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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Luiz d'Artayn" data-source="post: 621294" data-attributes="member: 3238">Re: England. Don't worry *too* much about the temperature - most everywhere in the UK will be in your comfort zone (and as you'll not be there during the summer then you should be fine).Generally public transportation is more comprehensive in the UK than in the US, but some places are better served than others.A lot about your choice will (or should) depend upon the teaching quality of the specific department you're interested in. I'm assuming it'll be Psychology? I don't know much about the relative merits of different Universities in that specific area, but I can offer the following observations ...Durham - Small, *very* isolated but remarkably beautiful University in the North-East (it's a World Heritage Protected Site ... or something like that). Public transportation not great, but the place isn't large and the Uni area is very "footable". Not a lot of nightlife so might get a bit boring depending on your tastes (small town feel). Bit touristy, but less so than Oxford. Like Oxford it has a real "University-Town" feel. Has a *very* high general teaching reputation. Local population: OK, but not always *that* welcoming to outsiders. Student population and town population tend to stay separate.Manchester - I'd recommend you give priority to considering this place. Large city, with a number of fine Universities, and the highest tertiary student population of any place in Europe. *Lots* and *lots* of stuff going on (sports, theatre, cinema, etc), but much, *much* cheaper than London. Transport is mostly good, and with recent improvements to infrastructure due to the recent Commonwealth Games it's gotten even better. The main universities are close to town (walking distance) and the main student residential zones (around the campuses and extending on a south-of-city-centre axis) are well served in all aspects (shops, buses, pubs, etc). Basically, as a student you can walk 99% of the places you'll want to go even though it's a large city, and you can get to anywhere else (or simply save time) by taking a bus. Note: Salford University is isolated on the NW of the city centre and is not as good a University in general, and does not have a real student zone. It's also a pretty ugly/unsafe area, so you might want to cross it off your list. Manchester Downsides: rains *all* the time, crime and air pollution a little steep, from time to time the place can get a little oppressive/stressful but there are good breaks to be had in the nearby countryside (with good rail transportation to those places). Locals: great. Crazy, but great.London - imagine a constantly cold and grey (and skyscaper-less) New York. Now ask if you want to go to University there? Public transport pretty good (and very thorough north of the River Thames, but less so south of it), but *very* overburdened. Very exciting place to live but also extremely expensive. If you are able to get generous funding then this would be a great place to study. On the other hand, if you can't, then you may end up having to live a very frugal and somewhat unsociable existance, and only be able to partake in but a fraction of what this great city has to offer - and that, will *suck* (trust me). Universities: varied and spread out; no *real* student res. zones, but if you can arrange decent accomodation through the relevant university's channels, then you'll probably be OK. Locals: great, varied, interesting, though (understandably) sometimes preoccupied with their own busy-ness.Liverpool - take Manchester, and divide everything that is positive about it by three. Basically this place is Average McAverage, but if the standard of teaching in the relevant department sounds attractive, then Liverpool is probably worth a look. Much less of a student-centric place than others listed here though. Locals: mostly pretty cool ... if you can understand the accent. Crime is rather high, however.Bristol - very good University and town and not *too* expensive. Probably well worth considering. Somewhat student-oriented. Wasn't there long enough to be able to comment on transportation, etc. Locals: OK ... can't really say more without a larger sample.Oxford / Cambridge - good pedestrian-friendly towns. Extremely University-focused (there really isn't a reason for either town to exist without their universities). Fairly small places but an OK amount of stuff going on (most of which is generated by the students themselves). Reasonable rail access from both to London for big nights-out / major events of interest. Somewhat *expensive* however, and note that the current (general) teaching standards of these places is far lower than their hallowed reputations suggest. It's not bad, infact it's pretty good, but it's not all it's often said to be. Locals: what locals? It's mostly students. (Seriously, the locals are good; they have to be when their towns are 99% reliant on the universities.)Leeds - good University. Nice city (*very* "green" by UK standards) but not *all* that exciting ... maybe that is somewhat harsh, but it never struck me as being as lively or involving a place as London/Manchester/Liverpool. Fairly good transport, but not great. Probably slightly more expensive than Manchester because of housing price increases caused by London firms moving their base of operations north to Leeds over the past 10-12 years or so. Not really a student-centric city, nor does it have the truly massive student-dominated areas like Manchester. Basically, think of Leeds as a slightly pale version of Manchester. The balancing factor is that as student life here is slightly slower-paced (and the surroundings more pleasant) it won't be as (potentially) stressful. Generally safer than Liverpool. In essence: if the teaching/courses offered sound good, then well worth considering. Locals: OK.</blockquote>

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