The best aspect is the organisation of my modules, the department is very supportive and it is clear what is asked from my exams/coursework. The worst aspect is the lecture theatres can be smaller than needed.

It is a good mix of online and in class learning. It is also very easy to Contact staff via email and office hour. However, more computer workshops would be beneficial for my course.

What I liked the most about this uni hall was that bills were included and the room was modern. However, it was a lot of money per month, and the staff were not always friendly.

I'm a mature student who did my foundation year at Portsmouth last year, and now I'm doing my first year in Psychology here as well. So far, I've loved both courses. The foundation year sets you up really well to go onto your target course, as well as giving you the skills to work at a university level. At first I was a little nervous, having been out of education for a number of years, but the first few assignments were levelled at us really well and are getting progressively more interesting as our skills develop. I've made friends here despite being older, and feel as though the faculty and general staff genuinely care about their teaching and want to engage with the student body. The foundation year was in general sciences, so I got to engage with faculty from across the University, I am not sure if all academics are the same or if enthusiasm and competence are just priorities for Portsmouth University, but either way, I'm here for it. I chose Portsmouth for Psychology because the modules on this course deviated from the usual first year psychology curriculum of 5 modules, each one on the 5 biggest branches of psychology. Instead at Portsmouth there's a bigger focus on acquiring skills than knowledge. We jump right into the issues and debates of the subject with Perspectives in Psychology, and the more scientific approaches with Animal Psychology, as well as other modules. Personally this teaching style works well for me, I love unpacking and critically analysing a topic, rather than memorising facts or systems. If you like writing essays that take you on a journey, and you don't mind maths, then this is the course for you! In terms of student support services, the University offers learning support for those who need it as well as some mental health support. Personally, I've engaged with the counselling service. As with many free services, it isn't ideal. The service focuses on helping students stay at uni, manage their time and achieve the grades they need. The system focuses on students who need support with University specifically, rather than just life in general. However the people running the service were aware of this and were really helpful in signposting me to some other affordable/free services which were more suited to my actual needs.

I'm a mature student who did my foundation year at Portsmouth last year, and now I'm doing my first year in Psychology here as well. So far, I've loved both courses. The foundation year sets you up really well to go onto your target course, as well as giving you the skills to work at a university level. At first I was a little nervous, having been out of education for a number of years, but the first few assignments were levelled at us really well and are getting progressively more interesting as our skills develop. I've made friends here despite being older, and feel as though the faculty and general staff genuinely care about their teaching and want to engage with the student body. The foundation year was in general sciences, so I got to engage with faculty from across the University, I am not sure if all academics are the same or if enthusiasm and competence are just priorities for Portsmouth University, but either way, I'm here for it. I chose Portsmouth for Psychology because the modules on this course deviated from the usual first year psychology curriculum of 5 modules, each one on the 5 biggest branches of psychology. Instead at Portsmouth there's a bigger focus on acquiring skills than knowledge. We jump right into the issues and debates of the subject with Perspectives in Psychology, and the more scientific approaches with Animal Psychology, as well as other modules. Personally this teaching style works well for me, I love unpacking and critically analysing a topic, rather than memorising facts or systems. If you like writing essays that take you on a journey, and you don't mind maths, then this is the course for you!

Portsmouth as a city isn't exactly famous for being pretty, but it's affordable and it will surprise you. There's plenty of clubs near the student housing, but there's also small independent cafes, bookshops and amazing takeout places which you can actually afford. As well as a fancy shopping centre, Albert Road which has lots of independent shops, Fratton has specialised food shops (eg. Caribbean, Turkish, Japanese). Portsmouth also has strong local communities, such as Heart of Portsmouth Boxing Academy (a community based amateur boxing gym which anyone can join, lead by boxing legend Quinton Shillington). Plus it's all by the sea.

This Service was okay, it was just far too expensive for what it was. I was in a studio flat, but my kitchen and shower barely had enough room to move in. Plus my flat was directly above a club which meant I couldn't sleep before 2am (even if I wanted to). Considering the very friendly property market in Portsmouth, I would have gotten better value somewhere private, even if I was on my own. If something breaks in your room (eg shower) then they will fix it very quickly. But the lift was broken for over 6 months while I lived there. Not a problem for me, as I'm fairly fit, but for people with injuries or hidden disabilities it makes life a lot harder. They do pick up your packages and keep them safe, which is nice. The main advantage to living in halls is that you don't end up moving to a dangerous part of the city. Portsmouth as a city isn't exactly famous for being pretty, but it's affordable and it will surprise you. There's plenty of clubs near the student housing, but there's also small independent cafes, bookshops and amazing takeout places which you can actually afford. As well as a fancy shopping centre, Albert Road which has lots of independent shops, Fratton has specialised food shops (eg. Caribbean, Turkish, Japanese). Portsmouth also has strong local communities, such as Heart of Portsmouth Boxing Academy (a community based amateur boxing gym which anyone can join, lead by boxing legend Quinton Shillington). Plus it's all by the sea.