Campus Universities vs. City Universities

If you are reading our school articles, you must have seen that we use terms such as "campus university" or "city university" when giving information about campus and campus life. Although these two terms are too clear to need explanation in terms of their meanings, in this article we will talk about the qualities that make a university a city university or a campus university, the differences between city and campus universities, and what advantages and benefits city universities and campus universities.

Students preparing to start their university education have many factors to consider before making their final decisions. The location of the university they will choose, the living conditions of the city where the university is located, the advantages and disadvantages of a city university and a campus university are undoubtedly just a few of these factors. Although both city universities and campus universities provide a very good educational experience for students, there are points where they differ from each other.

What are Campus Universities and City Universities?

How you define a campus university and a city university may vary depending on the country you are going to. However, generally speaking, a campus university refers to a higher education institution where all structures that can be described as the main building and facility in which the university operates are gathered in a single area and the university's students spend most of their time in this area.

A city university, on the other hand, refers to an institution of higher education that has a center but where the majority of the buildings in which the university operates are scattered in and around a city, and students may often have to move within and around the city to attend classes. Universities of this type usually have more than one campus in the city or even across the country, but the campus with administrative buildings such as the rectorate is considered the main campus.

Accommodation and Facilities

Campus universities, especially those in the United States and the United Kingdom, may tend to provide students with accommodation in their first year. Student dormitories are allocated for students' accommodation. Many facilities and facilities that students can find on a campus, such as classrooms, lecture halls, laundries, medical centers, gyms, markets, restaurants or dining halls, are usually within walking distance.

City universities, just like campus universities, can offer accommodation opportunities to their students, but the buildings allocated for student accommodation may be spread throughout the city where the university is located, rather than being located in a single center. These buildings sometimes have individual or shared kitchens, washing machines or laundry rooms that students can use, and common areas where students can come together to study or socialize. Of course, students can access the university library buildings and various other structures, but sometimes they may need to use public transportation for this.

Costs

The majority of shops, restaurants and cafes located on a university campus are able to keep the prices of the products and services they offer at more reasonable levels compared to those located outside the campus. In addition, accommodation services offered only to students studying at the university within a campus can be more cost-effective than dormitories and houses that students can find in the city center.

Sports facilities of the university may offer discounted subscription fees for students, and participation fees for events organized by the university's student union may be lower. Although it varies from country to country and city to city, it is possible that it may be more costly to use facilities located off campus for similar services, as these facilities apply standard fee schedules.

Student Life

Since campus universities aim to provide students with almost everything they need in one place, activities and social activities organized by the university or its student union can be closer to students on campus, which can mean that students can spend less time on transportation.

Although social events are organized on university campuses that students can participate in their free time, it is not possible to compare these events with the abundance and diversity of social and cultural activities that students can find in a city center.

Since city universities are often located at the heart of the social and cultural life of a small or large city, it is possible for students to find places such as restaurants, cafes, shops, shopping malls, museums, cinemas, theaters and art galleries in almost every corner and of all kinds. Transportation to places can often be easily achieved by walking, cycling or public transportation.

Personal Preferences

Choosing a university is, of course, an individual decision and is directly related to your personal preferences. If a crowded city and the opportunities this city can offer appeal to you, if you see yourself as an independent individual, or if being in a city and experiencing city life regularly is a source of motivation for you, a city university may be the right choice for you.

On the other hand, if you are looking for the peace a campus university can offer, and if being able to find almost everything you need in the same area and just a few steps away appeals to you, then you can choose a campus university. Whatever your choice is, it won't take long for you to realize that university is an environment where you will develop new skills and make new friends and that the next few years will be a unique and rich experience.