Deciding what to study

Before you apply to university, take the time to make sure you choose a subject and a university that complement your strengths and attributes.

Taking the time to consider your options will make all the difference between leaving university with an average degree or graduating with a good qualification, confidence in yourself, a range of transferable skills and work experience, and some fantastic memories.

Think about what you want out of university and also about whether your qualifications, knowledge and other attributes are a good fit for the courses and universities that interest you.

Family, friends, teachers and careers advisers can all be good sources of information but what appeals to others may not be right for you. Ultimately, the decision is yours.

Once you have made a shortlist of your options, asking yourself the questions below could help you to reach a decision.

Choosing a subject

Am I really interested in this subject?

If you want to get the most out of your time at university you should be prepared to work hard. It’s easier to motivate yourself when the pressure is on if you have a real commitment to the subject – and you’ll be much more likely to graduate with a better degree at the end.

Do I want to concentrate on one subject or combine different areas of interest?

Students on courses such as architecture or software engineering explore a subject area in depth, developing the analytical, technical, and communication skills required for professional practice in these fields.

Choosing a course which combines two subjects can offer the chance to develop an existing interest while learning about a complementary new area. For example, you could opt to study fashion or textiles with business studies.

Many students enjoy degrees which combine two subjects because they offer a chance to widen their studies, and the flexibility to explore areas of personal interest.

At Brighton joint degrees are offered in subjects that complement one another. These combinations and the breadth they offer can be attractive to employers, and open up a range of career options.

Will another language be useful to me?

Another language is useful in many industries. At the University of Brighton language study is an integral or optional module in many courses. Even if it is not a part of your course, as a University of Brighton student you are entitled to study one of our part-time courses in French, German, Italian and Spanish. You can study for pleasure or for an additional qualification at levels from beginner to advanced.  

Learning style, content and assessment

Does what and how I will learn suit me?

Your university learning experience will be radically different to school or college. There will be an emphasis on independent study and you will have to keep to deadlines yourself. 

Your course could involve long hours in libraries, labs, studios or in the workplace. You could find yourself working in project teams with other students as well as learning in tutorials and lectures. 

Subjects are taught in very different ways and even if you choose to take a degree in a subject you are already familiar with, you should be aware that course content can vary enormously between universities. Check and compare what is involved at different universities 

How will I be assessed?

Look for courses that are assessed in ways that suit you. Depending on the subject, at Brighton you could be assessed by a combination of written exam, essay, presentation, group work, dissertation, practical experiment or a degree show.

How to find out about your course

  • Come to an open day and speak to tutors, lecturers and current students

Career focus and work experience

Do I want to take a course that is linked directly to a specific career?

If you have a clear career aim in mind, you may choose a degree that includes a professional qualification or licence to practice. At Brighton courses of this kind include accounting, architecture, engineering, nursing, medicine, midwifery, physiotherapy, podiatry, paramedic practice, pharmacy, social work and teaching.

Some courses offer a range of career opportunities and a professional qualification.  

Will I get practical work experience through this course?

Placements enable you to apply the skills you’ve learned at university in real situations, give you valuable experience that looks great on your CV and help you make important contacts.

Most of our courses involve work-based learning. This can be through workshops, short work placements or up to a year in the workplace (usually your third year).

Our career focus

  • All of our undergraduate courses offer opportunities for work-related learning
  • Many of our courses include a paid placement year
  • Our subject-specific placement teams offer help and advice in finding a work placement
  • Our students are on paid placements with organisations such as Channel 4, Disney and Microsoft
  • 92.9% of our graduates are working, studying or training within six months of completing their course (DLHE 2014–15)

 

Find out more about our career-focused courses

 

Entry requirements

Will I meet the entry requirements?

Entry requirements vary between subjects and universities. At Brighton we treat everyone as an individual and adopt a flexible admissions policy. This means that your grades are very important to us, but that we also look at other factors when deciding who to make an offer to, and will carefully consider the additional information provided in personal statements and references.

For example, applicants for professional courses such as social work or teaching are required to show that they have done their research and have a realistic understanding of what is involved. This is usually demonstrated by having undertaken relevant work or voluntary experience before applying.

Life experiences

What’s on offer beyond the course?

Your time at university offers you a unique opportunity to develop yourself. As well as researching courses, take time to look into what else is offered by the universities you are interested in, and by the towns or cities where they are located.

The more you put in to university life the more you will get out of it, and you’ll leave with experiences that will continue to benefit you long after you have graduated. Make the most of opportunities to volunteer in the community, do part-time work, join student societies and sport teams.

Types of course and qualification

Overview

Undergraduate options include three-, four- or five-year full-time degrees and year-long degree top-up courses.

Undergraduate courses are also described as first degree courses, as they are usually taken by people who don't yet have a degree.

Many of our courses incorporate a professional accreditation. This may mean that graduates are:

  • licensed to practice (for example, as a nurse)
  • eligible to apply for membership of a professional body
  • exempt from professional exams when they qualify.

Many of our students have to combine work, study and other life commitments, so we are continually working to improve access to our courses. Part-time options exist for many courses and some are also available on a distance learning basis.

1. Honours degrees

These courses involve three or four years of full-time study and lead to qualifications such as BA(Hons), BSc(Hons), BEng(Hons) and LLB(Hons).

Many of our courses involve work-based learning. Through workshops, short placements or work placements of up to a year (usually your third year), you have the opportunity to apply the skills you learn at university to real situations, gain valuable experience that looks great on your CV, and make important contacts in your chosen industry.

More than half of our students also achieve a professional registration or exemption from professional exams when they graduate.

2. Integrated masters degrees

Some undergraduate degree courses include an additional year of masters-level study.

These courses are available in engineering (MEng), pharmacy (MPharm), arts and design (MDes and MFA) and computing (MComp).

3. Engineering courses with foundation year

Our engineering foundation year is one of the longest-running and most successful courses of its type in the country.

It is a one-year programme for students with non-scientific A-levels and mature students with relevant experience but few formal qualifications.

Upon successful completion of the foundation year, students automatically progress to the first year of their chosen engineering degree course.

4. Top-up degrees

If you have a Higher National Diploma (HND), a foundation degree or professional qualification you can often top this up to an honours degree.

Top-up degrees typically involve a year of full-time study but there are some that have been specially developed to be studied part-time while you are working.

University of Brighton top-up degrees are also delivered at a number of our partner colleges.

Back to top