How to choose a course and a university

I would be lying to you if I said I had it all mapped out. As a young person I did not expect to go to university. I went into work when I finished school but soon found myself wanting to explore other options. When I decided that university was something I wanted to do it was a little overwhelming, and I had so many questions: Which university? Which course? Why is the same subject different between universities? Can I afford it? Will I make friends? Should I stay at home or move away? Is it worth it?

I took a gamble and decided to go to university and for me it was the best decision I ever made. I adored my subject. This then turned into a career, being a lecturer and then finally becoming someone who educated students in going to university. So, here are my top tips on how to choose a course and a university!

Find a subject you enjoy

Start by browsing the degrees on offer based on your interests, such as using our course search, or requesting a prospectus. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking about how much money you are going to make based on your degree. Study what you are passionate about. You are going to spend three years solely on one subject. If you enjoy it, this will be reflected in your assessments and grades leading you to a better degree award. The nature of university is changing as well, as your learning experience is so much more than academic-based – it's now an immersive experience where you gain hands-on experience and make direct connections to industry.  For example, here at Derby, our curricula has strong industry engagement and we offer excellent placements to our students. This means you will graduate equipped not only with the theoretical knowledge needed for the workplace, but also the practical skills which will set you apart in the job market.

Ratings, rankings and the top 100

As you begin to look at universities you will be shown many ratings and top 100 lists. These ratings are predominantly based on multiple factors such as funding, research, graduate outcomes and student satisfaction to name a few. I used to explain to my students that for me the most important thing you could look at is student satisfaction. Why go to a university if your three years there aren’t going to be fulfilling and lack support? It’s great that they may have excellent facilities and research, but that means nothing if you can’t get access to your lecturer for support if you are struggling. Make sure to have a look at student reviews such as Whatuni and StudentCrowd, as they will give a real insight into life at the university you are thinking of. Your next step would then be to visit the university yourself. Open Days are a great way of getting a feel for whether that university is right for you as they give you the chance to picture yourself there.

Ready to fly the nest?

Making the choice on whether to move away or not is a big decision and can be a little scary with the uncertainty that it brings. I used to say that this part of the university experience is a half-step into adulthood. Getting to live on your own terms (midnight raid of the fridge), having your own space and the best part… getting to meet and live with your new friends (which I still see now ten years later). But whilst you have all of this you still have the safety net of support from the university with regards to finance and wellbeing. It may sound like a cliché, but you are only young once. Moving away and having new experiences you simply can’t put a price on as these memories will stay with you for a lifetime. Even now I smile at the crazy things we got up to! 

University life

Studying and getting your degree is important but so is your social life. Whilst you are working hard, you also need to make sure you are going to enjoy yourself in your downtime. Universities offer a range of societies and sports clubs for you to get involved in. This is another great opportunity to discover a new passion. For me, this was dodgeball and American football. Be sure to check what each university offers and have a look at the different facilities or clubs that exist in the city.

Last bit of advice

But my number one piece of advice when it comes to university is that what you put in is what you get out. The more effort you put into researching your university, studying hard, and taking part in societies and clubs, the more likely you will have the best possible experience and outcome.

Good luck in your search and enjoy this exciting time of possibility!