13 meetings including 9 universities in the course of the week was tiring, stressful but ultimately enjoyable and beneficial…
Look out for our tour of north as we explore universities in the North West of England over the rest of the summer…
The ratings from the Midlands tour are as follows:
Our final stop was a 2 mile drive across Sheffield to Sheffield Hallam. We were delighted to see some RateMyPlacement literature already up in the Organisation and Management faculty office and we completed our hectic week with another really positive meeting.
The RateMyPlacement rating on Sheffield Hallam University:
- Weather – 9 / 10 – it got sunnier towards the end of the day!
- Grounds – 7 / 10 – middle of town, but some interesting characters walking along the high street!
- Beer – 7 / 10 – £1.70 / pint, cheaper than the Uni of Sheffield
- Bird Watching – 5 / 10 – bit scarier towards the town centre…
- The pot noodle test – 0 / 10 – don’t sell them… shame.
Sheffield Hallam University Grand Total = 28 / 50
OK so it’s not technically in the Midlands, but a long drive north - via country roads thanks to a horsebox crashing on the M1! - took us to the University of Sheffield.
Without a traditionally huge focus around placements, we aim to work closely with the staff at Sheffield to increase the quantity of work placements at such a prestigious UK university…
The RateMyPlacement rating on the University of Sheffield:
- Weather – 8 / 10 – relatively sunny! Very good for up t’north.
- Grounds – 6 / 10 – not a hugely green university, but some picturesque buildings
- Beer – 5 / 10 – £1.85 in Bar One, bit pricey for up t’north
- Bird Watching – 8 / 10 – not just a good university for research…
- The pot noodle test – 3 / 10 - £1 each with no offer at all…
University of Sheffield Grand Total = 30/50
The University of Birmingham was the location of the first of three university visits on the final day of our tour. We approached watching uber fit and super keen students on an early morning jog which took us back to our Loughborough days!
Another really positive meeting with both the careers and the computer science and engineering department was followed by a run to the car to shoot to Derby and then up the M1 to get to Sheffield in time for our next two university meetings, however in our brief visit, the RateMyPlacement rating on the University of Birmingham:
- Weather – 9 / 10 – a delightful spring morning
- Grounds – 7 / 10 – the green campus we saw was marred by the scaffolding we parked next to!
- Beer – 7 / 10 – Joe’s bar was shut at 10am but we called this week it is £1.20 / pint, a great price.
- Bird Watching – 6 / 10 – the early bird doesn’t always catch the worm.
- The pot noodle test – 6 / 10 – 80p for 1 with no offer for 2!?
- University of Birmingham Grand Total = 35 / 50.
A 10 minute drive across the city took us to Notts Trent, the sun was still shining bright and we arrived at the business school feeling refreshed from the ice creams.
We visited Notts Trent when we were first a concept and it was good to return to the university with the ‘3rd highest number of students undertaking year long placements in the UK’(HESA 04/05) with a much more enhanced service for both their staff and their students.
The RateMyPlacement rating on Nottingham Trent University:
- Weather – 10 / 10 – still bright sunshine
- Grounds – 4 / 10 – less greenery in Nottingham city centre but we found a plant on the side of the road.
- Beer – 10 / 10 – £1.50 / pint in Gio Bar, as well as a good selection of pub games.
- Bird Watching – 7 / 10, city pigeons can’t live up to the standards of geese on a lake.
- The pot noodle test – 10 / 10 - £1.20 for 2… excellent again.
- Nottingham Trent University scores a very good 41 / 50.
Next up was the University of Nottingham, the sun was out and there were students finishing exams celebrating in the bright sunshine.
After another good meeting we had an hour to kill before the drive across the city to see Notts Trent so we decided to have a walk around the lake and treat ourselves to an ice cream… Cheers.
The RateMyPlacement rating on the University of Nottingham:
- Weather – 10 / 10 – bright sunshine, perfect for a 99 Flake…
- Grounds – 10 / 10 – greenery, lakes and impressive buildings…
- Beer – 9 / 10 – copious amounts being consumed especially for an early afternoon kickoff time too.
- Bird Watching – 10 / 10, high scores again, we did actually see some geese on the lake too
- The pot noodle test – 10 / 10 - £1.20 for 2… excellent pricing.
The University of Nottingham scores an outrageous 49 / 50.
We had to visit our old haunt for old time’s sake and see how everything has progressed in our absence… We also wanted to chat to people in the Engineering Department with the aim to expand and broaden our review base throughout all possible faculties, which is an avenue we really see RateMyPlacement developing.
The RateMyPlacement rating of Loughborough University is as follows:
- Weather = 6 / 10 – less overcast, going good, firm in places.
- Grounds = 9 / 10 – always green
- Beer = 8 / 10 – £2.10 / pint, pretty standard around the Midlands!
- Bird watching = 6 / 10 – a couple of sporty specimens that would have got Bill Oddie very excited
- The “pot-noodle test” = 9/ 10 – We have a winner, £1.20 for 2 Pot Noodles….
- Loughborough University Grand Total = 38 / 50
A mid afternoon meeting with Leicester’s other university was set in the delightful new library, which has a growing reputation for some lovely toilets apparently and proved very insightful. Interesting fact (?) - Jon Tickle from Big Brother is a former student.
The RateMyPlacement rating of The University of Leicester is as follows:
- Weather = 4 / 10 – Raining and disappointingly we required an umbrella…
- Grounds = 8 / 10 – campus based but close to town, money well spent on the new library
- Beer = 0 / 10 – SU was closed for exams with no directions to the alternative
- Bird watching = 6 / 10 – the heating was just right in the library
- The “pot-noodle test” = 3/ 10 – Student Union closed, but the Cafe’ had a £1.70 offer on fruit cake.
- The University of Leicester Grand Total = 21 / 50
Early Wednesday morning we drove through the mist along the Fosse Way to Leicester. We had another really positive meeting with De Montfort however due to the time of day we couldn’t ‘assess’ the Graduate Bar!
The RateMyPlacement rating of De Montford Uni is as follows:
- Weather = 4 / 10 – foggy and raining
- Grounds = 7 / 10 – good central Leicester location
- Beer = 1 / 10 – closed, but the sofas did look good…
- Bird watching = 6 / 10 – most still in the nest that early, some rare early birds though
- The “pot-noodle test” = 8 / 10 – again, £1.30 for 2 Pot Noodles!.
- De Montfort University Grand Total = 26 / 50
Set in the lush green countryside after a straightforward drive up the M40, the grounds of the University of Warwick proved a good starting point to the Midlands tour. After a lengthy meeting in the impressive University House building we thought it best we enjoy the tastes of Cafe Xanana in the Union, £2.10 / pint with some adequately comfy sofas and good eye candy.
The RateMyPlacement rating of The University of Warwick is as follows:
- Weather = 6 / 10 – overcast but threatening to get warm
- Grounds = 9 / 10 – Nice new buildings with trees and hedgerows everywhere
- Beer = 8 / 10 – relatively expensive for a campus bar but always refreshing
- Bird watching = 6 / 10 – a couple of prize specimens seen, the weather didn’t help
- The “pot-noodle test” = 8 / 10 – £1.30 for 2 Pot Noodles, good deal.
- The University of Warwick Grand Total = 37 / 50
