Deciding which university to go to is one of the hardest decisions you will ever have to make. With more than 100 different universities in the UK to choose from, it is no wonder some students do not know where to begin.
Here are the top five factors you will need to consider as part of the process.
- Course
Your course should be your primary reason for going to university, so make sure it suits your interests and ambitions.
Russell Group universities have fantastic reputations as leading researchers, which are ideal for students wanting to study courses such as medicine, mathematics and science. However, if this isn’t for you, vocational courses are offered widely across the country, and can be equally as hard as academic courses in terms of the time and effort you must commit.
Most importantly, make sure your course is your decision and what you want to do; you will be the one writing the assignments and sitting the exams, not your tutors or peers.
Finally, consider additional options such as the chance to study abroad for a semester, placement years and add-on Masters degrees.
- Distance
Distance from home is a massive deal breaker.
Living further away from home will provide you with more independence, whilst being close to home will make it much easier to stay connected with your family and you will be familiar with the area. Consider how much it will cost you to go home for a weekend, as regular, short trips home are important to combat homesickness.
- Cost
£9000 a year in tuition fees is bad enough, let alone the other financial aspects that must be considered.
Firstly, assess your Maintenance Loan (based on your household income) and compare it to the cost of halls of residence for your first year to see whether it is affordable. Halls prices vary across the country, so you may consider cheaper alternatives such as shared student housing instead.
Additionally, look into the cost of living in that area; generally, the south of England is more expensive than the North and Wales. In your second and third year, shared houses with your friends may cost twice as much in the south than at universities north of London. Likewise, nights out are likely to cost more in metropolitan city centres than towns with student nights. Weekends can often be more expensive too.
Other tips to follow would be to look out for universities that offer scholarships and if you work in retail, ask whether it is possible to transfer stores to keep your job whilst at university.
- Social life
Check out the local town centre whilst on an open day and see what clubs, bars and restaurants it has to offer. Be sure to check out your Students’ Union as well to see what extra-curricular activities they offer too.
- Geography
It’s often said that weather affects your mood, so be sure to consider this when choosing your university. If it’s rainy all year round, you are unlikely to feel good about yourself.
Knowing what you do and don’t like is important too. If you hate crowds, it’s best to avoid a city university, but if you don’t want to feel “trapped in a uni bubble” it’s probably best not to choose a campus university. Be sure to check out the facts and figures about the student population before you go too.
Remember, you have five UCAS choices, so don’t panic if you don’t know which university you want to study at straight away.
Attending open days are always beneficial. Although they may be expensive in terms of travel costs, the day itself can often help you decide. A university that may appear amazing on paper may not have the right facilities for your course, whilst another open day may reaffirm your desire to study at that university.
It may seem like a lot to take in, but follow the top five factors listed and you’ll be well on your way to deciding the perfect university for you!
Do you have any more tips for students trying to decide where to go to university? Let us know in the comments below!
Photo: Kevin Dooley / Flickr
2 comments
Join the conversationSusanna Chapman - August 1, 2014
Regular trips home are not that important to some people (even though they are to others)- I came from abroad, I go home three times a year, and I am fine. It is true however that some people who are very close to their families will want to regularly go home. I just don’t that to be a deterrent to people from studying far away from home. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Great article, though! I wish I’d had that before I picked a University 🙂
Career Camel - August 1, 2014
Hi Susanna, Thank you for your comment. It is great to hear that you are enjoying/enjoyed your university time abroad. Being camels working in the UK we know the feeling!
I think that Molly was highlighting the point so that those of us who do tend to get homesick bare it in mind as it could be a big factor for many.
So pleased you enjoyed the article.