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Course review
Review by: James F
University: Lancaster University
Course: Global Politics
Year of study: 3rd
Level of Study: Undergraduate
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The course in general
How many contact hours do you have in the average week?
6
Ideally, what 3/4 subjects would you recommend doing in order to be in the best position for your course?
Politics, Economics, History
Why did you decide to study your degree programme?
It was something I hadn't studied before and appeared interesting.
Explain the things you wish you'd known about your degree before you applied:
If you want to change your degree scheme some courses require minor subjects to be studied in first year. Make sure if you wish to alter your degree that you know what is possible and how to go about it.
Describing your average day
Explain how your day is made up. For example, do you have labs/seminars/tutorials/lectures?
In first and second year you have maybe two to three lectures a week with a similar number of seminars.
In third year most contact hours are made up of 2 hour workshops, in which around one hour is dedicated to a lecture and the second half towards a seminar style discussion of the lecture material and your own work/reading.
How much extra work/reading are you required to do out of lectures?
There is not an excessive amount of reading required. It is completely manageable, around a couple of hours a week.
The best and worst parts of the course
What do you like best about your degree programme?
The degree programme went beyond my expectations, encompassing a huge variety of subject areas within the subject of politics. It was anything but the dusty old concept of politics that many people have.
What do you like least about your degree programme?
I had no major reservations about my degree as a whole. In third year some workshops were poorly organised, sometimes turning into two hour lectures which can become boring and difficult to concentrate on for such a long time but this is a minor complaint.
Academics and course content
What do you think of your university's academics and facilities?
The academics were fantastic, very knowledgeable and always willing to help in office hours and via feedback on essays.
Explain how you expected your course to be and how it compares to how it actually is. Give an outline of the content of the course.
The course begins with basic political concepts and political thinkers, inroducing those who have not studied the subject before. It quickly moves on to concepts including communism, capitalism, hobbesianism, globalisation and many other areas. Teaching methods are predominantly discussion based with other activities.
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University review
Review by: James F
University: Lancaster University
Course: Global Politics
Year of study: 3rd
Level of Study: Undergraduate
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Describing your university
Sum up your university in one paragraph:
Lancaster has a very strong academic reputation and for those who want to work it is fantastic. The social scene is very good and making friends is very easy. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Lancaster and would recommend it to anyone.
What is the academic life like at your university?
Very good, the library is top notch, providing a wide range of academic materials in a sound learning environment.
Describe your Freshers' Week - was it as you expected, better or worse? Why?
It was one of the best weeks of my entire university experience, on a par with my results week in third year. Everything was well organised, very entertaining and at a low cost. It meant I was introduced to many different people with whom I will remain friends for life.
Are there any other notes you would like to add about life in general at university or anything else which would be relevant to a prospective student?
It is difficult to take a car with you, unless you have a special reason, as parking is at a premium. Buses are every 10 minutes or less into town so a car is often unnecessary.
What is the best and worst thing about your university?
The campus outside of Lancaster city centre is fantastic. Everything you could possibly need is available to you within a 10 minute walking distance. A friend of mine who visited described it as 'Centre Parks' which I think accurately describes the campus lifestyle. The university is being regenerated constantly, meaning almost all the facilities at present are less than 5 years old.
Sport and extra curricular
What are the sport and other activities on offer like at your university?
The sport facilities at Lancaster are poor. The sports centre on campus is old and woefully understocked with gym equipment, often being so busy it's untolerable. The lump sum fee of around £150 for the years gym membership is laughable. When arriving at the university check the sports centre for other memberships, such as weights only or cardio only which can present much better value. All colleges take part in sports competitions which encompass a huge variety of sports.
The social scene
What is the social scene (and/or nightlife) like at your university? Is it particularly alcohol orientated?
The university has a thriving social life, with thousands of students on one campus. The university is split into 9 colleges (including the graduate college) each with its own bar on campus, meaning alcohol does dominate many social activities. However, non-alcoholic activities are encouraged.
What do you think of the city your university is based in or near (as a city)?
Lancaster is clean, very safe and almost all businesses and bars are student friendly. Lancaster is very small for a city, meaning people coming from larger cities may feel a little underwhelmed, however it does provide everything you need. Transport links to Manchester, Liverpool, Blackpool and many other cities in the north west are very good.
Accommodation
Do you live in a halls of residence or a student house (or college)? What would you suggest is best in your opinion?
I lived in halls for 3 years. The first 2 years in brand new accommodation which was top notch, although you paid for the luxury, around £92 a week. Most accommodation on campus is being updated and almost all 'old' accommodation has gone. Third year was spent in older accommodation which was adequate but didn't represent good value.
If you are in a hall or college, is it catered or self catered? Which is better for the first year in your opinion and why?
All accommodation is self catered on campus. It helped me get used to living away from home and plan my day. It also offered a social gathering point for me and flatmates on an evening making food together, despite none of us being able to cook!
Approximately, what is the average cost of accommodation per week in your first year for catered and non-catered halls/colleges?
About £92pw self catered.
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