Universities: How to choose the right university

Courses come first
The course is the most important thing, and finding one that offers exactly what you are looking for in terms of content and qualifications.

Draw up a shortlist of universities that offer a course you're interested in. Make sure you know exactly what each university course entails—some have similar names but are very different.

Choose your location carefully
Where you study is almost as important as what you study, because if you're happy and settled in your environment you're likely to work better.

Ask yourself whether you want to continue living at home while at university (the cheaper option) or want to move to a new area (the more exciting option—and one that will give you a wider choice of university courses).

Think, too, about whether you're the sort of person who would prefer a more enclosed campus university or a town-based university.

Don't forget your social life!
All work and no play and all that... check out what the university, and town it's in, offer by way of social life. What are the pubs and clubs like? Are there cinemas, theatres and sports facilities?

Find out how expensive it is to live in the area—entertainment, food, and so on. The Students' Union should be able to fill you in on this.

Ask about accommodation
Does the university have halls of residence and, if so, how much do they cost and what do they include? If you want to live out, what's the going rate for a room in a privately rented flat or house?

Visit as many potential universities as possible
Most universities have open days and these are a good way to gauge the atmosphere of both the university and the area it's in. It's a chance to have a look round and to talk to current students. Even better, spend a few days in the town, if you can, to get the feel of the area.

Check out the academic standards and performance
Before making a final decision you can compare universities, course standards and student satisfaction rates on www.unistats.com.

You can also get information at www.hero.ac.uk, the official gateway to universities and colleges.

What do employers think?
If your proposed course is linked with a profession, for example law, journalism or accountancy, then you could check with the relevant professional organisations or trade unions to find out if a course is recommended, and if it might exempt you from professional exams in the future.

Jobs after graduation
All universities collect details of what students do after graduation. Ask the individual university careers department for more information.