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Find further study: how do I choose a course?
UK course directories are available in the Information Room or you can search by course, region or university online. Whilst looking at courses, be sure to look out for funding information.
For help tracking down courses and institutions try some of the items listed in our information resources for further study & funding.
Think about what's important to you, for example:
- How long has the course been running?
- How well known/respected is that course in its field?
- How good are the University/course links with employers?
- What has happened to graduates from the course?
- Who are the lecturers for that course and in that department?
- How useful is the course content - consider topics, skills, placements?
- How much will it cost?
- Are there significant pros and cons of the institution's location?
Here are some other suggestions for assessing which course is right for you:
- Research Excellence Framework (REF)
The REF assesses the quality of research in UK higher education institutions (HEIs). - The Library Reference Collection on Level 2 includes league tables and university guides.
Some newspapers maintain online league table information e.g.- Times Online: Good University Guide (website now by subscription only. You can use the book version in the Information Room)
- Education Guardian: University Guide
- Times Higher Education Supplement World University Rankings
- Sunday Times University Guide (website now by subscription only)
- The Complete University Guide.
- Quality Assurance Agency for Higher
Education
Subject and institutional review reports for undergraduate programmes. - Destination statistics
All universities survey their graduates to compile statistics on what their undergraduates and postgraduates do after graduation. When you have a shortlist of courses, ask either the careers service or the academic department at the institutions concerned about getting access to this data. - Prospects.ac.uk has a Postgraduate fairs page - these events could be useful in allowing you to meet representatives from many institutions in one day. For individual university open days, see their websites or ask the relevant academic departments about visiting.