2.How to Decide Where to Study

There are over 35,000 different UK university courses. Choosing between these can be a daunting prospect. We set out below some suggestions to help you navigate through all the different course offerings.

Students wishing to apply to international universities are advised to speak early to our head of international applications (contact details at the back of the pack). International institutions have different timescales and requirements and therefore it is important you let us know by the summer term of Year 12 if this is an option you are considering.

Unifrog - Course Shortlisting Tool

The Unifrog UK University shortlisting tool makes it easy to compare different courses and universities and decide which ones to apply to. You can search for courses that match up to ten subjects at a time and filter by entry requirements, as well as other factors that are important to you, for example, distance from home, type of course, type of university Course and university rankings are included for reference, so you can see how external organisations rank the courses that you are considering.

The shortlisting tool also compares the entry requirements of every course, with the grades you are likely to get, to determine whether each course is an "aspirational", "solid", or "safe" application for you.

UCAS Courses Hub

All year 12 students will have a UCAS account set up for them as part of Futures week which is held in June of the summer term. This account is needed to apply to university and it provides the means for universities to communicate with students.

In addition, the website has a lot of information on the different courses, and other information, for example the dates of open days and other university events.

UCAS Discovery Exhibition

As part of Futures Week (see below), we offer all Year 12 students the opportunity to visit the UCAS Convention, which is an in person event, where you can meet university representatives and talk to them directly about course choices and what they offer in terms of student experience. The day also includes a number of talks and other interactive opportunities.

HEAP guide

The HEAP guide is an independent reference book with a comprehensive listing of all UK courses. The guide includes full subject-by-subject degree course guide, as well as admissions details for every UK university and college, and guidance on the UCAS application process. The guide is produced annually and the latest copy is available to borrow from the Claremont careers office. We also keep up-to-date course rankings from The Times, the Guardian and other publications. Good for those who prefer to work with resources in print rather than via computer screens!

Individual Counselling

Your form tutor is a key port of call for advice regarding your university application. In addition, our Head of Futures is available for individual appointments with students and their parents on request to help talk through the options available and make decisions as to the appropriate pathway. Please contact our Head of Futures directly if you would like to set up an appointment, either in person or via video call. Subject teachers can also be very helpful in recommending and helping you review the options available. For example, courses within the same subject umbrella can differ significantly, and students may be unclear initially as to distinguishing features, for example choosing between an Economics BA course versus an Economics BSc course. We are always happy to help, so please do not hesitate to ask.

University Open Days

An important step in finalising your course shortlist is to visit the university All universities publish open day timings, which tend to be in the summer of year 12 and the autumn term of year 13. It is very hard to get "a feel" for a place until you go and see it in person and so we encourage you to sign up for these. For those not able to travel, most universities offer virtual open days and these can be appropriate substitutes for attending in person. Most universities will also invite students who apply to them, and to whom they make an offer, to "Offer holder open days." Again, students have in the past found these events informative in helping make decisions.