The hardest part of applying to university is deciding on a course to study. There are several ways you could go about selecting a course but we believe that it should be a considered decision as it may be one that ends up having an effect on your overall career path.
To make this process easier, we’ve compiled a number of pointers which should assist you in applying for a university course of your choice.
What Are Your Ambitions?
Some students base their decision on what interests them as a subject or by the course that is likely to be the easiest. Instead, it is a good idea to base your decision on the type of career you would like to have in the future.
If you want to be a doctor or an architect, your choice has already been made for you as there are only very specific courses and qualifications that will facilitate such a career.
If you’re a little more open as to your future profession, choose a course which relates to a specific subject area which might provide you with a skillset that can be adapted.
The Types Of Course Available
Your career ambitions and the course you choose will directly influence how many years you spend studying. Using our previous examples, becoming a doctor or an architect will usually require around 5-7 years of full time study, rather than just a basic 3 year undergraduate degree.
Your course will fit into one of several categories;
- A bachelor of science degree which comprises mathematics, science and engineering subjects
- A bachelor of art degree which comprises of all of the art based subjects
From here, you will have the option of going on to study for a master’s degree in a more specialised subject of your choice.
The Cost
Each qualification will have a cost associated with it with some costing more than others. This shouldn’t be a cause for concern or a factor that influences your decision. There are student loans available to all prospective students who wish to attend university so you will never have to fund the course upfront yourself.
Instead, and only if you go on to pass a pre-set earnings threshold, you will be required to forego a small percentage of your salary to eventually pay off any student loan outstanding.
For this reason, university should be a consideration for all those who think it will benefit them.
Find a University
Once you’ve decided on a suitable course, it’s time to find a university that offers it. Some university courses will only be offered at certain universities which is why it’s always a good option to choose a course first rather than the other way around. Your chosen course should present you with a shortlist of universities, leaving you to arrange them in order of preference.
From here, simply apply for your chosen course and university through UCAS. The process is straightforward and centralised so all communication should be done through the UCAS portal unless you’re told otherwise.