Choosing which university to go to is not an easy decision to make. Some students see university as a chance to flee the nest, to try a new city and embrace new surroundings, whilst others prefer to stay closer to home and will therefore choose a university accordingly. Some will make their decision based on the merits of a particular university’s reputation and history, whilst others will base their decision on which university provides the best framework for their chosen course.

But how about making a decision that also factors in your experiences independent of your studies?

Student Unions form an integral part of the student experience. They are a place where friendships are formed, new skills are developed, and where students can hone and flaunt their personalities in fun, friendly, dynamic and engaging environments. They are the places where the best memories are created, where, years later, you happily recall that shameless moment you danced like a maniac to Dancing Queen on 70’s Night before falling over. The university itself can only do so much for a student’s personal development, but a Student Union gives the individual a chance to bloom and grow. It can prepare you for the real world. This article will highlight the top 10 Student Union’s in the UK, offering an alternative angle for when it comes to making the right choice regarding which University you should choose.

Cardiff University

Cardiff is known for both its edgy mix of culture and nightlife, and the nightlife doesn’t get much better for students than at Cardiff University’s Student Union. Regular Saturday night event Flux is home to two floors and multiple venues, is cheap as chips for students and every now and then hosts one-off party extravaganza’s – including the now legendary Foam Party, which will help to put a froth on your vodka and Coke.

The Union also hosts regular live music events, with The Wombats due to play in October. The Union is led by students and anyone has the chance to partake in running the organisation and deciding which issues it should work on. It’s the ideal platform for any budding young politically aware student who wants to get involved.

University of Winchester

The University of Winchester Student Union is jam-packed with groups and sporting activities that build friendships and keep your mind buzzing when your studies are in danger of swamping you. Groups include The Debating Society, which isn’t quite as foreboding as it sounds. For anyone who loves a good argument and wants to test themselves against their fellow students on subjects as highbrow as politics and Syria to deciding which television programme is better – TOWIE or MIC – The Debating Society is the perfect arena. Be warned, though – someone out there might be prepared to defend Joey Essex to the death.

Sports include the infamous Dodgeball, and this year sees the first ever American Football Team formed at the University of Winchester. The SU also does a lot for the environment and local charities, and you are encouraged to help out and meet new people.

Teesside University

Teesside University’s Student Union sits proudly in the top ten Union rankings, and they have a gold standard for their ongoing commitment to making their SU environmentally sustainable. All money made goes straight back into the SU, with the goal being better facilities and improved services. These include a Students Union shop, which provides a student-friendly alternative to supermarket chains and guards against slow people with trolleys; The Link, which acts as a help and information centre, providing advice on everything from finance to accommodation; and an Activities Centre, where you can get involved in a range of societies, including Film Production, Music and Fine Art clubs.

For anyone who sees themselves as a quiz master, regular nights at the SU include The Pub Quiz. For those looking to let their hair down after a gruelling week of studying, there are school discos, 90’s nights and foam parties.

University of Bath

Fourth-placed for student satisfaction, the University of Bath puts great emphasis on encouraging its members to partake in volunteer groups. The city of Bath is home to a large number of volunteers, and the projects welcome and value the input of students who are staying temporarily in the area. There are many fundraising and community events to get involved in, and each one helps the student to develop new skills which will be invaluable for the future.

The SU is home to a massive 48 sports clubs, so if you’re the sporty type, or if you’re looking to get into sports, there is literally something for everyone – with the possible exception of show jumping, but you can’t please everyone, right? They employ a Sports Officer who is on hand to answer all your questions. Just don’t badger him to implement show jumping.

Loughborough University

Loughborough Student Union is one of the biggest in the UK. Getting involved in its reputable charity work could see you replace the classroom for a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro – certainly something different to a day spent in the library! Home to more than 60 societies and 55 sports clubs, the SU has its own TV station, as well as a student magazine, each of which offers you the chance to get involved and express yourself, and who knows? This time next year you could be on Big Brother.

With a student satisfaction of 88%, one of the things students take out of Loughborough’s Student Union is the chance to become more rounded as a person. Side by side with your degree, you will be immersing yourself in numerous activities that will aid your CV and refine your personality and confidence.

Sheffield University

Sheffield’s Student Union put on some great charity events, with last years’ highlight being a walk to Edinburgh that raised over £150,000. Such events are fantastic for bonding with new people, and you get to stay in hostels with your mates before an end-party to celebrate the fabulous job everyone has done. This year, the Union aims to walk to Cardiff in a single day. Just make sure somebody remembers to bring the map, is all we can say to that.

The Union is also dedicated to live music events, with SoundClash being its staple point. It takes place each Monday and features the best in local talent. For people who love workshops, Sheffield puts on a Dance Workshop every Tuesday that will teach you how to dance more like a pro and less like you’ve had one too many Jaeger bombs.

Glasgow University

Glasgow actually have two Unions for one University. One, the Glasgow University Union, has a reputation for putting on great live music events. The other, the Queen Margaret Union, has won the ‘World Debating Title’ more than anyone else in the whole wide world – ever. That’s pretty impressive when you consider how everyone goes on about ‘the Greeks’ being good at a debate or two.

The Queen Margaret Union won the Student Union of the Year at the Club Mirror Awards in 2011, 2012 and 2013, whilst the Glasgow University Union offers the chance for affiliation, which means that you if you affiliate your club or society with it, it becomes a home for them. This gives you your own space on their website, admin support, free room hire for any meetings you want to arrange – as well as a discount on booze.

Dundee University

Dundee University’s Student Union comes with a student satisfaction of 82 percent and is noted for being one of the most open and diverse. Its societies certainly reflect that; from an African and Caribbean society, to a debating Union, through to an Islamic society, Dundee’s Student Union promotes different cultures and brings people together. Its ethos is to make everyone feel part of their family.

Skint is the mainstay of their club nights, the one that anyone who’s anyone who has no money goes to. With £1 admission and an excellent choice of drink and take-away food, Skint rakes in over 2,000 students each week, all of whom are looking for a good time and a chance to erase from their minds the fact that they’ve got molecular biology in the morning. Oops.

Keele University

Keele’s Student Union offers excellent food, drink and grocery facilities that do a lot to help students stick to their budgets whilst still getting quality for their cash. The Ballroom is a bar that hosts large events, including the popular Christmas Market and the Fashion Show. They also put on exciting club nights, such as Flirt! every Wednesday which is designed to give everyone a good time.

For food and drink, they are home to The Scruffy Squirrel that has a 5/5 rating for hygiene and which offers generous helpings of food for great prices. Just don’t order the squirrel. Their shop, which is open until 6PM each day, has everything that a student needs, from stationery, to clothes, to toiletries and snacks.

East Anglia University

With a student satisfaction of 84 percent, East Anglia’s Student Union works with popular local live music venue The Waterfront to put on a wealth of gigs to a crowd of over 1,000 people. The SU also hosts their own music nights, with the pick of this years’ talent being nationally renowned DJ, Zane Lowe.

The biggest draw, perhaps, for East Anglia’s Student Union is their Union Enterprise, which seeks to help develop your entrepreneurial skills, giving you a platform from which you can put into practice things such as budgeting, organising teams, negotiating deals, and solving problems. Its aim is to assist your degree and enhance your student experience by making you more employable. By taking part, you will be maturing not just as a student, but as an individual, operating in scenarios that will build your character.

Conclusion

So there you have it. We have saved you. We’ve saved those of you are are the life and soul of a party from choosing to study at a high-ranking University, only to find out that it’s in the middle of nowhere with a terrible Student Union that provides zero entertainment apart from a seventies disco on a Friday night hosted by a tone deaf DJ with an unhealthy obsession with the Bee Gees. Such experiences can ruin your student experience, and choosing to go to a University with a poor Student Union can ruin what is supposed to be the greatest time of your life. It is important to consider what a University’s Student Union can offer you. If they have societies and clubs that are right for you, it should help you to make a more informed decision regarding which part of the country you will be spending the next 3 or more years in. Good luck.

Photo courtesy of Teesside University Students’ Union Events

Ah, Sheffield. The birth city of the Arctic Monkeys, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Sean Bean from Game of Thrones. This city definitely has talent! Sheffield is located in South Yorkshire and a third of the borough crosses over into the Peak District. Also, did you know that Sheffield is commonly referred to as the largest village in England? But, it is a city. Confusing we know.

So, what makes Sheffield so special when it comes to university life? Well, for starters, 10% of the population in Sheffield is aged 20-24 due to the amount of students. But apart from this raw fact we have a tonne of other reasons that you should be studying here. This is why we have created your Ultimate Guide to Studying in Sheffield!

Universities in Sheffield

Sheffield is home to over 60,000 students across 2 universities. The city’s two universities are:

University of SheffieldSheffield Hallam University

University of Sheffield

The institution currently ranks top 20 in the UK (Complete University Guide 2024) and offers courses from 5 main faculties. They are also home to the best student union in the UK, consistently coming out on top 5 years in a row. The university is campus based meaning you can do, literally, everything on campus. But you are in Sheffield, so staying on campus all the time would mean missing out on a lot.

Sheffield Hallam University

Also located in the heart of the city, Sheffield Hallam is one of the biggest universities in the country with over 33,000 enrolments each year. There are many halls of residence on site for first year students. The university has 4 main faculties including the Sheffield Business School, so finding a course won’t be too much bother! Sheffield Hallam University currently sits at 86 in the latest Guardian league table rankings.

Fees, Living Aspects & Student Finance

Want to go to uni but think you can’t afford it? Think again my friend. Student Finance is a life saver and covers your university costs. Not forever obviously, you have to pay it back when you are in a graduate role. For more information about student finance you can visit their website here: https://www.gov.uk/browse/education/student-finance

One of the most expensive parts of university is the living arrangements. As first year students you will almost always go into halls of residences amongst a huge group of people like yourself; lonely, excited and bewildered.

The University of Sheffield offer on campus and off campus halls of residence, at both their Endcliffe and Ranmoor campuses. The Endcliffe campus offers accommodation for around 3,500 students with the majority of the rooms having self catered facilities. On the other hand, the Ranmoor campus has mostly en-suite and studio rooms and only caters for around 1,100 students. A further 1,200 students live in the city centre halls of residence which are mostly en-suite and self catered. You can expect to pay around £5,500 for a years worth of accommodation in halls of residence.

We thought you might also want to know that Stephenson Hall, a halls of residences at the University of Sheffield, was voted the 8th best halls of residence by students this year! Find out more with our article: Top 10 Student Halls.

If you are planning on studying at Sheffield Hallam University and want to live in university halls, you need to make sure you apply early as they only have 2 halls of residence; Bramall Court and Charlotte Court. Prices start at £94.50 and can go up to £106.74.

General Info About Sheffield

Luckily for students who are planning on commuting, Sheffield Hallam is located directly opposite the train station and bus station, making it easy to get to from many surrounding areas.The University of Sheffield benefits from having a tram stop right outside which is linked to the city’s tram network. For those travelling from afar, or visiting home, Sheffield Train Station has regular trains to multiple locations in the UK including London St Pancras International, Newcastle, Glasgow, Liverpool and Norwich. For students with cars, you can also get to Sheffield relatively easily using the M1 and the M18.

Sheffield is home to 280 retail stores at their Meadowhall shopping centre located just outside of the city centre, so if you ever need to splurge on a new wardrobe we recommend you go there. On top of shopping facilities, Meadowhall also has spa services, a cinema and a dining quarter. If you have a car, you can get to the shopping centre really easy and parking is free. But don’t worry if you don’t drive, you can catch the Tram which stops here too.

As a student you are bound to want to eat out, and it’s good to know that Sheffield is overcrowded with gastro-pubs and cafe’s. You’ll also find a lot of high street pubs including Wetherspoon’s. There are plenty of bars to keep you satisfied too including the popular bar “All Bar One” serving 2 for 1 cocktails during happy hour.

Events, Venues & Points of Interest

Sheffield is full of arts, culture and heritage that you simply have to see before you finish your degree. There is an O2 Academy, hosting acts like Years & Years, Ella Henderson and The 1975. (Top tip: the O2 Academy is hosting a Freshers Headphone Disco on the 22nd September)

There is a bunch of art galleries and museums for you to explore, with most of them having free entry, and if heritage and history is your thing then you can look forward to visiting The Shepherd Wheel, Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet and Sheffield Manor Lodge.

In August the Motorpoint Arena hosts the Sheffield Film and Comic Con. Celebrities who have previously attended the event include Robert Englund, the actor who played Freddy Krueger, Billy Dee Williams from Star Wars, and Peter Purves from Doctor Who. Tickets for this event start at £4.40, with the most expensive being £16.50.

If you enjoy comedy then you won’t want to miss the “Last Laugh” Sheffield Comedy Festival

In October. The event takes place throughout the city centre with many venues hosting their own comedy nights, so don’t hesitate getting involved!

If you are planning on staying in Sheffield over the summer months you can look forward to other events that take place throughout August; one being Oktoberfest. Entry is free throughout the week, and you only have to pay £5 to get in on the Saturday. Basically, Oktoberfest is 1,500 people in a tent drinking good beer, eating good food and dancing to good music.

What About The Nightlife?

And for the bit you have been waiting for… student nights on the town! We have some great news for you: there is a student night pretty much every night!

On Mondays you can head down to the Leadmill for their weekly event SHAG, apparently the most infamous and loved night in Sheffield. They have 2 themed rooms for party floor fillers and indie rock & roll. Drinks start at 60p (yes you read right, 60p) and it only costs £3 to get in for students.

If you are more into hip-hop, dubstep and drum and bass then you should get yourself ready for the Tuesday Night Club at the University of Sheffield Student Union. The night has been running for the last 10 years so they must be doing something right!

Wednesday nights are best spent at Corporation’s Skool Disco, and you even get free entry if you dress in school uniform. You can JUMP AROUND at Plug on a Thursday in their three rooms of varied music, with drinks from £1 and entry from £4. If you prefer an “Indy” night out then Friday is your night at Propaganda.

Clubbing isn’t for everyone though, so if you would prefer a few quiet ones with your mates, you can explore Sheffield’s extensive list of pubs and bars. You can also visit the student union bars on their quieter nights to chill out and watch live sports.

So, What Do You Think?

We’ve told you everything you need to know, but if it was just all too much for you to take in at once we can recap the most important points now. There’s two uni’s, a student night every night, plenty of things to see and do, a massive shopping centre and it’s located in an easily accessible part of the country. Sorted.

If you are interested in studying in Sheffield, why not search for your perfect course in Sheffield with Coursefindr today?

Photograph courtesy of Sheffield City Council

Leaving home and going to University is a pretty daunting prospect for any young person, and the burning questions are always the same, no matter where you are heading. What are the house prices like? What is the nightlife and general culture like? More importantly, what are the drink prices like? If you’re considering Birmingham, we decided to make life a whole lot easier for you by giving you the low-down on the UK’s second largest city. Because we’re nice like that.

Universities In Birmingham

Birmingham is a huge student city, and is in fact the second biggest in the UK. Home to more than 65,000 university students, Birmingham is also home to 5 universities. These are:

Aston UniversityUniversity of BirminghamBirmingham City UniversityNewman UniversityUniversity College Birmingham

Aston University

Aston University scores very highly for graduate prospects – 76.6% – and is known most widely for its excellent Business and Management, Engineering, and Applied Sciences courses. It comes with its very own on-campus gym, a basketball court, and boasts a massive on-campus library. It’s located only five minutes from the city centre by foot and currently ranks 29th in the latest university league table rankings.

University of Birmingham

You won’t be able to miss the University of Birmingham if you pop down to visit the city centre, as it’s ideally located right in the heart of the rail and road networks. Home to its own art gallery, featuring works by Picasso and Monet, the University of Birmingham is a popular choice with art students, and is located just 2 miles south of the city centre. The University is proud to rank 13th in the recent UK university rankings.

Birmingham City University

Birmingham City University is actually really old – we’re talking some 170 years old here – but this doesn’t mean it isn’t still an awesome choice. Currently in the process of moving some of its buildings closer to the city centre, Birmingham City University includes a School of Art, a School of Jewellery and the Birmingham Conservatoire. It comes with nine sites, with the main site lying 3 miles north of the centre of the city. Birmingham City University currently ranks 105 in the UK according to the 2017 Guardian league table rankings.

Newman University

Newman University was actually only formed as recently as 1968, and is home to 2,895 students. Newman University provides a number of flexible courses and provides both part-time and full-time courses. Historically, Newman University has very high graduate employment rates, but is a bit isolated from the city centre and takes 20 minutes to get there by car. An excellent choice if the hustle and bustle of a city centre is not for you. Newman University currently ranks at 110 in the league table rankings.

University College Birmingham

University College Birmingham is best known for its courses on tourism, leisure management and hospitality. But it also provides courses on hairdressing, beauty, finance and accounting. Its halls of residents can house up to 872 students, and it is ideally located in the city centre.

Fees, Living Aspects & Student Finance

Ah, fee’s. If anything is going to dampen a student’s spirit when it comes to applying for their favoured university, it tends to be the fees. The good news when it comes to tuition fees is that they tend to be fixed, no matter where – or what – you’re studying. This means that you can expect to pay up to £9,000 per year for a three-year course. Naturally, not everyone can afford to pay that kind of money upfront, and for this reason student finance is a handy option if you cannot afford the fee yourself. If you haven’t already set the wheels in motion where student finance is concerned, you should pop along to their website now: https://www.gov.uk/student-finance.

Some students are able to live comfortably in a university’s halls of residents during their first year, but student accommodation in general can actually be more expensive than renting a room in a private, shared house.

If you decide to go down the route of student accommodation, there are a number of student accommodations open to you in Birmingham. These include:

• The Heights – from £107 per week
• Londonderry House – from £122 per week
• Curzon Gateway – from £126 per week
• Jennens Court – from £136

All are located in the city centre.

General Info About Birmingham

Birmingham is the UK’s second largest city, and as such it’s absolutely booming as a tourist attraction. It’s ideally located for both tourists and students – as well as its own residents, obvs – as it’s planted firmly and squarely at the heart of our motorway system. Its rail network, meanwhile, is connected to a mahoosive 500 destinations. So, no matter where you come from – or where you fancy visiting – Birmingham will hook you up in no time.

And because Birmingham is so centrally located, it’s only 1 hour 15 minutes away from London by train. Rail links, in short, are awesome, whilst the airport is just eight miles away from the city centre. And in terms of getting out and about in the city itself, buses, trams and trains are the main modes of transport, with some buses running for 24 hours.

If you’re a bit of a shopaholic (or move to your student digs without any spare clothes by mistake – yes, it happens), Birmingham is home to all the familiar high street stores we know and love. From H&M to Debenhams, TopShop to Primark (yes, we know you shop there really), Birmingham is an excellent city for making sure you get the stuff you need.

Events, Venues & Points Of Interest

As the UK’s second largest city, you’d be forgiven for expecting Birmingham to be home to a healthy number of world class venues and regular, stimulating events. Thankfully, it doesn’t disappoint!

If you like your art – and particularly if you like it modern – The Water Hall Gallery of Modern Art will be right up your street. A brand new venue for modern art, The Water Hall is fast becoming the go-to venue for contemporary art in and out of the city. For British art, the Ikon Gallery is Birmingham’s choice venue, whilst the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is home to a wealth of Pre-Raphaelite paintings.

Other cultural things to do in Birmingham include popping along to the Hippodrome, where the Birmingham Royal Ballet is based, as well as Star City, a huge complex that is home to a whopping 30-screen cinema.

But Birmingham is not just the ideal place for culture vultures; the Birmingham O2 Academy is a popular concert venue that is only a 15 minute walk from Aston University and in the past has played host to bands as huge as Kings of Leon and Arctic Monkeys.

Mainstream music not really your thing? No problem, because Birmingham also boasts a treasure trove of smaller venues that showcase lesser-known bands, such as The Institute and Hare & Hands, a live entertainment venue where UB40 made their stage debut.

Birmingham is also popular with theatre goers, and regularly hosts new plays and musicals across the city. One of the best theatres in the city is The Blue Orange, whose line-up this year includes stage adaptations of Jane Eyre, The Turn of The Screw, James and The Giant Peach and Edward II.

Nights Out

Okay, this is the bit a lot of you have been waiting for. The night life. Okay, maybe we’re meanies for keeping this until right at the very end, but we didn’t want you to nip out to the pub before reading about the galleries and the ballet first, did we?

You’ll be pleased to know that Birmingham is one of the liveliest cities once the sun goes down, and has a booming club scene that is supplemented by some cool drinking dens, ace comedy clubs and exciting music venues.

When it comes to pubs and bars, Birmingham pretty much covers the entire spectrum. From chic cocktail lounges to cheap student nights, there is something for everyone. Whether you’re strapped for cash, or loaded because your first student loan has come in, you’ll never be stuck for somewhere to go. Uptown or downtown, Birmingham has got the lot.

Our top bar picks include The Jekyll & Hyde, a quirky Alice in Wonderland-inspired bar that is very anti-mainstream; The Victoria, a lively bar that offers unbeatable hangover food, and Sobar, which offers the last word in chic. And if you want to move onto a night club, Gatecrasher is a dance club that offers an indie night on Fridays, whilst Snobs is Birmingham’s Number 1 alternative club. There are also the chain clubs you’ve probably already heard all about, including Walkabout and Revolution, who start the parties on Monday and don’t stop until the following Sunday. Get in.

Of course, Birmingham isn’t just about the nightclubs and booze-pits; it is also home to over 50 restaurants, a lot of which are located in the infamous ‘Balti Triangle’. No prizes for guessing the type of food found there. Just try not to overdo the curry if you live in cramped student accommodation, yeah?

So There It Is …

In a nutshell, Birmingham is an excellent place to study for any young student. Offering a wide range of Universities, and a hearty mix of nightlife and culture, Birmingham is also ideally located in the centre of England. If you’re seriously considering studying in Birmingham but would still like a bit more information, check out the courses available in Birmingham using Coursefindr.