Resources

Student guides

Expert advice on choosing courses, applying to university, and understanding graduate data.

Getting Started

How to Choose the Right University Course

A comprehensive guide to comparing courses using data, not just league tables.

Start with outcomes, not reputation

League tables rank universities, but what matters most is what happens after you graduate. Look at graduate salary data, employment rates, and student satisfaction scores for specific courses — not just the university name.

Compare like for like

A Computer Science degree at one university may have very different outcomes to the same subject at another. Use tools like Course Map to compare the exact same course across multiple institutions. Focus on median salary at 15 months and 5 years post-graduation.

Check the NSS scores

The National Student Survey asks final-year students about teaching quality, assessment, academic support, and resources. Scores above 80% are generally strong. Below 65% should prompt further research.

Consider the full picture

Look at entry requirements (UCAS tariff points), sandwich year options, accreditations from professional bodies, and whether graduates go into professional-level employment. A course with lower entry grades but high professional employment rates may be the smarter choice.

Data

Understanding Graduate Salary Data

What LEO and GO data actually measure, and how to interpret the numbers.

Two sources of salary data

Course Map uses two official datasets: Graduate Outcomes (GO) surveys graduates 15 months after finishing, and Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) tracks earnings via HMRC tax records at 3 and 5 years post-graduation.

Median vs mean

We show the median salary — the middle value. This is more reliable than the average because a few extremely high or low earners cannot skew the figure. The lower and upper quartiles show the range most graduates fall within.

Why some courses show N/A

Data is suppressed when fewer than 52.5 graduates responded, or when the response rate is below a threshold. This protects individual privacy. It does not mean the course is bad — it may simply be small.

Regional context matters

A £25,000 salary goes further in Newcastle than London. Consider living costs when comparing salaries. The salary map on Course Map helps you see regional differences clearly.

Applications

UCAS Application Tips for 2025/26

Everything you need to know about applying through UCAS — timelines, personal statements, and references.

Key dates

The UCAS application opens in September. The Oxbridge and medicine deadline is 15 October. The main deadline for all other courses is 31 January. UCAS Extra opens in February for applicants without offers.

Personal statement

You have 4,000 characters. Start with why you are passionate about this subject — use specific examples. Mention relevant books, MOOCs, work experience, or projects. Avoid generic phrases like "I have always been interested in...".

Choosing 5 courses

You can apply to up to 5 courses. Use Course Map to compare outcomes across your shortlist. Consider mixing ambitious and realistic choices based on your predicted grades and the entry tariff data we show.

References

Your school writes a reference, but they can only include what they know. Make sure your teachers are aware of your extracurricular achievements, any mitigating circumstances, and your commitment to the subject.

Finance

Student Finance Explained

How tuition fees and maintenance loans work, and what you actually have to pay back.

Tuition fees

Most UK universities charge £9,250 per year. You do not pay this upfront — it is covered by a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England (or equivalent). You only start repaying after you earn above the threshold.

Maintenance loan

This covers living costs and depends on household income. The maximum is around £13,022 in London or £9,978 elsewhere (2024/25 rates). Many students supplement this with part-time work or savings.

Repayment

For Plan 5 loans (starting 2023/24), you repay 9% of income above £25,000. If you earn £30,000, you repay £450 per year (£37.50/month). The loan is written off after 40 years. It is more like a graduate tax than a traditional debt.

Is it worth it?

On average, graduates earn £10,000 more per year than non-graduates. Over a 40-year career, that is £400,000 more in lifetime earnings. Use the salary trajectory data on each course page to see whether a specific course delivers a good return.

Alternatives

Degree Apprenticeships vs University

Comparing the earn-while-you-learn route with a traditional degree. Pros, cons, and salary outcomes.

What is a degree apprenticeship?

A level 6 or 7 apprenticeship that combines a full degree with paid on-the-job training. Your employer pays your tuition fees and you earn a salary from day one. Popular fields include digital, engineering, finance, and healthcare.

Pros

No tuition debt, immediate salary (typically £18,000-£25,000 while studying), guaranteed work experience, and often a job offer at the end. Employers include the NHS, Deloitte, Amazon, BAE Systems, and many more.

Cons

Highly competitive (some have lower acceptance rates than Oxbridge), limited subject range, less flexibility to change career direction, and you may miss the traditional university social experience.

How to choose

If you know the industry you want to enter and can secure a place, a degree apprenticeship can be an excellent route. If you want broader exploration, the flexibility to study abroad, or a subject not available as an apprenticeship, university is the better choice.

Finance

The ROI of a UK Degree in 2025

Is a degree still worth it? We crunch the numbers on cost, earnings, and break-even points.

The cost

A 3-year degree costs roughly £63,000 in total: £27,750 in tuition fees plus approximately £35,000 in living costs. You also forgo 3 years of potential earnings (roughly £63,000 at minimum wage). The total opportunity cost is around £126,000.

The return

The average graduate earns £10,000 more per year than a non-graduate. At this premium, you break even in about 12-13 years. But averages hide huge variation: STEM and healthcare graduates often break even in 5-7 years, while some creative arts graduates may never fully recoup the investment financially.

Course-level data matters

A degree is not a blanket investment — it depends entirely on what you study and where. Economics at LSE has a very different ROI from English Literature at a lower-ranked institution. Check the salary trajectory on each course page to see the real numbers.

Beyond money

University also provides personal development, a professional network, intellectual growth, and access to careers that legally require a degree (medicine, law, engineering). The ROI calculation should include these intangible benefits too.