Government Studies postgraduate degrees in All 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.

University of Hull has a beautiful and serene environment suitable for learning and even relaxing. The lecturers are very warm and receptive. Things that could be improved: student union (I don’t really see what they do, I’m sorry); the university should make arrangements with more landlords in order to make students living easier; Timetable should be more flexible (we asked for a change in my department but nothing was done)

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.

The best part of my university experience has been the learning environment and independence. I’ve had access to good facilities, knowledgeable tutors, and projects that push me to think critically and work in a more professional way, especially through practical and design-based assignments. University has also helped me develop discipline, self-management, and confidence in my own ideas. Being surrounded by people from different backgrounds has broadened how I think, both academically and personally.

Durham is a beautiful city and university with great social opportunities. The traditions are very strong at this school. It feels today like how Oxford and Cambridge were twenty years ago. Sometimes administration can be a challenge, many people have difficulty in knowing how to pay tuition and the university is slow to respond to emails. Also, there are far too many international students and just students in general. The university’s expansion plans are causing a drop in the school’s national and international rankings and causing the university to be in danger of losing its character.

The supervisors, Phd office, students and the university itself have been wonderfully supportive. It is easy to criticise minor issues or those beyond the universities control, but overall it is just a great place to be and study. The Students Union could improve the way it deals with people as I did not find them particularly supportive, but then maybe I caught them on a bad day. I will still give them 4 stars since they mean well.