Life would be a whole bunch easier if you knew in advance where you should go to university.

Unfortunately there's no magic formula or AI wizardry that can instantly pinpoint your ideal undergrad destination, saving you all that research and open day legwork.

Still...that's not to say we can't help. The Student Room's discussion pages are jam-packed with current uni students who have already been through the whole choosing-a-uni business.

We took a look to find out what things were most important in helping these people find their ideal university. Here's what they had to say.

If you want a more in-depth look at your shortlist, you could find out if your unis offer applicant days for a more focused visit. These are generally something you'll get invited to after you apply to help narrow down your five choices and make up your mind once and for all. 

Some people worry that a uni lower down the league tables won't have anything to offer them, but that’s not necessarily true.

Regardless of a uni's overall ranking, certain departments may be outstanding. You can check this out in subject-specific league tables, rather than the big overall ones.

Many members of The Student Room also research the student satisfaction rankings to see what real students think. We have this covered over on The Uni Guide and you may find it helpful to take a look.

Understanding the experience of other students can help you feel more confident that you’re going to be happy at the uni you choose.

Before you make your firm uni choice, you need to think about accommodation. Do you want to be in uni halls, private halls, student housing or private housing? Do you want catered or self-catered halls?

How about things like proximity to nightlife, lectures and transport links? Is an en-suite a necessity, or can you survive with a shared bathroom? 

You’ll be spending a fair bit of time in your accommodation, so choose a uni with accommodation that will best suit you, your budget and your lifestyle.

Many people struggle to choose between a campus and city uni, as both have their benefits and drawbacks.

You’ll also want to think about other things that will affect your day-to-day life. How far do you want to be from home? Do you want to be near the coast or inland? Will surrounding transport links allow you to easily visit friends and family?

Student unions aren’t just places you go for cheap drinks on a Monday night - they’re also the hub of a uni’s societies and student representative body.

Members of The Student Room find that societies are a great way to make friends, explore new interests and add skills to your CV. 

Remember that an active student union can have a huge impact on the day-to-day running of uni life, so find out more about your uni’s student union before you make your firm choice.

If there’s something that especially matters to you, like mental health services, sports facilities, LGBTQ+ support or creative studios, check if your uni provides them and if so, what they’re like.

Even if you’re not sure if uni is for you, having the right facilities in place can spell the difference between a happy relationship with your uni and struggling through your three years. 

So if you’re hoping to fall head over heels for your uni, make sure you do your research now. The more you know, the more likely you are to live happily ever after with your university.

Our partnership with the University of East Anglia

The Student Room is proud to work with UEA, a UK top-25 university (Complete University Guide 2024) and UK top-30 university (The Times/Sunday Times 2024), as the official partner of our student life section.

Located on the edge of Norwich, a lively city full of secret gems just waiting to be discovered.

Visit their profile page to learn more or join the conversation on The Student Room's UEA forum.

Read more from the student life section 
Find out more about UEA on The Student Room 
Ask a UEA student a question about university
Study with UEA