Undergraduate AdmissionsChoosing a course
Choosing a subject to study in higher education is not easy! A quick glance at any higher education directory or the UCAS online course search will reveal a vast array of opportunities available. Sifting through them will require a lot of time and thought, but it will be well worth the effort.
Around 20% of students drop out of higher education each year. One of the most common reasons is that they did not think through their choice of subject. The subject of the course should be decided first - before you think about where or how you are going to study:
- Choosing a higher education subject you are already familiar with can be a safe option, as you will have some idea of your level of ability and interest.
- Choosing a new non-vocational subject will give you the opportunity to develop new areas of academic skill and knowledge, and sustain your interest over three or four years.
- Choosing a vocational course is right if you have a well-developed career plan which is best achieved through such a course
- Remember there are also combined, joint or modular degrees which enable you to mix your subjects of study in an almost infinite pattern.
Least vocational «---- ----» Highly vocational
In practice any subject can be placed somewhere along the spectrum. A subject like philosophy is at or near the non-vocational end, as most philosophy graduates do not become professional philosophers. Strongly career orientated courses such as dentistry and medicine are highly vocational because graduates in these fields would almost always become dentists or doctors. Most subjects will fall somewhere between the two. You can work out an approximate position on the spectrum for any subject you are considering, by reading up on the course content and checking out the destination of graduates.
FAMILIAR
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NON-VOCATIONAL
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VOCATIONAL
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Choosing where to study, just like choosing a course, is very much down to personal preference. When deciding where to study you should consider the following:
- How near or how far from home?
- Would you like a familiar place, or somewhere very different?
- How easy would it be to get home? Looking at maps and train/bus timetables may help you to decide
- How popular is the university or college? The more people who apply, the tougher it is to get in.
- What about the cost of living, accommodation, transport and social life expenses? These can vary from place to place.
- Do you opt for a big city or a smaller place? Town or country? By the sea or close to the hills?
- What about the actual institution? Town centre or outskirts?
- Campus? Atmosphere? Accommodation?
- Social, cultural and sporting facilities? Male/female ratio? And what will the other students be studying?
Although you may not have a university, university college or higher education college/institute near you, you may be able to study towards part or all of a degree or HND at a local college of further education whilst living at home. Could this be a good option for you?
A lot to think about, but it is important to choose carefully because it is where you will be spending the next few years of your life.
[Reproduced with the kind permission of Robert Brown and Mike Chant, Higher Education Advisers]
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UCAS web site
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Prospectus and University Website
Course search software eg Higher Ideas
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