1. Why should you go to university?
2. What can you study at university?
3. How do you decide where to go?
4. How do you apply?
5. What are lectures, seminars and tutorials?
6. What is your timetable like at university?
7. Do you have to wear a uniform?
8. What is the social life like?
9. Is it easy to make friends at university?
10. What sports and activities can you do at university?
11. Can you have a job at the same time as studying?
12. How much does it cost to go to university?
13. Do you have to live away from home to go to university?
14. How can you manage your finances?
15. What is the best thing about going to university?
1. Why should you go to university?
People choose to study at university for lots of different reasons, popular reasons include:
• the chance to study a subject they love
• to further their career
• to increase their earnings in the future as graduates usually earn more
• the chance to live away from home and gain independence
• meet new people
When deciding whether to go to university it is a good idea to think about what you would like to do in the future, which subjects are interesting at school and if there is any areas you would be interested in studying further.
2. What can you study at university?
There are many different courses at university. You can study a course similar to a subject taught at school, for example, maths or history.
Many students choose to pick up a new subject like nursing or law which would lead them to a career path.
3. How do you decide where to go?
Each year every university produces a prospectus, which is a guide to their university and lists all the courses they offer. This is a good way of gathering information to help people decide where to go.
Universities also hold open days where you can go and visit the university. It is really helpful to do this as you get a feel for the university and the chance to ask any questions.
4. How do you apply?
All students who want to go to university apply online through the Universities Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS). Their website is www.ucas.com.
The website takes you through the process of applying in a straightforward way. After you have made your application you will be able to check the progress of your application online.
5. What are lectures, seminars and tutorials?
A lecture is when you go to a large room called a lecture theatre and listen to a lecturer who stands at the front and gives you information about a subject. Sometimes they use PowerPoint slides to support their presentation or sometimes they just speak. They normally last for about an hour and you can take notes whilst the lecturer is speaking.
A seminar is a much smaller group than a lecture and will take place in a classroom. It is a chance for you to discuss your lectures and reading with your lecturer and other people from you course.
A tutorial is when a student meets one to one with their university lecturer to discuss their work. For example this would be an opportunity to get help with essays or to receive feedback about work that has been completed and marked.
6. What is your timetable like at university?
This depends on the course chosen as some courses only have a few hours timetabled each week. For example, courses such as History and English Literature will involve a lot of reading and independent work. However, courses such as Chemistry would have more hours timetabled each week as there will be lectures and lab work to do.
7. Do you have to wear a uniform?
No, within reason, students are free to wear what they want!
8. What is the social life like?
University is a great opportunity to meet new people and try out new things. Most students do not have a full timetable and this gives them opportunity to be flexible with their time and what they do.
9. Is it easy to make friends at university?
There are lots of opportunities to make friends. There is the chance to join societies and sports clubs and in the first few weeks there are a lot of events for new students. You will meet people from your course and if you are living away from home, you will be living with other students. It is important to remember that everyone is in the same position and looking for someone to talk to!
10. What sports and activities can you do at university?
Most universities have many sports clubs and societies that students can join. This can be anything from popular sports such as football and hockey to more unusual sports such as Korfball and Ultimate Frisbee.
There are societies related to the subjects students take, such as the Law Society which organise social events connected with the course. There are also societies that are run purely for social reasons. An example of this would be the drama society. If there is not a society which suits your interests then you can start one yourself.
11. Can you have a job at the same time as studying?
Many students often find it possible to have a part time job whilst studying. It is important to make sure you do not work too many hours a week as it might interfere with your university work and stop you from spending time with friends.
Some students find it difficult to work if they are on courses such as nursing and social work which involve placement work. When you are on placement you work normal working hours which can making having a part time job difficult.
12. How much does it cost to go to university?
At university there are two main costs; tuition fees and living costs. There are loans available from the government to help meet these costs. For more information please visit: www.aimhigher.ac.uk
13. Do you have to live away from home to go to university?
The decision about whether to live at home or live away from home depends on personal preference.
Both options have different benefits. There are many benefits to living at home. For example, one benefit is that it is often cheaper.
There are also many benefits to living away from home, such as the chance to live independently and to meet new people. For the first year, a lot of students choose to live in halls of residence. This is when you have your own room and would share kitchen. Sometimes the rooms are on corridors or sometimes part of a flat.
Many students choose to live in a shared house with other students which they rent from a private landlord.
14. How can you manage you finances?
It is really helpful to work out a budget for each week so you know how much money you can spend. One tip is to only withdraw a certain amount out of your bank account each week so you do not overspend. A lot of students find that it is possible to find a part time job as well as study. Each student has an NUS card which gives them discounts in lots of popular shops. Students who share houses and flats sometimes find it easier and cheaper to share food.
15. What is the best thing about going to university?
Different people enjoy different aspects of university life. Some people enjoy the chance to study a subject that they love whilst others enjoy the chance to pick up a new subject which may lead them directly to a career path. Lots of people enjoy university as it is an opportunity to move away from home and be independent. There is also the opportunity to meet lots of new people and make new friends.
