The Iglu Guide | Blog
Which uni course is right for me?
Thinking about heading to uni but not sure what course is right for you? It’s a common dilemma that affects many students, and now the time is drawing closer it’s perfectly normal for those decisions to fluctuate and change.
If you’re keen to get to uni – but unsure what you might do when you get there, this is for you.
Think about what job you might enjoy
This might feel like a tough ask at a young age, but it’s definitely worth considering before you launch into university with all the associated costs. Get some work experience or internships in your prospective fields to try and narrow the options – or even go for some lower level qualifications in advance to see if you enjoy the type of study required. This knowledge could be crucial in informing your course choice – and could potentially save you money in the long term as well as all the hassle of changing courses.
What are the different types of courses?
Essentially there are two types of university course: generalist and vocational. Vocational degrees are industry specific and will guide you along a particular pathway (such as medicine or law). Generalist degrees have a wider scope and can be arts or science based. Although they are not industry specific, they do contain many transferable skills that lend themselves to a wide range of industries such as mathematical reasoning, communication, and analytical skills. Many universities offer the opportunity to try lots of different subjects before then specialising. For example, the University of Melbourne has shifted to this type of system whereby all degrees are completed at a general level, and specialism only occurs subsequently through a Masters.
How to find the right course
When you have an idea of where your skills lie, what you really enjoy or what job you want to do, it’s time to do a deep dive into a handful of selected institutions. Rankings are a good indicator for choosing universities, but they don’t tell the whole story and may not perform particularly well against your chosen subject. Do plenty of research into your specific course offering as it can be vastly different depending on where you study.
What you will need to consider:
What you will be learning about
Different universities focus on different areas, some of which may suit you better than others. The course handbook will give you a good steer on exactly what lies ahead – and whether it is right for you. Don’t just glance at the headings, read what each unit actually involves. Some courses offer more flexibility than others , this usually depends on whether they are vocational (and have to deliver certain core subjects) or whether they are generalist degrees with greater scope for differentiation.
How the course is delivered
Now that online learning has very much become part of the natural order, many universities have embraced this change and will continue to do so. If you have a strong preference for how you learn – you may prefer to learn in situ with real life colleagues, or you may be happy to operate virtually form your room – this is your chance to choose. Find out if any overseas opportunities are offered as part of your course, or how large your cohort will be. These factors could well influence your university choice if you are unhappy about spending the next few years with the same group of people, or are keen to gain some overseas experience.
Whether the course offers opportunity beyond the university
Many universities are now offering vocational experience as part of the basic course offering with a strong focus on developing those all-important industry-based skills. This is more difficult to find in generalist degrees. If it is something you are keen to be exposed to and it is not currently offered, it is worth considering another course choice.
Where it will take you
Always check what accreditation you will get at the end of your studies, particularly if you have specific requirements for a certain industry. If you are considering a vocational degree, this will automatically set you on a pathway into a specific area (eg. nursing, medicine or law). This is great for students who are certain of their future career path. For those that are less so, a more generalist course will provide additional options and allow for greater flexibility and choice at a future stage.
Don’t forget to go to the open day!
This is truly the best way to get a feel for your course, the university, the tutors and the cohort. Being in amongst it all is so important as you will be spending considerable amounts of time immersed in this environment – and you will want to have plenty of fun along the way. Ultimately, if you plan to choose something you love, you will very likely love what you do.
Photo by You X Ventures on Unsplash
