Education, Training and Learning postgraduate degrees in South West England

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.

It might not be university specific, but the difficulties in commuting has a big impact. The university has been negotiating with the first bus, however, the busses are always full because of sudden cancellations. Since university is at the top of the hill, I would hope this to be improved significantly so I wouldn’t have to walk up or take an uber up which makes me too tiring to concentrate on lectures.

Studying at University of the West of England is a good experience overall. One of the best aspects is the focus on practical learning and employability, with many courses offering projects and placement opportunities that prepare students for real jobs. The campus facilities, including the library and study spaces, are modern and comfortable. Bristol is also a lively student city with plenty of things to do. However, accommodation in Bristol can be quite expensive, and communication from some departments could be improved, especially regarding deadlines and feedback. Overall, it’s a supportive and diverse environment, particularly welcoming for international students.

As a final year student, reflecting I can confidently say this course has been a great place to study and grow both professionally and personally. I love the course and I have made some of my closest friends here in Bournemouth, which has created a supportive and collaborative environment throughout my time studying. The teaching staff are highly knowledgeable and have had so much experience in the industry to share, they are approachable and genuinely invested in our toolkit. One of the strongest aspects of the course is the opportunity to collaborate with the Bournemouth Film School. This has been an invaluable experience, allowing me to work on graduate films, understand professional screen practice, and begin building industry connections before graduating. Overall, this course has been an extremely positive and formative experience, and I would highly recommend it to any student looking to develop their craft! Go for it!

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.

Older campus tucked out of the way but super friendly and chill vibes all round. Especially the Octagon in the middle of campus, the two chaplains in there are absolutely wonderful and friendly people, and they have 2 dogs to cuddle if you need a furry friend lectures are more interactive with you as a student because of the smaller class sizes so they get to know you as an individual, and student support are great! The only negative I have is there are a lot of potholes and the elevators are often breaking. Overall, pretty good!!