Hundreds of university open days are happening this June, but what will uni really be like for the thousands of hopeful applicants looking to enrol this year?
With university acceptance rates standing at 76.3% in 2017, the highest in nine years, there is a lot of competition for universities to fill their places, making it more challenging for students to decide where to go and what they want to study.
When students are being flyered and emailed constantly by potential universities, the whole concept of even applying to study a degree can become quite daunting, especially if a young person isn’t 100% confident of what they are buying into. So, if you’re considering applying to university this year, here’s everything you need to know about what university is really like, and some tips on making the right choice for you.
Managing your time
One of the biggest changes between school and university is managing yourself and your own time. In university there are no bells to signal the start of the day, nor will lecturers call your parents if you don’t go to your lecture. For many this looks like complete freedom to do exactly what you want/ don’t want to do. In reality it is much tougher. University is where self-discipline needs to be practiced, or you risk failing the entire year and being asked to leave the university with £9,250 worth of debt.
Sound appealing? Probably not.
The reality of university life is that each morning, you will have to get yourself out of bed for those awful 9am lectures, because it will be worth it in the end once you get your degree.
Revising when needed
A common myth about university life is that students are left completely to their own devices when it comes to study. To some degree, this is true. It is your responsibility to make sure your work is handed in on time and that you have done at least the minimum hours of study to pass.
However, lecturers are always available via email (within a reasonable time frame – don’t email them at midnight having a breakdown because you’ve left work til the last minute.) If you really need some guidance, just send them a message and you’ll more than likely be surprised at how much they will reassure you that everything will be fine and give you ways to work through your problems.
Hannah Morgan, 19, English student at Sussex University, says it’s very important to be organised when it comes to assignments. “If you’re not organised you will spend more time writing and editing because you don’t actually know what you are talking about. If you organise you can get a good detailed plan together and writing will become easier.”
Choosing the right digs
Another big decision to make when looking at universities is whether you want to live in student accommodation or stay at home. This may be dependent on location, particularly if you are applying to a university far away from home, but it may also be worth considering whether a uni situated closer to home may be better for you.
Teddy Bevan, 20, history student at King’s College London, said it made sense to him to stay at home for university. “I am from a large family that is always around, I would have felt uncomfortable about moving away. I did not feel ready to. I could have had some of the best universities for history in London and research opportunities, so it was a no-brainer really.”
Bevan also suggests that new students should not feel that moving away for university is the only option. “Do not be afraid to break the mould and stay at home. Don’t feel that you have to go and drink excessively. Have fun whilst also workin,g especially in first year. Laying your eventual success happens in first year so don’t just hit auto-pilot.”
However, Hannah Morgan says the best thing she has found about moving away is the freedom that it gives her. “I love that I’ve been able to make friends and experience life on my own. When you move away you become independent and learn life skills for later in life. I think it’s also a time where you can get away from home and have freedom to do what you want and learn from your mistakes.”
Getting loans
But what about if you do decide to move away to study? Well then student finance is there to help! You can apply for a maintenance loan along with your tuition loan, which helps you with your living costs based on a range of personal factors such as your parents’ job roles. Gov.uk says “You may have to give details of your household income [to get a maintenance loan]. The loan is paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term. You have to pay the loan back.” For more information on student finance and loans visit
Hannah Morgan suggests a few ways to save money if you are moving away from home for uni. “Be wise with your money and put a bit away every month just to help you. Possibly get a job, I know lots of people do. To help me out I work over the summer to save money for rent.
“I think it’s important to enjoy your first year and splash out a little bit but be careful of how much you spend. You’ve always got your overdraft to help you out but don’t rely on it.”
Choosing the right course
Made your mind up about going to uni? Ok, so where do you want to go? Education body UCAS provide a range of resources to help you find the right course and university, from London to Leeds, Brighton to Birmingham; there are universities all over the UK to suit your own needs. To find information on the course of your dreams visit
Morgan advises that when looking for a course, you should do as much research as possible. “Visit all the unis that you can and get a great feel for them all. It’s important you pick the right one, so you feel like you fit in. Also pick the right course so do a lot of research into that. Aim high but don’t be unrealistic.”
The Sussex student also says that personal statements are a crucial part of the application process. “Personal statements are very important and could possibly even mean you could get an unconditional offer into uni. It’s your first chance to show off to unis of your choice so put a lot of work into it.”
Feel like you know everything you need to about university? If so, it’s time to start looking at unis for yourself, just visit the website of the unis you are interested in and book a place at their open day. Here’s just a few to get you started!
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