Choosing which University to study at is a big decision, so to help future graduates select the right choice for them our (UCM) Higher Education Manager, Gail Corrin has shared her tips.
Spending more than 20 years working in education I have witness many students deliberate over the right course for them. It’s a big decision and with so many options to choose from, it can be quite a daunting process. In this 5-minute read, I am highlighting my 4 top tips to help select the right path for you.
1) Listen to the experiences of others
Take your time and talk to lots of different people about their experience, whether they went to university to study a degree or chose another path. Your tutors might be a good source of information. Although friends might be applying too, it is important to remember to make a decision that’s best for YOU, and that may mean not following your friends.
2) Ask yourself what you want to achieve
Think about why you want to do a degree. By understanding your motivation, you can find the right course and the right university for you. Also remember that having a degree is not the only way to enter into a successful career, have a look at the pathways to get into the industry, because not all career paths require a degree. People study degree-level qualifications for a wide range of reasons for example; do you want to improve your career prospects after you finish your course, are you most interested in studying a subject that you love; perhaps you want to experience living away from your family; or are you wanting to enjoy the ‘university experience’ and get involved with societies and sports which you haven’t tried before?
Some students might have their sights set on leaving the Island, whilst others might wish to pursue a degree, degree level or postgraduate qualification at UCM, remaining on Island for personal or professional reasons, and that’s perfectly fine.
3) Do your research
There are useful websites like Unifrog which provide you with lots of information about the courses available, as well as hearing from other student’s experiences via platforms such as Reddit and YouTube. Attending Open Days, whether that be at one of UCM’s specific degree level events at The Nunnery, or traveling off Island, it’s good to get a feel for where you might be studying.
Looking at each of those areas, if you’re choosing higher education in order to improve your future career prospects, then subject choice is really important. Research is key to finding a career path that meets your future aspirations and has plenty of opportunities to join the industry. Also, check out the quality of different courses for example looking at statistics about student grades.
Not only is the subject important but also the institution and course; you want to select one that provides good industry experience so you make good connections and gain meaningful work placement opportunities. This is something we do really well at UCM and we see students going straight into their chosen career because of the connections and experience they’ve gained during their studies. 91% of our students gain graduate level employment, upon or before graduation.
4) Reflect on your passions, personal circumstances and career aspirations
If you’re going to university to pursue a subject you love: it’s great that you’ve found a subject you’re really excited and passionate about, and if it’s something that has good career outcomes then that’s good, but a subject that you love and a subject that leads you to a career you want isn’t always the same thing. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t do it but it’s important to be realistic and balance whether it’s feasible for you to choose, bearing in mind all the other factors such as time and cost. After exploring career options that come from that subject, costs of university and which institutions offer the area you’re interested in, you might also want to consider the work placements and employability skills they offer.
What about the people who are choosing university because they want to experience living away from home or want the traditional ‘university experience’? For some, it’s a bit of a rite of passage, and leaving the Island is right for them, but you’ll also need to balance this desire against the cost, your future aspirations and the long-term benefit. Gaining a good qualification at university takes a lot of hard work and studying so if you’re not willing to do this, the reality is that you’ll either end up with a bad grade or a failed degree but still with the financial cost.
While money is often hard to talk about, it is a really important consideration when it comes to choosing your university. We’re fortunate on the Island that the Isle of Man Government provides support in the form of grants for tuition fees and maintenance, however it’s worth bearing in mind that if you choose to study off-Island, it’s estimated that the cost is around £8,000 - £10,000 a year, plus travel, so you might also want to consider this.
For many people on the Island, coming home to visit family and friends is important and if they decide to study away from the Island then they often choose a university that has good travel links home.
Choosing the right University for you is no easy task, but doing the research, asking plenty of questions, visiting open days where possible, selecting a course which interests you and considering your employability prospects upon graduation, are some key steps that can help you to feel as prepared as possible. If you’re still uncertain about taking on a degree at this stage, don’t panic, you can pursue employment or a gap year and reconsider degree level study at a later date.
You may be eligible for financial support through student awards, visit gov.im/student-grants for further details.