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Choosing a University

There are over 130 universities in the UK offering undergraduate study.  Narrowing your search to the up to 5 universities to which you will apply is no easy task.  However, it can be an exciting and surprising process.  You may end up finding a great match at a university or town you'd not previously heard of!  Further, the number and diversity of UK undergraduate programs will allow you to find a degree that fits your unique interests and skills.

Factors to Consider

Before researching UK universities and degree programs, we suggest students do an honest assessment of their expectations for undergraduate study and priorities for selecting a university. There are a wide variety of factors to consider in choosing a university.  You will want to investigate the type of degrees available, suitability of the department (including faculty specialisations and academic programmes), competitiveness of admission, cost of attendance and funding, geographic location and campus life. You will also want to ensure the university is accredited by an accreditation body recognised by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

As you conduct your search, keep in mind that there are official ratings of research output at all UK universities and within each department based on a Quality Assessment Exercise conducted every few years.

Additionally, unofficial rankings (called league tables), such as those published in the Times and The Guardian, are available and can give you a good idea of the academic reputation and relative prestige of a university or course.

Additional Resources

To choose a university, you may wish to begin by referencing the information on the UCAS website.  You may take the diagnostic Stamford Test to determine which field of study might be best for you, and view entry profiles of universities and degree programs.  There is also a search feature that allows you to specify criteria for choosing a university such as field of study, type of degree and location. You may also wish to use the undergraduate degree program search engine that is available on the British Council website.