University rating
Tell us about your overall university experience so far.
The chaplaincy team and Harry Potter society have been very supportive of my wellbeing and personal development. The English Literature department are wonderful, and they really support their students. The Spanish department are also brilliant but their teaching can be substandard or lacklustre, with not as much support given to their students than compared to other departments, for example English.
Housing tends to be overpriced in places so make sure you really check what you're paying for before agreeing to anything. The city is beautiful, peaceful and generally fun to explore but there's a few clubs/bars around town to make a night out more fun than just going to the SU bar again and again.
Facilities
How good are your university's facilities?
A well-stocked library and multiple language labs. The English dept are always very keen to get suggestions for any books they should request for the library
Student support
How good is the support offered by the uni? Think both academic (tutors/feedback) and personal (counselling, etc).
Feedback is generally good and for Literature, tutorials are often encouraged if you need extra support. Spanish lecturers can be slightly worse; the assessments sometimes aren't clearly explained and asking for further clarification is sometimes met with disappointment rather than support.
A Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) is assigned to every student so if you have a problem, you're advised to seek them out. They are very kind and usually point you in the right direction of who can help you further, like Student Support & Guidance, Disability Support or even a GP if needed.
Students' union
What do you think of your Students' Union in terms of student representation and facilities?
There's a society for everyone and the SU itself puts on many events throughout the year. I don't really get involved much because most events seem to be related to drinking at the student bar on campus and I personally don't drink.
Local life
Is your university in a good location in terms of distance to accommodation and local amenities?
Loud and bustling when you want it to be, quiet and peaceful when you need it to be. A large student population, but a quaint, touristy city with lots of architecture and listed buildings, and history. There isn't a local cinema; the nearest is 7 miles away (10/15 minute bus ride from town centre) but there's a beautiful Christmas market every year, a wide range of shops (some chains, some independent), and lots of different bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants to suit your pocket.
Societies and Sports
How would you rate the variety of societies/sports?
There's a huge range of societies and clubs for every taste, and most are very supportive of their members. Every society has a chosen charity that they try to raise money for over the year through different events, like SU quiz nights, drama performances or a Harry Potter movie marathon.
Lecturers and teaching quality
What do you like most and least about the way your course(s) are taught?
English Literature lecturers are very passionate about their subject, and you study a diverse range of books/genres, with the chance to focus on something you really enjoy. They're very approachable if you have issues or if you just don't understand anything, in the course, the novel, the assessment, whatever.
Spanish lecturers are very willing to help and do everything to help you settle into your compulsory year abroad.
Career prospects
How does your uni make efforts to increase your employability (careers department, work placements, transferable skills)?
Work based learning unit for all second years, frequent career events, careers department offer CV workshops and one to one discussions about future plans
University halls
What do you think about the safety, condition, location and cost of your accommodation?
Overpriced and loud. The neighbours stay up until 4am talking loudly and playing music, and the walls are thin so it's easily audible through the walls. Kitchen is small, but the living room is a good size, all bills inclusive and en-suite