In 2024 the United Kingdom currently has over 160 universities, so it can be extremely overwhelming trying to decide not only where’s best for you to study – but also which university, and by extension city, suits you best. Whether you want to go somewhere that is known for its facilities or for its night life, at the end of the day the decision is entirely yours. But if you’re like me, you’ll want to do research into the places you are considering; and where better to start than with the opinions of current students.
While reading about the university and what they offer from their official websites is a good idea, they can seem a bit biased as they’re designed to sell themselves. That’s why it’s a good idea to ask past and present students about their experiences. So, is the University of Salford good? As a current student here, these are the things that drew me to study.
The facilities
Whilst I can’t speak about all the facilities the university offers, I can talk about the stuff that is offered on the film production course that I study. Now for those you who are thinking about taking a media-based course, I cannot stress enough about looking at the different facilities and equipment a university will offer you if you choose them. Before I chose Salford, I toured several different establishments and while I’ll admit they were appealing, I saw what Salford offered and knew they were the front runners by miles. Maybe I should explain.
Proximity to Media City
If you choose a media-based course then chances are you will be spending much of your time in the Media City campus. It’s appropriately named as this place is quite literally home to some of the biggest media in the UK. Not only are the ITV offices sat directly above the campus building but also just a short walk away is the BBC which is home to the sets for none other than Coronation Street. With 2 of the biggest media companies sat at its doors it’s no wonder that people want to study media there.
As you progress through your studies you are given more and more equipment to be trained on; from professional, industry standard cameras to sound equipment that will become the bane of your existence (I am speaking from experience here!). The best part? After you’re trained on something you don’t have to wait for an assignment to use it! You can use the equipment for any personal project you want; but I will warn you, the booking of the equipment can be a GIANT pain. The system is long but in the end, it is most certainly worth it to get some more practice using things you may come to need for your assignments.
Other facilities include a green screen room and voice recording/foley studios. Even though I have only passed by these rooms I have heard from my peers how cool they are to work in and makes the filming experience even more fun.
Accommodation
Finding student accommodation in any city is often a stressful task, and Salford is no different. When looking into where you will be living for the duration of your studies it’s important to know exactly what is offer. For those looking to study at the University of Salford there is a selection of different types of accommodation to choose from, such as:
- Both on and off campus student halls,
- Private student accommodation,
- Luxury student accommodation.
For those of you choosing to study at university it will more than likely be your first time living alone which can feel really daunting. What you need to remember is that you are not alone in this. There are thousands of people like yourself who are in the exact same boat. That’s why many of them, me included, decide to spend at least our first year of university in student halls.
Life in student halls
There are several different student halls around the Salford area, both on and off campus, for you to choose from. From the legendary Peel Park campus to the lesser-known Tramways which has served as my home away from home for the last 2 years. It’s no surprise that over the last few years housing prices have risen and that includes student accommodation. Unfortunately, that does not necessarily mean the quality of said accommodation has improved.
Whilst again I cannot speak on the quality of other accommodations I can discuss the condition of Tramways. Despite not being as flashy as many of the other accommodations it does indeed provide the necessities you would need to live alone for the first time, with the choice of whether to have a single sex flat or split, a single or double room (price will obviously increase if the double option is chosen), and an en-suite in every room!! It’s by no means the height of luxury but that’s fine, as long as you have the basics you can make it as luxurious as you want. There are some downsides to living in one of the cheaper places (i.e. appliances breaking, paint peeling etc) but those are, in my experience few and far between thankfully.
Work opportunities
Now onto the important stuff. What opportunities are available through the University of Salford and are they any good? It’s not uncommon for university students to take on part-time work as a way of making some extra money on the side of their student loans, and though many look outside of university for this universities do offer work for their students through different roles. In the University of Salford students can find jobs in all sorts of places, examples include:
- Bar servers/restaurant staff in the student union,
- Barista on the on-campus coffee huts,
- Working in the student store,
- Becoming a student ambassador for the university.
These seem to be the most popular options for work on campus but there are of course work opportunities off campus. I did try to apply to become a student ambassador when I first started but strangely never heard back. This has been one of the recurring issues with the university unfortunately, however communication with lecturers has always been on point.
Other opportunities you can find at this university include work placement for your specific field of study and even international placements. Some courses offer work placement as part of their curriculum which makes it easier for students to get that work experience. For other courses your lecturers will encourage you to seek out these opportunities and will point you in the right direction to help find them. There are resources both online and on campus that will also help people to find these types of things.
If I could go back in time, would I change my university choice?
So, is the University of Salford good? Yes. Though by no means perfect, it has proven to be the best place for me to finish my education. As for if I could go back would I change my decision knowing what I know now? No, I honestly wouldn’t. But that might be because my course is a media-based course and Manchester is, of course, a city with big links to different media companies.
My advice to any prospective students to the University of Salford? Make use of the open days and take your time choosing what is right for you. Don’t go somewhere because everyone else has said it’s been great for them; your experience won’t be the same as theirs I can guarantee that. Of course, ask others for their opinions and stories but make sure you see it for yourself, in real life! I know most everything can be seen on a screen these days but believe me the reality of things will make you see things in a whole new light.
If you’re still struggling with figuring out how to choose the right university for you then why not read all our university reviews.
