Choosing your university is often one of the most important decisions someone will make in their academic and personal lives. To ensure you make the right decisions, it’s paramount that you start looking at the right time. But when exactly should you be looking for your dream university? This article will lay out a suggested timeline, helping you plan effectively and make an informed decision about your future.
Year 10 & Year 11
University may seem like a distant prospect while you’re in Year 10 or 11, but it is never too early to start exploring. During this time, you’ll start to get a sense of your academic strengths, weaknesses, and interests, as well as potential career paths. You can aid yourself in this process by attending career fairs, speaking to professionals in fields you’re curious about, or casually engaging with career-related content such as books, videos, or podcasts.
At this stage, it’s fine to only be casually looking at different careers or degree options, as it’s still quite early in your academic journey. Some people know what they want to do very early on in life, and for those individuals, it’s still beneficial to research different career options to confirm their interests or explore alternatives. However, for those who feel uncertain, that’s completely normal.
I was definitely not one of those people who just knew. At that age, I remember feeling absolutely clueless while trying to consider thousands of degrees and career options. It’s completely valid not to have all the answers yet, and there is no inherent disadvantage in taking more time to weigh up your options. The key during Year 10 and 11 is to remain open-minded and start thinking about the possibilities, rather than stressing over making a final decision.
Year 12: starting your research
At the start of Year 12, there’s still plenty of time to consider what degree or career you’d like to pursue. Based on the subjects you’ve chosen at college or sixth form, as well as your GCSE results, you may have a clearer idea of what areas interest you. However, even if you’re still unsure, now is the time to take a more active role in this process, rather than just casually browsing online.
Once you’ve started narrowing down potential degree options, it’s time to look at universities that offer those courses. There are several factors to consider when making this decision. With these factors in mind, aim to create a shortlist of around 5-10 universities that seem like a good fit for you.
Attending open days
While online research and talking to university representatives at fairs can tell you a lot, nothing compares to visiting a university in person. During the summer of Year 12 and autumn of Year 13, make sure to attend open days. These visits allow you to explore the campus, attend sample lectures, and speak with real students. This hands-on experience can give you a much better sense of whether you’d enjoy studying there.
Year 13: Finalising your choices and UCAS application
Once you enter Year 13, things start moving quickly. Your university application, submitted through UCAS (for UK applicants), will be due in the first half of the academic year. The key deadlines to remember are:
- Mid-October – If you’re applying to Oxford, Cambridge, or for courses in Medicine, Dentistry, or Veterinary Science, your application must be submitted early (check the UCAS website for the exact deadline).
- Late January – The standard UCAS deadline for most other undergraduate courses.
Your personal statement should be tailored to the course rather than a specific university. This allows you to keep your options open, as you can change which universities you’re applying to right up until the day you submit your application.
After sending off your UCAS application
Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll begin receiving offers from universities. Once you have all your offers, carefully consider where you’d be happiest using the criteria mentioned earlier. Take your time before making a final decision—there’s no advantage in firming a choice early if you’re still unsure.
If you change your mind after firming a decision, you can still decline your offer and reapply to courses with spaces through UCAS Extra or Clearing.
- UCAS Extra: If you don’t receive any offers, or if you change your mind and decline all your offers, you can use UCAS Extra to apply for other courses that still have available places. This service opens in February and runs until early July, giving you another chance to secure a place at university.
- UCAS Clearing: If you don’t meet the conditions of your firm or insurance choices on results day, Clearing allows you to apply for any remaining places at universities. Many students successfully find alternative courses through Clearing, so it’s important to have a backup plan and research potential universities in advance.
Results day
Before results day, it’s wise to have a backup plan in case you don’t meet your firm university’s entry requirements. Having a shortlist of alternative universities and courses, through clearing, can help ease the stress on results day.
Remember, it’s completely fine to take a gap year. This may be because you haven’t made a decision and would like more time or want another try to get into your dream university, among other reasons. Don’t allow yourself to be pressured into a course or university that you don’t feel like you’d enjoy.
Starting early is imperative when deciding when to look for universities. By sticking to a loose timeline, you can reduce stress and panic when you eventually fill out your UCAS form. From early career exploration in Year 10 to results day in Year 13, each stage plays a crucial role in determining where you’ll study. Really, there is not completely correct time to make a decision but starting early makes it easier in the medium-long term.
The key is to be proactive and plan ahead. Research your options thoroughly, attend open days, and consider your choices carefully. By taking these steps, you’ll be in the best possible position to make an informed decision about your future and set yourself up for success at university and beyond.
