Hi DIAF, welcome to NATS. A perfectly reasonable quetsion, & your contention is correct: by the time you join, any Area ATCO will be working either in Prestwick or Swanwick. There are Area style functions at Aberdeen (as mentioned above) & Cardiff, however, presently these are done by Approach controllers, appropriately qualified. The Manchester sub centre will have moved to Prestwick by the time you start. Good luck wih your studies. Hopefully some of the reactions above haven't put you off before you've even begun...
I've been around internet forums for far too long. I always expect a few replies like that guy's.