Check out your institution

Have you got a list of places that offer the course you want to do?

Before you make a final choice on institution, it’s worth digging a bit deeper rather than just relying on information they've produced themselves in their prospectus.

Check out: quality & standards of institution
Find out about the quality and standards at the institution you’re considering by visiting www.qaa.ac.uk and looking through their review reports. Also, at www.tqi.ac.uk you can see a summary of an institutions teaching and learning strategy, and a broad description of how they take account of employer needs.

Check out: ‘feel’ of institution
Find out whether you’re suited to the institutions you like the sound of. Visit www.hefce.ac.uk/learning/perfind to see data tables that detail the social mix at different places. Or get in touch with the students’ union at a specific institution to hear what current students say about it. HEFCE’s Performance Indicators can also help you explore student retention rates and employment outcomes.

Check out: reputation of institution
Be warned: there are no official rankings of universities, although some national newspapers do compile their own league tables. Commercially published UK university guides may be of interest too, but don’t rely on them. Ask lots of questions and make up your own mind about a place.

Check out: the institution yourself

Think about whether it would be useful to see a few of the institutions on your shortlist before applying for any courses. Go to www.aimhigher.ac.uk - applying for a course section, and click on open days or call the institution directly to find out when would be a good time to visit.

Many institutions run open days for people considering applying to them, and then another set for those who have already applied. Try to visit during course-time when students will be around.

have you…

• compared a number of prospectuses?
• looked at the websites of the places you are interested in?
• thought about the pros and cons of home vs away?
• thought about what else is important to you?
• considered the quality, feel and reputation of the places you like?
• contacted the students’ union?
• arranged a visit or an open day?

Find out more:
Talk to your friends, parents, teachers or a Connexions/Learndirect adviser about their views on different institutions.