The UK has over 200 universities, each running hundreds of courses, totalling to more than 50,000 undergraduate courses available to you in the UK according to the British Council. The universities also offer varied range of facilities and perks. The choice of where to study and spend the next few years of life for a young student that will determine a big part of their future can be both stressful and confusing. After all, whichever university you choose, will be a part of you forever, your peers will be life-long friends, its name will be engraved in your CV, your chosen subject will most likely be your career, and you will wear your graduation gift university hoodie with pride for years to come.
How do you take such an important decision then? There is too much information to browse through out there, with many factors to consider. Here, we summarised the most important factors for you, so you can make the informed decision you need with ease:
The curriculum
The first and most important thing is to first understand what you want to study, and how this will help you get to what do you want to do once you graduate, and what kind of lifestyle and salary do most people who studies this subject end up having. There are hundreds of subjects, and each university offers different curriculum to the same subject. The British Council offers a search by subject for the UK universities can help assist you with narrowing down the list. You might also have options to combine courses and make up a new hybrid degree, so check the university websites for the latest, follow the ones you are interested in social media, read their brochures, talk to student alumni and admissions offices, and visit their open days to learn as much as you can.
Remember, you will spend your next 3 to 6 years studying it, and then the next 40 to 50 years working in the area, so choose wisely. Other factors you should consider in choosing the course are availability of part-time study, semesters abroad, and entry requirements.
Rankings
There are many websites that provide university ranking in the world, and in the UK such as the one in this link. There are general rankings and more specialised ones for each subject. I read all of these before I applied for my undergraduate degree. The rankings can be based on many elements such as student to staff ration, research, number of publications, awarded prizes, percentage of graduates finding jobs after and so on. Ranking is important as it reflects the university’s name, brand, and reputation. This is important to you as the name of a reputable university in your CV will open many doors and comes with a golden network of peers and alumni. If you are interested in an MBA degree, then the average salary post-graduation is key, and if you are interested in a PhD degree, then the research quality and number of publications, funding, and awards of the department you are interested in is critical to find out.
Please note: You might notice that Oxford and Cambridge are constantly on the top of most ranking boards, so if you are not particularly interested in them, or cannot for any reason attend there, don’t feel bad, the other top universities are also outstanding. Also check for opinions by talking to people directly, attending open days, and reading online reviews.
The location
Is the university campus near home, or will you need an accommodation and commute to access it? Is the university in big city such as Kings College, University College London, and Imperial College or in smaller towns in the countryside such as Cambridge, Oxford, and Warwick? These are very important questions, as your few years of study will be spent in this city or town and will impact you and the opportunities you are exposed to directly. Some people love the buzzing city vibes such as London with its endless number of exhibitions, arts, events, culture and so on. Other people prefer less commute, and quieter and more home like feeling where all the students’ population are in one big campus and all facilities in one place as opposed to being scattered over the city.
The campus
Where will your lectures be, and what kind of accommodation can you get? And do you prefer a campus surrounded by inspiring nature and miles of greenness where you can access everything by walking or cycling? Or you do you prefer campus next to big city landmarks or more embedded into a city or town centre? Check out the student accommodation as well. Check the number of students in your hall and who will be sharing your kitchen and bathroom. Check if the university had mixed or same-sex accommodation, and if they have studios if you are not into sharing. Check the towns as well nearby if you want to live in a house outside the campus, and the ways you can commute to the university from your house.
The facilities
Such as library, language centre, latest tech, special needs, career services. For some of these facilities such as the library, you will spend a decent amount of your life there, so it should be a comfortable environment. Another good point to check is whether there are 24/7 cafe for those early morning or white nights. Catering is also important, and many universities now have shops or small supermarkets within the campus, so go in and check what kind of foods and other necessities they sell, and what hours they operate. If you are religious, check what facilities are there to accommodate your practice, some universities have prayer rooms for different faiths, and some have societies dedicated for a religion such as a Christian society or an Islamic society that provides free food for the month of Ramadan.
The social scene (Societies and clubs)
Every university has a student union and large numbers of societies and sports clubs to choose from, whether hobbies, new interest or just to learn a new skill or socialise, these are very important to your time spent at university as university life goes beyond studying. So, make sure your university of choice has what you need and what you like. Learn more about these opportunities in this dedicated article.
Relationship with industry
Some universities grow a strong reputation in specific fields such as business, management, technology, biology, and so on, and few have business parks next to them that work closely with the professors, academics, and researchers from the university. This can give you opportunities for internships and possible jobs post-graduation, as universities who have strong relationships with industry usually carry more practical curriculum so you will be better equipped for your professional life post your graduation.
Research
If you are interested in staying for a masters, a MPhil or a PhD after your undergraduate degree, then check the research ranking, and why kind of research and cutting-edge topics are being studies by the academics? Does the department have world renewed professors who contributed to the field you are interested in? will you be taking classes and teaching while you do your research? Does the department get enough funding for the research, and can you get a scholarship or bursary to help with the fees? Does your university support industry-funded PhDs with their relationship to industry? Can you study part-time or take few months off in between the years? And can you do internships during the research degree? Of course, you can apply for a research degree in a separate university.
Prices
Yes, education doesn’t come cheap nowadays. Therefore, you need to know how much you will need to spend every year and budget for it, whether through family support, student loans, or bursaries and scholarships. Take into account the costs of living and buying the necessities such as books, subscriptions, laptops and so on. Read our article for further details on the cost of higher education.
Safety
We rarely talk about safety at university, however, there are often crimes of theft around university campus, as students can be targeted for their smart phones or expensive laptops. Check the area of the university and its campus before making a decision, particularly if you are a foreign student, as you can be a target. Your mental health and safety are equally important. Exam pressure and homesickness can get too much for some people, so check what the universities offers for counselling, mentorship, assistance and what are the policies around taking time off.
For more details about studying in the UK, why not request a consultation with us.
