The Student Room Group

Which course to study?

There are two different courses that I'm thinking about studying at university. I don't know how to choose between the two of them. How do I choose which course to study?

Reply 1

Assuming that you are currently Year 12 and thinking about your UCAS application for next year, Uni Open Days (coming up April/May/June) are a good way to hear more detail about each subject and work out if that is what you want to do. Its usually possibly to book up for multiple subject presentations, and I always advise students to do this even if they are already set on a subject - you might miss out of another course/subject that is actually more appealing but you are not sure what it involves.

You can also do some extra reading, watch some relevant Moocs (look on Future Learn and Coursera) to see what is involved 'beyond A level'.

Which two subjects are you thinking about?

Reply 2

Original post
by krazykarol123
There are two different courses that I'm thinking about studying at university. I don't know how to choose between the two of them. How do I choose which course to study?

Hey!
Tricky choices can be rough but here's some things that can help you decide between them.

-Module descriptors: see which ones sound more fun including the type of assessments you'll do. You want a course you will enjoy.
-Career prospects: which can open you up to more career options and opportunities? Check out career websites to see aligning roles.
-Fun: which do you find more fun, engaging, want to do and see yourself happily taking on?

You can usually find mock lectures, extra online courses and prep material for those options online so do search them up as they can be brilliant in helping you decide. I remember doing a Harvard CS Online course which helped me decide on my degree! Open days are also a great idea to talk to lecturers about which suits you more and check out labs/equipment e.g. if software has more funding and is accredited for that top choice than AI... it may be the better option!

Hope that helps,
Aura (Uni of Staffs)

Reply 3

Original post
by krazykarol123
There are two different courses that I'm thinking about studying at university. I don't know how to choose between the two of them. How do I choose which course to study?

Hi @krazykarol123

What subjects are you choosing between/looking at?

I have a whole post here that I made with tips on making a university decision which also has lots of advice on choosing a course.

One of my biggest tips would be going to open days and course talks as it really gives you an idea of what it might be like to study that course and whether it will be interesting to you.

I hope this helps and good luck :smile:
-Grace (Kingston Rep)

Reply 4

Hey there,

Sounds like a difficult situation, especially if you're equally as interested in both subjects! I'd definitely go to some open days during the summer to hear more about both courses and the pathways you can take from doing each of them :smile:

Adding to some of the great tips already posted, here are some things to think about:

Check out each of the courses online, and also across different universities (unless there is a specific university you definitely want to choose)

Compare the modules - if they're different courses then they will obviously have completely different modules, but have a look and see if one course has more optional modules than the other, or if they both have mostly core modules (ones you have to take). If there are many options, take a look at those and see what you think would interest you the most

Try and find out assessment types - does one course assess mostly through coursework and the other more through exams? If so, which are you usually better at? If it's a science subject, are there much practical assessments? Do both courses have a similar split of assessment type?

Chat to current students - most universities will have a 'chat to student' feature on their website, where you can ask a current student any questions you have. There are usually a lot of options, so try and find an ambassador to chat to from each course and get their opinions! Bear in mind that the responses will be very specific to that uni, so maybe do this a little later down the line or if you have a university in mind already :smile:

Look at career pathways from each subject - can you work in that field straight after graduating, or would you need to do more training or qualifications afterwards before you can work? (e.g. with subjects like law or psychology, you need multiple additional years of study and training before you can become a solicitor/barrister or a certified psychologist)


I hope this helps, and good luck! If you'd like any more advice or are interested in checking out the courses at LJMU, feel free to contact me or another ambassador here: https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/chat-to-a-student

Jorja (LJMU Student Rep)

Reply 5

Original post
by krazykarol123
There are two different courses that I'm thinking about studying at university. I don't know how to choose between the two of them. How do I choose which course to study?

Hey there,

It is very normal to feel unsure when you are choosing between two courses, and most students go through this at some point. From a student perspective, it really helps to think about which subject genuinely interests you the most, not just right now but over the next few years. Ask yourself which course content excites you, which topics you enjoy learning about in your own time, and which one you can imagine staying motivated with during busy or challenging periods.

It can also be useful to reflect on your strengths and what you enjoy doing day to day. Think about the style of learning, assessments, and any practical elements involved, and which one suits you better. Passion matters a lot at university, because enjoying your subject often leads to better engagement, confidence, and overall success. Sometimes it helps to picture yourself as a student on each course and notice which option feels more like you.

I hope that helps!

LSBU Admissions Ambassador

Reply 6

Original post
by LSBU
Hey there,
It is very normal to feel unsure when you are choosing between two courses, and most students go through this at some point. From a student perspective, it really helps to think about which subject genuinely interests you the most, not just right now but over the next few years. Ask yourself which course content excites you, which topics you enjoy learning about in your own time, and which one you can imagine staying motivated with during busy or challenging periods.
It can also be useful to reflect on your strengths and what you enjoy doing day to day. Think about the style of learning, assessments, and any practical elements involved, and which one suits you better. Passion matters a lot at university, because enjoying your subject often leads to better engagement, confidence, and overall success. Sometimes it helps to picture yourself as a student on each course and notice which option feels more like you.
I hope that helps!
LSBU Admissions Ambassador

Thank you for your advice, it is very helpful!

Reply 7

Original post
by LJMUStudentReps
Hey there,
Sounds like a difficult situation, especially if you're equally as interested in both subjects! I'd definitely go to some open days during the summer to hear more about both courses and the pathways you can take from doing each of them :smile:
Adding to some of the great tips already posted, here are some things to think about:

Check out each of the courses online, and also across different universities (unless there is a specific university you definitely want to choose)

Compare the modules - if they're different courses then they will obviously have completely different modules, but have a look and see if one course has more optional modules than the other, or if they both have mostly core modules (ones you have to take). If there are many options, take a look at those and see what you think would interest you the most

Try and find out assessment types - does one course assess mostly through coursework and the other more through exams? If so, which are you usually better at? If it's a science subject, are there much practical assessments? Do both courses have a similar split of assessment type?

Chat to current students - most universities will have a 'chat to student' feature on their website, where you can ask a current student any questions you have. There are usually a lot of options, so try and find an ambassador to chat to from each course and get their opinions! Bear in mind that the responses will be very specific to that uni, so maybe do this a little later down the line or if you have a university in mind already :smile:

Look at career pathways from each subject - can you work in that field straight after graduating, or would you need to do more training or qualifications afterwards before you can work? (e.g. with subjects like law or psychology, you need multiple additional years of study and training before you can become a solicitor/barrister or a certified psychologist)


I hope this helps, and good luck! If you'd like any more advice or are interested in checking out the courses at LJMU, feel free to contact me or another ambassador here: https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/chat-to-a-student
Jorja (LJMU Student Rep)

Thank you so much for your reply! Yes, it does make a lot of sense to look at the modules and later on, career pathways for both subjects so I will be sure to do so. I will also make sure to chat to current students who are studying the course for their opinions, since it will greatly help me to make a better informed decision about which one to choose.

Reply 8

Original post
by Kingston Grace
Hi @krazykarol123
What subjects are you choosing between/looking at?
I have a whole post here that I made with tips on making a university decision which also has lots of advice on choosing a course.
One of my biggest tips would be going to open days and course talks as it really gives you an idea of what it might be like to study that course and whether it will be interesting to you.
I hope this helps and good luck :smile:
-Grace (Kingston Rep)

Thank you for your response! The two subjects that I am interested in are business management and marketing. Ooh, that post will be rather helpful, I will be sure to check it out! Yes, I think that open days will help me a lot to make a final decision so I'll need to do some research over the next few weeks to see which ones I can book to attend in the spring/summer :smile:

Reply 9

Original post
by StaffsRep Aura
Hey!
Tricky choices can be rough but here's some things that can help you decide between them.
-Module descriptors: see which ones sound more fun including the type of assessments you'll do. You want a course you will enjoy.
-Career prospects: which can open you up to more career options and opportunities? Check out career websites to see aligning roles.
-Fun: which do you find more fun, engaging, want to do and see yourself happily taking on?
You can usually find mock lectures, extra online courses and prep material for those options online so do search them up as they can be brilliant in helping you decide. I remember doing a Harvard CS Online course which helped me decide on my degree! Open days are also a great idea to talk to lecturers about which suits you more and check out labs/equipment e.g. if software has more funding and is accredited for that top choice than AI... it may be the better option!
Hope that helps,
Aura (Uni of Staffs)

Thank you for your response! Yes, I think I will start off by doing some research to see what open days I can book to attend in the spring/summer.

Reply 10

Original post
by McGinger
Assuming that you are currently Year 12 and thinking about your UCAS application for next year, Uni Open Days (coming up April/May/June) are a good way to hear more detail about each subject and work out if that is what you want to do. Its usually possibly to book up for multiple subject presentations, and I always advise students to do this even if they are already set on a subject - you might miss out of another course/subject that is actually more appealing but you are not sure what it involves.
You can also do some extra reading, watch some relevant Moocs (look on Future Learn and Coursera) to see what is involved 'beyond A level'.
Which two subjects are you thinking about?

Thank you for your reply. Yes, doing some online courses sounds like a great idea! The two subjects I am thinking about are business management and marketing.

Reply 11

Original post
by krazykarol123
Thank you for your response! The two subjects that I am interested in are business management and marketing. Ooh, that post will be rather helpful, I will be sure to check it out! Yes, I think that open days will help me a lot to make a final decision so I'll need to do some research over the next few weeks to see which ones I can book to attend in the spring/summer :smile:

Hi @krazykarol123

Both of those courses are great here at Kingston I know people here who are studying them and really enjoy it!

The business school based at the Kingston Hill campus holds accreditation and the facilities are great.
Kingston Hill Campus Overview from a Current Student - The Student Room - This post may be useful to see what it is like to study on that campus 🙂

I also study somewhat of a similar course (fashion promotion and communication) and I have found the industry insight great from lectures and am currently on a placement year which has been a huge help in gaining experience.
Some more useful posts ...
How Kingston Prepares you for Industry - The Student Room
My Deciding Factors For Choosing Kingston University - The Student Room
My Placement Year Experience So Far - Ask Me Questions :smile:

Also fab to hear you are considering open days, our next one is 25th April.

Here if you have any questions :smile:
-Grace (Kingston Rep)

Reply 12

Original post
by krazykarol123
There are two different courses that I'm thinking about studying at university. I don't know how to choose between the two of them. How do I choose which course to study?

Hey there, that’s a very common situation, so you’re not alone. A good starting point is to look closely at what each course actually involves. Compare the modules, the balance between theory and practical learning, and the types of assessments. Think about which subjects genuinely interest you more and which you can see yourself enjoying over several years of study.

It’s also helpful to consider your future career goals. Ask yourself which course better aligns with the kind of job or industry you might want to work in after graduation. At London South Bank University, our courses are designed to be career focused, so looking at employability outcomes, placement opportunities, and links to industry can really help guide your decision.

Finally, think about how you like to learn and what support you might need. Some courses are more mathematical, some more analytical, and others more applied. Talking to lecturers, current students, or attending an open day can make a big difference in helping you picture yourself on the course and feel confident in your choice.

LSBU Admissions Ambassador

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