How to Choose the Right University and Degree – A Simple Student Guideline:
The United Kingdom Is one of the most intriguing option for students who intend to pursue higher degree, considering its student facilities, living cost and cultural variation. It is very difficult decision as a student to choose the right University and Degree. In this article ACADEMIC EDUCATION is going to give you guidelines How to Choose the Right University and Degree for Students.

Higher education institutions, especially in England are some of the most popular around the globe. More than 200,000 international students choose to study in England each year. This country boasts a fascinating history that deserves to be explored. Along with the lively capital of London (home to 8.9 million people), there is a multitude of major cities including Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Bristol, Liverpool, Newcastle and Leeds – all of which are easily accessible for students.
British Scientists and Institutions(University and Colleges) have won more than 100 Nobel prizes; an achievement few other countries can match. Many scholarships, grants and exhibitions are available for international students at English institutions, and the cost of living is good – including healthcare, which is provided free of charge by an institutionalised national system.
London is not exactly a cheap option for students. Rent and living costs are significantly higher in London compared to the rest of the UK. The average tuition fee for international students in London is around £15,000 per year which, whilst high, is significantly lower than many US institutions. Home/EU Students in London can expect to pay £9,250 a year on tuition.
Despite this high cost, London has claimed the title of the best student city in the world for the second year in a row, according to the most recent QS Best Student Cities ranking.
Student also love London’s diversity, with the city’s citizens and students coming from all over the world. This diversity sieves through to the city’s culture, as well as its food and drink.
Speaking of culture – there’s so much to do in London. Not only is it home to some of the world’s best museums, including the British Museum, the Victoria and Album Museum (V&A), the Natural History Museum – all of which are free – but London also has some of the best nightlife in Europe. Students come from all over the UK to experience nights out in Shoreditch, Brixton and Mayfair. London is always bustling with life and that energy really feeds into the student community. It’s really energizing.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT UNIVERSITY AND DEGREE WITH ACADEMIC EDUCATION
London is an academic hotspot, with the most universities of any UK city. It is home to 18 universities in total, according to the QS World University Rankings 2021.
Here’s a look at the 10 highest-ranked universities in London, based on the QS World University Rankings® 2021:
Top 10 Universities in LondonAccording to the QS World University Rankings 2022 | ||
London Ranking | World Ranking | Institution |
1 | 7 | Imperial College London |
2 | 8 | University College London (UCL) |
3 | 35 | King’s College London |
4 | 49 | The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) |
5 | 117 | Queen Mary University of London |
6 | 330 | City, University of London |
7 | 332 | Birkbeck, University of London |
8 | 334 | Royal Holloway University of London |
9 | 351 | Brunel University London |
10 | 391 | SOAS University of London |
More than 30,000 undergraduate courses are offered in the UK, so you need to be sure that what you pick will suit you.
How to Choose the Right University and Degree
Opportunities
Think about the extras a course may offer. Does it include work experience placements? Guest lectures from industry professionals? What about a sandwich year or studying abroad? All this can add to your university experience and potentially better prepare you for life after studies.
What you’ll be studying for
Do you want a BA or BSc qualification? Are you interested in joint honours? Do you need to study a foundation year or access course first? How about an integrated master’s, a placement year, or a year studying abroad? There’s a huge variety of courses available.
Undergraduate qualifications
After finishing your undergraduate studies you’ll graduate with one of these following degrees, often with ‘honours’ (Hons):
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Science (BSc)
- Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
Some subjects can be taught as either a BA or BSc, including archaeology and economics. There are differences in the teaching and assessment of BA and BSc degrees, even if the course name and subject areas are similar. The emphasis of the course will likely be reflected in the entry requirements.
Joint honours
Also known as combined or dual honours, joint honours degrees let you study two separate subjects instead of one. Courses are just as long as a single honours course but offer a wider variety of modules to choose from. This can mean an increased workload and you may have to learn different writing and teaching styles.
Joint honours aren’t as popular as single honours degrees, which makes them a good option if you use UCAS Clearing. You can choose to specialise in your preferred area of the course further into your studies.
Sandwich year/placement year
Some courses offer a sandwich year, which involves a year away from the classroom where you do a placement or internship in an industry relevant to your studies. It usually takes place between your second and final years of study.
Many graduate employers look for students with work experience, so a sandwich year can strengthen your job application as well as help you to decide what career to go into. If you’re an international student, you’ll have to check the eligibility and visa requirements for working in the UK beforehand.
Year abroad
Studying abroad involves spending a semester/term or year at an overseas university, usually in or between your second and third years of study. This is designed to show you new ways of teaching and studying as well as provide a new perspective on your course. It’s a great opportunity to enhance your university experience and can boost your employability.
Integrated master’s
An integrated master’s combines a master’s course with another qualification, such as a bachelor’s.
Instead of studying two separate degree courses, you’ll study a single, longer programme, usually of four or sometimes five years (like in Scotland). You can get both a bachelor’s and a master’s qualification, or just a master’s. These are common for engineering and science courses, and are usually categorised with an M – e.g. MEng, MSci, MBiol.
Foundation year
A foundation year, sometimes referred to as ‘year zero’, is an additional preliminary year at the beginning of a degree course. They can be studied at university or college as either a single course or part of a degree.
There are several types of foundation years that target different groups:
- Students without the right subject – the foundation year acts as a conversion course, giving you a grounding in a subject before you start your degree properly
- Students who didn’t meet entry requirements – this type of foundation year is to make sure you’re ready to make the step up from A Level to degree study
- Mature students – if you took a break from education and are looking to start university, a foundation year is an excellent way of getting used to studying again
- International students – some university courses will need you to take a foundation year combining academic study with English language classes to prepare you for studying in the UK
Foundation years vary in content. Some cover a broad range of subjects and others are specific to the course you want to eventually study. Look at the details such as modules, assessment and teaching methods before choosing a foundation year course.
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