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Entry Requirements: Are you choosing a wide range of entry requirements for your shortlist? For example, my sixth form college recommended to us that we choose 2 aspirational universities, 2 safe universities and 1 'lower' university to ensure we had a range of choices that would mean we weren't left disappointed if things didn't go our way.
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Location: How are the travel links? Would it be easy for you to get home on a weekend if you felt homesick? Is there ways to get round the city itself for a cheap price?
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Campus: What does the campus look like? Is it easy to find your way around and do the amenities look worth it to you? How close is it to your chosen accommodation?
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Accommodation: Are there options for your chosen budget that you could see yourself living in? Are they relatively close to the uni and other things you may need such as supermarkets, pharmacies etc?
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Social Aspects: Does this university have a good nightlife? Is there lots of opportunities to go out and do things at your student union? Could you see yourself finding a lot of things to do with your spare time in that place?
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Course: Does the course have a high percentage of graduates in relevant employment within the first year? Does the course have relevant modules to you in every year of study that you'd enjoy? For me personally I didn't want to have any exams so check how your chosen courses are assessed to see if they suit you.
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University rankings - where is your university ranked overall and for your course? Also where is it ranked for employability for post-graduates?
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Did you feel at home at any university? Did you attend any open days and think, 'yes this is where I want to live for the next 3 years'
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Has the university got good facilities such as nursing courses having good simulation labs, science subjects having modern, high-quality labs and facilities
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Do they provide more than just academic support? Do they provide mental health and wellbeing support and financial support?
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If needed do they provide feasible student accommodation?
If possible try and speak to some current students at open days or on online platforms such as UniBuddy to hear some first-hand experience of students at the university.
I hope this is of some assistance!
Mary
London South Bank University Student Rep (3rd-year Children's Nursing)
Last reply 5 days ago
1st Years: what's been your biggest challenge of university so far?Last reply 3 weeks ago
about to start uni and I can't bear to live with my failure18
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