With so many establishments to choose from though, how do you know which one is the best option for you? There are a number of factors to consider before making a decision. 

 

How to choose a university 

 

Whether you already have your eyes set on your future career or you’d like to explore a passion with greater learning opportunities and exploration, university is a great option for the future. But the question of “what uni should I go to?” will inevitably be on your mind. 

 

Fortunately, there are a plethora of institutions across the country and even overseas that offer different specialisms and opportunities depending on your needs and how well you’ll perform in your exams. 

 

Types of university

 

From contemporary universities to ones with decades of history and prestige, they come in all sizes and varieties, each having its own personal qualities. You may be searching for a university that has impressive links with the industry you would like to go into, or a location that features everything on your tick list. 

 

Ultimately, you want to be in an environment where you can flourish, be inspired, and be academically challenged. From universities in cities to seasides, close to nature or distance learning done from the comfort of your own home, the decision can only be made by you and where you think you’ll succeed best. 

 

Comparing courses

 

When submitting your UCAS application for university, you’ll be asked to list your top five preferred courses. When choosing a university it’s vital to take an in-depth look at what the course you’re interested in provides and how it can help your future career. 

 

Firstly you’ll want to compare the course content. Take a look at what each of the modules covers and assess how relevant they are to your needs and which ones will be of most interest. It’s easy to think that all history courses (for example) provide the same syllabus, but they don’t. 

 

So invest the time in discovering which one will benefit you most. Find out who the tutors are, they may be recognisable names and experts in the field that you aspire to and would like to learn more from under their watch. 

 

Find out how many lectures there are throughout the course and how much group work is involved, as you don’t want to be let down by a few hours in the classroom compared to lone studying. 

 

Finally, look at what the assessment process is like. Does it involve presentations, exams, coursework, or a variety? 

 

University reviews 

 

Selecting a university can be a challenging time as you’re dedicating yourself to that course for the next few years of your life. How to pick a university is made simpler these days thanks to online reviews, word of mouth, and alumni success stories. 

 

There are many ways to check these out with websites such as Discover Uni which provides a student point of view on subjects and course providers. There are also reviews available from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and universities also share their own online portals where pupils can get real experiences from current students. 

 

Finally, there are the rating and league tables such as the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework which looks at student outcomes, learning environment, and the quality of teaching, as well as The Guardian, The Times, and The Complete University Guide which shares a leaderboard of how well universities are ranked. 

 

With so much choice on offer and much potential available to assist with your future career, university is an exciting step in a student’s educational journey. 

 

Schools such as Rendcomb College are also on hand to provide career advice and guidance on which university might be best for you. Speak to your careers advisors for more information.