Which Uni? Find the best university for you [Paperback]

The strength of this book lies in comparing student life, from many different angles. --Newscheck

Which Uni? an independent guide to choosing the right university

This guide explains exactly how the different university ranking tables work. It has detailed information on just what criteria are used when ranking universities allowing you to really weigh up what is important to you when choosing where to go to continue your studies. You may want somewhere that is highly ranked for your subject or maybe good overall degree results are what you look for in a university. Whatever your requirements, this book brings all of the ranking information together so that you can narrow down your choice and make the right decision to ensure you apply to a university you really want to study at.

Introduction

Studying for a degree at university can be one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences of your life, as long as you choose the right course and the right surroundings. Get this decision correct and you'll soon be exploring the academic subjects that capture your interest and imagination, considerably enhancing your career prospects, and enjoying a full and varied social life crammed with new opportunities.

For many new students it's also the first time they move away from the parental home and gain more personal independence. Ideally you'll want to be as happy as possible in your new surroundings, comfortable with the people and places, and taking a course that you like and can complete successfully.

So many choices, where do you begin?

It's a big decision and at times the sheer range of choice can seem overwhelming, but this book is a useful place to start. There's so much differing information and opinion out there that it's easy to become confused, but this guide can help you navigate through it all and pick the best university specifically for you. It will help you to decide what you want most out of your experience of student life, and show you how to compare degrees, departments, and different locations so that you can narrow down your options to get the best `fit'.

Going to university is a major investment in your future, both in terms of time and effort and, increasingly, in terms of finance. As the cost of studying continues to rise, undergraduates are under more pressure to get the best value from their courses and leisure time, and they also need to avoid making expensive mistakes. For example, one of the commonest reasons for dropping out of degree courses is students disliking the course or subject that they've chosen - something that can often be avoided by careful comparison of the various options available before making your application.

But enough about that, let's talk about you...

There's a lot at stake, and it's crucial to take the time to research a range of courses and institutions in detail so that you can make your own well-informed decision. To begin this process you need to discover and explore your own personal priorities for higher education, something that's as individual as your fingerprints. One person's preferences are completely different from the next person's, and this book aims to cover them all - the ultimate guide!

There's no single set of figures that you should base your final decision upon, so this guide provides you with a wider range of information to give you a proper overview. It contains summaries of many of the biggest league tables and other ranking and classifications systems, with mentions of their pros and cons, and how they might relate to you specifically. There are also many other official sources of information that relate to academic excellence, ranging from entry standards to levels of student satisfaction with the quality of teaching, and some of them will hold more weight for you than others.

Which uni is right for you? We're all different - one person's perfect uni might be hell for the next. Picking the right one means future happiness, academic success and brighter job prospects. Which Uni? is packed full of tables that rate universities on everything from the quality of their teaching to the make-up of their student population. We've done all the hard work so you don't have to, divulging the best (and worst) about UK universities, so you can find your perfect uni. Find the uni's: - Cheapest to attend - Most targeted by top employers - Best for local night life - Highest rated for sports - No. 1 for student: staff ratios - First for quality courses - Leading the way in research - Known for great societies and clubs And much more...

Karla Fitzhugh is an author and journalist who has written extensively on higher education choice. Karla is the author of The Virgin University Survival Guide and has written for a number of education publications for young people, including UCAS's YouCan magazine, as well as a wide variety of newspapers, including the Guardian and Independent.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Chapter 1: How to find YOUR perfect university Studying for a degree gives you the chance to explore an interesting subject in greater depth, to try new ways of thinking and to challenge yourself intellectually. At the same time it can also prove to be an excellent opportunity for improving your future employment prospects. Academia and work aside, it's an ideal environment for making all kinds of new friends and trying a wide range of new activities and hobbies. Everyone has their own unique reasons for deciding what they want to get out of their university experience. Your personal priorities may be: -Academic excellence at all costs -Employment prospects at all costs -Taking a good course in a place where you feel comfortable -Finding yourself in the centre of a social whirl and somehow managing to get a qualification at the same time -Finding somewhere that will take you even though you have fairly low predicted grades -Taking a degree close to home so you don't have to move out/away -Getting value for money on a course you can afford Or something else entirely that only you can think of! Deciding what to study, and where, is a big decision with potentially life-altering consequences, and it can be very difficult deciding where to start with this process. This guide breaks it down into smaller, more manageable sections so you don't feel overwhelmed, and can take it one bit at a time. Tip: Getting the most out of this book It's a good idea to make notes as you go along, either in a file or in the extra pages at the back of this book, so you know where you are and can quickly refer back to them for reminders if you have moments where you get a bit lost or stuck. When looking for a course and a university you need get a thorough overview in order to make an informed decision. Don't look at one single list or ranking table and base your entire opinion on that set of data alone, and avoid making any rushed decisions or big guesses if you can help it. What do you hope to gain from your university experience? Your choices of higher education institution and course really are important, so take enough time to consider what your priorities are. There's no right or wrong answer here - it's all about you, and what suits your personal talents, situation and tastes the best. The time and money you spend gaining a degree are a major investment in your future, so it's worth asking some searching questions. One useful thing to ask yourself is this: `what do I most want to achieve from going to university?' The list below gives some of the commonest responses to this question. The main reasons for going to university 1. To gain qualifications 2. To improve my chances of getting a job 3. To improve my earning potential 4. For the experience 5. To learn more about interesting subjects 6. I have always wanted to go 7. It's a natural progression 8. To stretch me intellectually 9. To mix with different people [Source: UNITE Student Experience Report 2007] So, we can see the top three reasons students currently give for going to university (i.e. to gain qualifications, to improve chances of getting a job, and to improve earning potential) are all to do with looking ahead and investing in their futures. It isn't all work, work, work though - plenty of students are interested in the other rich and varied experiences they can expect to have along the way. Even if you are highly career-orientated or academic, do remember that potential employers tend to prefer candidates who have social skills, well-rounded personalities and at least a few outside interests. These can all successfully be built upon while you're studying.

Introduction Studying for a degree at university can be one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences of your life, as long as you choose the right course and the right surroundings. Get this decision correct and you'll soon be exploring the academic subjects that capture your interest and imagination, considerably enhancing your career prospects, and enjoying a full and varied social life crammed with new opportunities. For many new students it's also the first time they move away from the parental home and gain more personal independence. Ideally you'll want to be as happy as possible in your new surroundings, comfortable with the people and places, and taking a course that you like and can complete successfully. So many choices, where do you begin? It's a big decision and at times the sheer range of choice can seem overwhelming, but this book is a useful place to start. There's so much differing information and opinion out there that it's easy to become confused, but this guide can help you navigate through it all and pick the best university specifically for you. It will help you to decide what you want most out of your experience of student life, and show you how to compare degrees, departments, and different locations so that you can narrow down your options to get the best `fit'. Going to university is a major investment in your future, both in terms of time and effort and, increasingly, in terms of finance. As the cost of studying continues to rise, undergraduates are under more pressure to get the best value from their courses and leisure time, and they also need to avoid making expensive mistakes. For example, one of the commonest reasons for dropping out of degree courses is students disliking the course or subject that they've chosen - something that can often be avoided by careful comparison of the various options available before making your application. But enough about that, let's talk about you... There's a lot at stake, and it's crucial to take the time to research a range of courses and institutions in detail so that you can make your own well-informed decision. To begin this process you need to discover and explore your own personal priorities for higher education, something that's as individual as your fingerprints. One person's preferences are completely different from the next person's, and this book aims to cover them all - the ultimate guide! There's no single set of figures that you should base your final decision upon, so this guide provides you with a wider range of information to give you a proper overview. It contains summaries of many of the biggest league tables and other ranking and classifications systems, with mentions of their pros and cons, and how they might relate to you specifically. There are also many other official sources of information that relate to academic excellence, ranging from entry standards to levels of student satisfaction with the quality of teaching, and some of them will hold more weight for you than others.