Choosing the right degree
UPON completion of their A-Levels, many students decide to go to university to study a Bachelors degree — but with a range of options available, it’s important to choose the right qualification for your career aspirations.
For those who’ve already decided they want to pursue a Bachelors degree at university, it’s now time to decide on the subject(s) you wish to focus on.
If you have a particular career in mind, such as medicine, law or journalism, finding a suitable course for your chosen subject should be fairly straightforward.
However, if you’re not sure what degree you can do with your A-Levels, asking yourself the following questions might be a good starting point:
Which subjects do I enjoy studying? Are there any subjects I’m particularly good at?
What degree should I do?
Are the subjects I’m interested in the ones I’ve studied before?
What do I see myself doing after university? Would my choice in degree affect this?
What are the most employable degrees?
What grades do I need to get into university?
Before applying for university, you need to be aware that institutions will set their own entry requirements for their degree courses. These can vary according to the subject, the course and the university’s specifications.
It’s therefore advisable to look for courses that match with your predicted A-level results and always check these against the entry requirements for courses of interest.
How can I compare university courses?
No two universities will offer identical courses for the same degree. When comparing courses, it’s important to consider:
the reputation and ranking for the course
course structure and modules — assessing whether the course matches your study preferences.
any additional opportunities the course offers, such as studying abroad or a year in industry
your employability prospects and where this choice will take you once you’ve graduated.
What about online degrees?
For those with work or other commitments, online degrees provide a viable alternative to the traditional university route.
As with any distance learning course, you can usually choose to study from anywhere, with the added flexibility of being able to arrange your studies around the other things you have going on in your life.
Your study materials are typically accessed online and so all you need is a computer or laptop and a decent internet connection.
A growing number of universities now offer a range of Bachelors programmes via distance learning.
What’s the difference between undergraduate and postgraduate
study?
They both fall under the umbrella term of ‘higher education’, but they relate to different levels of qualification.
An undergraduate is someone enrolled in higher education who hasn’t yet received their first degree.
A postgraduate is any student engaged in higher education beyond their first degree.
While the majority of undergraduate degrees include lectures and group projects, postgraduate courses tend to involve more research-based, independent study, culminating in a final dissertation.
This self-dictated learning may initially
Where can I get more advice? Physical
visits
− find out more about undergraduate courses while getting a feel for the university. It’s an opportunity to have your questions answered by lecturers and students.
Students − utilise online chat rooms and connections through family and friends to gain an insight into the student experience. Ask current and former students about the things they’d do differently, the quality of their course, and what life is like as a student.
Tutors − your current tutors can offer advice, put you in touch with career advisers and help you with your higher education application.
Job profiles − search job profiles to see what qualifications you’ll need for your chosen career.