University of Plymouth reviews

University of Plymouth review

Plymouth University’s Exeter campus is located on the outer edges of Exeter, Devon.

To get to the buildings you must travel down a small and decidedly pot-holes road. I imagine this is due to the excess of vehicles travelling down what would otherwise be a quiet suburban setting. The uni is not keen on promoting this view, however it is unavoidable being the first thing your notice as you walk or drive in.

The carp park is of a good size, obviously they charge you to use it, something like £40 a year or thereabouts. There always seems to be plenty of room.

The halls are about two miles away in the centre of town, most students use the bus service from the high street which is quite effective and regular.

Depending on where you area living in Exeter you can walk/cycle into uni, you are unlikely to find yourself closer than a mile or so from the campus.
The buildings are fairly bog standard municipal architecture with deliciously rendered concrete throughout.

The entrance is somewhat unsuccessful considering this is an art and design institution. If you’re looking for inspirational architecture try the cathedral.

Various grassed areas are to be found around the edges of the buildings and at the back there are playing fields.

As for people - its not really what I would call culturally diverse. Male female ratio is about equal.

Facilities can be an issue, particularly if you are planning to do the designer maker type of course. Workshops are fairly well equipped and there are specialist machines… milling, large wood lathe, metal lathes, vacuum laminator… but you would be shown such things on a tour so that’s less important. There are issues as I was mentioning to do with when the workshops and materials cage is open. Something they probably wont cover on a visit is that there are often problems to do with:

a) the sudden scarceness of technicians when everyone is trying to start/finish projects
And b) the frequency of technician coffee/lunch/fag breaks, during which time the workshop and cage will be shut.

Working practice is fairly loose, anyone who has done design related courses in the past may well relate to this: Standard project briefing / mid-project reviews and then final ‘show and tell’ presentation scenarios apply.

In the first year there will be more scheduled meetings and various other lectures from tutors and guest speakers. Some are better than others but they are probably worth attending, particularly if you are unsure whether to take product, maker, or furniture & interiors in the second year.

The second year seems much more free and generally better for just getting on with the projects that you are there to do. Scheduled meetings usually two or three times a week, these can vary though, the rest of the time its up to you. Designer Makers tend to spend more time in uni than Product designers because they need to use the workshops more.

Something called ‘design culture’ is worth mentioning. I don’t remember being informed of this feature of the course before starting, it probably is mentioned in the details somewhere though. Its basically a once a week session lasting anywhere from ten minutes to two hours (usually shorter) where you sit in a lecture hall and listen/watch stuff/slides/ videos etc. The work attached to this can be very dull but it seems you have to do it or you fail. My first year involved filling a large folder of rather inconsistent and at times even incoherent history/design/art/culture type of stuff. This seems to have little to do with what I had gone to uni to do, and if anything diverted time away from the ’real’ project work.

However it wasn’t all that bad because in addition to this there was a group project for design culture which turned out to be quite entertaining, but again was not actually related in and logical way to design.

Now ive lost my train of thought, lets reduce the rest to bullet points as Pete suggested, to avoid rambling any further:

+ no work over holidays
+ no exams
+ yes its enjoyable
- fairly crud stained union bar but…
+ cheap beer and…
+ bar very close to main 3d area, but…
- don’t use the machines after going to the bar.
+ Exeter is great. (no really, there are shops and its verdant)
- plenty of homeless ready to fleece you viscously on the cobbles
+ Uri Geller hangs around the football grounds
- Uri Geller hangs around the football grounds

University of Plymouth review

Plymouth uni has a really good laid-back and friendly atmosphere. Its a uni by the sea so expect to see lots of surfers and divers. The campus is fairly compact but this has its advantages. Most of the facillities are good, such as lirary and computer access but the union is fairly shite. However there are lots of students bars and pubs close by so no need to panic.

The university campus is about 3 minutes walk from the city centre and all the shops and the barbican is about another 5 mins away.

The city centre itself is a bit of a concrete jungle on a grid but is pedestrianised and pretty much everything you need is within walking distance.

Most of the halls are very close to campus about 2 mins walk away, they are modern and have all your usual facillities. Price ranges from about £65 for a modest box to £120 for a large room with en-suite bathroom. I would strongly recommend living in halls in your first year as it is a great way to meet people and there is always something going on.

After your first year you cannot live in halls, local student accomodation costs about £45-£65 a week depending on the condition of the house and whether bills are included or not. The university has a housing office that helps you find accommodation every year and will try to help you out if you have any problems with your landlord (bound to happen at some point).

Human biosciences is a good course but does require quite a lot of work. Most of the lecturers are very friendly and approachable. The hours are more than a lot of courses and can be up to 25 timetabled hours a week.

There is also constant assessment throughout the terms and usually 3-7 exams at the end of each semester. So if you were looking for an easy option this is probably not the course for you.

The scoial life in plynouth during the week is really good, there is a student night at some bar or club every night. At the weekends most people tend to stay local as the clubs fill up with locals who aren't that keen on us students. There is a bit of a student/local devide in the city with neither side liking the others that much but i'm sure that can be said for a lot of university cities. Union street is where a lot of the clubs are can get quite rough at the weekends but as long as you get taxis to and from you'll be fine, its when you drunkenly decide to stumble home on your own that you might regret it.

In general the night life is fairly relaxed and you dont need to bother dressing up much if you dont want to, shorts amd flip-flops are ok if thats a fashion statement you really want to make.

The clubs are cheesy but fun with a few more upmarket venues around the barbican/ seafront area.

In general i think Plymouth University is good if you want a laid-back relaxed and friendly uni experience. Although a more frenetic experience can be sought out. It has quite a liberal and accepting atmosphere with quite a diverse range of people to mix with.

University of Plymouth review

I am at the Exeter campus of Plymouth uni.

When you first visit it looks pretty rubbish, a large probably 60's building thats pretty uninspiring for an arts place! The building interior isn't ideal either, a bit of a lack of space, I think there was plans to extend but the news of it moving probably means the extention plans are scrapped. The whole campus is relocating to Plymouth but not all at the same time, I think visual media is moving first in 2004, 3D Design won't be effected until 2006. It's probably best to check these dates before applying though.

Facilities are pretty good, a decent library, the computers have some of the latest software programs but not on all computers, and they don't nessisarily work very well. The union is pretty crappy, I guess this won't change until relocation.

The lecturers know thier stuff, most of mine have thier own design practises. Sometimes they are a bit difficlt to get hold of as some of them only do a couple of days a week, but they are helpful when you do talk to them.

To be honest I don't really think there are much job prospects around here in the field of design which isn't great for me but I enjoy the course and like living in Exeter. You don't have to stay here after your degree if finished, if you enjoy it thats the main thing I think.

Before I joined I assumed there would be loads of sports clubs to join, but thats not really the case. I joined the football team, which is what I wanted but if you want to join something else you may struggle, or have to set it up yourself.

The uni is not very close to town, however it is walkable and there is a good bus service from the town centre. Halls are only a 1min walk from town, not even that.

Overall the uni isn't bad, and Exeter is a nice place to live and living is not too expensive.