UK University Fencing Programs

[Achilles]

Does anybody know of any good universities in the UK that have fencing programs? I'm looking at going to university there, and I want to be able to fence while I'm there.

[The Armourer]

Easy - come to Reading! A good fencing programme, Alain coaches at the University fencing club AND heavily discounted membership to The Reading Fencing Club as well - let me know if you would like further details.

[Zilverzmurfen]

I am sure others will give you some good answers, but off the top of my head I thought this may be a useful resource. Best of luck!

[Achilles]

yeah if you could please give me as much information as possible that would be great. Thanks a lot for the link to the leon paul forum as well.

[keith]

well edinburgh university always used to have a reasonable fencing club - both in quality of fencing and quantity of alcohol consumed.

Remember that results for UK universities often bounce up and down alot - people don't choose a university because of a sports programme. What really matters is cheap access to a good coach.

[Dave]

Well, pretty much all of the "good universities" in the UK have fencing clubs. The quality of the clubs does however vary enormously. Generally the more accademic the university the better its fencing (IE Cambridge are very good and Portsmouth are crap).


You can find a (slightly out dated) list of uni fencing club websites here http://www.soton.ac.uk/~fencing/links.shtml#uku



Oh and information about BUSA fencing (the British University Sports Association) is here.

http://www.busa.org.uk/sport.asp?par...t=200100010036

[Achilles]

I would like to go to a respectable academic university. I have been looking into St. Andrews, Cambridge, Bradford. I just don't know what some of the better universities are.

[keith]

Originally Posted by Achilles

I would like to go to a respectable academic university. I have been looking into St. Andrews, Cambridge, Bradford. I just don't know what some of the better universities are.

what are you studying?

Remember that if you are planning on ending up back in canada name recognition is almost as important as academics (sorry Bradford).

[Achilles]

what do you think about the following universities: Bradford, Manchester, Birmingham, Southhampton, Loughborough, Lancaster? Are any of them academic universities?

[Achilles]

I want to take classical studies/history, yeah I would not mind ending back up in Canada afterwards. Bradford is not a good place to go because it is not as well known?

[keith]

Originally Posted by Achilles

I want to take classical studies/history, yeah I would not mind ending back up in Canada afterwards. Bradford is not a good place to go because it is not as well known?

well it is a brilliant place if it is known as being strong in that area, I have no idea

I am assuming you are doing undergraduate? If so then get in touch with your local Uni on the pretext of going overseas for undergrad then coming back for postgrad - ask them where they would recommend. That will give you a feel for which uni is strongest in that field.

As to the fencing I agree with Dave if you go to pretty much any strong academic university you will find a decent club there. Also don't forget that if you end up in any large city there will be an assortment of clubs to fence at.

look here for a club list;

http://www.britishfencing.com/clubs_via_region.htm

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Achilles

I want to take classical studies/history, yeah I would not mind ending back up in Canada afterwards. Bradford is not a good place to go because it is not as well known?

Well Bradford isn't one of the UKs greatest cities...

Have a look here ( http://www.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,6734,00.html ) for where the Times thinks is good for Classics. All of the uni's that they list have fencing clubs IIRC.

Originally Posted by keith

Also don't forget that if you end up in any large city there will be an assortment of clubs to fence at.

Except Southampton, no bloody town club grumble, have to drive to bloody Salisbury or Portsmouth to get another nights fencing in.

If you can get in and have the chance try and get into oxbridge from what I have been told it really is worth all of the work. Having said that I went to Birmingham and Southampton and had a great time.



Good luck.

[keith]

here are a couple of other 'ratings'

The REA (research) so a guide to what is good from a research, international reputation point of view (you are looking for a 5* rating) but remember that the people responsible for these scores may have nothing to do with undergrad teaching;

http://www.hero.ac.uk/rae/

and here is the guardians uni list (to cross ref to the Times)

http://education.guardian.co.uk/univ...215839,00.html

[Achilles]

thanks a lot for all of the help guys. you have given me more information then my school was able. Thank you very much.

[Boo Boo]

Will PM you, think I have a few ideas...

Boo

[Achilles]

how hard is it to get a British Citizenship?

[Boo Boo]

Originally Posted by Achilles

how hard is it to get a British Citizenship?

Were you born in the UK, are either of your parents British citizens? Are you looking to move to Britain permanantly?

Boo

[Achilles]

neither of my parnets are from the UK, I was born here.

[Gav]

Originally Posted by Achilles

I want to take classical studies/history, yeah I would not mind ending back up in Canada afterwards. Bradford is not a good place to go because it is not as well known?

Try Edinburgh, Oxford or Cambridge as they have a good rep for those. I'd recommend St Andrews but it's full of flippin' Ya's and at least one royal.

As for those that you listed they all seem to have a good reputation for technical/science subjects.

[rory]

And on the fencing side:
- Edinburgh: pretty good. Also easy to get to EFC (Scotland's best fencing club)
- Glasgow: good social club
- Oxford: very good uni club
- Cambridge: not nearly as good as Oxford
- Manchester: OK club, but Manchester Fencing Club is close and excellent