How to choose your university (if you can’t visit beforehand!)
Going to university is an important milestone in many people’s lives. That’s why it’s important to think carefully about which university is right for you. For lots of people, this involves visiting the city and campus of the universities they’re considering.
But what if you are an international student moving to study abroad? How do you pick your university if you can’t visit beforehand?
If this sounds like your situation, then follow our top tips on how to choose a university that suits you, even if you can’t visit!
How to choose a university
1. Look at university rankings
University rankings can help you make your decision. Rankings cover lots of different categories, like student satisfaction and teaching effectiveness, so they can give you a great overview of what a university is like.
You can also use them to see how highly ranked a university is for specific subjects. So, if you’re interested in studying Business, then you can find out which universities are best for Marketing, for example.
2. Request prospectuses
Prospectuses are useful for helping future students choose their university, and will usually include information like student testimonials, course listings, and photos of the facilities and campus.
Why not make a list of the features that your ideal university would have before you browse prospectuses? You might want to go to a university that has excellent sports facilities, a particular subject offering, or is close to the city centre.
Think about what matters to you. Remember, you could be living and studying in this place for up to 4 years, or maybe more, so don’t rush your decision!
After comparing prospectuses, take a look at your notes and see how closely each university matches your requirements. If one university prospectus matches more requirements than another, then this might be the university that’s right for you!
3. Use Google Street View
You can also get a sense of what it would be like to live in the city you’re considering by using Google Street View. Simply find the address of the university and campus you’re interested in, and explore the area on Street View.
Have a look back at the list of important things you made, and think about what truly matters to you. For example, does the university campus have lots of green space, or is it based in the city centre? Are there bus stops and train stations nearby? You can do a lot of investigating with Google Maps, so start exploring!
4. Use social media
Most universities have social media channels where staff and students post pictures, videos and stories for you to view and share.
Browsing a university’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages is a great way to actually see what life is like there. You can also use these channels to post comments and ask questions, so you’ll get even more information.