How to choose the right university course for you

Choosing a university course can feel overwhelming. With hundreds of subjects and universities to consider, it’s easy to feel lost. Hopefully this guide can help you make a confident decision.

Start with your interests. Your course will likely dominate your next 3-4 years, so it’s important to pick something you genuinely enjoy.

Ask yourself:

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What subjects do I enjoy studying?

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Which topics make me curious or excited to learn more?

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What activities or hobbies do I enjoy that could relate to a course?

Tip: Read course descriptions on your desired university choices website to see what aligns with your interests. Consider your strengths.

Think about:

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Your strongest subjects at school or college

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Skills you excel in (creativity, problem solving)

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Your academic achievements, like predicted grades

Research Career paths
Understanding potential job options, Ask yourself:

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What kind of work do I see myself doing in 5-10 years?

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Which courses lead to those careers?

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Are there transferrable skills I could gain from other courses?

Think about teaching style and course content
Courses can vary., consider:

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Lecture heavy vs practical-focused courses

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Coursework vs exams

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Opportunities for placements, internships or study abroad

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Modules and topics offered in later years

Check Entry Requirements

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Do you meet or are you close to meeting the requirements

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Understand any essential subjects needed for progression

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Consider alternative options if you don’t meet the requirements

Visit universities

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See facilities: e.g lab, libraries and student accommodation

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Talk to current students and lecturers

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Get a feel for the campus vibes and location

What factor matters most to you when choosing a university course?
Trenyce (Kingston rep)

Reply 1

UniofLaw Student

Official Rep

Hey @Kingston Trenyce

I completely agree! Self-reflection really is the best starting point when choosing a university course. To add to the points you've made, from my experience, I’d also say it helps to think carefully about how you learn best. For example, the University of Law focuses on practical, career-oriented learning, and has smaller class sizes and lots of support. This makes it easier to engage with tutors and apply your knowledge within the real world. Matching your learning style to the teaching approach can significantly impact your motivation and overall experience.

It’s worth looking beyond rankings and considering graduate employability and course outcomes. It’s reassuring to know that your degree will actively prepare you for the next stage, whether that’s further study, professional training, or entering the workplace.

💬 Chat to a Current Student
Got questions? Ask us anything through our chat platform.

– Jess 😊
University of Law Student Ambassador
First Class Law Graduate & MSc Legal Technology Student

Reply 2

McGinger

Original post

by UniofLaw Student

Hey @Kingston Trenyce
I completely agree! Self-reflection really is the best starting point when choosing a university course. To add to the points you've made, from my experience, I’d also say it helps to think carefully about how you learn best. For example, the University of Law focuses on practical, career-based learning, with smaller class sizes and individual support that make it easier to engage with tutors and apply knowledge in real-world contexts. Matching your learning style to the teaching approach can significantly impact your motivation and overall experience.
It’s worth looking beyond rankings and considering graduate employability and course outcomes. It’s reassuring to know that your degree will actively prepare you for the next stage, whether that’s further study, professional training, or entering the workplace.
💬 Chat to a Current Student
Got questions? Ask us anything through our chat platform.
– Jess 😊
University of Law Student Ambassador
First Class Law Graduate & MSc Legal Technology Student

Matching your learning style to the teaching approach

And how exactly is any 17 year old going to even start to evaluate that.

Reply 3

UniofLaw Student

Official Rep

Original post

by McGinger

Matching your learning style to the teaching approach
And how exactly is any 17 year old going to even start to evaluate that.

@McGinger I think it’s fair to assume that by the time a student reaches college, they usually have a sense of the learning environment that works best for them. In my experience, choosing a college felt quite similar to choosing a university, just on a smaller scale. As someone who’s neurodivergent and dyslexic, I found that understanding how I learn best made a huge difference when it came to finding the right environment.

On the ULaw website, we have a blog post that explains how our learning style works in practice, along with details about the different study modes available and how they work. This gives prospective students the opportunity to explore what our approach looks like and decide whether it aligns with their own preferences.

It’s also worth remembering that it’s not only 17 year olds who are looking at universities; there are plenty of mature students and career changers who apply too, many of who probably already have a clear idea of how and where they learn best.

If my wording caused any confusion, I just meant that considering how you learn best and what kind of teaching keeps you motivated can make choosing between universities a lot easier.

Jess 😊
University of Law Student Ambassador
First Class Law Graduate & MSc Legal Technology Student