UCAS subject guides project

The UCAS subject guides are a key component of the discovery journey for students considering their post-18 options. We know that around 40% of prospective students have an idea of which subjects they would like to study post-18, but are looking for information and guidance in where those subjects can take them.

Our subject guides are currently viewed by 1.5 million users every year, so they already have a huge audience of prospective students that they speak to. However, we believe that our subject guides can work even harder for our users, which is why we have started a large rebuild project over the last few months.

Objectives

Our objectives with the subject guide rebuild are as follows:

• To give students an easier way of navigating their subject choices, in a way which is consistent with the language and terminology that they encounter in schools and from prospective university choices.
• To inspire and excite students with engaging content around how that subject area can make a difference to both the world and themselves personally.
• To appeal to younger students using a lighter tone of voice and more digestible, bite-size content and more accessible design.
• To better demonstrate the routes into specific careers from subject areas, and also show the transferable skills that studying a subject can build for future career prospects.
• To showcase all routes that are available to students in those subject areas, including degree apprenticeships and Higher Technical Qualifications.
• To give students a clear idea of what it will be like to study that subject from engaging peer to peer content and case studies.
• To give students and parents expert advice on how to shine in their application in that subject area, whichever route they might be choosing.

Subject guides 2.0

The subject list

We have proposed a change to our subject list, both to expand the number of subjects we feature and also to rationalise subject areas that were previously either too broad or too niche. We have also reorganised our subject list to fit HESA's Common Aggregation Hierarchy (CAH).

Proposed new subject list

New content

• Impact and what you will study: Quick takeaways on the topics you might be studying as part of that subject and the impact you could have on the world around you by pursuing that subject.
• Real examples of assignments and projects from courses in that subject area: To demonstrate the kind of work they would be doing if they choose that subject area.
• Subjects to study: Using the data from our 'What to study next' tool, we show common routes into this subject area at pre-18 level, but also unexpected routes into studying this subject.
• Famous people who've studied this subject: Profiles of notable graduates from this subject area.
• Hero video: A video about the subject designed to excite and inspire, including content from universities and employers.

• Careers information: Including labour market information in this area, average salary data, related career profiles and routes into those careers and unexpected career routes.
• Entry requirements guide: Grade ranges, expert views on what qualifications are expected and information on how to apply for related apprenticeships.
• Chat to current students: The opportunity to chat to current students studying that subject through UniBuddy, including conversation starters and key questions to ask to help guide the chat.
• Student testimonial: Video insight from students currently studying the subject.
• Week in the life: Social posts and photo dumps from students currently studying the subject.
• What students love / were surprised about: Testimony from students about what they love about their subject and what surprised them.
• Related podcasts: Advice and guidance from expert panels of academics, employers and current students and apprentices.
• Courses / apprenticeships / technical qualifications: A filter for courses, apprenticeships and technical qualifications in the subject area.

• Application advice: Skills and experiences to refer to in your application.
• Personal statement guidance: Subject-specific personal statement guides and annotated versions of real personal statements for that subject area.
• Explore further: Recommended podcasts, YouTube channels and apps to explore the subject in more detail.

How to get involved

If you would like to be involved in the creation of the new subject guides, or have feedback on the detail above, please complete our subject guide survey for providers. We appreciate all input and feedback from the sector.