Marketing and PR postgraduate degrees in South East England

Best aspect: One positive aspect of university is the financial resources available to support students, such as scholarships, bursaries, grants, and access to part-time work on or near campus. These resources can reduce financial pressure and allow students to focus more on their studies. Universities also often provide access to subsidised facilities, learning resources, and student discounts, which can make higher education more affordable compared to managing these costs independently. Worst aspect / areas for improvement: Despite these resources, financial support is often limited, competitive, or not well advertised, leaving many students unaware of the help available to them. Living costs, accommodation fees, and international tuition fees continue to rise, which can cause significant financial stress. Universities could improve by expanding financial aid, offering clearer guidance on available funding, and providing more consistent support for students facing unexpected financial difficulties.

With the SMT once again announcing a detrimental restructure to the university, roughly around 300 teaching staff are being threatened with redundancies if they are viewed as not making a 'valuable' contribution to Goldsmiths. A vast majority of departments have been threatened with teaching and module cuts, including English, once again. It is ironic that they are saying they want to make back/ save around 20 million, yet they are looking to have an AI centre whilst neglecting the humanities departments that reside at the very heart of Goldsmiths. They do not have much care for practising free speech on campus as the SMT wanted to 'arrest' the group of us that had 1.) occupied a building on campus in protest against the way the university has conducted their weak response to the ongoing genocide in Palestine and 2.) those that actually took part in the protests that occurred on campus. How can you label your university as a 'creative powerhouse' and a 'melting pot' of ideas when you've conducted yourself in such a backward manner? The welfare team has little regard for you. I had applied for a hardship bursary, yet I was met with a foodbank voucher that could only be used on the week it was issued and for a place that was miles away from accom and only open for 4 hours on a Friday. Do not come to this uni if you are seeking a place that values academic integrity and the preservation of your course; alongside your welfare as a student. It's a shock that they can even call themselves an institution.

The sustainable drive of the University - Reading Uni is well known for being drivers for environmental change whether that be the stunning green campus, running on renewable energy, leaders in environmental research, and opportunities for the new Global Sustainability Leaders Scholarship. Given my course, the fact the Uni aligns the same principles of positive environmental change was important to me. Often overlooked, but the connectivity of Reading by bus is incredible. It makes shopping, evenings out, and just generally getting out and about really easy as a university student who can't keep a car on campus. The Library is large and really well equipped for study, group projects, and a social café downstairs (although the PCs need drastic improvements to run our GIS software in the Library). The social life on campus - whether you drink or not (like me) there is something for everyone, there are so many wonderful societies to choose from to join (or even run). I have met so many wonderful people through societies - in fact the general vibe of Reading students and staff is so positive and welcoming. In terms of improvements - more student events other that just societies and clubbing would be nice (eg. open mic nights). Some buildings on campus do look a little run down, and other universities do have more advanced facilities than in Reading, but none as green :)