Going to the UK as a 25 year old

Applying to College
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<p>Hi all! First post here.</p>

<p>I've been doing research about studying abroad in the UK, and I had some concerns about my age and some other things. Due to, well, life, I am currently an undergrad at the age of 25. I really do want to go to the UK, but I honestly don't want to be put in a dorm with 18-19 year olds, I think it would be pretty awkward and I would feel more comfortable staying with people closer to my age. Not to mention I am far too old to be dealing with RAs and it's not something I am interested in doing lol</p>

<p>I wanted to know more about living situations. In my city, there are several companies who rent out rooms in big apartments (each room has a separate lease) where everyone gets their own bathroom, closet, etc, and shares a living room and kitchen, and it usually ends up being cheaper than living on campus in dorms, especially since you can just cook at home. Do companies/living arrangements like this exist in the UK? If so, that would be ideal.</p>

<p>Here are the schools I am choosing from (I am double majoring in Media Studies and English)
Keele University (I asked a British friend of mine and he said he'd never even heard of Keele! D: )
Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU)<br>
Plymouth University<br>
University of Leicester </p>

<p>I am not really sure where to go, despite the fact that I've spent hours looking at their websites! I would like to study in a place with a moderately low cost of living (comparably), but still reasonably close to fun things to do (I enjoy watching local bands/open mic nights/divebars on occasion!), so preferably not somewhere in the boonies, and I would prefer to live/study somewhere that is more liberal.</p>

<p>My sister studied in Spain and she spent a good 30 minutes trying to convince me that I should only pack 1 bag and not 2, but I sort of have a clothes/fashion obsession so I think I really will need 2 bags, is this such a terrible thing? She told me she almost passed out from carrying her bags through the airport & to the metro! Maybe I should bring one big and one medium bag? I realize this is kind of a stupid question but it has been bothering me, haha.</p>

<p>Yikes, this is much longer than I intended it to be. I've just been researching this for quite a while and still have so many concerns and questions @_@</p>

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<p>There are a lot of mature students (people over the age of 21) at British universities, so you certainly won’t be alone.</p>

<p>I know there are companies which provide student accommodation, in my experience they are usually quite flashy and expensive and tailored towards international students who are willing to spend a small fortune. The type of accommodation you describe is what most universities here offer anyway. We don’t call them dorms, they’re student halls and they usually consist of flats of between 6 and 12 people, everyone has their own room and quite often you have your own private shower and toilet and there is a communal kitchen. Universities usually offer a range of accommodation types to suit different people and budgets, check their websites to see what they offer.</p>

<p>From what you have said I think Manchester is the place to be. There is a large student community, lot of older students, music gigs, clubs, bars, theatres etc. Recently the BBC moved much of their media operations to Manchester (Media City) so you might find it relevant to your major as well. Everywhere is liberal in the UK compared to America, but Manchester has a reputation for being even more liberal, it has a large gay scene and has quite an alternative feel.</p>

<p>Keele is in the middle of nowhere.
Leicester is ugly and very dull.
Plymouth is horrible and crime ridden.</p>

<p>I suggest you join the student room (it is the British version of this site, there is so much more information on there).</p>

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<p>leicester is the best one on the list by far</p>

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<p>@nordicblue - Well that makes me feel better. For some reason I was thinking everyone would be younger than that. And I am relieved to hear that the living situations are similar to what I have here! Thank you. Manchester sounds like a good fit. I’ll have to save up a little more, but I think it would be worth it. I’ll check out the student room, thank you!</p>

<p>@SirGumby - Oh, really? What makes you say that?</p>

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<p>As you probably know, it is more important how a uni is ranked for a particular subject than the overall ranking, so you need to find out how well your choices do for English and Media (there are NO minors in most cases. You understand that, right?)</p>

<p>You will be considered a mature student if you begin an undergraduate degree aged over 21. Admissions requirements may be different so you should check.</p>

<p>Most undergraduates in hall of residence (same as dorms) are aged 18-20. However there may be a mature student hall or a graduate student hall where students will be closer to your age. It entirely depends on the university. You will have your own room (UK students are horrified when they find out Americans are used to sharing) and a shared kitchen area. You might have to share a bathroom or you might have your own room(called ensuite in the UK).</p>

<p>After the first year most students “live out” which means in private rental accommodation. Usually a shared house (again you get your own room). Private halls do exist in some places. One company who runs them is called unilife. My experience is similar to the above- these halls are for very rich foreign students who do not wish to mix with anyone. But again that might depend on the area.</p>

<p>I thought Plymouth was pretty nice! It is a big naval base in the middle of vacation country. The town itself is quite 1950s concrete but Plymouth Hoe is nice. Outdoor pool and all. I don’t know much about the uni. It’s very far from London. If you like submarines or the beach you’d love it. The surrounding area of Devon and Cornwall is beautiful.</p>

<p>Keele is a campus in the middle is nowhere so probably not what you are looking for.</p>

<p>I haven’t been to Leicester. It must be about the same size as Plymouth but right in the middle of England.</p>

<p>Manchester is the biggest city you have chosen and will have by far the most nightlife and student activities. If you want somewhere really busy this is it (but I find it dreary. I liked Manchester uni when I applied, but not the city so much. Hence I attended elsewhere). I think there are 5 or 6 unis in the area so massive student population.</p>

<p>About 50% of students in the UK are over 21, but my experience is a lot live at home with parents or with their own families. So you will likely find fewer older students in halls.</p>

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<p>I should point out that my opinion of Plymouth may be biased, when I was there a few years ago someone stole my bike! My friend studied there and she said it was nice, but I didn’t like it much. It’s better than Leicester though.</p>

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<p>As someone else said, most UK students in halls will be 18-20 (gap years are common, hence all the people like me who are aged 20 and in halls). However, RAs don’t really exist per se - I had a ‘pastoral tutor’ who lived somewhere in the same halls (I never worked out where), and who popped in occasionally to check we were all happy, and then went away again. I think I saw him 3 times all year, and he never actually did anything. There was also a Security team, who turned up when people set the fire alarms off by accident (bad cooking skills!) and who could tell people to turn the noise down if it was late at night. However, at the age of 18 you’re expected to act like an adult, and the uni will very much let you get on with it rather than coming in like some overbearing mother. </p>

<p>In halls, you will normally get your own bedroom (shared bedrooms are very rare, and highly unpopular). You will also have the option of self catered or catered, and shared bathroom or en suite. You’ll be on separate leases, and will share some common areas (kitchen-diner, bathroom, common room, depending on the options you’ve chosen). So standard halls are essentially what you’ve described. </p>

<p>However, after first year most people move out into shared houses, which are rented in the private sector. You get your own bedroom, and share a bathroom and kitchen. There are no university staff in sight. </p>

<p>There are also some privately run halls of residence, but I’m not sure I’d recommend them. They tend to be poorly managed, not as well maintained as uni halls, and attracting a strange (unsociable) mix of non-freshers, postgrads and international students. </p>

<p>In terms of which university to go to

  • Keele is in the middle of nowhere near Stoke on Trent (and Stoke isn’t that nice, by all accounts). Whilst it’s academically decent, it’s probably not what you want from a sociocultural point of view.
  • MMU is probably the academically worst university overall, but in the best city from that list. Manchester is very big and student oriented, but MMU isn’t known for being fantastic (though I believe its English course isn’t that bad?)
  • Plymouth is a solid uni, though I can’t say much about the town.
  • Leicester is academically the best university from the list - it’s a well respected uni and not an ex-poly. The city is decently large, and very well connected, but also very multicultural (Indians, primarily). I loved it when I visited on an open day.</p>
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<p>leister has a good student satisfaction rating, and the fact that its 16th in the league tables, while none of the otheres are even close</p>

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<p>i completely messed leicester up</p>

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<p>@SirGumby - Thanks for that information! I was leaning toward Manchester when I started this thread but now I am considering Leicester… </p>

<p>@boomting - Oh I see. Well I am glad to hear that at 18 you’re meant to be an adult, though I guess you could say the same here and yet the 18 year olds are very much not adults at all lol. I guess I can ask my adviser for his opinion concerning my age.</p>

<p>Yea, the same thing happens here, not many people live on campus after freshman year. Thanks for the tip about the privately run halls, I was just looking at one (unilife I believe) but they are waaaaay out of my price range, anyhow! (Like literally more than I pay for rent in an entire year here)</p>

<p>From what you’ve said it sounds like I can narrow it down to Leicester or MMU. Thanks very much!</p>

<p>@cupcake - Yes, I know there are no minors there. I’m not minoring in anything, I’m double majoring. I did check on the admissions requirements for mature students, but it seems like those requirements are geared more toward people who haven’t been in school for some time or have never been, whereas I’ve been in school for 2 years so far. I actually hate the beach (which is weird considering I’m from South Florida!) so I guess that means I can cross Plymouth off the list, lol! Thanks for the info about Manchester. Maybe it would be better for me to attend a school near it so I can visit it occasionally but not have to live there just in case I end up hating it! I will research being placed with older students, thank you!</p>

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<p>Terminology difference here. School in the UK if for up to age 18. If you say you are “still in school” they will think you are in high school. I assume you are actually attending a US college? If so, make it as clear as possible on your UCAS form and in any communication you have with UK unis. </p>

<p>If your circumstances are unusual I would recommend you contact the relevant admissions offices. It’s their job to help you! However, since A-level results day is tomorrow, you are unlikely to hear from them for several weeks. Every student in England and Wales has to finalised their uni place between tomorrow and September so things will be manic for them.</p>

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<p>If I had another question (this one’s about banking/funds) should I keep it all to one thread or make a separate thread? I’m not sure what the etiquette here is for multiple threads and such.</p>

<p>@cupcake - Yes I am actually in college. Of course that is what I would tell them should they ask.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>You might as well ask it here, if you don’t get any answers make a new thread… or do both, I don’t think anyone will care/notice.</p>