Choosing the Right Course

Find a course

View courses Browse subjects

What are you passionate about?

One of the first things you should consider when picking what degree to study is what interests you. Whether it’s the latest news and current affairs or learning about new life-saving technology, consider what you are passionate about and what excites you. You are far more likely to enjoy a degree if it’s around something you enjoy thinking about.

Find a course

What are your career goals?

Consider any dream jobs or career aspirations you have when you pick your degree. If you have a particular job in mind for after you’ve graduated, take some time to research what subjects and degree types are most likely to help you get there. Consider potential work placements, industry sandwich years, and possible networking opportunities that courses may offer, and how this could help you get a foot in the door in workplaces after you've graduated.

Employability and Careers

Be open-minded

Be open to different options that you may not have considered before. Don’t panic if you didn’t get a space on the degree you’d originally planned for, you may find another course that gets you to your dream job or find another career path that you prefer. Consider all your interests, strengths, and goals when you’re looking at the different courses available to you.

Alternative offers

What do you want from student life?

When you’re considering what university to attend and what to study, consider what your life will look like as a student. What you get out of student life, aside from your degree, can depend on where you study as well as what you’re interested in. Would you prefer a contained campus or a split campus? The buzz of the city or a slightly more peaceful time in a country town? If you enjoy any sports or hobbies, consider what facilities will be available to you on or near your campus.

View our Clearing accommodation

Cost of Living support

Consider the cost of living

Remember to factor in how much it will cost to live at your chosen university location. If you decide to move into halls or shared accommodation, you’ll have to budget for your living costs such as rent, bills, food, everyday essentials, transport, and potential socialising costs.

A lot of students choose to get part-time work alongside their studies for some extra money on top of student loans. If you live near campus, you may decide to live at home throughout your studies to save money on rent and bills. Whatever you decide, make sure to consider how you will live and how it will impact your time at university.

Study Options

A fashion student wearing a pink dress and with black and blonde did-dyed hair smiles at the camera from a fashion workshop at USW Cardiff

Honours Degree

A bachelor’s degree – also known as an Honours degree or a first degree – is the most common type of undergraduate qualification. Bachelor’s degrees usually last for three to four years, and they can include qualifications like a Bachelor of Arts (BA Hons), Bachelor of Science (BSc Hons), Bachelor of Engineering (BEng Hons), and Bachelor of Law (LLB Hons).

A student works with tools including different types of screwdrivers on the electronics of a laptop

Foundation Year

Degrees with a foundation year are ideal if you don’t quite meet the entry requirements for a particular course. They typically last four years full-time instead of three years, as the first year prepares you to start your course. The foundation year leads straight into degree study at the same university.

What is a foundation year?

A student sat at a table and smiling at the camera in the postgraduate centre.

Certificate of Higher Education

A Certificate of Higher Education is a stand-alone qualification worth 120 credits and awarded for one full-time year of study. The CertHE is designed to provide a foundational understanding of a particular subject or field without committing to a full degree. You can use it to get a job or as a stepping stone to a full degree.

A student teacher interacting with students in a colourful primary school classrom.

Top Up Degree

Top-up degrees allow you to build on existing level 5 qualifications, such as a Higher National Diploma (HND) or NVQ Level 5, to gain credits and graduate with a full bachelor’s degree. Equivalent to the final year of undergraduate study, they are designed so you won’t need to start over when returning to education.

Vocational Qualification

A vocation or work-related qualification allows you to learn on the job over one to two years. In this time, you’ll gain the required skills and knowledge for a particular career or profession while also achieving a qualification like a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or a Higher National Diploma (HND).

Degree Apprenticeships

Degree apprenticeships are a great way to gain industry experience while working towards a full undergraduate degree. Degree apprenticeships combine higher education learning with invaluable real-world work experience. It will also give you the opportunity to earn a small wage as you learn.

Degree Apprenticeships