should not be vaguely swayed by social reasons - if it is, then I'd rethink your approach.

It's really easy to go to university and get a worthless degree these days, or a good degree with a poor result. What I'd urge you to do is to start by looking at a) where has a good reputation for your area of interest (Times University Guide is a good start if you're at a loss), and b) where has a good uptake of graduates from that discipline into related employment.

At the end of the day you're going there to set yourself up for the rest of your life, so I'd urge you to focus on your final goal and desires, and just do whatever is required for the 2-5years to achieve that. You won't regret it.


All of the places that I have listed are all considered top for the course I am looking at; Graphic Design.

Every single one of those places is held in high regard, and a lot of people recommend them.

I have considered the best places for that, now I want to know if there's anywhere I have missed, what the other aspects of those places are like.

From visiting a university, say Kingston, I would not know if it was a rough area. Some people say it is, some say it isn't. Things like that, is what I'd like to know.

I have based all of those places out of pure reputation for the course I am looking into.

Thanks Phantom - really what I'm after hearing. I will be visting the places anyway, but its so much better to get opinions.
Yeah I'm interested in Graphic Design speciffically. I currently go to college in Somerset, at SCAT. But I've lived in Devon all of my life, so small towns etc life I know what it's like - perhaps thats why I long for somewhere bigger, to experience that too!

Thanks all so far. I'd like to stress again - that I have 100% picked those places based on the course.
 
Last edited:
deciding on which university you want to go to needs to be a balanced decision. You should like the place itself, find the amount of activities available satisfactory and the course right for you. Picking entirely on university reputation and industry links alone i feel is not a wise decision. After all you are meant to live there for several years plus, university is not JUST about studying. It's often an individual's first experience of independence, so naturally you would want it to be a good one.

Obvious thing to do is search out all those that offer the course you want in the areas you want and visit each and see which one leaves you with a lasting impression. Who are we to tell you what university would be right for you?
 
Skippy, thanks.

It's what I'm doing, i'm looking at the places I like that offer good courses too etc, and then trying to find out about other aspects. I may love the course, but hate the place. Which would definately have a knock on effect on the course for me personally.

I'm not asking where I should go or anything, but just for personal experiences to be shared and opinions, as I think that it's always good to hear from other people.
 
Bristol is a fantastic student city and has a HUGE music scene. I've no idea what its like course wise for music courses, but its worth looking at I'd say.

I'm not asking where I should go or anything, but just for personal experiences to be shared and opinions, as I think that it's always good to hear from other people.

:p. i just can't recommend Bristol enough as a student city. It has a big 'creative' industry aswell, there are tonnes of startups that do creative design websites marketing etc. so I guess the uni must offer decent courses for it. Check it out.
 
:p. i just can't recommend Bristol enough as a student city. It has a big 'creative' industry aswell, there are tonnes of startups that do creative design websites marketing etc. so I guess the uni must offer decent courses for it. Check it out.

Yeah I've been looking at UWE in Bristol - I know it has a lot of industry ties and is a great city and stuff too, it's another one to consider defiantely. It's just one that I didn't have on the original list :p It's a bit of a pain - as I can't find students work on their website!

I've also been looking at Bath.
 
:p. i just can't recommend Bristol enough as a student city. It has a big 'creative' industry aswell, there are tonnes of startups that do creative design websites marketing etc. so I guess the uni must offer decent courses for it. Check it out.

Yea another vote for visting Bristol here. I hear amazing things about their nightlife (i go to uni in Plymouth so i'm not too far away).

Skippy, thanks.

It's what I'm doing, i'm looking at the places I like that offer good courses too etc, and then trying to find out about other aspects. I may love the course, but hate the place. Which would definately have a knock on effect on the course for me personally.

I'm not asking where I should go or anything, but just for personal experiences to be shared and opinions, as I think that it's always good to hear from other people.

I can't emphasise how important it is to visit places. I found when i was looking, certain universities would make so much more of an effort on their open days and the staff would be about so you get a chance to see who will be teaching you etc.

You get a lot of people who say pick on the basis of reputation and industry links which is complete tosh. So what if you got a good degree from Cambridge but had the 3 most miserable years of your life, i'd rather have the same degree from a lesser uni and had the best 3 years of my life to be honest. Horses for courses tho i suppose. I've had a lot of friends drop out of better universities than mine because they have hated their life there so pick carefully.

Anyways best get off this forum and get looking hadn't ya buddy :)
 
Yea another vote for visting Bristol here. I hear amazing things about their nightlife (i go to uni in Plymouth so i'm not too far away).



I can't emphasise how important it is to visit places. I found when i was looking, certain universities would make so much more of an effort on their open days and the staff would be about so you get a chance to see who will be teaching you etc.

You get a lot of people who say pick on the basis of reputation and industry links which is complete tosh. So what if you got a good degree from Cambridge but had the 3 most miserable years of your life, i'd rather have the same degree from a lesser uni and had the best 3 years of my life to be honest. Horses for courses tho i suppose. I've had a lot of friends drop out of better universities than mine because they have hated their life there so pick carefully.

Anyways best get off this forum and get looking hadn't ya buddy :)

Yeah - I've started my search by looking at places with good courses, that I like and i'm interested in.

I'm going to visit them all - just to see the impression etc.

This is why I want to TRY and go somewhere where I can balance my hobby, with the degree, and have a good time and be happy doing my degree, which will make me work harder, rather than being an unhappy sop that wants to drop out.

Thanks!
 
Back
Top Bottom