New Study Highlights Surprising Factor Affecting Student Success: Noise

As students across the country begin to consider which university they want to attend, a new study has emerged that offers a surprising new consideration: noise. This study compared average noise environments in leading student cities, allowing students to consider how this crucial element affects them.

With noise itself able to disrupt sleep, concentration, and mood, students must consider noise levels in their chosen area, at least when selecting their accommodation. Here are the key findings:

The Impact of Noise

The study, conducted and released by aparto, a student accommodation provider, sought to understand the correlation between noise and student success. They interviewed and polled over 1,000 students, finding that a vast majority (73.5%) considered their campus to be either moderately or extremely noisy during the day, which impacted on-site study habits and learning environments.

Worse still, 61% of respondents reported that the noise in their environment has hurt their mood. This is likely because 56.4% of students polled were woken up by noises in their area, disrupting their sleep cycle.

The noises ranked as most disruptive included traffic and nightlife, highlighting essential factors that prospective or current students must consider when choosing their accommodation.  

“Our research aims to empower students with data that goes beyond traditional league tables,” an aparto representative said. “While the buzz of a big city is a huge draw for some, for others, a peaceful environment is non-negotiable for their mental health and studies. This data provides a crucial, previously overlooked layer of information to help students make a truly informed choice that aligns with their personality and study habits.”

So, what are the loudest and quietest cities in the UK? Here’s a roundup:

The Loudest Student Cities in the UK

The loudest cities in the UK for students include:

1. London
2. Leeds
3. Manchester
4. Bristol
5. Leicester

These figures were based on the number of nightlife venues, nightlife density, the number of restaurants and cafes that cause peak-hour noise, and the number of noise complaints in student areas.

Of course, these figures are just averages. If you look at noise complaints in student areas alone, surprising areas crop up, like Mid Ulster, which has a similar number of noise complaints compared to Manchester.

Similarly, London’s average number of noise complaints is actually lower than cities at the lower end of the noise table, like Coventry. 

The Quietest Student Cities in the UK

The quietest cities in the UK include:

1. Hatfield
2. Canterbury
3. Loughborough
4. Norwich
5. Oxford

These cities are often characterised by lower traffic congestion and greater access to green spaces. These towns are also typically less commercially dense, which creates a quieter environment for students.

How to Reduce Noise No Matter Which City You Choose

It is critical to understand that while some cities are statistically louder than others, the most crucial factor will ultimately boil down to your exact address. You can absolutely find a tranquil student property in London; for example, simply look outside the main areas and remember to stay away from train tracks. Barring that, noise-cancelling headphones or a white noise machine can create an insulated space within your accommodation, allowing you to achieve a quiet study environment that enables you to focus and relax more easily.