How to find a perfect course and university in the UK
Taken from: https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/what-and-where-study/choosing-course/how-choose-between-undergraduate-courses-and-unis/ https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/what-and-where-study/how-choose-right-undergraduate-course-you
Helping your students find the right course or university isn’t as simple as choosing the highest ranked institution, or the biggest city (Hello, London!) It depends on who they are, what’s important to them, the kind of environment they like, and what they want to achieve. UK higher education is held in high regard across the world, and whilst general principles of study abroad apply for most, it is important to understand the nuances of studying here. In doing so, you can help empower your students to make more informed decisions and make the most of their overseas study experience.
Choosing a university in the UK
The United Kingdom is, compared to places like the USA and Australia, very small – and experiences between one city and another can be entirely different, though only physically an hour apart. Applicants should research the city, not only the ranking of the university, and think about what’s important to them and what they want to get out of their degree beyond the classroom. Some may prefer a more historic city. Others may prefer a smaller town with access to the coast or nature. Your student may want to experience the big city life of the capital cities of one the four nations. Guide your students to browse UCAS’ city guides to get a feel for each place and imagine themselves there.
UK higher education has something for everyone – and has a large variety of both campus-based and city-based universities and colleges. You may wish to discuss this with your student, as the two experiences can be vastly different, in terms of study environment, living arrangements and social lives. They are likely to prefer one over the other.
Encourage them to think about the demographics of the city and what that means for their lifestyle. Do they require access to a certain type of place of worship? Are they looking for a vibrant nightlife? Or are they seeking a home away from home, with a large diaspora from their home country? Make sure they consider the pros and cons of each location. Being close to an international airport may be important for someone planning regular flights home during study breaks. Others may want to use their breaks to visit nearby cities or countries. Every city in the UK has something great to offer, so encourage your students to consider locations beyond those they may have seen in a movie.
And connecting with peers is a great opportunity for your students to discover what the university is really like. Some will not be able to make open days, so they can use the UCAS virtual tour function to look around campuses and attend online open days. This will help them understand what the university and city is like and meet potential lecturers and staff. They may also want to talk to current students, from all over the world, using UCAS’ Unibuddy feature.
Read UCAS’ top ten tips on choosing a university in the UK.
Choosing a course in the UK
UK courses tend to be more streamlined and focused than in other countries. It’s important that students understand the differences and what to expect from their academic experience, as this will ultimately help them be more successful throughout their studies. Learning style, assessment methods and amount of independent study varies, so research is fundamental. On the topic of research, courses with similar, or even the same, titles are not always the same content. Encourage your applicants to read course descriptions carefully and to thoroughly review the syllabus. While some courses are similar at most institutions due to statutory requirements (e.g., Law, Medicine) others will vary vastly, especially in the arts. Applicants could be studying Shakespeare at one institution and modern poetry at another, all under the same banner of English Literature. From UCAS, students can navigate directly to the relevant course pages of a university website for further information - to make sure they know what they’ll be studying and if it’s right for them.
There is a wide and growing variety of joint-honours and interdisciplinary subjects available. Though these are more commonly available in social sciences and humanities type courses than STEM subjects, many students read joint-honour and interdisciplinary degrees each year. This is something the UK is sometimes overlooked for, so letting your students know what and how to search out these opportunities could broaden their range of options.
Whether looking for single or the joint options, students (and of course, you) can:
Supporting three quarters of a million applicants each year, UCAS understands the gravity of the decision over where and what to study weighing on the minds of your students. Through UCAS’ information, advice and guidance, we hope to help you help them make more informed decisions and embark on a smoother admissions journey. For more information, read how to choose between undergraduate courses and unis for other resources to guide your students to when helping them take their next steps on their study abroad journey.
