Which UK university should I choose for my physics degree?

[RK1992]

Okay, so I've applied for the following courses:

Warwick - Maths and Physics Joint Honours - Offered AA
Birmingham - Theoretical Physics - Offered AA
Nottingham - Theoretical Physics - Offered AA/AB (Confirmed offer, but the exact details are being considered)
Imperial College London - Physics w/ Theoretical Physics - Offered AA
Cambridge - Physical Natural Sciences (Specialising in physics) - Awaiting interview, offer would be at least A*AA

So I have 4 similar offers from Birmingham, Warwick, Nottingham and Imperial. If I get an offer from Cambridge, then that will be my first choice, without doubt. But that's a big if - and even if I did get an offer from Cambridge, I would then need an insurance choice.

I've heard good things about all of the unis, and I know everyone will say "choose which one you like best" but I would like to know where everyone else would choose.

I understand Imperial's research is supposed to be top class, but does anyone know about their undergrad teaching? Maybe if I did an undergrad degree there, it would be easier to do postgrad studies there as well.

I think I would currently be edging towards Imperial over any of the other 4, but your advice would be nice.

Thanks :)

 

[cristo]

I've heard good things about all of the unis, and I know everyone will say "choose which one you like best"

That's exactly what I was about to say! Have you visited any of the universities yet; if not, then you should. The universities you list are all very different, some are campus unis, some are city unis, and the cities themselves are also very different. I thought I had pretty much decided where I wanted to go back when I was applying, but then having visited the places, changed my mind at the last minute.

As for Imperial, sure it's a great university, but personally I wouldn't have been able to afford to live in London as an undergraduate! Obviously lots of people do, but the student loan goes a lot further in other cities where rent isn't extortionately expensive.

 

[RK1992]

I've visited Imperial, Cambridge and Birmingham.. Cambridge is obviously incredible, but I preferred Imperial to Birmingham, although they were both nice.

Money is undoubtedly a big thing, but I don't really want to let it affect my overall choice.

I'm visiting Nottingham on Wednesday for an "informal discussion about my offer" (lol) and also Warwick at some point, so I guess I'll see them then.