10 Things you should really ask a university
Not sure what to ask a university? Don’t waste this opportunity! Below
are some things you really should enquire about when deciding where to
study abroad...
As you may know, you can ask a
university any questions which you have about them by clicking on the
‘Contact institution’ button whenever you see it on our site. This way
you can begin a conversation with them; let them get to know you; and
obtain all the information you need to make an informed decision about
where you study.
But what should you ask?
It can be easy to simply ask about the scholarship
opportunities they offer. However institutions receive hundreds of such
enquiries, so your message won’t stand out. The more unique or
personalised your question or enquiry, the more likely it will resonate
with the university staff member who reads it; it will be something
different from what they see normally.
There are a lot of other things you should be asking. Just think of
everything which you would want to know about a university you might be
studying at (especially one in a completely different country from your
own).
Here are some ideas to get you thinking about what you may ask...
‘Where can I live?’
Do you know what accommodation the institution offers? Is this
accommodation on or off-campus? How expensive is this accommodation and
what’s included? Are you guaranteed a place in on-campus accommodation
in your first year? What support is there to find accommodation
off-campus?
‘What’s the international student body like?’
What proportion of students currently enrolled are from overseas?
What countries do these students come from? Are there many students from
your own country? If so, are there any specific clubs or societies
which are tailored to students from here?
‘How is the course taught?’
Is the course taught through lectures, lab work or seminars? How many
students are in these classes? What is the structure of a normal
lecture/seminar? Will you work independently, or with one or more
students as part of group-work? How many hours can you expect to spend
on campus each week? Does this include face-time with your professors in
their office hours?
‘What would you study specifically on a course?’
Can you get some specific details on the material you’ll be studying
i.e. specific authors or cases? How much depth would you go into? Do you
get to choose the modules you take? Or is there a core curriculum which
is mandatory for everyone?
‘What have previous graduates on this course gone on to do?’
Does the university have any notable alumni in your field? Perhaps
someone famous who you look up to? What companies or organisations are
these alumni now working for which you might be able to apply to later
too? Could you get work experience with one of these companies or
alongside one of these individuals? Are there any unusual paths which
graduates have gone down which might not be obvious?
‘What should I study if I want to study at a higher level later?’
If you have aspirations to study at postgraduate level or a further
study level, what should you study before that (i.e. at undergraduate
level)? What courses does the university offer which you could study
which would allow you to make this progression? Are there
pathways or
pre-masters courses available?
‘Can you confirm the application deadlines?’
When are these deadlines? Are there different deadlines for students
from different countries? What are the deadlines for scholarship
applications for these courses? What do you need to provide by this
date?
‘What’s the local area like?’
Why should you study in that region? What are the main attractions?
Is there much of a nightlife? How easy is it to get around by public
transport? Is it a major student town, or a mix of ages and backgrounds?
‘How can the university help me find employment after I complete my course?’
Does the university have links to local, national or international
industries or organisations? Are any of these in the same field as
you’re studying? Is there a careers department or service on campus? Are
there are opportunities to complete work experience or practical work
as part of your course?
And if you really must, ask about scholarships (but ask the right way)...
Universities
will
respond to enquiries about scholarships; but only if they’re specific
and indicate that the student is passionate about studying at that
institutions.