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Choosing a university or college

Step 1: Choosing courses

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There are lots of universities and colleges to choose from, so think about where you'll be happy.

  • Would you like to be close to home or live in a different part of the country? Think about what you want - each place will offer something different.
  • Before applying research the university and its location.
  • Speak to friends, family, advisers and the university itself for advice, but make sure the final decision is yours.

Which is the best university or college?

  • Different places suit different people, so it depends what you're looking for.
  • There is no national curriculum for higher education courses, but The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education carries out external reviews of standards and quality - you can read their official reports on universities and colleges to help make your choice.
  • The Unistats website contains statistics and reports about students' views on the quality of teaching.

Leafing through a book

League tables

  • There are different guides and league tables that can help you, but check the source as it may be biased: some universities post league tables on their websites which show their courses at number one.
  • For information and impartial advice check the Times Online (you'll need to subscribe to the site).
  • Or create a unique table based on your own requirements at The Complete University Guide.

University and college map
Search for universities and colleges and see where they are located on a map.

List of universities and colleges
A complete list of universities and colleges who use UCAS, their contact details and links to further information.

Open days
How to find out when university open days are being held.


Do you want to search for courses now?

Go to Course Search. You can search by subject, qualification, location, institution, course code and other options. You'll also find Entry Profiles for most courses, which include general information about the course (including grades and Tariff points required) and university, with links to the university's website.