1. Course content can vary greatly across different universities
It is a good idea to find out more about the course offered and think about the subject areas you are really interested in studying. You need to delve not only into the course content, but also remember to check its type. For example, you might want to take a vocational course with a lot of practical training and internships. Or maybe you need a more traditional, theoretical course.
2. There are different styles of learning and assessment
There can be big differences between university courses in things like scheduled study hours (lectures and seminars), self-study hours, and types of assessment (exams, lab practicals, coursework, etc.). Stick to your preferences when searching for a suitable course. If you are better at taking exams, choose courses that include many tests. If you are more comfortable learning in small groups, consider courses with more scheduled hours.
3. Choosing a study location
When choosing a course, imagine yourself living for the next few years in the place where this university is located. In the UK, universities are spread across the country – in different cities and towns, in rural areas. Which region suits you?
If you like a big and noisy city, take a look at universities in London or Manchester. If you want a beach nearby, then choose Bournemouth, Brighton, or other coastal cities. The place of study is very important for your daily life and studies, so this issue should be taken seriously.
4. Not all universities can offer the course you are interested in
If you want to study a specific or unusual course, you may find that it is only available at a few universities. For example, only seven British universities offer veterinary science, and only three offer orthoptics. On the other hand, for a popular subject area like business, you have more than 170 universities to choose from.
5. Rankings do not contain complete information
When choosing a university or course, comparing university rankings is a well-established ritual. Rankings can be useful, but they do not always contain complete information. For example, Falmouth University and the University of Sunderland are well known among employers for their excellent preparation of graduates in journalism and animation, but rankings do not reflect this. To get the full picture, do not use ranking tables as the only source of information when choosing a course of study.
Based on materials from the TsMK "Parta".