How to choose a university course in 5 simple steps

Going to university is much more than preparing yourself for your future career. It's about having a rewarding experience that guides your professional and personal focus, passion and determination for years to come. An easy way to ensure your university experience is highly enriching is by choosing the right course for you based on your interests, skills and passions. In this article, we explain how to choose a university course in five simple steps and provide tips to help you select your ideal course.

What is a university course?

A university course is a syllabus item offered by a university that a student undertakes to complete their programme requirements. University courses are usually identified by a subject area and a catalogue number. 

Colleges and universities classify courses into core courses and electives. Core courses are mandatory courses that you study to meet the requirements of a programme, while elective courses allow you to learn topics that interest you. Both make up the number of units required to complete your degree.

How to choose a university course

Here are five steps for how to choose a university course that's right for you:

1. Analyse your options

The first step to choosing a university course is carefully analysing your options to determine crucial factors, such as your interests and the courses available to you. When researching courses, look at those courses offered by multiple universities. When conducting your analysis, consider:

Assess yourself and your interests

Think about what you enjoy and what you're passionate about. The more interest you have in a subject, the more likely you are to succeed in your studies. For example, if you love animals and like to spend your time at the zoo or dog shelter, you may want to consider a course in biology, ecology or veterinary science. There are plenty of online interest tests you can take to assess your interests and passions.

Investigate different universities

As part of your analysis, determine the types of courses colleges and universities provide. Look at the range of classes and programmes each university offers to identify what choices you have. Some colleges offer more course options than others, especially when it comes to unconventional careers. The content for courses with similar names may also vary between universities, making it crucial to read course brochures to find programmes that suit your requirements.

Think about what you want to do in the future

Figuring out the career path you wish to pursue in the future also helps you to choose your ideal university course. For instance, if you want to become an Doctor, select courses that are essential to Medicine. Do some research to identify the courses required to succeed in your dream career. While choosing a course purely based on career prospects isn't advisable, it may help you narrow down your choices. Here are some essential points to note:

• Most graduate jobs don't require a particular degree, meaning you can still explore a specific career path as long as you have an undergraduate or master's degree in any field.

• Some industries, such as accounting, prefer specific degrees, such as a finance or accounting degree.

• Other graduate jobs ask for specific degrees, like medicine and nursing.

2. Make a list

After conducting your analysis and research, create a bullet point list of the university courses you wish to pursue. Aim to restrict your list to five separate courses to make the selection easier. Ensure your list contains:

• courses that interest you and which you're passionate about

• courses that the university or college you wish to attend provides

• courses that allow you to pursue your dream career

3. Look at the courses

Once you have a shortlist of five courses, you may wish to research the courses in further detail and finalise your list even further. Identify what each course on your list involves and what entry requirements it may have. Things to note down include:

Entry grades and requirements

Entry grades and requirements vary between universities, making it crucial to assess the entry requirements for each course. You may find that some courses have higher entry requirements than your predicted grades, while others match your predicted grades or are lower than your predicted grades. You're more likely to gain admission for courses that match or are lower than your expected grades.

Course content

Look at the course content for each course on your list and determine whether the core modules provided are relevant to your interests. Make sure to carefully read course descriptions to be familiar with the teaching methods, number of contact hours and syllabus. Some courses are more specialised, while others focus on general knowledge and are highly flexible.

Opportunities offered

Analyse the extras each course offers, such as placements, industry links and opportunities to study abroad. If a course includes work experience, placements or guest lectures from industry professionals, it's more likely to better prepare you for your professional career after your studies. If it doesn't, it may still allow you to gain knowledge in your field of interest and learn a new skill.

Qualification

Determine what qualification you want to study for. This may be a bachelor's degree, foundation degree, joint honours or diploma, to name a few. There are differences in the teaching assessments of each type of degree, even if the course name and subject areas are similar. The number of years you study also differs, with a bachelor's degree lasting three or four years when studied full time and a diploma or foundation degree lasting only two years.

What you choose varies depending on the qualification you want and how long you wish to study. Remember that some courses take up to eight years to complete, such as those in medicine.

4. Narrow down

After identifying what each course entails, narrow down your list to two or three courses whose entry grade requirements you meet and whose course content is in your area or field of interest. When narrowing down your list, think about how and where you want to study. Other considerations include whether the course is part-time, full time, accelerated learning, remote learning or on-campus learning.

5. Make a decision

Make your choice taking into account all the factors discussed. With the above information, making your final decision may be straightforward. Choose the course that ticks most of your requirements, interests and needs. Take your time to check and verify everything, from the course content and syllabus to the opportunities offered.

Useful tips when choosing a university course

Here are some useful tips to help you when choosing a university course:

Seek advice

Universities, schools and colleges employ career advisors to help you select the right university course. Seek help and advice from us, as we can give you more insight into certain courses and career paths and address your questions, concerns and worries. This helps you make a more informed decision. 

Be sure to speak with friends and family who have attended university before. Ask them how they decided on their career path and why they made that choice. This might give you an idea of the ideal route for you.

Use the Internet

There's a lot of resourceful information online regarding university courses and programmes. Most colleges also have websites and social media pages with course content information, entry requirements and career opportunities. Use the Internet when conducting your research to learn as much as you can about the different courses you wish to pursue.

Making a RIght choice can be Risky and difficult. we are part of the system and we actively communicate with both students and teaching staff aof various Universities and we can Provide you with Proper guidance.

NOTE: For Free Counselling about Universities and carrier Guidance you can book an online appointment.