Helping your child choose the right university

Decision-making

Choosing a university and course is a big commitment, and we know you'll want to be sure your child makes the decision that's right for them. They may already have a clear idea of what they want to study and why, or they may be uncertain about their plans.

Here are some things you may want to discuss to help with the decision-making journey.

Career plans

• Do they have a career in mind? Will this require a specific qualification - such as a law degree or an engineering specialism - and does it need to be accredited by an organisation in that job sector? Or is it a career open to people from a variety of academic backgrounds?
• Is university the right path for them? A degree can unlock a huge variety of career paths, but it isn't right for everybody and there are many jobs where a vocational qualification or training would be more appropriate.

Strengths and interests

• What subjects are they studying now? What are their strengths and interests within them? They may want to continue one of these subjects, take a joint degree in two subjects, or study something more specialised.
• What kind of study pattern will they work best with? Some university courses include a high proportion of teaching time, or practical study such as labwork, while others have a lighter schedule of lectures and seminars with more time spent on self-managed reading and research.

Entry requirements

• What are their predicted grades? University entry requirements vary, and it's a good idea to choose a back-up option with lower entry requirements as their UCAS insurance choice as well as their preferred university as firm choice.
• If you live in an area where people rarely go to university or your child meets certain other criteria, they may be eligible for a contextual offer with a slightly lower grade requirement than other students. 
• For international students, find out what qualifications and grades are accepted by the universities you look at. 

Location

• Is the location important? Do they want to study close to home so they can visit often - or even carry on living in their family home - or would they rather live further away?
• Do they want to study in a big city or a smaller town? In an urban environment or on a self-contained campus? Are there any specific facilities or communities they want to be close to?

Researching the options

• What are the reputations of the universities and courses they're looking at? Check league tables and rankings, any awards and accolades, but also look at student reviews and forum discussions (such as The Student Room).
• Come to open days for the chance to look around universities in person, learn about their courses and meet staff and students.
• When your child narrows it down to a few universities, you should both try to find out as much as you can - about the universities, the courses, the towns or cities, the student experience and other advantages or disadvantages - to get a feel for which universities have the most to offer them and where they will be most happy.

Useful links

Guidance from UCAS

• Advice for parents, guardians and carers
• What and where to study
• Applying to university
• Clearing and results day

University of Nottingham

• Our undergraduate courses
• Entry requirements

International students

• International student guidance
• Foundation courses
• English language requirements
• Visas for students