Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
How to choose the university that is right for you
Hi I’m Reanne and I’m a Speech and Language Therapy student. I know what it’s like trying to decide which university is right for you. There are so many things to consider and I imagine so many things are currently going through your head. So, in this blog I’ll be explaining my tips on choosing the university that’s right for you.
When I was considering which university was right for me, I’d say what helped me most was making sure I took the time to think things through clearly. If you’re looking for some tips on what to think about and consider, then I've got you covered.
Consider the course you want to study
There are lots of universities in the UK and not all of them offer the same courses, and even if they do, the course content and facilities may differ. Which is why I think it's important to research a course in depth, by looking at the modules you will study, the placement opportunities that may be available, and what type of facilities you will be able to use.
I really wanted to study on a course that offered a mixture of teaching and placements, so I could get hands on work experience. At Leeds Beckett, their Speech and Language Therapy course not only has a mixed placement model, but they also arrange for us to attend guest lectures from specialist clinicians and medics. Like me you might also be interested in a course which offers placement opportunities, or perhaps you'd like to study a year abroad, or even study a course which provides a year working in an industry.
When searching for courses make sure you look at what is included in the course content and consider if this matches the type of study you like and the type of experiences you would like to have.
Attend an Open Day
For me, a key part of researching where I wanted to study included attending Open Days. An Open Day is a great way to get first-hand information about the subject you’re interested in studying and get a feel for both the university and the surrounding city. At a Leeds Beckett Open Day, you can attend informative subject talks, view course facilities, and chat with academic staff throughout the day at the various subject stands. Both City and Headingley Campuses will also be bustling with helpful Student Ambassadors who will be available to answer any questions and tell you what it’s like studying at Leeds Beckett.
When I visited on an Open Day, I found it so helpful being able to chat with people studying on the course. Having the opportunity to ask them lots of questions allowed me to find out more about the subject I was interested in applying for and really understand why so many people love studying at LBU. I also got to explore the Speech and Language Therapy facilities and see places like the library, and the SU.
Overall, attending an Open Day really helped to shape my decision to apply to study here. Even though my online research had helped me narrow down the universities I was interested in, attending in person allowed me to get a taste of what it would actually be like to study here.
Think about the social life
While a large part of deciding which university I wanted to go to involved me considering the course I wanted to study, the study facilities, and academic support available, I was also actively considering the social life that I would have.
Whether you’re going to be living in your uni city or commuting to campus, you’ll be spending a lot of time in this place. Which is why I think it’s important to make sure the university you apply to has events and activities that match the kind of social life and interests you enjoy.
When I was researching Leeds Beckett, I looked at the different societies that are available for me to join and could see there was a wide range, including a society for my course. In addition, I could see how many exciting events the Students’ Union organise throughout the year, including vintage clothing fairs and live music events.
What stood out to me most was that Leeds Beckett is a lively, vibrant university, with so much going on at both its campuses.
My course is based at City Campus which is located about five minutes away from the city centre. One thing I love is that I can quickly walk into the city and go to one of the many restaurants or bars with my friends at the end of the day, when we’ve finished all our lectures. Being in a central location was at the top of my list when I was looking at universities to apply for and I’m so glad I chose to study here at LBU.
Overall, I can safely say that choosing to study here at LBU was the right choice. I really enjoy and appreciate the placements opportunities offered through my course, the supportive staff, and the atmosphere on campus.
One last piece of advice I’d like to share is that it takes time to think everything over, so if you haven’t made your mind up yet, don’t worry. I hope reading this blog was useful and that it will help you navigate the process of choosing the university that’s right for you.
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