Literature degrees in South West England

As an international Environmental Management student, my time at Plymouth has been defined by two things: academic freedom and incredible support. When I faced significant personal loss and financial struggles that impacted my attendance, the faculty didn't write me off they gave me the flexibility to recover and succeed. The course itself is far more than just exams. I was able to lead complex, consultancy-style projects (like my work on Singapore Heat Stress policies) that felt like real professional work, not just coursework. The resources in the Marine Building and library are top-tier for anyone willing to push themselves. Plymouth offers a rare balance: it challenges you intellectually to reach distinction levels, but supports you personally when life gets hard. Highly recommended for students who want resilience alongside their degree.

The campus is absolutely gorgeous! A wonderful mix of old and new, castles and modern buildings. Reserving rooms encourages students to get out of their rooms and study anywhere on campus, from the top of the castle tower, to the communal "pods" at Commons. The Student Union building has a bar and a small shop, and activities going on almost every day. Karaoke every other Saturday is one of my favourites. Close enough to the city of Bath for easy access, while still having the feeling of a university town. Lots of student discounts and student bars/clubs in town, as the University of Bath is also nearby. Interesting classes, lovely lecturers and guest lecturers, and proper assessments. Few, if not none, tests, allowing for those who do not thrive with simple memorization to show off how they learn. The diversity of students encourages the broadening of your own world view. A wide range of courses, allowing for study into incredibly specific topics. The main issue with the university is the wait time for wellbeing appointments, as it can take up to four months to even get a foot in the door. This means that if you do need help, it is very difficult to achieve. Also, while it isn't the university's fault, it is important to know that the First Bus system is not very reliable, so if you have a job in town, it is quite nerve-wracking.

I attend UOG Francis Close Hall campus and it's so incredibly inspiring. It's a great oldy-worldy historical site and it was really the deal-breaker for me choosing UOG; although my course mates and I were severely let down when we were told we would have to move to Oxstalls campus in Gloucester... we managed to get the union involved but only managed to get it pushed back a year for us, all new students in September for social science will be in Oxstalls and won't get to experience the beauty of FCH. Such a shame. Despite this, the facilities are amazing, staff are equipped with great knowledge and are all incredibly friendly. All students are friendly and light-minded, it's a great environment to study in and socialise. I commute so I cannot speak on the social side of student accommodation and/or going out, but as a commuter it meets all my needs! I really recommend studying here, the lecturers know what they're talking about, and are amazing at illustrating theories and concepts in ways that make sense.

There should be more support for international students, the lack of staff specialized on matter regarding visas and financial support for international students makes the whole university experience feel more overwhelming and stressful.

I enjoyed the course and it’s structure. I believe, that it set me up well for my research project and gave me the skills that employers are looking for. The worse aspect was the lack of time for activities outside of studying. Lectures and assignments took up most of the day and evening, especially during coursework and exam season.