UCL BA German and Spanish first year student Molly Clapham shares her experience of choosing which university and degree to study. 

Choosing the right course at UCL is an investment in time and money. Having experienced making a rushed decision (and then dropping out) and making a timely one (which led me to UCL!), I can confirm that proper research, despite being a lengthy process, will save you a lot of confusion and stress.  

It is normal to feel overwhelmed facing this important decision. Those who “have always known” what they wanted to study are in the minority. Personally, it took me a year of studying the wrong course and a gap year to realise what I wanted to pursue. The positive is that I’ve learnt a lot and can share some useful advice.   

The Japanese concept Ikigai, is an invaluable tool that will steer you in the right direction. It poses four key questions: What do you love? What does the world need? What are you good at? And what can you be paid for?  

 The Japanese concept Ikigai. Source, Forbes.  

The best starting point is identifying what you enjoy. Brainstorm a mind-map of any subject or activity that you are interested in (mildly or greatly) and that you would gladly learn about in your spare time. Not only will you be happier at university, you’ll also be more likely to complete your degree and get through the bad days and exam seasons.  

If you find yourself interested in many things, narrow down your options by identifying your strengths. We all have strengths and weakness unique to us, so utilise these to your advantage.  

Look at your course’s graduate prospects and the transferrable skills the course will give you. Instead of pigeon-holing yourself to a particular career, focus on the skills the course will equip you with to become an invaluable employee. Going after the “most employable” or “highest paying” degrees is not an ingredient for success, the skills you gain and how you apply them are.  

Once you have some courses in mind, there are three important components to look at: module content, teaching style and assessment. Find out the module content and the course structure across all years of the degree. Which are compulsory/optional? Does it include a year abroad? How are the modules assessed? Some courses are more exam-based than coursework-based, others are both.  

Teaching style and contact hours also vary. Establish the number of teaching hours a week and whether these are seminars, lectures or/and practicals.  Look closely at the teaching materials and methods. What is the split between individual and group work? Does the course involve textbook-study, or more creative forms of learning such as presentations, podcast-making and website-building? 

The best (and quickest) way to find this information is by contacting the department and students directly. This is important because you get a real sense of what the course is like (from real-life humans and not a website page!). This will also give you insight into the department itself and is a good opportunity to learn about what activities and opportunities are offered outside of classes to complement your studies. When I was applying, I scheduled a meeting with a department member, which helped me make my final decision.