Choosing your degree course

The degree you choose could change your life

There are many issues to consider before making your decision, for example:

  • Will you meet the entry criteria?
  • What really interests you?
  • What are your skills and talents?
  • Should your course be related to your ultimate career?
  • Do you want to study abroad?
  • Would a sandwich course be better for you?

image of studentFor some professions like pharmacy and engineering you are obliged to study a related degree course. Sometimes that decision can be delayed: for example, you can study a general undergraduate degree and then transfer to law or medicine if you are unclear at 18 whether you want to enter these professions. You will gain a broader education, but it will be a longer and more expensive training.

It is important to check into the preferences of employers in your chosen profession, as these can vary enormously.

It is impossible to over-emphasise the value of thorough research before making your choice - it will save you time and money, and possibly a lot of heartache, if you think and plan very carefully.

You may find it valuable to try higher education profiling and perhaps sitting a skills audit test with an unbiased, independent consultant.

Top tips

Think hard before you decide:

  • If your exam grades are unlikely to be very good or if you would prefer not to spend three years at university, consider the shorter foundation degrees and HNC or HND if they are available in your subject.
  • Try an online questionnaire such as  the Stamford Test, available via the UCAS website, to help start you off on your decision making process.

Course title and content

Do not be misled by the title. Always check the content of any course you are considering. For example, History: how broad is the range of topics available?  Can you study different periods in history?  Can you study the history of other countries?  Can History be combined with any other subject? This information should be freely available on university websites.

Check also how the course is taught and assessed. You may be good at exams; on the other hand, if you are not, you may prefer a course where a large proportion of the marks goes on continuous assessment and course work. There is significant debate on the fairness of one final examination compared with continuous assessment of your assignments throughout the course, but many courses will involve both types.

Don’t hesitate to ask the university or college for more information.  They want you to enjoy your course and to succeed.

Something old or something new?

If you are unsure about your future career - like many young people at the age of 18 or 19 - it is often far better to go for a course you know you're going to enjoy, because you've already studied the subject at school, and do well at it. Alternatively, you could combine a subject in which you are comfortable and confident with a new course that interests you.

Top tips

Before you make your mind up:

  • If you are considering studying something totally new at university, do some reading in the subject in your free time before you apply and, where relevant, get some work experience and find out as much as you can about careers in this field.
  • You may well get a better degree if you choose a course in a subject you know you enjoy and add something new as a challenge.