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]

UEA suggestion seconded - I don't know what the creative writing courses are actually like, but it has an immense reputation.

[rurounihime.livejournal.com]

Good city? How's the size?

[ellie-nor.livejournal.com]

It's quite a small city, compared to places like London or Manchester, but I'd guess it's about on a par with Cambridge, or maybe Oxford. Very old, lots of history, everything's made of flint. You can get some amazing food there, and the people are... well, there's this phrase: "Normal for Norfolk". (Norfolk is the name of the county of which Norwich is the county town.) Until the fens were drained in the C 18th, Norfolk was pretty much cut off from the rest of England, which has led to some cultural peculiarities (and the obligatory and uncomplimentary suggestion of in-breeding).

Norfolk as a whole is very flat, dry in summer, but windy and can be very cold in winter (it's on the edge of the North Sea). The university itself is well outside the city. The campus is 1960s/70s grey concrete, but don't let that put you off.

Um... that's all I can think of for now. You could always try upmystreet.com for more info: http://www.upmystreet.com/l/Norwich.html

[rurounihime.livejournal.com]

Very old, lots of history, everything's made of flint. You can get some amazing food there, and the people are... well, there's this phrase: "Normal for Norfolk".

You know... that actually sounds a bit like my old college town, Santa Cruz, CA. *cackles*

which has led to some cultural peculiarities (and the obligatory and uncomplimentary suggestion of in-breeding).

Oh no. *cracks up* Hahaha, oh dear! I am most intrigued now. This sounds like a cool city.

(it's on the edge of the North Sea). The university itself is well outside the city.

Sounding better and better... ^_^

Thank you for the links!

[ellie-nor.livejournal.com]

Hehehe!

I just realised I may have given an incorrect impression of Norwich's location vis a vis the sea - here is a map which might help (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=623500&y=308500&z=7&sv=623500,308500&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&ax=623500&ay=308500).

[rurounihime.livejournal.com]

Oh lordy! I KNEW there was one I was forgetting to list! Arg! *smacks forehead* Yes! I am also looking into East Anglia, and this info is very, very nice to hear. I will put more effort into figuring UEA out, as it is particularly renowned for its MA in the subject.

Ha, and I would LOVE to live near York. York was fantastic.