So you’ve decided that you want to go to university, but how do you decide what to study out of the thousands of courses available? Some will find it easy to pick a course they want to enrol on at university, but for others who have a wide range of interests and career prospects it can be much harder.

Choose a subject

It is important to choose a subject that you’re interested in and something that you want to spend the next three/four years studying. You don’t want to choose something that you’re not really excited about, wasting your time and money. Perhaps you know the career that you want to go in to after you’ve completed your degree and you can choose something that will help you on a long-term basis.

Choose a course

There are a number of different factors to consider when choosing an undergraduate course, each will vary in learning technique, topics covered and assessment methods. Your degree can be assessed in a number of different ways including coursework, practical assignments, group work and examinations and you should choose a course that plays to your strengths. For example, someone who has studied an assignment based qualification like a BTEC, may find it difficult to suddenly change to an exam orientated course.

Choose a university

Once you’ve decided on a course, it’s now time to choose a university! There are a number of factors to take into consideration when selecting a university:

• Location – some applicants will want to select an institution close to home, possibly to save money living at home and commute, while others will look into moving to another part of the UK or possibly another country. Whether you want to live by the beach or in a busy city, making sure you choose the right environment to live and study for several years is an important decision.

• Reputation – while certain universities are known for academic research and teaching style, others are widely recognised for their vocational education and links to companies. Looking at league tables and speaking to friends or family members, teachers and careers advisers can help when making your decision. Make sure you try to attend an open day to get a real feel for an institution.

• Facilities – attending Open Days also give you a good opportunity to have a look at the academic facilities. Make sure you check out the library, computer rooms and course specific facilities.

• Student satisfaction – students in their last year of university are asked to rate their course and experience at the university in the National Student Survey. These can give an insight into what students really think about their courses and institution, especially as you can find specific ratings regarding teaching and the learning resources available.

• Prospects after graduation – taking a look at what previous students are doing now can be an indication of the employment prospects and the various roles which are available to you after graduation.