University is not solely about lectures and seminars. A big part of the university experience is determined by the social life a student leads through nights out and joining in extracurricular activities and societies.
Feeling safe while studying is a top consideration for many prospective students when they start thinking about where to go to university. Enjoying a sense of security, comfort and happiness during your time at college can make the difference between staying on and getting a good degree or deciding to look elsewhere or even drop out altogether.
Many students heading off to university want to be sure that their institution has good connections with industry. Opportunities to secure work placements, and to learn from the expertise of practising professionals in the “real world”, can be invaluable additions to the academic side of a student’s time in higher education.
A well-rounded university experience would not be possible without good facilities. Whether these are sports facilities, the bar and shops on campus or the library facilities, students assess these when looking for prospective universities.
One of the first things that a prospective student will consider is the academic experience of a university. After all, a primary aim of most students is to come out of university feeling more educated than when they went in.
More and more students are coming forward and opening up about feelings of stress and anxiety. In fact, research has found that one in eight university students experiences a mental health condition – so it is important that universities provide the support that students need during their time there.
The online magazine Spiked has released its 2017 Free Speech University Rankings, an analysis of the state of free speech on UK university campuses.
Essentially, it’s a guide to what universities do or do not allow on their campuses when it comes to, say, controversial speakers, newspapers, adverts, student societies, fancy dress; and the policies that it has in place relating to equality and dignity, gender identity, “safe spaces” and “no platforming” – the banning of individuals or groups thought to hold far-Right or extremist views.
The People & Planet University League, published since 2007, ranks 150 UK universities on the basis of their green credentials, measuring both commitment and performance.
Topping the list (for the third time) is Manchester Metropolitan University.