Deciding between different types of universities

The higher education system in the UK is very diverse. Your students can study at a wide range of institutions. This includes traditional universities, further education colleges with higher education provision, and smaller, specialist institutions.

This diverse range of institutions, and their different modes of teaching and learning, greatly benefits your students. It allows them to choose the setting that best suits them and their individual educational preferences.

What course do your students want to study?

The 'what' should always come first when you help your students with their university decisions. Once they know that, they will have the difficult but exciting prospect of deciding where to study it.

A primary consideration is what the course is like at each institution. For instance, does the content of the course cover the topics they are most interested in?

It is also important to note that different higher education providers will teach the courses in different ways. Some institutions might focus on the more theoretical aspects of the course, whilst others embed more modes of application and research.

Understanding the different types of universities will enable you to best advise your students.

What type of educational setting is your student looking for?

A good way to answer this question is to encourage your students to think about what is most important to them personally. They can then consider which setting best meets these preferences.

Advise them to:
• keep their minds open to all types of institution
• read prospectuses
• browse social media posts
• attend open days
• talk to current students.

Only then can they decide which university suits them best.

To help them discover their preferences, you can ask your students the following questions.

Do you have any preferences on location?
This may be influenced by family or work commitments. Some institutions provide a 100% online model. This could allow them to remain at home but still study their course of choice.

Are you looking for a traditional academic university or a more vocational/professional one?
Everyone has a preferred style of learning, and different types of universities will accommodate these. Going to a university that better suits their style of learning will enable them to better achieve their goals. For example, if they prefer project work as a mode of learning, they can attend a university that doesn't place significant weight on end-of-year exams.

Do you like the idea of learning as part of a large cohort of students or a smaller one?
Attending a larger university will provide the conventional ‘university’ experience of being in large groups. Meanwhile, going to a smaller, more specialist institution will mean smaller class sizes where they may receive more individualised attention.

Do you want a traditional residential student experience or a more work-like experience?
For instance, if they are looking to study Make Up Artistry, they could study at a specialist institution like the Arts University Bournemouth, or a traditional university like Solent University, or at a further education college like Bury College. This variety isn't just for applied courses. For example, the academic subject of Law can be studied at a traditional university, but also a specialist professional university like The University of Law.