Any UK citizens/residents?

[titus]

Hey everyone, Bristol University is one of the places I'm thinking of doing my Masters and I was wondering if anyone in the UK could confirm whether it actually has a good reputation.

I know that in terms of recruiting it gets all the best companies, and seems to be around third best in the UK behind Oxbridge (I'm not including Scotland and Wales here).

However, talking to students from places like Birmingham and Nottingham they seem to think it's good (like top 10) but maybe not THAT good. Any opinions? My primary concern here is job prospects in London.

[Neil Gendzwill]

You'd voluntarily work in London? Yikes! I just can't see living in a place that big and that expensive. Frankly I don't understand how anyone living in London can afford it at all.

[Old Warrior]

"I just can't see living in a place that big and that expensive."

Try Bergen County, NJ. The real estate taxes on our home are 15K (US), car insurance for 2 cars is 3.5K, health ins. is 14K, homeowners ins. is 2.5K.

Try doing Kendo with that stuff on your mind. No wonder I hit to hard.

[Neil Gendzwill]

London is the #2 most expensive city on the planet to live in, after Tokyo. A few years ago I spent some time working in Cornwall. I noted from various papers there that IT workers made about half in pounds what Canadians did in dollars. Yet prices for most things were the same in pounds as we paid in dollars. Looked to me like they had half the spending power I did. And London is much more expensive.

[JSchmidt]

Heh, just moved out of London (well, out of the country), after spending 9 years there.
London is stupidly expensive and you need a good salary to maintain any decent standard of living or commute in from the outside.
Straight out of uni, London is tough. Most junior salaries starts at around 18-19k/year and I'd say you need at least 25k/year to 'live' in London. (ie not living in zone 6 and be able to afford a pint now and then).
Having said that, there is the opportunity for making very good money, you got everything at your fingertips and several dojo's to chose from:)

Jakob

[titus]

Thanks for all the info on London. However, just to bring the thread back on track, anybody have any opinions on Bristol University?

[PhilMcLaughlin]

Hi Titus
What are you planning to study and what kind of work would you be looking for afterwards ?

[Phlebas]

"Try Bergen County, NJ. The real estate taxes on our home are 15K (US), car insurance for 2 cars is 3.5K, health ins. is 14K, homeowners ins. is 2.5K." - Old Warrior

WOW. Glad I live in the sticks. Up here in Canada they really screw me on income tax (apparently we're the most heavily income taxed population in the G8 countries), but 6k just to insure one home and two cars, and 15k real estate taxes?? Unless you live on a ranch the size of Disney World that's insane! Jeez... how can you afford kids, let alone a shinai OW? : ))

[Tato]

mmph....

please, stop posting about taxes, that gives me the blues...

:(

Rei

[titus]

Originally posted by PhilMcLaughlin
Hi Titus
What are you planning to study and what kind of work would you be looking for afterwards ?

I would be doing a Masters in Economics, Finance and Management. Afterwards, probably investment banking, or working as an account executive in advertising.

I know that Bristol has very good recruiting in both of those areas, best after Oxbridge as far as I can tell. However, I'm not British and don't live there so I'd love to hear any opinions or advice you might have.

[Old Warrior]

Phlebas

"Unless you live on a ranch the size of Disney World that's insane!"

The house is on 1/2 acre (no pool or stuff and we don't even have a sidewalk) and my car is a cheap Jeep. But when you are 20 minutes from NYC in a nice "bedroom community" the prices on homes are very high and the related costs are, in fact, insane. Also, all the service providers charge fortunes when something breaks.

Fortunately, all the kids are grown, but it takes years to recover from what it cost to raise them.

[mingshi]

Hi Titus,

Try these for table and statistical info:-
The Guardian Newspaper University League Table (http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityguide/)
Prospect (http://www.prospect.ac.uk)

I am sure there are plently of postgrad guidebooks available at your local/Uni library or career office. Of course some contacts in your field will provide more relevent information...

Please be aware that you are paying for the overseas student rate --maybe if you have a scholarship... that'll be none of your concern :p

***************
London is too $$$ for us poor students, seriously. Unlike the locals we cannot get grants/loans. I cannot even afford breaking Shinai and all sorts of fancy Kendo equipments :( If I want to practice more than twice a week I have to skip lunch for it :rolleyes:

[Kenshi]

ive never met anyone from the Bristol dojo.....

anyway, bristol isnt london.. its much more affordable.

i love cities, but have recently too decided that london sucks! edinburgh is by far the most attractive and cool city in the uk... never mind england, get yourself up to scotland!!! ]

[titus]

I really wanted to go to Edinburgh University, unfortunately their selection of Masters is quite limited, unless I wanted to geek out and do something like Financial Mathematics :(

[Kenshi]

Hey,

>>I would be doing a Masters in Economics, Finance and Management. Afterwards, probably investment banking, or working as an account executive in advertising.
...
unless I wanted to geek out and do something like Financial Mathematics <<

Both sound, um, equally as interesting to me! If by recruiting you mean that you want to look for a job in the area, then Edinburgh is a ** v.good choice ** for Finance-related work.

If you end up going to Bristol, dont visit Edinburgh.... you will regret your choice and become depressed!

I'm not just trying to recruit more kendoka for my club btw....

[PhilMcLaughlin]

Titus

Cant help on the course as Im a techie by nature and training
Britsol is nice (and has its rough edges as all places do)
STudying in Bristol then moving up to London will be an expensive move but the rewards after a few years tend to be high

You might consider studying in London instead because you would meet fellow deprivess and could share housing as a group of friends (much easier than finding a group of people you get on with later on)

For once George is right ;-) and Edinburgh is not only a beautiful city, it has a major financial services industry (some of which has survived my own technical training ;-) , great environs and civilised licensing laws (and its much cheaper than London)

This site may be useful as well

http://www.thes.co.uk

Good luck !

[JSchmidt]

Unfortunatly, though, Edinburgh is full of scottish people
(G,D & R)

Jakob

[KhawMengLee]

what like Renton, Sickboy, Spud and Bigbey from trainspotting...;)

[JSchmidt]

Nah, that's in Glasgow :)

[Antonin]

And on the kendo side, there seems to be more opportunities for kendo in London. London has a whaole range of Unis to choose from as well. Not that i specially like the place (especialy compared to the greener pastures on the other side of the channel...). This being said, it is very expensive to live in .
A

[gill]

I agree wholeheartedly with George, Edinburgh is a great place, you have the city, you have the culture, you have the sea, and a hours drive away you have the Highlands.....oh, and lets not forget, you also have Kendo.....

I did my Masters degree there (does that make me a geek...?)

G :alien:

[Nico]

Edinburgh is the best place in UK !!!!
16-4-2002 00.37
George i am start praying....snif
Nico

[KhawMengLee]

....sniff...but I am stuck in Bath, Great culture, great history, near the welsh:eek: (joking) but no kendo:(

Must buy Porsche...must be able to get to Oxford kendo fast...must get money to buy porsche...sigh...then again there's Bristol kendo but I still havent been able to get a reply.

[angryshinai]

I was born in scotland but moved out to australia when i was very young. Was in the uk about 14 months ago for holiday. I didnt like england that much, it was 2 busy and 2 expensive. I loved scotland exept for glasgow *cough* "toilet" ... Edinburgh would be a great city to live. I hadnt thaught of what post grad study im going to do, but if they have a large selection of economics and finance i might check it out when the time comes...

[PhilMcLaughlin]

No Gill it makes you a McGeek ;-)

(the hat with the little propeller on it is a giveaway though !)

[titus]

Originally posted by angryshinai
Edinburgh would be a great city to live. I hadnt thaught of what post grad study im going to do, but if they have a large selection of economics and finance i might check it out when the time comes...

Already tried that my friend, they bite in that department unfortunately. There's a Masters (Research) degree in Economics, and I think it's focussed on Scottish Economics, not very useful. Then there's the degree in Financial Math, that I mentioned earlier, but you usually have to have a Math degree or be an engineer or some other uber-geek, and I am not quite at that level yet :p

[gill]

Originally posted by PhilMcLaughlin
No Gill it makes you a McGeek ;-)

(the hat with the little propeller on it is a giveaway though !)

Actually, according to Titus, I am an uber-geek (Thanks Titus)

G :alien: :square:

[PhilMcLaughlin]

I shall bow to Gills Uber Geekiness (though im not clear if is a good thing or not ....) and show due deference at all times !

[Kenshi]

my dear Jacob.... Trainspotting - the book - was entirely set in and around the environs of edinburgh..... the FILM version, however, has bits of Glasgow in it. I used to give my yank pals the "Renton legging it" tour... you know, the bit that opens the film. I'll be more than willing to re-enact the scene with any kendo guys over for the wkc (although the john menzies is gone on princes st. now).

Begbie rocks!

[p.s. jacob, my friend tobias made the danish team!]

[JSchmidt]

I stand corrected, then!...unfortunatly, I'm going to be as far away as possible from the WKC, so it wasn't even worth trying to make the team.

Jakob

[Henry Jones Jnr]

heeeeeeeyyyyyyyyy Big Nose. How Dare you be so insulting to her Royal Lovelyness the lovely Uber McGeek Gilly!!!.
I beg to differ regarding Edinburgh. After spending a wonderful holiday being shown palm trees in the Isle of Skye, (PALM TREES yah stupid git!!!. The're bloody CABBAGE TREES, a native of New Zealand you twat) TWACK TWACK TWACK.) where was I Arrgh
oh yes Edinburgh. Well lovely Canadian person that want to go to Bristol, the wailing bagpipes will get you in the end. especially the ones that are played out of tune. Sounds like Phil's kiai.
Anyway Bristol and Glasgow are more fun. Bristol is a highly creative city in it's own right due to the amount of Animation studios there. Not that there is anything wrong with London. As everyone can attest, quality wise it does have a good selection of dojo. Only you can try living in London. Play your cards right and you will have a ball.

[PhilMcLaughlin]

Henry - your sense of timing (this thread died weeks ago) is second only to a crisis in identity (and gender ??) ;-)

[Henry Jones Jnr]

Oh Oh I'm sorry. I have notice with growing amusement that I am listed as a junior member. I have also taken note that YOU too are also listed as a junior member. Aaaaaawwwwwww.
So until Stoke beat Reading. prepare for a fatal Victory on Sunday.
To everyone else. I was having dreadful problems with my server, that is why I have been somewhat dormant over the last few months.
Ali G:)

[sjp]

'Henry'
'Until Stoke beat Reading'

Thats totally lost on Phil as he is a Gillingham supporter and would take great delight in Stoke losing... as if.

Anyway we won 1-0 ...

Apologies to everyone one else for having no relation to the thread at all.

But if anyone wants to come to the UK , Stoke is the place... at least for some football.
We occasionally do some Kendo too :)

[PhilMcLaughlin]

Henry ? Who the fcuk is henry ?

Well Stoke survive by the skin of their teeth - of course the Gills are pretty comfortable in mid table ;-)

Steve is right Stoke on trent has two football teams and one of them deserves to do well - the other one is supported by the city council so doenst need any help (apart from finding some decent players ;-)

[gill]

Originally posted by PhilMcLaughlin
Henry ? Who the fcuk is henry ?


Tres drole!

[PhilMcLaughlin]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by gill
[B]

Tres drole!


-- could be worse, it could be "Des Trole" - then Id be another Rodney on the list ;-)

[Henry Jones Jnr]

Hello there. Gasp Shock Horror, OH The Horror. Phil has shaved off his crumb catcher. It makes him look like
a) Doulgas Adams
b) old
c) a desperate man!!
d) all of the above.