How to Choose the Right UK University and Degree

Deciding what to study in the UK and where is of huge importance. With the enormous range of courses and study options available, it is crucial for international students to carefully evaluate different aspects of university life such as location, accommodation, rankings and facilities before making a final choice.

Learn more about each of these elements below and if you have any questions or are ready to begin your application, arrange a free consultation with SI-UK in Nairobi or Mombasa today.

What to consider when choosing a UK university

- Location

Location is one of the most important factors that affect your choice of university. Before selecting a university and calling it home for the next few years, a student must take into consideration location based factors such as:

• The local town/city in which the university is located
• Facilities and infrastructure of the surrounding areas 
• Connectivity with airport and other major cities
• Distance of the university campus from the city centre
• Places of social interest in the surrounding areas
• Availability of student accommodation

All these factors can have a direct or indirect impact on your overall quality of life and the study abroad experience as an international student.

- University Rankings

Consulting UK university rankings is a great way to find out about the teaching and research quality of universities. University league tables provide yearly rankings for overall university performance based on several parameters such as:

• Teaching Quality 
• Research Output
• Student Staff Ratio 
• Graduate Employability 
• Student Satisfaction

Universities are also ranked for specific subjects which means students can shortlist the best university options for their subject of interest.

- Graduate Employability

Enhanced employability and industry readiness are major learning outcomes sought by international students. UK universities with strong industry affiliations can provide better opportunities for internships, work placements and prepare students for future job markets and a university's reputation with employers helps to add value to their CV, improving their graduate recruitment opportunities. Students can choose universities which offer industry relevant courses with:

• Curriculum developed in consultation with industry leaders
• Internship opportunities on industry projects 
• Access to corporate and technology parks for research   

- Course Content

Learning more about how the course is delivered, taught and assessed will help students decide on the best degree to choose, as there can be great variation on how universities decide what modules are covered within a single subject.

- Campus Facilities 

A student’s life is more than just essays and lectures. What are the facilities offered on campus? Are there student societies, social clubs and sports of interest to keep you occupied away from your studies? What kind of accommodation and residence halls are available for international students? Are there well placed student support systems? The extracurricular activities offered by the university are very important to consider as university life is just about studying. 

Study in the UK

If you wish to study abroad in the UK, arrange a free consultation with SI-UK in Nairobi or Mombasa today. We can help you decide on what to study and where in the UK with expert advice from our international team of consultants.