7 Steps To Choosing the Best Uk University

Melton’s Fellow Garden-Unsplash

The decision to attend university is a significant one. One of the most probably difficult choices you’ll make in your academic career is, selecting a university. Therefore, before choosing a university, it’s critical that you compare many of them.

With over 160 higher institutions and colleges and an endless array of courses and study possibilities, you can personalise your university education experience in the UK to be as peculiar as you are. 

The first step to achieving your professional goals; is selecting the right university. In places all around the UK, there are famous historical institutions, cutting-edge facilities, and forward-thinking research centres, allowing you to personalise your education to your dreams and professional objectives. 

These steps will help you choose which university is best for you.

1. Look up the ranks

Using the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the topic rankings, regardless of how much you already know about the university alternatives in the UK, you may acquire even more specific information about particular universities and how they compare to one another.

Organisations like QS World Universities, Times Higher Education, and The Guardian produce rankings at the institutional and/or topic level. UK universities are ranked according to how well they perform in terms of ethics and the environment in the People & Planet University League. Additionally, UCAS offers a tonne of advice on picking a programme and submitting an application to study in the UK.

If you type in “UK” in the online databases of university rankings, you may view the position of all UK universities within the first 1,000. The UK universities may also be sorted by a performance score, such as teaching or innovation, or a “key statistic,” such as the gender ratio of students or the staff-to-student ratio. Finally, you can click on an institution to get additional details about it. 

Assuming you wish to study architecture and expect to have some industrial experience during or after your degree programme. You might be interested in learning which UK institution is best for design and innovation. 

2. Pick a location

Choosing a university also entails deciding where to live, so all of the criteria you would consider when relocating to a new place are relevant. When choosing a university, it is essential to consider the location of the campus and housing. Do you prefer to live in the city or the suburbs? Do you wish to study in London, Wales, Glasgow, Cambridge, Oxford, or anywhere in the United Kingdom?

A number of factors that differ from location to places, such as living expenses, culture, and weather, should be considered.

Are you willing to spend some of the highest rent costs in the nation to live in London and experience the commotion of the vast metropolis?

Or do you like to reside in Nottingham, one of the UK’s most affordable cities with many cafés catering to students but far fewer job chances than the capital?

You might like to be near the sea, In Brighton, Bournemouth, Southampton, or Cardiff.

Your priorities should guide your selection of a university and a location to live. Check the university prospectus, internet posts, and videos, and chat with alumni or friends who attended the university. You may even schedule an open day to tour the school and explore the surrounding areas.

3. Opportunities for Scholarships

Many colleges provide scholarships to overseas students, although the qualifications differ. If money is an issue, it is vital to investigate scholarships and application deadlines well in advance. 

You can use the information and search features on the Education UK website of the British Council to identify scholarships depending on your desired study programme and geographic location.

4. Course Specifications

It is critical that you review the courses that you will be learning. For post-graduate students, choosing an Msc course is essential to leverage your career and skills.

At first look, numerous colleges appear to offer the same course. However, upon closer study, the courses offered by different colleges appear to be more disparate.

Modules may be taught by various professors and tested in various methods (exam or essay). In addition, some colleges give placement possibilities, while others do not.

 UCAS, TheUniGuide, and WhatUni are all great tools to find out which subject you want to study. You can find out what courses there are, what career paths you can take with them, and even what universities offer that courses.

5. Look beyond the lecture hall.

“Student experience” is pretty difficult to define. However, I always consider how it differs from other colleges and what the typical student’s lifestyle is like.

Which would you prefer—a large metropolis or a small village with a university? Do you like Durham’s typical collegiate setting or a university dispersed around the city? Given that you’ll be spending at least three years at the institution, these are crucial factors that many students ignore when selecting one.

You’ll be in university for at least three years, so learn about what’s available outside the classroom. For example, one institution may have a vibrant film society, while another may have a thriving cocktail club or a successful sports team.

6. Look into sports & societies

Find out what amenities your university offers by doing some research. Universities like Loughborough and Bath are renowned for having outstanding athletic facilities. Even Baths University’s football team has notoriety for making it through the first round of the FA Cup.

Additionally, while attending an open day, make sure to look into the various societies. Fear not, you can always start the society after you arrive if you can’t find it.

7. Cost

Cost is the last factor to take into account while selecting a university. In the UK, housing costs can vary significantly from region to region. London is undoubtedly the most expensive city to live in, as is evident. However, everything will often cost more in the South-East.

For instance, a typical pint in Liverpool costs £3.27, compared to £5.18 in London. But no matter where you travel, there will always be a student union with reasonable costs for students.

Do not allow the expense of living to deter you too much from moving there. On the contrary, your education should always come first since it will help you land a fantastic career in the future.

Conclusion

Following these key steps may narrow your decisions, to figure out the best choice that fit your needs. However, it landing your ideal school requires more preparations. You also need to optimize your Cv, have a career map and loads more. Check out our career shop below!