Another question post...

[rurounihime]

This one has nothing to do with HP and everything to do with colleges in the UK.

I am looking into various grad school programs in the British Isles, and I am wondering if you, my lovely f-list, can help me out...

If you do or did attend school at these universities:

Leeds
Sussex
Newcastle
Kingston, London
Bangor, Wales

...what did/do you think? Now's the time to tote your school! Even if you didn't actually attend school there, but you know something about these places, please comment. I want the opinions of my peers because, as much as I love the prospectuses (prospecti?) I've been receiving, of course each university is going to talk itself up. So I want candid opinions on anything: living arrangements, scholarships, financial aid, professors, the cities and areas nearby, travel within town and to other towns, and of course... THE ACADEMICS.

Thanks so much everyone! This will be really, really helpful to me. ♥

Comments

[ellie-nor.livejournal.com]

First of all, we don't call them schools; schools are what children go to over here (unless you're talking about a subject-specific part of a university, which is called a School, e.g. School of African Studies).

Leeds is a fine city, I'm sure, but grey in a 'grim up North' kind of way, and from what I remember (I had a boyfriend at uni there in the late 1980s) the areas of the city that students usually rent in are pretty grotty.

Sussex uni is actually on the edge of Brighton, which is a brilliant place if you're into music or gay (men's) culture or alternative-y things or organic food or crafts or any aspect of 'counter-culture'. It's also on the coast and only an hour's train ride from London.

Newcastle is very far north, so cold in winter, but drier than you might expect in summer. The people are friendly and, along with Sunderland, just over the River Tyne, it's an up-and-coming centre for the arts.

I hope that's the kind of info you were after.

P.S. more pedantry

[ellie-nor.livejournal.com]

None of the universities you list are collegiate, therefore they are not colleges iyswim. The only collegiate unis in the UK afaik are Oxford, Cambridge and Durham.

Re: P.S. more pedantry

[rurounihime.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, I think the US/UK terminology crossover is what is causing issues here. No worries. I've just given up trying to use the UK terminology in this case, as I don't know all that much about it.

[rurounihime.livejournal.com]

Okay, university, then. ^_^ As for inner-departmental schools, I am looking specifically at writing programs, just to give you more info.

I do like the area where Leeds is, I have to admit. I'm very much a fog and rain kind of girl. I loved York when I visited, and the Dales, and all of that. I have a friend who went to Leeds on a study abroad program, but I believe she lived on-campus. I will have to ask her. Good to know about the city, though. O.o I definitely do not wish to live in a grotty area!

Sussex is actually the college I know the least about, as their 2008 prospectus is not yet available. But the area definitely appeals to me. I went to undergrad in an oceanside town. I would love to be in that environment again, and I hear Brighton is very lovely. Sounds like my kind of place, from what you've told me.

Newcastle appeals to me because it is so close to Scotland, definitely. I'm still undecided about them, though they were on their game with sending their info to me immediately. Unlike Leeds. I still need to do some comparing and contrasting. Kingston sounds very appealing right now, too. ^_^

This is great! Thank you!

[luci0logy.livejournal.com]

Oi, flame, I'm on YiM under the old spelling of my name... I think. I'll get it installedon the laptop. Ru knows my YiM if I've got it wrong.

[ellie-nor.livejournal.com]

Hehe! I've put in an add request to that name - let me know if you don't receive it.

[rurounihime.livejournal.com]

Hey Lus? Can I ask you a quick Brit-picky question?

Is there a specific term in the UK that is the equivalent of the US's "durable power of attorney"? (The person who would make all medical decisions for someone else in case of emergency or catastrophe, should the someone in question be incapacitated in any way. For example: if someone were in a coma, their durable power of attorney would make the decision to keep them on life support or not.)

[luci0logy.livejournal.com]

We just call it 'power of attorney'.

[rurounihime.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, seems simple enough. *laughs*

Thanks, love.