Whether you want a high-flying career in business working for a large company or want to start your own business one day and become an entrepreneur, getting a business degree from a university is often the logical first step to take. But, with so many different universities around the UK, all offering a wide variety of different courses, you certainly have your work cut out for you when it comes to deciding which one is going to be the best fit for your studies. We’ve put together some top tips on choosing a university to study business at, to help you make the right decision.

Spend some time researching

Initially, you will want to spend some time researching so that you can shortlist some potential universities to apply to. If you are planning to apply via UCAS, you will be able to include up to five different universities or courses on your application, so try to narrow it down to this number. A comparison site like University Compare is a great place to start; using this site, you can learn more about popular universities with good business schools, like the University of East Anglia. You’ll be able to learn about the facilities, staff, success rates of previous students, and what everyday life studying at UEA is going to be like. You can also compare it with other universities.

Decide how you want to study

When it comes to getting a degree, there are several options available for how you can study. Perhaps you want the full, traditional university experience where you will learn in classrooms and live in student halls, or maybe you would prefer to study online so that you can continue working or running your own business. How you decide to study will completely depend on you and your needs in life right now, and remember that you still get the same degree qualification at the end; one isn’t any better than the other. For students who want to study online, there are increasing options to choose from including the Open University, with a huge track record of successful online students.

Visit some open days

Before you make your university application, you will want to explore the campuses and see what life is like at the university to make sure that it is the right fit for you. Don’t just think about the academic side of things and what the study facilities are like, but also consider what else is on offer for students and the kind of culture on campus. For example, if you are into sports, you might want the option to join a professional sports team and train on state-of-the-art facilities on campus. What are the common areas like? Is there a good student bar? What kind of events are on offer? Remember that there’s much more to the university experience than just studying, so opt for a uni that you’ll enjoy attending, too.

Speak to current and past students

Speaking to students who have already graduated from that university or are currently studying there is a great way to get a better idea of what to expect. Of course, you can always attend open days but these are designed to portray the university in the best light to prospective students, so the best way to find out what the experience is like from an honest perspective is to speak to somebody who’s currently living it or has lived it. Sites like The Student Room forums are really good for this as there are sub-forums for all the different universities in the UK, and you can ask questions and get answers anonymously. Or, you could try joining some Facebook groups for students at that particular university; many are filled with current students who are more than happy to help a prospective student out.

Consider the area

Another factor that you will want to consider when choosing a university is the area where it is located. This might not be so much of a big issue if you have decided to study online, but if you want to live and study on the campus, you’ll want to be in an area that you like, too. Think about how far away it is from home and whether you want to be close to home or don’t mind moving further away. And, what’s available in the area for students? Is there a doctor, a dentist and optician nearby? What are the shops like? If you’re not taking a car to university, what is the public transport like? What’s the nightlife like?

Finding a university that’s a good academic fit for you is important when studying for a business degree, but don’t just think about the learning facilities. Find out more about the university, what else they offer for students and what’s in the local area to pick somewhere that you will enjoy.

HR Future Staff Writer, United Kingdom.