Choosing a university
You know you want to go to uni but have no idea which one. It can be a minefield, so follow our tips to choosing the right place for you.
What type of course should I go for?
Most undergraduate degrees in the UK lead to either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc) qualification. Usually this is directly related to the subject, so you would have to do a BSc in biology, however psychology could be either.
Students usually study one academic subject (a single honours degree) or two (joint honours), however modular courses are making it increasingly common for universities to offer combined honours degrees allowing you to follow a wide range of subjects.
Most modern degree courses are modular, so you may be able to take up a small amount of studies not directly related to your course, such as a language.
Some courses, such as languages, American studies, business studies and anthropology, now offer a year abroad. This has the potential to be an amazing opportunity - sharpening up your CV and building your skills and experience. The same goes for taking a placement in industry, which may even have the added bonus of earning some cash.
Scotland has a different system - a basic degree takes three years, but an honours degree takes four. In the latter, students take a broader range of subjects to begin with, and then specialise later on.
How do I choose a subject?
The most important factor to consider is choosing a subject that interests, if not fascinates, you. Three years is a long time to study something that bores you rigid.
Try and choose something related to any career aspirations you might have. Otherwise, a more general degree followed by a specific masters may be a better option. Talk to a careers advisor to work out what is best for you.
Look at university websites for more details of courses. If you want more information on a course or would like to know whether it would be relevant to your career plans you could try contacting the institution directly.
Check you are taking the right subjects to get onto your preferred course. If you have doubts, use the UCAS course search, which tells you the entry route and selection procedure for each course. Look at the entry requirements; if you have some idea of what grades you will get in your A-levels, try to choose courses that you will be able to get on to, plus find a good course asking for lower grades just in case.
Always discuss your options with your careers advisor and remember that you can always contact the university to see if your situation would be acceptable.
Should I stay at home or move away?
One of the biggest decisions you'll need to make is whether you want to live at home while you are studying, or you want to move away. Staying at home can seem like the easier option, and it's usually cheaper, but you won't benefit from the independence of being away from your folks. Unless you live in a big city, living at home can limit your options when it comes to choosing a university, so try to prioritise the course over the location.
Type of institution
Ask yourself these questions:
- Does it have a good academic reputation and pass rate for the course you are interested in?
- Do you want to study in a town or a city?
- How often will you want to go home? How far do you want to be, and how much will it cost?
- Do you want a big university or a small college?
- Is it campus based (all in one place) or scattered across the city?
- What is the social scene like?
- Would you miss the countryside or are you desperate to be by the sea?
- Do you have a hobby that you want to continue at uni e.g. surfing requires sea, ice-skating needs a rink. Check that the place you'd like to go has the facilities there.
- What are the research interests of your department?
- Are student-resident relations good?
- What is the cost of living there? London rents are at least double those of Wales.
Once you have narrowed the list down to the last few, aim to visit a couple and get a feel for the place. Many universities now offer extended visits, so you get an open day and then go out with students in the evening.
Ask around; you'll probably find someone who has been to one of your choices. Search online for relevant groups on social networking sites to find current students. How did they find it?
Finally
At the end of the day, student life is what you make it - so trust your own instincts and go enjoy.
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