How do I choose which university degree to study?

One stage of your life comes to a close when you finish high school and another begins when you decide what your next step will be. This decision will determine the path of your future career and many people find that deciding what they want to do at such a young age isn’t easy. Even so, many people make this decision and then change their mind at a later date, and this shouldn’t be viewed as a mistake but rather as a learning opportunity.

Why is it an important decision?

This choice will determine how the next phase of your life begins and is not to be taken lightly. You have to give it careful thought and start to make moves towards it during the final phase of your high school studies by choosing subjects which reflect your strengths and will help you fulfil your aspirations for the future.

It’s important to stress how crucial this moment is for your future career as there are many people who finish high school without knowing what they want to do and this makes having to decide what to study at university more stressful. This stress can be avoided by talking about what you want to do next and starting to think about it early so you’re not left without any idea of what you’re going to do.

Initiative is important, as is communication with those around you so they can give you advice and guidance, although the final decision is yours.

Can I change degree if I make a mistake?

Although this is an important decision, it is also a difficult one. While it’s great that many people are certain about what they want to study, if you’re not sure yet, don’t worry because you can always change your mind.

If you choose a degree and once you start the course you regret your decision, you can always change course as long as you have the documentation you need in order to do so.

Each university has their own admissions criteria and, in general, reserves a number of places for people who want to make this kind of change and it’s usually straightforward to persuade them to admit you. They usually ask you for information about the degree you are currently studying and the credits you have already earned to see how many course credits they can validate so they count towards your new degree.

Finally, in addition to changing your degree you may also decide to change university. In this case, when you’ve been admitted you must request the transfer of your academic transcript to the new institution.

How to choose which degree to study

1. Consider your strengths and weaknesses
   You have to know yourself and drill down into what motivates you and what you’d like to do every day for a long time. It’s also important to remember that, although you would like to enter a certain career, it doesn’t mean you have the ability to do so. After all, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. We also recommend you do a vocational guidance test which, although it’s only a guide, will help you progress, refine your list of likes, and guide you towards future decisions.
2. Find out about the job opportunities the degree will give you
   Speak to people you admire or who have a job you find attractive. Also approach people who have studied the degree which interests you or something similar so they can tell you about their experiences and how they felt when they finished the course. In this way you’ll have a better understanding of what it might be like for you when you finish your university studies.
3. Research the degree which interests you
   Talking to others is important, but you must do your own research about what you are planning to do. Find out about the career paths the degree will offer you, where you could work, what positions you could apply for and the type of salary you could hope to earn. In this way you’ll have a clearer idea of all the pros and cons of the degree.
4. Think about the subjects you are best at
   Maybe maths is your strong point and you’ve never been brilliant at retaining the large chunks of text needed for history, perhaps you’re a budding artist and your best grades have always been in subjects which prize creativity or you’ve always enjoyed biology and are fascinated whenever the teacher talks about microorganisms. It’s important to pay attention to your instincts and your abilities, know where you shine, and then use this information to decide what you want to do in the future.
5. Interests and hobbies
   When you have finished your academic obligations, what are you going to do with your free time? Do you like to play football with friends, stay in playing video games, or do you like to go hiking in the mountains or woods? Know yourself.
6. Find out about the university and course syllabi

   Once you have chosen a degree, you have to decide where to study. Before making a decision, find out as much as you can about the specific university you are thinking about attending. Ask the universities for their course syllabi, find out about the teachers and their teaching methods and the experience of other students.

We hope these tips have been helpful when it comes to choosing your degree.