Choosing a university course

CHOOSING A UNIVERSITY COURSE

Choosing a university course is an important decision.  A journey through higher education involves a considerable investment of your time and money so doing some careful research first is essential.

Here are some things to consider:

SUBJECT CHOICE

·       What subject do you enjoy the most?  Do you achieve good grades in this?

·       What are you good at doing (even if this is something outside school)?

·       Are you better at practical things (those that are more clearly focused on a particular job or vocational work area – eg nursing), or do you find theory more interesting (eg Human Biology)?

·       It is not necessary to choose a subject with an obvious career path.  University level study is intended to train you to use your brain effectively and provide you with skills that you can apply in a range of career paths.

·       Do you need specific subjects for your degree course?  Engineering and Pharmacology usually needs Maths/Science subjects and Physio needs Sciences, often Biology.

·       Could you study a new subject eg Law, which doesn’t need specific A Levels?

·       Would you consider a Joint Honours course where you can study two subjects combined?

COURSE/UNIVERSITY CHOICE

Look at the course content.  Does it really interest you?  Will you feel motivated enough to study this for at least 3 years?

Look at the Entry Requirements and compare them with your predicted grades.  Are your choices realistic? You can choose 5 courses; one or two should stretch you to reach the grades, two or three should be in line with what you are predicted to achieve and one or two should be slightly lower grades to provide you with a ‘safety net’.

Does it have a placement year?  A year in industry, usually between second and third year, can provide a chance to develop employability skills and make useful contacts for future jobs.

Go to Open Days. A great way to see the university and find out more about the course/facilities.

LOCATION

Home or away? Would you prefer to stay at home (and also save money) while studying?  If you decide to live away, how much will it cost you to travel home and how long will it take?  Some areas may be considerably cheaper for accommodation, especially in second/third year when you may be renting a shared, private house.

City or Campus?  Do you want a city university where things could be dotted around in various locations, or do you prefer a ‘campus’-style university where everything is contained in one environment.

USEFUL RESOURCES

UCAS - https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/what-and-where-study/how-choose-right-undergraduate-course-you 

THE UNI GUIDE - https://www.theuniguide.co.uk/advice/choosing-a-course/i-want-to-go-to-uni-but-i-dont-know-what-to-study

OPEN DAYS – https://www.opendays.com/