Picking a university course can be quite a daunting task. There are so many to choose from, in the UK and abroad. Plus, making big decisions about your future can be difficult if you haven’t got a specific career in mind.
We’ve come up with 3 vital steps to help you pick the right university course for you.
1. Work out what type of qualification you want
The first thing you need to work out when you’re considering university courses is the type of qualification you want to end up with. If you’ve got a career in mind that’s quite practical, in social work or agriculture for example, a Higher National Diploma (HND) could be the best qualification for you. Or if you want a Higher Education qualification, but have your eyes on a job that doesn’t necessarily require you to have one, it’s worth considering a foundation degree. Both of these qualifications usually take 2 years of full time study to achieve.
The majority of university courses will give you a Bachelors degree, like a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Education (BEd) or Bachelor of Engineering (BEng). These courses typically last 3-4 years and often give you the chance to work abroad or in industry for a year.
2. Pick your subject
Choosing the right subject for your course is really important.
If you get this wrong you could end up wasting time and money, and might not enjoy your time at university as much as you could.
If you’ve got a particular career in mind, do some research to find out the best qualifications to help you achieve your goal. It’s important to do this, as the working world is changing all the time and your assumptions might not always be right.
If you don’t have a particular career in mind, the best thing you can do is go for a subject that you’re interested in and enjoy. Remember that you’ll be studying this subject for at least two years, so it has to be something that motivates you. Lots of organisations ask for graduates but don’t specify the subject as they recognise that your degree will have given you valuable transferable skills. If you really can’t decide on one subject, consider a joint honours degree.
3. Find the right university
Course content
Courses differ massively between universities, even if they have the same name. Get hold of the course details and see if you like the look of them.
Course requirements
Make sure that you find courses with entry requirements that are similar to your predicted grades. It’s worth applying for courses that are slightly higher and lower too, so you’re more likely to get a place if your grades aren’t what you expect.
Location
Think about the kind of place you’d like to study. Would you prefer to go somewhere new or stay near to home? Do you like the idea of a rural campus or a city university? How much will it cost you to get home in the holidays?
Think about the kind of place you’d like to study. Would you prefer to go somewhere new or stay near to home? Do you like the idea of a rural campus or a city university? How much will it cost you to get home in the holidays?
University ratings
Universities are rated for all kinds of things, from degree results to student satisfaction to staff and student gender balance. Think about what’s important to you and find out where the universities you’re considering stand.
Thinking carefully about qualification, subject and university should help you find courses that suit you and your interests. Need some more guidance? Try MyUniChoices. We’ll find you courses that specifically suit your abilities, interests and qualifications.