Choosing between different universities
Every so often I come across questions that challenge my assumptions about the university applications process.
Right now, loads of students are receiving offers and starting to make firm and insurance decisions. Meanwhile, loads of parents are online asking questions in order to help and support them.
One recent question on a parents facebook group that made me realise just how much I take for granted was a parent asking for thoughts on choosing between Loughborough and Nottingham Trent for sport.
Why is that a surprising thing to ask? Well, I kind of assume that people know the difference. Loughborough: Mid-size campus uni, strong academic reputation (fixture in top 10 in league tables), competitive entry, unrivalled reputation for sport. Nottingham Trent: Large city centre uni, former Polytechnic, professional and vocational focus, straightforward entry grades, mid-table in rankings.
But, it turns out, most parents don’t have an encyclopedic knowledge of universities built in, and nor do they have my 30 years of bias and prejudice to deal with.
They just want to find the place where their sons and daughters will thrive.
So, while you don’t need to be a higher education geek like me in order to make a great choice of university, there are a few questions I suggest you ask about potential universities in order to find the right fit (for you, or your sons and daughters!).
1. What is their history?
I’ve written about this in more detail in If you like… you might also like…, but essentially by understanding just a little about a university’s history you really can get insight into what their priorities will be. Those big civic universities (like Manchester) really are all about pushing forward the boundaries of knowledge through their research. Those former Polytechnics (like Nottingham Trent) really are about teaching applied, practical and professional courses. Those Cathedral Universities (like St Mary’s) really are about community and developing students holistically. Not all universities will fit easily into a single category, but do check them out on Wikipedia for some real insight into where they have come from.
2. Campus or city?
While the campus will make virtually no difference to how your subject is taught, it will make all the difference in the world to your life as a student.
I’ve worked a total of 12 years at two classic campus universities (Loughborough and Stirling). They offer a totally different experience to city-based universities. In your first year you’ll be able to roll out of bed and be in lectures in five minutes. You’ll have a ready-made social life built around the halls of residence, the students union, clubs and societies, and you’ll probably have sports facilities right there too. What you probably won’t have is a city on your doorstep.
Contrast this with the likes of Edinburgh, Leicester, De Montfort, or Imperial (where I also spent 12 years studying or working) where you’ll have everything that the city has to offer: far greater social options, but more effort required to access them.
Many students won’t know which is going to suit them better. Until they visit. Then they’ll know. And let’s be clear, neither is better than the other; they are just different, and this is a personal decision for each student.
3. Large or small?
So, why is size relevant? Well, the size of a university will give you a pretty big clue as to the level of facilities available. Head off to a big university, like Edinburgh or Manchester, and you’ll find a size and depth of facilities across libraries, IT, sports, the Students Union, the Careers service and more.
Meanwhile, at smaller universities, say St Mary’s or Winchester, you might well find the facilities a little more limited, but they will have something the larger universities don’t have: a real sense of community.
Check out the size of the department too: big departments will normally have far more options to choose from, while smaller departments will have a tighter, more personal feel.
You then need to work out which is best for you!
4. High or low cost of living?
Most students will have a fixed amount of money to spend, based on their student loan award, their parents’ contribution, and their access to other bursaries. And this will go further in some places than others. So, once you have worked out your likely funds, check out where your money might go furthest.
The best source I’ve found for this is: Save the Students: Student Living Costs 2024
Then check if the specific universities have any extra bursaries or scholarships you can apply for.
Work out an approximate budget so you can find a place that will work for your expectations and budget.
For those who want the bright lights of the big city, there will be compromises to make! Cities tend to be more expensive, but they generally offer more part-time work to balance things out. Are you prepared to work part-time to make the figures add up?
And what about league tables?
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: do not choose your university on the basis of what others think. And league tables are based largely on factors determined by what others think. I’d be naive if I were to think that you will make a decision without even a glance at the league tables. So by all means have a look. They might surprise you. But go into it once fully informed: have a look at my article: University rankings and league tables: just how useful are they?
Hopefully it will give you an insight into how and when you can use them usefully (and when to ignore them!)
So, that’s my quick guide to the key things to check when looking for the right fit university. But always remember, you’ll be spending most of your time doing the actual course. So however amazing the university and the city may be, your first priority should always be whether the course is right for you!
