University environment

The environment of the university that you choose can have a great impact on your student life at the university. Universities in the UK are located in towns and cities of varying sizes. Some are located at the very centre of the largest cities and consequently, offer a very different experience compared to one offered by a university located on a purpose-built campus at the outskirts of a city.

Thus, one of the first criteria you should consider when choosing your university is the environment. Here, we have listed down the four types of university environment:

Collegiate

In a collegiate university, students are not only enrolled with the university; they are also closely linked to the colleges, which supply the accommodation within the university.

At Oxbridge, the colleges control entry to the university and have a major teaching role. Much of the students’ academic, social and sporting activities are organised within the college and there is a very strong sense of community within each one.

Durham is very similar to Oxbridge without the college teaching role, whilst York has elements of the social and sporting aspects of the collegiate system. Durham also has another campus, Queen’s Campus, in Stockton which has a very different feel to the collegiate system of Durham itself (refer to Campus Universities in No. 2).

Examples:

Campus

Campus universities are located in a separate segregated area of the city, or its outskirts. This area contains the facilities for all aspects of university life: academic (e.g. lecture theatres, libraries, laboratories), social (e.g. halls of residence, Students’ Union, shops), and sporting (gymnasia, swimming pools, tennis, squash and badminton courts, football).

The campus may be at the heart of the city, as is the case with Queen Mary University of London and Aston University. Alternatively, it may be located on a green site that is a short bus ride from the nearby town or city (or within walking distance), as with Lancaster and Loughborough. Wherever the actual location, you are guaranteed very easy access to all elements of life that are essential to your everyday needs and academic development. You will also be an integral part of the full university community. In addition, you will be in close proximity to all the public facilities offered by and to the local community where you may become involved.

EXAMPLES:

Compact City

This is a term used by MABECS to refer to the compact nature of the university. Although not situated in a segregated area of the city, there is clearly a recognisable precinct that distinguishes the university from the remainder of the city.

The key factor is that the different aspects of university life: academic, social and sporting, are near to each other. In fact, they are so close that you can easily reach them all on foot. Thus, the feeling of a full university community is well preserved. On top of that, there is also the benefit of being in close proximity to the town/city and all of its facilities.

EXAMPLES:

City

This category refers to universities situated in large towns and cities that have their various activities quite widely spread about the city, usually requiring the use of public transport to get from one activity or place to the other.

In some cases, the university is situated on a few separate sites in the city. Sometimes, this meant that the university community sense is easily lost, or activities are too remote for students to participate conveniently. Nevertheless, there can be a greater sense of community as you will be in a position to become more involved in local community activities, as well as any arranged by the university. You can still enjoy the best of both worlds.

Many of the Statute universities fit into this category with strong local industrial links and expertise. In addition, some of the most well-known of UK universities, are also included in this category.

EXAMPLES: