Choosing between two universities

I’ve been offered places at Hallam Sheffield University and University of East Anglia to study psychology.

I really like both of them and could see myself at either, although the accommodation at UEA isn’t particularly nice, and the teaching at SHU doesn’t seem as good as UEA.

I really don’t know which one to choose. I’m scared to commit to a decision, and I’m worried about how my future will be impacted if i chose SHU as it is a lot lower on the university league tables and I’m considering doing my masters.

Does anyone have any advice or tips on how to choose, or what to prioritise?

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 1

cksiu

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by issyarmstrong1

I’ve been offered places at Hallam Sheffield University and University of East Anglia to study psychology.
I really like both of them and could see myself at either, although the accommodation at UEA isn’t particularly nice, and the teaching at SHU doesn’t seem as good as UEA.
I really don’t know which one to choose. I’m scared to commit to a decision, and I’m worried about how my future will be impacted if i chose SHU as it is a lot lower on the university league tables and I’m considering doing my masters.
Does anyone have any advice or tips on how to choose, or what to prioritise?

Perhaps you may check the accreditation status of the unis:

https://portal.bps.org.uk/Accredited-Courses

Reply 2

normaw

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by issyarmstrong1

Which course do you prefer? Compare the modules and optional modules for all years of the course and think about what you would choose. Are there any placement opportunities or study abroad? League tables really don't matter so choose the course that interests you the most.

How do accommodation costs compare (for all years of your course) and what are transport connections like for trips home?

Reply 3

McGinger

Sheffield is a much bigger place than Norwich - which will suit you better? Does either course offer study abroad or any sort of work placement - either will add enormously to your graduate CV. Ultimately, its about which course you will enjoy the most, and the place/Uni where you will feel happiest.

Reply 4

De Montfort University

Official Rep

Original post by issyarmstrong1

I’ve been offered places at Hallam Sheffield University and University of East Anglia to study psychology.
I really like both of them and could see myself at either, although the accommodation at UEA isn’t particularly nice, and the teaching at SHU doesn’t seem as good as UEA.
I really don’t know which one to choose. I’m scared to commit to a decision, and I’m worried about how my future will be impacted if i chose SHU as it is a lot lower on the university league tables and I’m considering doing my masters.
Does anyone have any advice or tips on how to choose, or what to prioritise?

Hey there 😃

Don’t stress too much about university rankings. It’s your grades and extracurricular activities that will truly make you stand out when applying for a preferred master’s programme 🎓

Start by assessing what matters most to you - whether it’s accommodation, teaching methods, or something else. Another key factor to consider is career support and opportunities. This can make a huge difference when applying for master’s programmes or looking for a graduate position.

Look into what career services these universities offer. For example, during my studies, I did psychological internships, went on academic trips, participated in training courses, and attended extra workshops. These experiences were game-changers for my CV and helped me build a strong professional profile 🚀

I hope it will be helpful 💪 Feel free to reach out if you have any questions 😉 You can also chat with me or other students directly through The Ambassador Platform.

Take care,

Julia
Psychology student
De Montfort University

Reply 5

UEA Rep Grace

Official Rep

Original post by issyarmstrong1

I’ve been offered places at Hallam Sheffield University and University of East Anglia to study psychology.
I really like both of them and could see myself at either, although the accommodation at UEA isn’t particularly nice, and the teaching at SHU doesn’t seem as good as UEA.
I really don’t know which one to choose. I’m scared to commit to a decision, and I’m worried about how my future will be impacted if i chose SHU as it is a lot lower on the university league tables and I’m considering doing my masters.
Does anyone have any advice or tips on how to choose, or what to prioritise?

Hiya! I've just finished a four-year psychology with a placement degree at UEA and absolutely loved it!

I'm with you on the UEA accommodation- it wasn't appealing to me when I first saw it, but the benefits of UEA outweighted this for me. You also only spend less than a year in the accommodation there before you can move off-campus for your second year, so ultimately it didn't bother me at all! I went with my friends into the city and bought some decorations to make the place feel nice and I really made my room feel like home.

I think it's important when choosing a uni to pick somewhere you can not only see yourself living, but that also has good accreditations. UEA is 21st in the League Tables (right behind Southampton) and is in the Top 20 for research quality, and I definitely saw this in our lectures. In my final year I was able to pick modules like the psychology of mental health, gender, social psychology, neuroscience... it was really interesting and my assignments gave me a lot of freedom too.

I did the placement year and from that, my future prospects are looking really good. I was offered a job through connections at UEA that I will still have after finishing my masters, got on a masters course at UEA and was encouraged to apply to PhDs. There's also a lot of support to help you find jobs through CareersCentral who help with CVs, presentations, interview prep.... Even just going to talk about what jobs are out there!

Ultimately I would think about what you want from a university. I knew I wanted somewhere that felt like home, had modules I wanted to take, and that would lead me to a career. UEA ticked all those boxes for me and I'm so happy living in Norfolk now.

Let me know if you have any more questions about choosing a uni, UEA, or Norfolk in general and I'll happily answer, but in the meantime, good luck 😊

Reply 6

cvajt22

Original post by issyarmstrong1

I’ve been offered places at Hallam Sheffield University and University of East Anglia to study psychology.
I really like both of them and could see myself at either, although the accommodation at UEA isn’t particularly nice, and the teaching at SHU doesn’t seem as good as UEA.
I really don’t know which one to choose. I’m scared to commit to a decision, and I’m worried about how my future will be impacted if i chose SHU as it is a lot lower on the university league tables and I’m considering doing my masters.
Does anyone have any advice or tips on how to choose, or what to prioritise?

Be careful when you follow some of the advice like looking at optional modules available. Both universities you are considering are undertaking massive staff cuts and it’s likely this will affect academic staff which may see a reduction in modules offered and support available.