How to Decide on the Right University for You

At this point in the academic term, you’ve likely sent off your UCAS application that you spent months polishing, and you’ve probably started getting some offers or interview invites from your chosen universities. Firstly, well done! Secondly, now the ball is in your court.

Now comes the most challenging part, whittling down five possible universities down to just one. Deciding where you want to spend the next three years is a big decision, and maybe the biggest you’ve made in your life so far. However, this is also a time of great excitement!

Going to university is an excellent opportunity to explore new cities, make new friends, and start a new hobby (and study!). Only you can make the choice of university and what you want to gain from the experience, but hopefully, this blog will be a thinking point of the things to consider.

1.     Course Content

You’re primarily going to university to study (that’s what I tell my parents anyway). Therefore, the course you’re going to be studying for a minimum of the next three years should be one you enjoy. Don’t get me wrong, there will be points during your degree where you wished you’d never gone to university, but your passion for the course will help you push through the bumps. One thing that may be very different between universities is what you’re actually taught.

Unlike at A-level or IB where most people in the UK learn the same content, this is not the same at university. A biomedical course at Cardiff is probably very different to one at UCL. Due to this, it’s important that you have a good idea of the modules you’ll be taught during the course. These can be found on the university’s website.

Another thing to also think about is how the course is assessed. Will you have exams? Will you have coursework?

And finally, what academic things can you do outside of the course? Can you spend a year abroad studying? Can you work in industry for a year?

Answers to these questions will vary significantly across different universities, so make sure you find this out before you confirm your choice!

2.     Location, Location, Location

The UK alone has approximately 164 universities in both rural and urban areas. Studying at a university located in a rural area is likely to be very different from a university in the centre of the capital. If you’re someone who loves the hustle and bustle of a city, this is the perfect opportunity to experience metropolitan life. Moreover, the best time to live in high-cost cities such as London is as a student when you don’t have to worry about things such as council tax and you get great discounts on everything just for being a student.

Studying at city universities also allow you to easily explore the culture, industrial opportunities and the nightlife of that city. These universities usually have facilities spread across different sites within the same city (for example Imperial College London has campuses at South Kensington, White City and Hammersmith).

Alternatively, if you’re someone who’s grown up in a city or someone just looking for a calmer pace of life, this is an excellent chance to try out life in a smaller town.

Campus universities are normally based in towns or just outside of cities, and normally consist of lecture halls, accommodation, shops and other amenities all on one site. Having everything in one place is very convenient, and these universities have a strong community feel (for example the University of Exeter).

3.     University Facilities

 Is there a sport you’ve always wanted to try but never had the chance? Now is a perfect time! Most universities will offer popular sports such as Netball and Rugby, but how about a cheese and wine society? Larger universities tend to be home to a lot of these very niche clubs that may be right up your street. Sports teams and societies are also a great way of meeting lifelong friends and a great way of meeting new people during freshers. You can normally research the clubs and societies offered by researching the universities student’s union online.

4.     University Rankings

A lot of students seem to fixate on the rankings of universities when making their choice. Although university rankings are a good indicator of the quality of research output and graduate jobs prospects, they shouldn’t be the be-all and end-all of your choice. Rankings often don’t give you an accurate picture of the student experience and what a university offers outside of academics. Therefore, although I would consider the ranking of a university, don’t let it be the only thing you consider.

5.     Affordability

One thing not to be overlooked is the cost of where you want to study. Living in London is going to be more expensive than living in Northumbria. It is important to consider if your student loan will cover the cost of accommodation, living and other expenses, or will you need to also work alongside studying, or can your parents help you out with some of the costs? I definitely wouldn’t let money scare you offer exploring a new city, but it’s important to be sensible and consider these things before you dive headfirst into living in Central London.

An important thing to also explore is if your chosen university offers any additional bursaries. These are payments that don’t need to be paid back and are often based on household income. This can make a huge difference with living costs and may allow you to focus more on your studies rather than worrying about finances.

Finalising your university choice is not an easy matter. But at this time, you should be more excited than stressed!

My advice: try and visit the university before you make your final decision. Whether this is an open day, offer-holders’ day, or you a visit for a weekend. This will give you the best feel for a university and the surrounding environment. It’s also a good idea to try to talk to current students as they’ll tell you the honest truth about studying at that university.

Kyle Greenland is Co-Founder and Director of STEMaccess, at the time of writing completing a PhD at Imperial College London Investigating Novel Drug Delivery Methods to Treat Prostate Cancer.