University courses are available in a vast and extensive range of
subjects, meaning students face one of the biggest choices available.
Picking a university course can, therefore, be a daunting prospect for
anyone – so how can you make sure you pick the best course for you?
A number of different factors will need to be considered when making
decisions concerning your university education and the biggest one of
these is over what course. Here are five of the main areas you should
give consideration to when choosing between University courses.
Does the course interest you?
This is perhaps the most important thing that you need to consider
and should always be answered in the positive. Studying a course which
you are not interested in will not benefit you in any way and could see
you struggle to achieve your degree qualification. Always consider which
subjects you like the most and determine where your strengths lie. Then
pick a course which is relevant to these areas.
What are the job prospects for this course?
All university degrees are undertaken with the intention of securing a
better career at the end of study. Considering what job prospects are
linked to a specific course is therefore vital. Some courses, such as
Pharmacy, will lead to specific careers and jobs and are only suitable
for individuals with a desire to work within this role. Other courses,
such as English Literature, will offer a wider selection of job
prospects and are, therefore, better suited to those who do not have a
distinct career path in mind.
What is the assessment of the course?
How a course is assessed can influence how well you perform in it.
Some students prefer exam based assessments, whilst others prefer to be
assessed more on practical skills and presentations. It is, therefore,
important that you consider how you are graded for a course before
selecting it. Whilst this is not the most important consideration to
make, it is still important and students should always select the course
which will be best for them.
What options are available with the course?
Another consideration should be over what options are available with
the chosen course – such as how many compulsory and how many voluntary
modules there are.
Students should also consider whether they will have the chance to
undertake a split degree. This can be done either as an equal division,
where the degree will be written as ‘Subject A and Subject B’ (English
and History), or as an unequal division, where the student will ‘major’
in one subject and ‘minor’ in the other. This degree will be written as
‘Subject A with Subject B’, with the major subject always being written
first (i.e.; English with History).
Other options regarding degrees will also include whether there is an
option to undertake work placements and whether a ‘year out’ is part of
the format. This will affect the length of the degree, but can give
students the chance to gain a working knowledge and practical skills
alongside their theoretical, academic learning.