Area Studies degrees in North East England

Great social life, good options for student societies, a lot of student support. A lot of professionals teaching on the course and it gave me exactly what I wanted for my career progression into genetics

Northumbria's sports facilities are fantastic, I love sports central. As a sport lover it is a great place to go, super encouraging at getting students to be involved in sports whether through participating or watching. The psychology department is brilliant, nice big rooms and social spaces for independent study or group chats. Habita is cosy and big, always showing sports, fun music and cheap food and drinks.

The community feel at the university of York is wonderful. The campus is always buzzing with students and has so many nice areas outside to sit and chat or decompress between lectures. Sitting by the lake and watching the swans and ducks is one of my favourite places to eat lunch with friends. Overall, I've had a great experience with interesting lecturers and supportive supervisors for lab projects, and would recommend York to anyone looking for a welcoming, well-rounded and high quality education experience at University! Improvements could be made in the delivery of information between management and students, especially regarding the future of departments to ensure all students feel represented, respected and informed about the next stages of their teaching.

Best aspects: One of the best things about my experience at York St John has been the strong sense of community. The campus is a really welcoming environment, and because it’s a smaller university, it’s easy to build meaningful relationships with both lecturers and other students. My course has felt very supportive, with lecturers who are approachable and genuinely invested in student success. The location is also a huge positive — being so close to York city centre makes student life enjoyable while still having a calm, close-knit campus atmosphere that’s great for studying. Worst aspects / improvements: While the supportive environment is a real strength, one area that could be improved is communication around timetabling and assessment deadlines, which can sometimes feel a bit last-minute. Additionally, expanding study spaces during peak assessment periods would be helpful, as the library can get very busy. That said, the university is clearly responsive to student feedback, and I’ve seen positive changes being made over time.

The location is great, surrounded by a multitude of stores for easy access to the majority of things required for student living. As well as that it is surrounded by student accommodation and is widely accessible to many, though some buildings are difficult to navigate/find without experience or guide. It is well-maintained for the majority of areas. The range of facilities as well is good for all manners of course studies.

Oxford Brookes University offers a supportive learning environment with passionate lecturers and modern facilities. The campus is vibrant, with plenty of opportunities to get involved in clubs and events. The city of Oxford adds to the appeal, providing a rich, historic backdrop and excellent career opportunities. Overall, it’s a great choice for those looking for a balance of academics and student life.