NationStates Jolt Archive

This is for British posters mainly, but American posters are invited to join in.

Anyway,today is the day that I have to start looking for a uni, it's a year and a bit away still but according to school I have to start visiting and making applictions and so on. So I'm looking for advice basically, which si the best, in your experience, which is the worst?

I'm hoping to take Poltics (Hopefully with International relations or International Goverment), so I figured this would be the best place to ask around. Currently on my visiting list are:

Cambridge (If I get in)
Hull
Nottingham
Warick
Durham
Leicter
Cardiff
Bath
UEA

Any advice and so on would be useful. :D

id suggest UEA, but only cos you'd live near me :D

Coz thats a good reason

This is for British posters mainly, but American posters are invited to join in.

Anyway,today is the day that I have to start looking for a uni, it's a year and a bit away still but according to school I have to start visiting and making applictions and so on. So I'm looking for advice basically, which si the best, in your experience, which is the worst?

I'm hoping to take Poltics (Hopefully with International relations or International Goverment), so I figured this would be the best place to ask around. Currently on my visiting list are:

Cambridge (If I get in)
Hull
Nottingham
Warick
Durham
Leicter
Cardiff
Bath
UEA

Any advice and so on would be useful. :D

Well, Cardiff is my current uni. I would say it is very good if you are looking for a programme aimed European and EU politics (as that politics is contained within the School of European Studies). I am doing my PhD right now there so I don't know how many lecturers are, but the few things I have had to go lectures of, most of the lecturers I have seen were pretty good. I really like the city. Since it is a capital city, it is a bit more diverse that you find in city of the same size. The School of European Studies is Cardiff is ranked 5A for research, but I don't know how important to you for to have good research at your uni. Also Cardiff has a very active exchange programme with Institute of Political Studies in Bordeaux so you could apply to do that and you would have a degree from both universities in 4 years.

Bugger them, UCD ftw!

Have a look at Birmingham. If you want to focus on European politics then it has a very strong Politics department. But its politics department is also quite strong without the european specialisation.

The department has a number of well-known lecturers in its field which teach at undergraduate level. Such as Jill Steans, Colin Hay and David Marsh (these are the ones that other people tend to have heard of when I talk to other politics students from other universities).

But really, if you want to study politics then Oxford is a better choice than Cambridge. Cambridge is more academic, whereas Oxford provides plenty of oppurtunities to network. Which is more useful once your degree is finished. Because, cynically, after all it is who you know and not what you know. This would be from the advice of one of my tutors who studied at Oxford and worked at Cambridge for a while.

http://browse.guardian.co.uk/education?SearchBySubject=false&FirstRow=0&SortOrderDirection=&SortOrderColumn=GuardianTeachingScore&Subject=Politics&Tariff=6&Go=Submit

This is for British posters mainly, but American posters are invited to join in.

What about people not from those 2 countries?

What about people not from those 2 countries?

Obviously, your opinions don't count. :p

What about people not from those 2 countries?

Well if theres a good dutch uni that speaks Enlgish...

Don't do politics at Cambridge: PPE at Oxford is definitely a better option. You haven't mentioned any London ones - LSE is a good one, and I think King's is meant to be quite good (although UCL still owns them at everything else). Manchester also does a good PPE course, apparently.

Cambridge
Durham
York
Warwick
Lancaster
Edinburgh

Thats what Ive applied to. I'm doing History but normally good politics universities are also good history universities.

This is for British posters mainly, but American posters are invited to join in.

Anyway,today is the day that I have to start looking for a uni, it's a year and a bit away still but according to school I have to start visiting and making applictions and so on. So I'm looking for advice basically, which si the best, in your experience, which is the worst?

I'm hoping to take Poltics (Hopefully with International relations or International Goverment), so I figured this would be the best place to ask around. Currently on my visiting list are:

Cambridge (If I get in)
Hull
Nottingham
Warick
Durham
Leicter
Cardiff
Bath
UEA

Any advice and so on would be useful. :D

Go Salford Uni so ya can meet me! :D (Oh but the accommodation's not exactly wonderful)

Seriously, do have a look at all those universities if possible and speak to some students from each of them if you can. Find out which has the best rating for the course you want but find out which is best for social life too, because believe me you're gonna need a good social life if you don't wanna be constantly stressed out. My uni's poor for a lot of stuff (specifically language courses and facilities) but it's got a great reputation for the course I'm on (it's a perfomance-related course) and it has strong links with performance-related industries like Granada TV, Channel M (it even produces some of the programmes for Channel M), BBC, etc.

Well, I don't know how college applications are where you live, but I just got through all this application stuff less than a year ago.

There are a couple questions you need to ask yourself.
Where can I see myself going?
Where can I realistically get in?

Basically, do what most people do, choose a safety school and choose a reach. Then choose a few schools in between,

Bristol.

You want to go to Bristol.

Bristol is the best place to go to in the country.

It's a really good city to live in as well, is Bristol.

Did I mention that you should go to Bristol?

Bristol.

You want to go to Bristol.

Bristol is the best place to go to in the country.

It's a really good city to live in as well, is Bristol.

Did I mention that you should go to Bristol?
There's really only one problem with Bristol. Actually, make that two. First, it's a crap city. Second, it's full of Bristolians and surrounded by Somerset.

I went to Stirling Uni (in Scotland) for a BA Hons Politics.

I really enjoyed it. the staff are super fantastic and really supportive. the lecturers take time to know their students and are available for any help. and they are good fun.

Check out this link for just politics
http://www.external.stir.ac.uk/undergrad/course_info/courses_ug/politics.

Or this for International Politics
http://www.external.stir.ac.uk/undergrad/course_info/courses_ug/int_politics.php

there is a wide range of subjects to choose from. (My favourites were ususally with Dejan Jovic who did lots on Authoritarianism and Totalitarianism (the dark side) and then the good side with Graham Timmins studying European issues.

then there is Andrea Baumeister who concentrates on the more philosophical side.

There are more members of staff, but these were my favorites.

The system is really good you get a vast selection of subject chioce and the campus is really pretty.

I should get a commission

I'm currently doing a Journalism degee, so I've no idea what the politics course is like here - I'm at Salford University - but it seems a generally good place, good facilities and everything - plus it's always going up in the tables so it can't be all bad.

It's a bit out of the way if you're from London, but I'm from Essex and I don't mind the journey, so your mileage may vary.

I did read in a national paper(okay admitedly it was the Sun) only yesterday that Bristol was the cheapest place in the country for a good night out, so perhaps Bristol.

I'm currently doing a Journalism degee, so I've no idea what the politics course is like here - I'm at Salford University - but it seems a generally good place, good facilities and everything - plus it's always going up in the tables so it can't be all bad.

It's a bit out of the way if you're from London, but I'm from Essex and I don't mind the journey, so your mileage may vary.

You is at my uni! *pokes you*

You is at my uni! *pokes you*

Thats 3 people from Salford now! :p

Channel M (it even produces some of the programmes for Channel M)

Doesn't it own Channel M?


Edit: Part own apparently, says google.

You just applying to British universities? I go to Trinity College Dublin, it's worth applying for. Gives you more options other than UCAS.

Thats 3 people from Salford now! :p



Doesn't it own Channel M?


Edit: Part own apparently, says google.

Who's the third?

And yep, it has a PARTNERSHIP with Channel M but doesn't own it. It does however make some programmes for it

You just applying to British universities? I go to Trinity College Dublin, it's worth applying for. Gives you more options other than UCAS.

Maybe... but you'd need a passport cus Dublin's part of Ireland, not Northern Ireland (NI is part of the UK)

Who's the third?
Me
Edit: Actually, 4. I remember encountering someone a while back who lived with the ex-flatmate of the ex-drummer in my ex-band or something. :p

And yep, it has a PARTNERSHIP with Channel M but doesn't own it. It does however make some programmes for it

Channel M is Manchester's very own terrestrial TV station and is partly owned by the University of Salford along with Guardian Media Group and City Broadcasting.

Maybe... but you'd need a passport cus Dublin's part of Ireland, not Northern Ireland (NI is part of the UK)

Nah, you don't, for two reasons....the agreement between the RoI and UK on living/working rights etc., and the fact that they're both in the UK.

Anyway, I'm always surprised more people don't consider The Queen's University of Belfast. A very good university for arts, law, engineering, and medicine, and located in one of the best cities in the UK (well, really it's the best, but I don't want to annoy anyone).

Nah, you don't, for two reasons....the agreement between the RoI and UK on living/working rights etc., and the fact that they're both in the UK.

Anyway, I'm always surprised more people don't consider The Queen's University of Belfast. A very good university for arts, law, engineering, and medicine, and located in one of the best cities in the UK (well, really it's the best, but I don't want to annoy anyone).

.........

Em, Naddy my dear?

Warwick's a great school. I seriously considered doing my graduate work there (they had a nifty programme on the "Ethics of Mental Illness" - it would have been a chance to investigate the growing Neurodiversity movement).

That said, if you're English, and you want to get a fresh perspective on International Relations, you should study it at a school outside England.

.........

Em, Naddy my dear?

Well...UK/EU whatever, you get the idea :p

I'm at Sussex.

The teaching is underfunded and poor, the library is appalling and the University is millions of pounds in debt - pretty much like every non-Oxbridge university then.

However, the Student political/activist movement is very, very strong: probably stronger than at any other university - our AGM is something to behold, it really is. So if you're interested in getting involved in student politics we've got that going for us + we are just next to Brighton, fantastic town - if a little pricey - for pretty much anything.

I'm hoping to go to Aberystwyth next year to do International Politics.

get down to kent tis quality here

Warwick's a great school.

Meh: as an educational establishment it is darned good. As a place where you would want to spend a year of your life it ain't so hot. Worst mistake of my life going there.

Meh: as an educational establishment it is darned good. As a place where you would want to spend a year of your life it ain't so hot. Worst mistake of my life going there.
I never got a chance to visit.

But I had just done an undergraduate degree in the subarctic desert that is the University of Calgary, so Warwick looked pretty good by comparison.

Aberdeen looked better, but all their Philosophy was analytical.

Well...UK/EU whatever, you get the idea :p

Stop confuzzling people - UK (United Kingdom) full name is United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain comprises ONLY of the ISLAND OF GREAT BRITAIN which is the island containing England, Scotland, and Wales - the other nearby islands are not part of Great Britain but are known as "British Isles" (I'm unsure of the official title(s)), but I'm still pretty sure you need a passport to go from the UK to any part of Ireland(apart from NI which is obviously in the UK). And Britain is in the EU (and I think Ireland is too, or at least part of it).

Check this stuff is true if ya don't believe mah.

Damn I thought this was a thread about what happens to Harry Potter after he leaves Hogwarts...

Stop confuzzling people - UK (United Kingdom) full name is United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain comprises ONLY of the ISLAND OF GREAT BRITAIN which is the island containing England, Scotland, and Wales - the other nearby islands are not part of Great Britain but are known as "British Isles" (I'm unsure of the official title(s)),

You forget that I live in Northern Ireland, so I know all this :p

but I'm still pretty sure you need a passport to go from the UK to any part of Ireland(apart from NI which is obviously in the UK).

Nope. You can go to and from Ireland perfectly freely without needing a passport. I can drive to Dublin without going near a passport control, because there aren't any along the RoI/NI border.

The only reason you may need one is if you're flying and the airline decides that you need a passport so they know the right person is getting on the plane.

And Britain is in the EU (and I think Ireland is too, or at least part of it).

They're both in the EU, but neither are part of Schengen.

I never got a chance to visit.

But I had just done an undergraduate degree in the subarctic desert that is the University of Calgary, so Warwick looked pretty good by comparison.

Aberdeen looked better, but all their Philosophy was analytical.

Philosophy? Ah, I did my MA in Continental Philosophy at Warwick: a quick look at the current staff in the department shows that they still have at least six or seven lecturers I wouldn't hesitate to recommend studying under.

Great Britain comprises ONLY of the ISLAND OF GREAT BRITAIN which is the island containing England, Scotland, and Wales - the other nearby islands are not part of Great Britain but are known as "British Isles"....

So Angelsey isn't part of GB then?

I go to Edinburgh, it's top quality university and the city is great - more clubs per student than anywhere else in the UK.

Any of the old Scottish unis - Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and St Andrews - are of a high standard and are in great locations, except St Andrews. The arse end of Fife is not the best place to spend your studnt days.

Bloody Centrist!

http://www.open.ac.uk/socialsciences/gov_politics/index.html

:D

I go to Edinburgh, it's top quality university and the city is great - more clubs per student than anywhere else in the UK.
That's only good if they're decent clubs.

I go to Edinburgh, it's top quality university and the city is great - more clubs per student than anywhere else in the UK.

Any of the old Scottish unis - Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and St Andrews - are of a high standard and are in great locations, except St Andrews. The arse end of Fife is not the best place to spend your studnt days.


OOh, i go to edinburgh too!
Anyway, first thing to remember is that scotish uni's are £1300 a year cheaper, and edinburgh is the best scotish uni and is the best city (so go there).

Otherwise just think:
Can you cope with the fact that there are only 4 clubs in durham, one of which is voted the second worst in the country and another of which is actually just a weatherspoons?
Can you be bothered with the workload at cambridge? All the people i know who go there hardly ever go out cause they are working literally ALL the time, and the terms are only ten weeks so you dont even get that time at the beggining and the end to prat about with friends.
Do you really want to go to a london uni? The prices are much higher, but it has a brilliant social life. It does mean that your less likely to bump into people you know when your out tho.
Warwick is a campus uni i think, which means that when you are limited on choices of places to go somewhat, but you will know loads of people when you go out, which is good.
Notingham has a lovely campus, but the area of the city directly round it is a total shithole, and basically you dont want to be walking through that ever time you walk home.
Exeter is a lovely city and a lovely campus, but the uni is currently closing loads of its departments so... you dont want to end up like their chemistry students and have to go to some shit uni nearby.
Cardiff is a lovely city, and has a good reputation for the grades it offers, so makes a good backup choice, but if you are intelligent enough to think about cambridge you are probably looking higher up the lueage tables.

There, that about covers all the unis that are consistently near to top of the lueage tables (cept lougboough, but thats only up there for PE and engineering, and manchester cause i jsut hate the city and would never want anyone to go there.)

That's only good if they're decent clubs.

Yes edinburgh has decent clubs, its a capital city for goodnes sake. And then we have a castle for the union (teviot, love the place) and the big cheese!!!

Notingham has a lovely campus, but the area of the city directly round it is a total shithole, and basically you dont want to be walking through that ever time you walk home.
Firstly, no, it's not a shithole. It's right next to Wollaton Park (which has deer!), and bloody close to The Park area of the city, where a small house has seven bedrooms. Sure, the side near the boating lake isn't too nice, but why you'd be taking that route home from town is beyond me.

It's a considerable distance from both Radford and St. Anne's, which are the reasons Nottingham has a reputation for gun crime.

And finally Nottingham has a night bus service, at least one route of which goes to the university.

Firstly, no, it's not a shithole. It's right next to Wollaton Park (which has deer!), and bloody close to The Park area of the city, where a small house has seven bedrooms. Sure, the side near the boating lake isn't too nice, but why you'd be taking that route home from town is beyond me.

It's a considerable distance from both Radford and St. Anne's, which are the reasons Nottingham has a reputation for gun crime.

And finally Nottingham has a night bus service, at least one route of which goes to the university.

But night busses are expensive (or at least are expensive when compared to free)! If you cant walk there, then thats less money for drinking, which is never good. Also, what do you do if you are throwing up? You cant get busses or taxis then cause they fine you if you puke in them.

Anyway, the only way you can really decide which uni to go to is to visit them. Go on some of the free overnight taster courses that some uni's run. Its great fun and you can decide if you hate the place (like i did with durham, stupid cobbles. Was wearing heals and it was raining, and i had to be carried up the hill by a very very hot 4th year. Wait a sec.. thats not a bad thing...)

But night busses are expensive (or at least are expensive when compared to free)! If you cant walk there, then thats less money for drinking, which is never good. Also, what do you do if you are throwing up? You cant get busses or taxis then cause they fine you if you puke in them.
Well, it costs £1. Now, I know that's the average cost of a shooter on a night out, but I'd rather have the quick, dry route home than the one foul 25ml alcohol/fruit juice mix.

If you're throwing up you wait until you're empty, then get the bus.