How to choose a university in the UK

In the UK you apply to a specific course rather than to a university as a whole, and you specialise from day one. The choice therefore starts with the subject; the university's name comes second.

Tier 1 team · 8 min read

Course first, brand second

An undergraduate degree usually takes three years, or four in Scotland. The same university can be strong in economics and average in engineering. First decide what you want to study, then look at where it is taught best.

What to look for in a course description

• Modules: which are compulsory, which are optional, and how flexible the course is.
• Placement year: a year working in industry between years of study, and a significant career advantage.
• Study abroad: the chance to spend a semester or a year in another country.
• Assessment: the balance between exams and coursework, which matters if exams are not your strength.
• The balance of theory and practice.

How to use league tables

Compare several league tables and focus on subject tables rather than overall rankings.

• Complete University Guide and The Times / Sunday Times – the overall picture.
• The Guardian – greater emphasis on the student experience.
• QS / THE – international reputation, which matters if you plan to work outside the UK.
• Discover Uni – official data: student satisfaction (the NSS survey), employment and graduate salaries for a specific course.

The Russell Group is a well-known association of research-intensive universities, but membership is not the only measure of quality. Some universities outside it offer leading courses in particular subjects.

Location

London offers internship and networking opportunities but has the highest cost of living. University towns such as Durham, St Andrews and Bath offer a close-knit community and lower living costs. Consider where you would be happy to live and study for three or four years.

Costs: what international students need to know

• Fee status. International students usually pay international fees of roughly £20–40k a year, and considerably more for medicine.
• Fee assessment. Each university determines fee status individually, based on residence and immigration rules. These rules change, so check UKCISA and the university's website.
• Scholarships for international undergraduates do exist, but they are limited and usually partial.
• Living costs. Budget for living costs – the amount is noticeably higher in London.
• Work. During term time, students can work up to 20 hours a week.

Entry requirements: the key question for international applicants

At most UK universities, a national school certificate alone generally does not qualify you for direct entry. The usual routes are:

• Foundation year – a preparatory year that leads on to the undergraduate degree (how to write a foundation essay);
• A-levels or IB at an international school;
• at some universities, entry after completing the first year of a degree in your home country.

Every route requires an English language test, most commonly IELTS.

Careers after graduation

Look at graduate employment data for the course, the careers service, careers fairs and links with employers. After graduating, there is time to find a job in the UK; the rules change, so check the current position when you apply.

Building your shortlist of five

UCAS allows up to five choices. A sensible balance is one or two ambitious choices, two realistic ones and one safer option.

• You cannot apply to both Oxford and Cambridge in the same year.
• For medicine, you can use a maximum of four of your five choices.
• The deadline for Oxbridge, medicine and veterinary science is 15 October. For all other courses it is in January, but applying earlier is advisable.

Other sources of information

Open days (many are online), conversations with current students and graduates, and The Student Room forum. Individual experiences are not the whole picture, so verify facts on official websites.