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Dropping out of university

Fri 12 April 2019 - 11:10

By Jasmine Bahra in UCAS advice

So, as you can see from the title, I dropped out of university.

The one thing I found hardest about it was telling people that I was leaving. In fact, I still haven’t told all my friends that I’ve left, and this is 4 months afterwards. But why not?

The thing is, I think many people view dropping out of university as such a negative thing, like ‘Wow! You’ve left, how awful’, when actually for me it was one of the best decisions, I think I’ve ever made.

One friend who I bumped into recently and didn’t know I had left said to me ‘I’m proud of you for leaving’ and this really resonated with me. It is human nature to not want to admit to being wrong or making a mistake, but the weird thing is that we all do. Yes, some may be bigger mistakes like picking the wrong course but it’s still fixable. My friend was pointing out that it takes guts to admit you’ve made a wrong choice and correct yourself.

Personally, the main reason I left was that I didn’t like my...

Different path, same destination

Tue 18 June 2024 - 11:22

By UCAS in UCAS advice

It’s an exciting time as you consider your future, but don’t forget to consider all your options. Higher and degree apprenticeships are a different pathway to following the traditional route of going to university as a full-time student. They offer all the benefits of higher education, as well as the competitive advantage of gaining valuable work experience while completing your degree. You will not only be learning, but earning a salary, from day one. Your tuition fees are paid for by your employer and the government, so you will not be expected to pay any tuition fees or apply for a student loan.
 
Universities work in partnership with employers to develop and deliver these apprenticeships, which combine university study and on-the-job training. This unique blend of work and university life gives apprentices not only the skills to succeed in their job, but also cultural and social experiences which will serve them well in their...

Get to know universities as an international applicant

Thu 19 December 2019 - 09:56

By Coral Kim in Applicant

You’ve decided to apply for a university in the UK. You’ve figured out (hopefully) the UCAS application system, you’ve chosen a course, and you’ve stumbled upon the various university rankings. But now you need to pick a university, where you’re probably going to spend three (or more) years of your life. How? How can you tell which one suits you best? Which one has the student life that fits you?

'Come to our open day.'

Sadly, that’s not an option. As much as you want to visit, you simply cannot afford (either in terms of time or money, or both) to do so. It’s a situation most international students face — I did, too. Then how on earth did I choose five universities, out of the countless options that the UK offers, without even being able to visit them?

1. Vlogs or blogs

Many universities have students that are active as either vloggers or bloggers — all five of my choices did! Lots of them...

Getting the most out of Reading Week

Tue 26 March 2019 - 09:17

By Chloe Brewster in First year

As you may already know, university is significantly different to sixth form or college, which also applies to term dates. Although the academic year is somewhat shorter – often beginning in late September/early October and ending in May/June – universities do not have a half-term holiday, an aspect of sixth form that I really missed when I first began my studies last year.

However, some universities, including my own, have ‘reading weeks’ which, in other words, are like a half-term break. Usually situated in the middle of a semester, reading weeks serve the purpose of enabling students to get a head start for the work and reading in the remaining weeks until the longer holidays (and exam period!) begin.

Given that the workload at university can feel so daunting at times, a reading week is often strongly appreciated because it allows you to breathe for a little while without worrying about time constraints as you might experience during the semester. I...

Earn while you learn with a degree apprenticeship

Fri 5 July 2024 - 13:08

By Renishaw in UCAS advice

You no longer have to choose between a degree or an apprenticeship. A growing number of companies are offering degree-level apprenticeships, so you can study for a degree debt-free, while gaining hands-on commercial experience.

So, what does it take to be a degree apprentice? Craig Wakefield from Renishaw shares his experience of being a software engineering apprentice.

Craig Wakefield from Renishaw

“I studied computing, performing arts and geography at A Level, but my focus was on computing. I applied to universities via UCAS and was offered a place at both Bournemouth and Nottingham. My siblings had already been to university and I was keen to work towards a degree.

During that time, my computing teacher suggested I looked into apprenticeships and when I did my...

Top tips for revision

Thu 25 July 2024 - 10:15

By UCAS in UCAS advice

Exam season can be a stressful time for many, but with a bit of preparation you can do well! These seven tips will get you started:

1. Have a plan
Create a timetable in the weeks leading up to your exams. Jot down when your exams are and what topics you need to revise. You know yourself what subjects you may need to commit more time to so keep this in mind when planning your revision.

2. Take regular breaks
Shorter revision stints work much better than trying to do hours at a time. Try 40 minutes revision with regular ten minute breaks. This will keep you focused and help you retain more information.

3. Use Post-its
Keep Post-its with key info dotted around your revision space – these will act as reminders for the stuff you’ve previously revised.

4. Practice exam questions 
These will be available at your school, college, and even...

Options after your post-16 qualifications

Tue 18 June 2024 - 10:56

By UCAS in UCAS advice

The thought of what to do after your post-16 qualifications may appear daunting, but there are many options for you to consider. From carrying on in full-time study to getting a flavour of work with your qualification, this short blog post looks at your options.
 
Study full-time
There are a few options available to you if you wish to stay in full-time study. Here’s a selection of what you may be able to study:
  •  A levels – you usually study three subjects or more. There is a wide range of subjects available. They’re usually studied at the same time over two years.
  • Scottish Highers – the main qualification required for entry into higher education if you live in Scotland. There are over 60 subjects and you usually study four or five. Each Higher is made up of units – you need...

An International Student: Why I Decided to Apply to UK Universities

Thu 11 July 2024 - 12:35

By Coral Kim in International students

Moving to another country is a big leap. Moving to another country when you’re still a teenager and your adulthood has just begun – that’s an even bigger one. So applying to an overseas university is a difficult choice to make, and honestly, not for everyone.
 

But, as a Korean American faced with multiple options (Korean, American, and overseas unis), that’s the choice I made when I opened my UCAS account and applied to schools in England and Scotland. And maybe the one you will make as well. Here’s why.

 

1. The Degree Structure – What and How I Will Study
 

In some countries, notably America, going to university doesn’t always mean you will pick a course and study it for three/four years of your uni life. In some places, you will start studying your course of choice in your second or third year. In some places, you can choose two entirely different courses (Music and Physics, for example) and study them...

University Interviews For Journalism

Thu 19 December 2019 - 10:04

By Rebecca Thompson in First year

University interviews can be especially stressful, and even more so if you can’t find anything a little more specific for your subject choice. So, if you’re applying to Journalism courses, here are some useful tips!

Re-read Your Personal Statement

Make sure you re-read your personal statement on the way to the interview, that way if they ask you anything about what you’ve written, you’ll remember! Especially if you’ve written about books, blogs, or podcasts, you might remember them and give them a quick flick through or listen. Also, it might just be able to keep you that little more calm in the middle of the questions.

Brush Up On Your Journalism

It’s always good to know a little more about what you’re applying for, and when it comes to journalism, you might want to be aware of the current news (world news if it’s your interest) and have some journalists you look up to. Some journalists you might want...

My Honest Thoughts on Studying English!

Thu 19 December 2019 - 10:07

By Chloe Brewster in First year

As the demand for STEM subjects seemingly increases in our society, often students who are interested in pursuing a more artistic (and certainly less scientific!) route may feel neglected in terms of discovering what ‘arts’ degrees are like. One of these degrees is English Literature, which I am currently studying as a single-honours degree, although I will change to a joint-honours course with French (another ‘arts’ subject) from September. And what better way is there to discover what studying English is like than by hearing the thoughts of a current English student?

Be prepared for a lot of reading

Yes, it goes without saying that every degree requires a significant amount of reading – especially independent research which extends beyond what is covered in lectures and seminars – but English is definitely one of the most reading-heavy (if such a term exists!) subjects that you can study at university!

Of course, reading books is less of a chore...

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