Beyond the rankings: what really matters in a university?

Once you've determined your career path, it's essential to ensure that your chosen university will adequately prepare you for that profession.

Begin by verifying if the university's courses and modules are up-to-date and if the institution is research-focused and current in your specialized area. Investigate the professors' portfolio and teaching experience, as this will form the core of your university experience. While some information may be available on university rankings, it's often more detailed on the university's academic staff webpages.

After your research, you might discover that the most relevant academics and authors in your field are professors at one of the other universities you are considering for your application.

Ensuring your safety wherever you go is paramount.

Start by examining the city where the university is located. Investigate its safety record, crime rates, and the operating hours of public transport in the area.

Additionally, visit the university's official website to see if they have their own security services on campus and in student accommodation sites. Your safety should be one of the university's top priorities.

Feeling supported is just as essential as feeling safe.

By support, I don't mean just your friends, but professional staff equipped to handle various issues students might face. This encompasses financial problems and advice, health and well-being services, general student services, the Student's Union, or even library services.

Since your studies will span several years, it's wise to create a financial plan.

If you're moving away from home, this plan should encompass living costs, travel expenses, tuition fees, study materials, and more.

That's why it's crucial to explore all options related to funding and scholarships to see if your desired university offers any financial support. Some universities cover tuition fees, some provide one-time stipends, and some offer a combination of both. For many students, this financial support becomes a deciding factor when choosing the university to apply to.

When you're not studying, you'll probably want to relax, socialise, or find a hobby.

Many universities offer the opportunity to join student societies or clubs within their student union or student services. These societies and clubs function like small university-based organisations that you can join for little to no cost. They can be sports, art, religion, social, or hobby-based. At my university, there's even a Harry Potter society for all fans!

Another thing to check is if your campus has sports facilities such as a gym or a swimming pool where you can take care of your mind and body, usually for a much smaller price than off-campus options.

And, of course, at the end of the day, you'll probably want to grab something to eat or have a drink with your friends, so an on-campus pub or a café is a must. Take a little virtual tour of the campus and explore the possibilities.

All these factors are rarely included in university rankings. Rankings are still very useful for checking out a university's research opportunities and successes, number of international students, size, and number of overall students and similar.

However, for details such as what we covered above, you'll probably need to check each and every university website online to see what they offer and what the university's current students and alumni are saying.