Practical tips for starting to research university courses that fit your interests and boost your chances of an offer, while keeping your options open.

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Choosing a university course can feel like a huge decision, and in some ways, it is. But it doesn’t have to be stressful. With a bit of research and an open mind, you can find courses and universities that suit your interests, your strengths, and your life.

Best of all, nothing you choose now is set in stone. You have far more freedom and flexibility than you might think.

Start with what you enjoy, not just what pays well

If you are already certain about your careers goals and know what qualifications you need, then your decision making is going to be a bit easier and you can skip right to exploring universities and their offerings, to find the best match for you.

If you’re 100% sure what you want to do for a career yet (that’s totally normal by the way), it might be tempting to pick a course based on what you’ve heard about salaries or job security. Those are important factors to consider, but you’ll do better in a course, and afterwards in a career, if you actually enjoy the subject. Think about which classes you look forward to at school. Think about what you read about in your spare time, causes that motivate you, or what you’d happily talk about for hours.

Once you have a shortlist of subjects, look at the different universities offerings and look into what each course entails, don’t assume all courses with the same name are identical. One university’s psychology degree might focus heavily on research and statistics. Another might lean more towards clinical practice. Small differences could have a big impact on how much you enjoy your studies.

Check the entry requirements carefully

Every course has entry requirements, and these can vary a lot between universities, even for the same subject. Look up the grades, subjects, and any extra requirements like portfolios, interviews, or admissions tests. Happy with everything and confident you’ll meet the requirements? Great, keep it on your short list. A little unsure, perhaps add it to the maybe or dream pile for now. If you haven’t studied one of the prerequisite subjects before, or you think the grades might be unachievable even after applying yourself in school more, you could look at similar courses with different requirements, consider alternative pathways, or revisit this idea down the track as a post graduate option.

University websites usually list all this information clearly, but if you’re unsure, contact the future students or admissions team directly. They answer these questions every day and would rather help you now than have you apply for the wrong course.

Remember, you’re allowed more than one option

You don’t have to pick just one course or one university. Most application systems let you list several choices (preferences), so use that to your advantage. Or if you’re applying directly to universities, remember you can apply to as many as you want – just make sure you have enough time and bear in mind any application fees.

A good approach is to pick a dream course, one that excites you even if the entry requirements are high, alongside a couple of more realistic options. This way, you’re not putting all your hopes on a single outcome. If you don’t receive an offer for your dream course, you’ll still have solid choices lined up.

You can change your mind later

Students sometimes treat their university choice like a final decision, but that’s simply not true. You can always change your mind after submitting your application, and many people do. You can even change your mind after you’ve enrolled and started on a course.

Universities are used to students switching courses, transferring to different institutions, or taking a break partway through. None of this ruins your future. If a course isn’t what you expected, or your interests shift, there are usually options to move sideways, defer, or restart on a path that suits you better.

Not sure about university? That’s fine too

If you’re feeling unsure about university altogether, or you don’t receive the offer you were hoping for, don’t stress – you still have plenty of choices. Alternative pathways, gap years, apprenticeships, traineeships, and other learning options are all valid ways to build your future.

Some people take a gap year to work, travel, or simply figure out what they want. Others start with a vocational course, apprenticeship, or start working straight away and move into university study later, once they know exactly what they want to study. There’s no single correct order to do things in, and taking a different route doesn’t necessarily hold you back as you’ll still be learning, building skills, and gaining valuable life experience that’s recognised by education institutions as well as employers.

Where to start your research

A good first step is to look up open days, whether in person or virtual, for universities you’re interested in. These give you a feel for campus life, teaching styles, facilities, and student support services, things you can’t fully judge from a website alone. Talk to current students if you get the chance, they’ll usually give you the most honest picture of what a course is really like.

It also helps to make a simple list for each course you’re considering including what you’d study, the entry requirements, the location, and anything that stands out as a bonus or a drawback. Comparing these side by side can really help with decision making rather than trying to hold it all in your head (it’s also easier to show parents and carers why how and why you’re making those choices).

Ready to start exploring?

Researching universities and courses takes time, but it’s time well spent. Focus on what genuinely interests you, keep your options open by choosing a mix of ambitious and realistic courses, and remember that nothing is set in stone. This is your path and you get to decide what’s right for you.

Head over to our university section for more information or use Course Seeker to start researching courses today.

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