like any uni you get out what you put in i live in the cheaper accommodation and it is alright, dirty at times and not very homey but im paying peanuts so i cant complain if you turn up regulary and ask questions you will be rewarded there are so many opportunities to succed you just need to take the initiative

My course in specific has some of the best staff for teaching and support. Throughout my entire course of study, I have felt well supported by my tutors to do my best and to overcome any and all problems I may have, whether that be relating to my academics, or personal and non-academic concerns. The literature resources could be improved, and the sense of community among Humanities subjects is low, but I have been told that this is because of recent restructuring of the schools of study on a broader level, and programme leaders are doing their best to improve this for future students. The student union has improved greatly in the past three years. I am now a Student Rep, and have been attending newly established meetings including wide ranges of Union representatives to have my say in how the uni is improved for the future. More effort is being placed into hearing what students truly think - any and all feedback is heard by the people who need to hear it at this university. Many opportunities are provided for students to meet new friends and form a good social life, balanced with academics. The prices of on-campus accommodation and food are higher than I would expect for this area, and many students have struggled with the university owned bus company, UNO. These two issues have been consistent throughout my three years of study, but there has been no obvious efforts or claims made from the higher ups that these will be fixed soon.

While the contact hours for my course are very very low, the teaching staff and course content make up for this. I leave most of my lessons feeling well-positioned to write academically about texts, and enjoy the conversational aspects of workshops and seminars. Lecturers make an effort to encourage students to stretch their capabilities, to open their mind to new ideas, and push us to do better with consistent and regular written and verbal feedback.

Campus accommodation is extremely expensive and prices increase every year to the point where I personally cannot afford the cheapest room with the entirety of my maintenance loan. The location of rooms are good, but problems with heating, windows, fire alarms, and heating are consistent and are either very slow to be addressed despite constant emailing and calling or are not fixed at all. In my first year, I had consistent problems with the electronic lock on my room door, causing major distress and upset besides the glaring security issues of a student's lock being faulty (not locking at all or switching off so that I could not access my room in emergencies). In my second year, my heater would not turn on at all leading up to the winter months, and despite multiple maintenance workers coming in to look at it, it was never fixed, and the uni had to provide me with a low quality portable heater. Maintenance workers are also allowed to enter your room even if you are not there, which as a young woman felt very invasive and uncomfortable to know that a stranger had been in my room while I was out, not knowing what they were doing or looking at. They are supposed to leave calling cards when they enter while you are absent, but there have been instances where this has not happened. In regular society, maintenance workers have to organise appointments with homeowners and renters. What makes it okay for a university student to have their private, supposedly safe, space invaded when they are not there? Just because we are renting from the university, does not give the university the right to enter our rooms when we are not present.