Choosing the right University for you.

Thinking of going on to University but not sure where to apply. Here are some things to consider when choosing the university that is right for you.

• The course, and especially the units you’ll be studying – these can usually be found under ‘Structure’ within individual courses, and can be very different at each university, even for the same course title!

• Go to as many open days as possible so you get a feel for the university. If you are struggling financially to attend open days, you can take an online tour (where available) or ask your school for support.

• The location:

– Big city vs town

– ‘Campus’ v. ‘City’ university

– Close to home or further away

• Living costs
  • • Is there affordable accommodation?
    • Are living costs higher in the town/city you’re considering? Remember though, for London universities the maintenance loan is higher to account for this.

• Grants and bursaries
  • Consider what the university can offer. UCAS offer a useful guide here.

• Your interests and hobbies
  • Does the university have any clubs or societies that you are interested in joining?

• Do you have any additional support needs?

• What do other students think?
  • This website allows you to compare courses and provides information from the National Student Survey here.
  • Many universities have an ‘Ask a Student’ function.
  • What are the entry requirements?

• Useful webpages:
• Discover Uni 
• UCAS 
• University Compare 
• Prospect