Knowing how to choose a university that best suits your needs - that is, is the best one for your subject choice AND an environment where you feel most comfortable can be really overwhelming. 

People say that your years at university are the best of your life, and that can be true; you’ll make friends that last a lifetime, get a new sense of independence and get to know your subject in an in depth way you haven’t before. But where to start? 

The early stages of researching where to go to university can be daunting as there’s so much to consider for the more than 150 universities in the UK.

To make this process as painless as possible, we have come up with 8 fool-proof steps to help you work out how to choose a university that’s best for you. These steps are designed to be blended and thought of together as they are all of equal importance, so when you’re thinking about your university choices, consider all 8 as necessary in your process.

The decisions you make for your further study will be completely unique to you - everyone’s journey is different. So, use this guide as a helpful map to prompt and inspire some thoughts during your pre-university decision making.

How to choose a university: 8 steps

Step 1: Decide on your subject

Our first step for helping you in choosing a university is to work out what subject you want to study. This is something that can be worked out through trial and error - try experiencing some university-style subjects so you know what you enjoy. 

At Melio we offer a range of online courses to help you get a taste of elective  subjects before you apply. These short, 2-week intensive programmes are the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in something new, embark on a more independent, university-style of teaching, and find that one subject that really inspires you.

Your college or sixth form options will also help you decide on what you want to pursue at university, however many university courses are not limited to your A-Level or B-TEC options, so have a look around - what qualifications do different universities require? 

Many universities in the UK have specialist courses, for example, Loughborough has a renowned sports programme, and King's College, London is rated by many to be the best Law school. So we would recommend that you think of what subject you want to study, and then find a university that is well known for this course! This way, you know you’ll be getting the best experience.

Even though most universities offer similar courses, the modules and specifics of the subject that they teach you can vary drastically. For example, when I was looking for a university to study English Literature and Language, the York course was very Viking poetry heavy, thanks to the geographical location of the university. I ended up going to Aston in Birmingham to do the same course - and yet, there was not a Viking in sight. 

Thinking about what subject you actually want to study is really important, and you should spend some time delving into what makes you so passionate about it - what elements of the subject excites you? This will be helpful when looking at the different modules that universities offer on the course, so you can choose the course that aligns with your interests.

For an  easy way to figure out what specific course will work for you, have a look at the different university prospectuses. They’re accessible on the university website and will show you a complete breakdown of each module you can and will study.. 

Need some help on getting started? Take a look at our blog post on how to choose the right university course for you. .

Step 2: Consider the university’s location

The next important element to consider when looking at universities, but is perhaps a less crucial one: where is the university located? Going to a university a million miles away from your home is totally fine and doable, with the help of transport and FaceTime, but make sure this is something you have considered. 

If you aren’t great at spending time away from home, maybe look for one closer (also you get the perks of taking your washing home for family to help with). Alternatively, if you love going to Scotland and spend all possible time there, applying for St. Andrews would be a great opportunity for you! 

Just as importantly, you also need to think: do you prefer spending time in a bustling city or a quieter area? Are you interested in a really modern place to live or something with a bit more history? Remember, this will be the place you spend the next few years of your life, so it’s important to make sure you feel comfortable there.

If it is a university far away from your home, make sure you consider the transport links and how convenient it would be for you to travel back and forth when you need to. If you want to go to a brand new place you aren’t familiar with, we would recommend spending some time in the area to get a feel for it and see if you like it (but more on that point later).

Step 3: Check out the rankings

UK universities are always rated yearly, so our next top tip is to look at the rankings. 

The rankings are based on a number of elements, including paper citations and research, teaching and industry income. They do change year on year, and while some of them keep to the same spots (Oxford and Cambridge are still battling it out for first place) others can jump or drop in rankings quite dramatically.

UK university rankings can be a really helpful guide as to how well a particular university is doing, or has scored in previous years. This aspect of choosing a UK university obviously shouldn’t be the deciding factor; you could go to the highest rated university and have a worse experience than if you went to a “mediocre” uni, but it’s definitely worth looking at how each university scores in terms of the points listed above.

As mentioned previously, universities tend to have specialist subjects, so if you’re looking to pursue a course in Engineering, then the university rankings can be particularly helpful in showing you which universities ranked highest for Engineering.

It is also a good idea to have a look at universities' employment rate, as that’s where you’ll be heading in a few years (a scary thought now, I know). Having an idea of an institution's employment rate gives you a clearer picture of the support they give to undergraduates in finding a job after university, the experience they offer (perhaps a placement year) and the quality of the students who come out of the uni. 

Step 4: Read student reviews 

This next step is probably one of the most important elements to consider when choosing a UK university - read student reviews! There will never be a review as authentic as a teenage student, (for better or worse) so take advantage of this and look into what previous students have said about their experience. 

It’s not uncommon to find student reviews on the university’s various social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, or there is the National Student Survey (NSS) which is a more formal student review platform and is definitely worth a look. 

The reviews will not only give you an insight into the individuals experience, but may even prompt something you hadn’t considered before. For example; how great it is there’s a small shop right on campus (how convenient), or how annoying it is to have to get a bus into university because the accommodation is off campus. The day-to-day aspects of student life that you might not even think about will be brought to your attention by all the students who have gone before you. 

While it’s really helpful to read reviews, they are all individual opinions, so don’t get too worn down by reading negative experiences. Stephanie from 2006 may have a negative opinion of the Leicester campus, but chances are things have changed since then. Student reviews and the NSS are meant to act as just another helpful step in your decision making, created to make your life easier not make it more stressful.  

Step 5: Attend open days

Something that should definitely be considered as part of your university decision making is to visit different universities and attend the open days.

In the UK, all universities have at least one open day a year for potential students, with most hosting 3-4 open days a year. This is an opportunity for you to go along, bring your parents or carers, and get a feel for the campus. 

At the open days, you can go along to example lectures for your chosen subject - these are great at giving  you a taste into the course and what modules they offer, as well as giving you a feel of being in a lecture room and even meeting some potential future classmates!

If you are still unsure between a couple of courses, go and try a few of the different lectures that are available to you to give you some clarity on what course might work best for you. 

As mentioned before, the modules on courses can vary depending on the university, even if it’s the same subject, so going and getting an idea of what is on the syllabus will give you a really clear idea of if this course is going to be right for you.

There is no better way to decide on a university than spending time on the university’s campus. You'll be able to imagine yourself as a student there, time how long it takes you to walk from the accommodation halls to the coffee shop, and really take time to see if this is the perfect one for you. 

Immerse yourself in the campus vibe for a while, sit and read a book under a tree because you are the main character and see if you feel inspired.  

Step 6: Consider accommodation options

While at the open day, a must-do before signing up to any university is look at the accommodation. Is it student halls? Is it housing? Is it independent living? Is it catered or self catered? How many people have to share one toilet? These are all possibilities that different universities offer and you should be aware of when choosing a UK university. 

Often, each university will have a range of accommodation at varying prices, and will have an online viewing option if you can’t visit in person. 

Deciding on what accommodation will suit you best for your first year at uni is a really important part of the decision making process.

 If you hate cooking and would happily live on rice and BBQ sauce all year, then perhaps a catered accommodation would work best for you where you can be fed proper meals every day and your Mum can sleep at night. 

Equally, if you are a solitary person and like your own space and peace, then look for a university that offers independent living and you’ll avoid the flat friction of “Who’s 8-day-old pasta dish is this and why haven’t you washed it up?” 

Your accommodation will be the place you spend the most time - you will eat, sleep and relax there, so make sure you find the best one to work for your needs. The accommodation options will be accessible on the university website and most are available to view virtually which makes it really easy to do. 

Step 7: Spend time in the city

Similarly to the previous tip, and, as touched upon earlier, it’s so important to spend time in the town or city where your university is based before you commit to it, especially if it’s a brand new place for you. 

Getting to know the feel of the place (as well as spying out where the best coffee houses are)will really help you to get a clearer picture of your future. Think to yourself: can I picture myself here? 

Why don’t you combine two of our top tips for choosing a university together - visit the open day at the university to see if you like the course and spend time in the area. You could have a weekend there and go exploring!

If you’re struggling with what to do in the city, or aren’t sure where to start, there are so many resources available for students in a new place, try this one for London, or something like this for a quieter place like Exeter. 

Going to visit the area where your prospective universities are will help you to get a sense of what to expect if you were to go there. Do you prefer a busy city or a quieter town? Also as a bonus, when you have decided on which university to go to, having spent time there already will help you feel more comfortable moving there. You’ll be able to picture yourself there in the build up to the move and then, when it does come to that all-important  move, you’ll already have a sense of where things are - especially where your favourite coffee spot already is! 

Finding a place where you can imagine yourself living for the next few years is really important. Research suggests that the transition to independent living can be a trigger for mental health problems in university students. 

While there are many offers of support in place (university counselling services), it’s really important that you’re going to be in an environment where you feel comfortable and safe. 

Step 8: Ask your school or college for help

All of these top tips are meant to be used together in a blend, one won't work as well without the other, and our final step to help you in choosing a UK university is no exception. 

Alongside visiting the campus and reading reviews, don’t forget to ask for help from your school or college. This is probably the most important thing to take away from these tips; you are not alone in this process and there are a lot of support systems available to you! 

In the lead up to university applications and UCAS stress, your sixth form or college will probably talk you through what you need to do and how to be best prepared for your application to university. 

This process can feel really overwhelming, especially as most of you won’t have experienced it before. It’s important to remember that everyone’s in the same boat, and it might help you to talk to your friends about how they’re coping, or speak to older siblings or cousins about how they managed it. It might seem like an unachievable feat at the beginning of the process, but everyone gets through it and you will too - and hopefully even have some fun along the way!

At Melio, we offer an 8-week University Guidance programme to students aged 16-17 who are preparing to go to university and need some support. A trained guidance counsellor will be chosen for you based on your needs and you will get 10 one-on-one sessions with them to help you discuss your options, work on your personal statement while learning skills such as confidence building and time management. 

At the end of the course, your counsellor will be connected with your parents/guardians to go through with them what you have discussed and learned during the course, which keeps them in the loop during these important weeks of your life. 

For more information on the courses we offer, university guidance and support you can receive, visit our website or book a call with our admissions team.