Which University Course is Right for You?

For some people, choosing their undergraduate course is easy. They’ve always been set on university and they know exactly what they want to do. Of course, that would make things a lot easier. However, that isn’t the case for everybody and you’d be surprised how many people struggle to choose what they want to do. If you are one of these people then hopefully we can help! Here is our advice on choosing your university course.

Type of subject

There are a few things to consider when it comes to choosing your subject at university. If you already have a career in mind, then this could be easier for you. By doing your research and asking about, potentially at university open days, you could find out which course best suits your future career. There are also occasionally different routes to some careers which means you’ll have the option to choose what’s best for you.

If you don’t have a career in mind then that’s okay too! You could choose your subject based on what you enjoy or even by what you excel in the most. By choosing what you enjoy it ensures you’ll have a good time at university and have fun while studying. It’s also important to find something you enjoy because you don’t want to be stuck in a career you dislike. If you decide to choose something you excel at, make sure there’s still an element of enjoyment in there. There’s a chance you’ll be more likely to do well at university if you study your strongest subject.

Type of course

Most people choose a bachelors degree course when going to university but it’s important to note that there are many others to choose from. A bachelor degree might not be what you’re looking for and it’s crucial you do your research before making that decision. Here’s a break down of the available courses you can do at university:

• Bachelor Degree – Consists of 3/4 years at university. You can study one subject or a combination of multiple which is usual called a combined honours/joint honours. You also have the opportunity to do placements depending on you course or even a sandwich year placement which is a year of working in between university.
• A Foundation Year – This is a year of study that usual comes before a bachelors degree. It can be good for those needing lower requirements or for people who want to ease into their degree.
• A Foundation Degree – It is essentially a two-year degree equivalent to two years of a bachelors and also has lower requirements to do.
• Degree Level Internship – This means working within a workplace but good for those who prefer it to studying. You will achieve the same degree level as a bachelors in the end.

These are just some of the most popular options when it comes to university and you should definitely do your research to find out more. Hopefully one of these is the course for you!

Type of study period

If you’ve got an idea of the type of course you want to study, time might be your next thought. Of course, a lot of students decide to study full time. It’s the most popular option and the next step for a lot of young people after college. However, this isn’t your only choice. Here are the types of way your degree can be studied:

• Full Time – The most popular option which basically means doing the full time of your degree at once.
• Part Time – This will take a lot longer to complete but instead means only being at Uni a few days a week rather than full time. It’s great for people who want to work or have other commitments alongside.
• Accelerated Study – This means the course will run much quicker and as a result you’ll finish the degree a year sooner.
• Distance Learning – This essentially means doing your degree remotely. Studying at home is also great if you have other commitments or can’t attend a university.

There are still many other choices that you might like but these offer a variety of ways to get your university education and hopefully some that appeal to you!

Type of location

The first thing to consider when it comes to location is deciding what’s best for you. Some people like to stay close to home, whether that means in their hometown or just nearby. You might feel the complete opposite and aim for somewhere far away, maybe new somewhere you’ve wanted to go to. Either way, it’s an important choice to make.

After you’ve made that decision, then it’s time to have a look around. University’s offer open days throughout the year so you can get an experience of where you might end up. You can even take accommodation tours if you’re considering living there and find which one you like best. If there’s a chance you can’t get to an open day then don’t worry! You can always go on a virtual tour which is offered by most universities. The other thing to consider is also the requirements set by the university. If you’re still in college, see how achievable the grades they ask for, are to you. Thankfully, you get the option to apply to 5 different universities so you can keep your options fairly open.

These are just some of the most helpful things to consider when choosing an undergraduate course. Sometimes it can feel a little overwhelming but with such a variety of options, there will almost certainly be something for you!