Education Discussion | What to look out for when deciding on university

Applying to university is not only about academic choices.

It also involves thinking carefully about what matters in your career and even your social life

Author | Josh T

Career development opportunities

At a time when around a third of the UK population holds a degree, choosing a university that helps you stand out while preparing for working life can be significant. It is worth considering whether the institutions you are applying to run effective careers fairs, offer strong support services and maintain useful professional networks. 

You might also look at whether your course includes the option of a placement year, provides opportunities to study abroad, and offers guidance with internship applications. Selecting a university that delivers most, if not all, of these can make a meaningful difference to your long-term prospects.

Picture of University College London

Course options

Another thing to consider during university applications is the way your course is taught. You may initially be attracted to a subject because you enjoy it at A-Level, but without looking deeper into the course you could miss how differently it is taught at university level. 

We would recommend looking into how many contact hours your course has, the type of teaching (whether it is labs, lectures, seminars or tutorials), whether your course has optional modules so you can tailor your own learning, and which compulsory modules you will take. This will give you a bigger picture of whether the course is for you!

Do you have a passion for sport?

If you are someone who enjoys sport, it may be worth considering institutions with strong and active teams. Those keen to make the most of nightlife might be better suited to a university in a larger city. 

Equally, if you have a particular hobby and want to meet like-minded people, it is sensible to look at places with a wide range of societies

The Varsity Series is a huge deal in London

Do your research

Ultimately, our bit of advice to everyone is always going to be do your research. Spend a bit of time thinking about the above. Everyone will consider a different combination of things when applying to university.