A5.1 Choosing a University and Course¶
How to Choose a UK University and Degree Programme?Rankings are arguably the most straightforward way for anyone, regardless of nationality, to assess universities and their programmes. These are divided into world rankings and national rankings. In the UK, key league tables include The Times/The Sunday Times Good University Guide and The Guardian University Guide. The most prestigious universities in the UK are the G5, comprising five institutions: the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, University College London (UCL), and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). These are also referred to as the UK's "Golden Brick" universities.
First, Look at the Rankings
Focus on two key types: overall university rankings and subject-specific rankings. Ten-Litre Cat advises that if you plan to return to your home country after your studies, you should prioritise choosing a university with the highest possible overall ranking. However, if you intend to develop your career in the UK, prioritise the university with the highest ranking for your specific subject. If you'd like to know why, you can send me a red packet, and I'll tell you.
Of course, the most important factor is choosing a university or degree programme that you are genuinely interested in or passionate about.
The main organisations publishing UK university rankings are currently:
The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide
Published by The Times and The Sunday Times, this is essentially the go-to ranking for UK universities and is one of the three major authoritative UK league tables. It primarily assesses universities based on academic excellence, research output, teaching quality, and more. It provides detailed reports for each university, including specific scores, and also features subject-level rankings. Ten-Litre Cat recommends consulting this ranking and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings mentioned below.
Website: www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk (Note: The text's provided link appears incorrect; this is the standard website for The Times/Sunday Times rankings).The Guardian University Guide
Published by The Guardian newspaper, this is another one of the three major authoritative UK rankings. It scores universities based on factors like graduation rates, graduate career prospects, student satisfaction, and teaching environment. It provides detailed information on each university's student gender ratio, age demographics, proportion of international students, tuition fees, and more. Furthermore, you can see subject-specific rankings for each institution.
Website: https://www.theguardian.com/education/universityguideThe Complete University Guide (CUG)
The third of the three major authoritative UK rankings, it was formerly associated with The Independent newspaper. It provides a detailed profile for each university, considering factors like student population statistics, gender balance, level of study, teaching intensity, and university facilities/services in its scoring. It also clearly lists the UCAS code for each university.
Website: https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.ukWorld University Rankings
To see how UK universities perform globally, the aforementioned The Times/The Sunday Times guide is generally sufficient. However, if you wish to delve deeper into their global standing, you can also consult the World University Rankings and corresponding UK tables published by Times Higher Education (THE).
Times Higher Education World Rankings website: https://www.timeshighereducation.com
University Location
Location by City Size: Choosing a UK university also involves considering its location. Some highly-ranked universities may not have campuses in major cities, or their satellite campuses might not have the same breadth of facilities or programme quality. Many UK universities are located in smaller towns. The larger cities include Birmingham and Manchester, but the only true global financial centre is London. Therefore, if you aim to develop your professional skills and seek more opportunities, you should target major cities – though the cost of living will be significantly higher.
If you prefer the tranquillity, comfort, scenic landscapes, and lower costs associated with smaller towns, then opt for those. Of course, if you prioritise top rankings from the earlier section, you'll likely go wherever that university is located – think Oxford or Cambridge.Location by Professional/Sector Links: Another way to view location is through the lens of your chosen subject. For instance, if you study Pharmacy, Nottingham is a key location as it is the birthplace of Boots the Chemist, which has direct research partnerships with the University of Nottingham. For automotive engineering or design, Coventry is ideal, known as Britain's 'Motor City' – the first British Daimler car was built there in 1896, and major car manufacturers have direct links with Coventry University. Similarly, for Electronic and Electrical Engineering (EEE) or Electronics, consider Reading, often called the 'UK's Silicon Valley'. Huawei's UK headquarters have been located in Reading since the company's establishment there in 2001.
Your Own Interests or Future Career Plans
Beyond rankings and location, your personal preferences matter. For example, if you love football, you might consider Manchester or Liverpool. If you seek a vibrant, multicultural experience, London is the place. To see men in kilts and experience a distinct ancient culture different from England, head to Edinburgh (the capital of Scotland). Alternatively, base your choice on your career aspirations: if you want to be in finance or entertainment, choose London; if you prefer a quieter life or wish to start a business, a smaller town might be better.
Choose Based on Your Personal Circumstances
Yes, even after all this analysis, it's useless if your own qualifications don't match the entry requirements. For example, when I was young, I often wondered: for university, should I go to Tsinghua or Harvard? In the end, I visited both – for a day trip. I managed to rub the shiny foot of the John Harvard statue and touch the gate of Tsinghua...
Personal circumstances include: your language proficiency scores, academic grades, independence, adaptability, financial situation, etc.
Summary
Ultimately, it comes down to what you truly want to learn. Is your priority an easy degree, good job prospects, personal passion, staying in the UK, or pursuing academic research? If you're still struggling, try making a pros and cons list. Or, you can send a red packet to the lovely Ten-Litre Cat, and I will help you.