In the important decision you have to make about which university to choose, one of the decisions you may have not thought about is whether to choose a university with an out of town campus or one that is integrated into the town or city. There are certainly advantages to each and we sum them up here so you can make the right decision.
Advantages of Campus Life
By MikaelLindmark - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Community feel: These university types ensure that you have everything available on the doorstep so you never need to leave the campus and will rarely have an excuse to be late for a lecture, there is a real sense of community.
Safety: Student safety can be a big draw, especially in inner cities where crime might be particularly high. Often with a dedicated security network, members of the public would rarely have reason to be there.
Quieter lifestyle: Campus life will suit the introvert student and those who prefer a quiet life, not having to deal with busy traffic during lectures or library sessions ruined by public roadworks outside.
Disadvantages of Campus Life
Limited: Rather like an all-inclusive holiday, you may soon get bored with going to the same places night after night and feel claustrophobic for not having the option.
Transport: As the university provides everything you need on campus, you will rarely have much in the way of transport to take you into town.
Not gaining full benefits of independence: Moving away from home is exciting but relying on the university for practically everything is not really setting you on the path to independence.
Advantages of University Cities
Choice: In a big, bustling city, you will have unlimited options for socialising, transport links, shopping and so on. Many facilities around the university will be geared towards the student market.
Atmosphere: Nothing can beat the atmosphere of living in a big city and truly feeling part of the community rather than separate from it.
Independence: The ability to explore the city, public transport and facilities, and discovering your own little gems (restaurants, pubs, tourist facilities) really makes a place feel like home. It also encourages you to be more proactive in how you engage with the place.
Disadvantages of University Cities
Lack of community: Students who choose university cities feel that there is less of a student community because there are fewer facilities geared towards students. When spread out, it can feel more daunting.
Safety: This varies from city to city, but campus life creates a sense of safety that you simply will not get in a city-based university. You don’t know the place so don’t know which areas are safe and which are unsafe.
Fewer opportunities to make friends: Similar to the lack of community, for introverts and those who don’t make friends quite so well, the diffused nature of the student community means that some may struggle to integrate into the social scene of university life.