My potential supervisor, and the department, have a good (maybe not excellent/amazing) reputation and it looks like it would be a nice environment to work in. The PhD community looks very friendly and I've been told the supervisors are very involved. So, although it would be wonderful to be offered a studentship at a 'red-brick', we don't all get those opportunities so we should make the most of the ones we do get.

Thanks again for all your replies, it's very interesting to read the different viewpoints.

Thank you all so, so much for your replies. It's brilliant to read through all the differing opinions, it's just what I needed! It seems like this is quite a contentious issue. The reason I brought it up was a mixture of insecurity, and even ingrained snobbery, on my part. The majority of my friends have attended 'red-brick' universities and I've always felt a bit intellectually inferior as a result. However, *if* I get offered this studentship I am going to accept it with my head held high - it would be stupid to turn down such an opportunity.

Ok...

So say I complete my PhD successfully...

Would my research be looked upon in the same way as another PhD from a 'red brick' uni?

Is it more likely that the PhD from a 'red brick' would get a job over me (even if we were of equal intelligence and had published similar amounts) because they went to a better uni?

Is there not some snobbery surrounding the calibre of universities???

Hello,

I've applied to do a PhD at a non-red brick university. It is fully funded and in my subject area but I'm feeling a bit down about it being at a less prestigious uni. I did my undergrad at a non-red brick uni and hoped to do my PhD at a red brick but can't afford to do it unless funded.

Will I be looked down upon by other academics because I've never been to a red brick?

I'm wishing now that I had applied to do my undergrad at a red brick so I had at least one association.

Am I being silly or does this matter?

Lydia

Anyone???

Hello,

I've applied to do a PhD at a non-red brick university. It is fully funded and in my subject area but I'm feeling a bit down about it being at a less prestigious uni. I did my undergrad at a non-red brick uni and hoped to do my PhD at a red brick but can't afford to do it unless funded.

Will I be looked down upon by other academics because I've never been to a red brick?

I'm wishing now that I had applied to do my undergrad at a red brick so I had at least one association.

Am I being silly or does this matter?

Lydia