"Join societies - aside from living in halls, they're the best way to meet people."
Alex Birchmore
Age: 21
Course: Physics with Theoretical Astrophysics (third year)
“Nottingham was one of the best departments I applied to. On the open day, I got there early and spent hours wandering around the campus – it was beautiful. It seemed to have a nice atmosphere and a good social scene and I felt it was a place where I could happily spend four years.
I took physics because it gives you masses of options and there’s huge scope for travelling. I like the way it manipulates your brain – in a way, it’s an advanced form of problem solving.
The course here stretches you mentally, and I like that. The lecturers are all very conscious about making the topics applicable to what’s happening currently. They’ve got a passion for what they’re teaching, and it’s very apparent. Another good thing about the course is that you can work on a project for a company. It’s something that actually needs doing and it goes down really well with employers.
The facilities are a big advantage to studying at Nottingham. I spend a lot of time in the computer labs and you’re never using a machine that’s more than two years old. The research facilities are fantastic, too.
The Students’ Union is enormous and there’s so much to do. I’d never windsurfed before but now I’m vice president of the Windsurfing Society. I also write for The Mic, which is the University’s music magazine, and I’m a member of the Real Ale and Yoga Societies. There’s a lot to do in the city too – it’s got a good music scene which is getting better and better, and the new Market Square looks really nice. Trent Bridge Cricket Ground is a huge bonus too.”