How to choose a university

Choosing which uni you want to go to can be really daunting! For me, figuring out at 18 where in the country I wanted to spend the next 3 years was really tricky so here's my advice on how I made my decision.

It goes without saying that meeting the entry requirements for your course is essential when applying (alth

ough if getting the grades is really worrying you bear in mind that I missed the grades for my uni offer and they gave me a place anyway). Assuming you've you've got that down and have an idea of what course you want to study here's the list of things I think a really important:

• Location

• Campus vs city

• League tables

• Course specifics

• Facilities

• Accommodation

• Living costs

• Job opportunities

• Social

• Support

• Atmosphere

Location

Location is really important when choosing a uni. First you need to consider location as part of the bigger picture and where abouts in the the country you want to be studying/living. Some people want to be closer to home and some people want to get as far away as they can. Knowing whether you want to be in a big city or somewhere a little quieter can play a part in this decisions and most people already know which they would prefer.

The second thing you need to consider locationwise is the immediate location of the uni. By this I mean whereabouts is the uni in relation to things like shops, restaurants, nightlife, train stations etc. If you're looking at campus unis then this may not seem too relevant as in first year everything you need is often found inside the campus itself, but it definitely becomes relevant from second year when you're living offsite or when looking a city unis.

My advice is to visit as many unis as possible and explore the local areas a bit when you're there. Is the high street or shopping centre within walking distance? Are there buses and trains nearby? Is there accommodation (both halls and private housing for 2nd year) close by? All these things you should get a feel for if you visit and ask the current students what they think of the location as they'll be your best source of info (if you're not able to visit then try stalking the area on google maps!)

Campus vs city

Most of the popular unis nowadays are campus based where all the buildings, accommodation and facilities are self enclosed. The benefit to this is that everything you need is right at your doorstep and you can live in a sort of bubble of student/uni life.

On the other hand, city unis may have multiple site/campuses around a city with libraries and other facilities scattered around. If you're looking at London unis then this is the case with most of them. They will have a main campus as the hub where the main facilities are based and then there will be a few other sites where you might have a lecture or two a week or where a particular subject is based.

Again this is really down to your personal preference. Personally, I'm really glad I didn't end up at a traditional campus uni. I probably wouldn't have left the campus much and although it may seem less convenient, living and studying in the heart of a city (especially London) means you see so much more of the area and theres so much more to do when you're not confined to the 'campus bubble'. I definitely wouldn't rule out city unis and would encourage you to visit both city and campus unis to see which you prefer.

League tables

Nowadays it's often about where you studies more so than which degree you have that counts on a cv. League tables are the easiest way to directly compare universities and I think it is important to choose a university with a good reputation and high academic quality.

There are different types of league tables and it's important to look at subject specific league tables and student satisfaction as well as the overall ranking of universities. Bear in mind that some of the top ranking unis overall may rank much lower when you look at subject specific tables and make sure to check out league tables from different sources and websites as they all base their rankings on different things.

Course specifics

The specifics of courses varies drastically between unis so make sure to read through prospectuses and go to open days to compare the curriculum and teaching style of different universities. Look at the amount of contact hours a course has (time actually spent in uni) and how their tutorial or seminar systems work. Checkout what optional modules are available and what placement opportunities they offer too as these are ways of tailoring the course to suit you personal interests.

Facilities

Most universities have similar facilities like a library, gym, cinema, shop, student union etc but some are better than others. in my experience, visiting a uni and taking a campus tour was the most beneficial way of comparing different universities.

General facilities are important as well as course specific facilities. If you're studying a science, for example, go and look at the labs. If you're studying drama, go and see the theatre or performance space available. It's also worth noting that different departments within a uni get different budgets depending on the course ranking on league tables and their popularity (which department is bringing in the most students/income). So check that the university is investing in your course and putting money into sustaining and improving the facilities and learning quality (particularly in science based courses - check how much funding third year research projects get).

Accomodation

I've already got a post on how to choose accommodation but going on a tour of the accommodation options on open days is really useful. I went through the specifics of what to look for here but choose wisely because some halls I looked at were horrible and could make the first year miserable regardless of how great the uni itself is...

Living costs

The cost of living varies depending on which part of the country you live in so this is definitely something to bear in mind. When I was visiting unis I always went into the campus shop and used the price of a sandwich as a basic comparison of where it would be more expensive to live. Cost of travel, clubs, supermarkets etc. are all things to consider. If you're looking at unis in London then the cost of living is significantly higher than elsewhere although it's definitely manageable and in my opinion worth it!

*most cities with universities are geared up for students and offer student discounts so it shouldn't be too much of a problem to manage living costs (as long as you don't blow all your money in the 1st term...)*

Job opportunities

Uni can be expensive so having some money in your pocket is really useful. Some people prefer to work over the holidays to earn money and not have to work through term time while others have a part time job while at uni. If you're planning to work throughout the term time then bear in mind that hundreds of students are all going to be arriving at the same time and applying for the same jobs. Make sure there are work opportunities nearby or on campus and I would advise beating the rush and handing in your cv a week or so before term starts so that you're in the best position possible to secure a job.

Social

The social aspect of uni is at the core of student life so when comparing unis look into what societies they have, what their student union is like and what nightlife is there is on offer.

Support

It's often overlooked but the student support network at uni is really important. Moving to uni is a huge transition and, particularly in the first couple of weeks, you can feel really lost. Having a support team available to discuss anything from mental health to study tactics or housing problems is invaluable and they are services that I really encourage you to use! Look at what support services each uni offers and check the student satisfaction reports for each uni as these will often give honest feedback on how well the university supports it's students.

Atmosphere

The final and perhaps most influential aspect of choosing a uni is the feel you get when you visit. This is why I advise you to visit as many as possible and as you're walking around try to really picture yourself living there. There are some places that on paper seem like the perfect uni for you but when you get there you may not like them at all (happened to me a few times....). Gut instinct usually tells you wether the university is a good contender for you and remember that you'll be spending the next three years here so don't settle for somewhere if it doesn't feel like the right place for you!

I hope this overview is useful and helps you choose where you want to go. Remember this should be exciting and not too stressful!

Any comments or suggestions are always welcome so please leave them below :)

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