Russell Uni

It is without question that choosing which degree to undertake at a UK university is a huge decision and one which could have far reaching consequences for years to come – whether it be the skills you develop, future careers you pursue, or the friends you make (amongst many other categories!). Having supported a large number of university applicants over the last decade, I have witnessed lots of different factors that play into the decision process. Certainly, the ranking/perceived prestige of the university plays a role in this. For example, when applying to undergraduate universities in the UK you can choose up to five courses on UCAS and I have seen many students select the same university more than once in their list of five primarily because they are so drawn by the institution’s reputation. Only last week, in supporting a student make his “firm” and “insurance” choice (the process where you can only keep two university offers after you apply and hopefully receive multiple offers), he selected University College London (UCL) twice! Whilst UCL will absolutely be the best-fit university for many students, including the said applicant above, I draw upon the example just to highlight that applicants (and their families) can sometimes be attracted to the big names or London location without necessarily first going through a deeper dive. Once you’ve fully assessed which universities are available, which subjects most accurately align with your academic passion and possible future goals and ensure that you are eligible for the course, then you can move forward with far greater confidence. Step one – “what’s actually available?” The UK has around 150 universities, which actually is not that many to explore. As it is such a huge decision for the future, why not spend some time going through the majority of institutions to learn more about the ‘style’ and ‘feel’ of the place, as well as to see the subject areas they offer to help narrow down the list. University websites, YouTube channels and other social media contain a plethora of information. Attending webinars, or even physically visiting universities, such as during an ‘open day’, could also be possible. Some applicants and families may well already have specific criteria they’re primarily focused on (e.g. ranking, location, or the specific facilities offered) that may help narrow the list before the main research begins. Finding universities which are part of specific groups, such as the Russell Group (containing 24 universities), will also be a way of fine-tuning the larger list into something more manageable. Step two – “what’s my academic passion?” The majority of UK undergraduate degrees already require students to have established what they’re most interested in studying as they specialise in the subject area very early on. You apply specifically to the subject – such as a single honours course (e.g. Biochemistry), joint honours (Archaeology and Anthropology) or combined subjects (e.g. PPE, standing for Philosophy, Politics and Economics). Unlike some other destinations, such as the US, whereby you would undertake a broad range of subject areas in a liberal arts style before then specialising with majors and minors, in the UK you start specialised. Therefore, there is far greater emphasis to start early in selecting which subject areas most interest you. An applicant may have a specific career goal (e.g. becoming a medic) whereby the degree leads onto a career (known as a vocational route). On the other hand, an applicant may not have a specific career in mind but nonetheless chooses a subject because it’s simply really interesting (e.g. undertaking a degree in History, without planning to later become a historian). I call this the “subject passion” or “academic curiosity” route. Either option is fine and they are not mutually exclusive. Once you know the subject area you can then identify which universities of interest offer this and have the most suitable departments for you. On occasion, it can be a bit of a ‘chicken and egg’ situation of are you selecting a course because your preferred university happens to offer this or have you first found your preferred subject areas and then subsequently identified the most suitable universities based on which ones provide this. Naturally, step one and step two can influence one another and so could be thought of as interchangeable. Step three – “am I eligible for the course?” University courses come with several entry requirements – for example, which subjects you’ve previously studied; predicted grades for your upcoming exams; past academic results; demonstration of English ability (for international students). Not all, but some courses require an admissions test (e.g. LNAT for Law or UCAT for Medicine). The best place to learn about the entry requirements, whether undergraduate or postgraduate level, is to review the specific course page on the university website (usually under “entry requirements”). In addition to the entry requirements, you’ll also need a personal statement – a piece of writing to highlight your passion and suitability for your chosen course and university study. In my book, titled “ The essential guide to UCAS personal statements ”, I detail the intricacies of UK university applications including the various ways in which you can prepare for this part of the application process and ultimately stand out amongst other candidates. One way to show academic passion and to have a memorable personal statement is to engage in relevant super-curricular activities. The publisher of the book has created a downloadable tick-list of relevant activities that can be found by clicking here .

I’m no stranger to the UK Admissions process. Having completed an undergraduate at the University of Cambridge I subsequently completed a masters and my PhD at the University of Sheffield. One of the most important things at masters level is to make sure the course content matches your interests and what you hope to achieve; for some this may be a vocational goal or for others a personal endeavour. The great thing about masters is the diversity of people you meet – from all walks of life and parts of the world. I’ve had the joy to catch up with friends in Japan, through to Canada, all thanks to my masters degree. A masters degree has the chance to help you upskill and provide experiences you don’t traditionally find at undergraduate level, but there are a few things you need to be aware of to help your application stand out: 1. Ensure the course matches YOU One of the great things about masters is the diversity of courses on offer, often tied to the research specialisms of the staff who will be teaching you. This means that masters courses get updated regularly and you need to check if this matches YOUR interest as well. Courses aren’t often just based on a broad subject area and they can be much more niche than what you may expect. The thing that I loved about my masters was not only its theoretical content, but also the opportunity to have an international fieldclass in a developing country context as well as carry out a professional work placement. 2. Read admissions requirements carefully Often masters courses are not as straightforward as undergraduate applications. Usually you need to apply to each university separately. This carries with it its own set of challenges – some may require a short CV and personal statement. Others may require samples of work or even a research proposal, if the course being applied for is an MRes (a masters by research, often a stepping stone to a PhD, compared to a taught masters degree). Do not leave it to the last minute to check. Shortlist your option preferences using a course tracker document – check the free template below to assist you. If you are applying as an undergraduate for an integrated masters (4 or 5 years) though this usually follows the standard UCAS procedure – which will be explained in a further blog.