With so many courses, and many similar ones available, it's important that you find out more about the course and the university or college before you start to shortlist your options.
Current students give their tips on how to decide which course is right for you.
Firstly, you will need to choose the type of course you’d like to study. If you don’t know your options, you should look at the different course types and entry requirements.
If you have already decided on the type of course you would like to study, here are some things to consider when comparing different courses, and different universities.
In the UK, degree courses tend to be very specialised, allowing you to focus on your chosen subject from day one. However, there are other courses that allow a little more flexibility in what you study – when you start searching for courses, make sure you read the course descriptions carefully, and click through to university websites for further information.
Interview your tutors – speak to them at open days if you can. I began enquiring about one course but when I spoke to the course tutors, they advised me I was a good fit for a different degree, and as soon as the lecturer started telling me about some of the modules, it really appealed to me.’
These days, it’s possible to find out lots of information on different websites – for example, www.unistats.co.uk allows you to compare UK higher education course data. This includes satisfaction scores in the National Student Survey, jobs, and salaries after study, as well as other key information.’
Pick something you love – and won't mind getting up for! You'll find that you work harder if you're passionate about your degree. Joint courses are also great because you get the best out of both subjects.’
Make sure your course choices cover modules that are suitable for you – browse through the course outline so you know what to expect. I wish I'd realised that a module title is one thing, but the unit guide for each section is where the information really lies.’
Find out more about the lecturers – it's worth researching them and their unit modules to find out their research interests. See if they’ve got Twitter profiles that can be followed for insight into the course content. For an arts or design-based course, attend the graduation show. You'll be able to see students' work, talk to them, and get a real understanding of what the pros and cons are of the course and university.’
See if the course or uni offers you any internship or placement opportunities. I was particularly drawn to a course with a one year internship programme, which meant I spent a year working. As a result, I know I want to work in education policy when I graduate.’
There are many ways you can research a university, conservatoire, or college, including reading their website or prospectus, looking at online reviews, and social media channels, but ideally you should see the campus, city, and course lecturers for yourself.
Universities and colleges run open days throughout the year – find upcoming open days. If you can't visit in person you might be able to attend a virtual open day.
Once you have shortlisted the different universities and colleges offering the course you are interested, in there are a number of things to consider when comparing each one:
Tips from current students on what to think about when choosing your university.
There are hundreds of universities and colleges in the UK with different subject specialisms. Rather than choosing a famous university, see which one offers the best course for you. Here are some top tips to help you:
Go to open days and ask plenty of questions about university life, the course, and support services. Go with a list of questions and chat to students – you can get honest, first-hand experience of studying there. It may seem a hassle if some of the universities are far from home, but it’s worth the train fare and there is nothing better to get a real ‘feel’ for the place and the people.’
I fell in love with my chosen uni instantly, so the best tip I can give is to trust your feelings. If you find faults and things you’re not comfortable with, like I did when I visited other unis (I thought the halls I saw were not all that nice, and I didn't feel they were for me), then it’s not worth going there. If you like the sound of the course and you like the university after visiting it, that's where you should go.’
You know if a course is right for you when you can talk for ten minutes on the question: ‘What do you like about that degree?'. My advice when looking at which university is best for you is to think of the three Cs: city life, course modules, and career prospects.’
When in doubt, make a spreadsheet. Make a table with all the universities you have in mind and compare each across a range of different requirements that are important to you – from computer facilities to tuition fees. The university you choose should be the right one for you, not the right one for others. Find out what careers your chosen subject can lead to, and think hard about whether you can see yourself doing those options in the future.’
Consider staying close to home to save money – don't rule out staying local! Commuting to campus from home has saved me so much money on rent, and I’ve had the support of my family throughout.’
If you prefer to move away, check out the journey – how accessible is it when you have to travel home for three years? It sounds obvious, but a nightmare train journey will get less appealing as the course goes on, not to mention the cost.’
Consider what kind of environment you want before you make your application. I wanted a campus university because it means I'm at the heart of everything, and I can get to my classes in a couple of minutes – I absolutely love that.’
As well as talking through your ideas and plans with family, friends, teachers or advisers, you can find other opinions online. Take the time to check what other people thought by visiting the following:
Chat to students like Charlotte on Unibuddy!
Ask me about how I decided on my chosen university, moving to a bigger city, or anything else uni related you can think of!