What to study at uni and where to go?
The University and College Admissions Service (UCAS) ...
... has a course search with links to most institutions of higher education and applications to most are made online from the UCAS website, including music conservatoires. Look at course and university details carefully - courses with the same title can be very different.
There is a range of advice and information online but you should also visit universities before applying.
NB Most universities also offer part-time courses or you can study with the Open University.
What about the quality of the course?
You are paying fees, so you need to check out the quality of the teaching and what students go on to do. These national surveys may help:
- The Guardian Higher Education Guide
- The Telegraph Higher Education Guide
- UniStats the National Student survey
- Which? University.
Universities have to provide information about each course in a standardised format on their websites. Or go to UniStats, the official site for comparing university course data to see:
- student satisfaction
- degree results
- how it is taught
- course information
- employment and salary data
- accommodation costs
- financial information.
Entrance requirements and entrance tests
Universities set their own entry requirements. These are usually a mix of specific GCSE and advanced level qualifications. These are clearly set out in prospectuses and on university websites.
In addition, some universities require students to take entrance tests for courses including medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and law. University prospectuses will have details of any tests they require, including:
- National Admissions Test for Law
- UK Clinical Aptitude Test
- Biomedical Admissions Test
- Admissions Testing Service
Get more information through The Russell Group's guide to post-16 subject choices.