Well I finally got ubuntu 9.10 installed on a partition last night, planning to use it as my main OS and do everything in it unless I have to go into Windows 7! This should help me get a good grasp on it which will help me with my degree in the future 
I’ve accepted the offer to study at Northumbria and completed my accomadation application, just waiting on some further info for my student finance application and they should be all set.