Preparing for University

Courses at UU

There are a lot of study options available to you through UCAS – over 300 institutions including universities, colleges of higher education, and Further Education colleges; all offering a wide range of courses.

It is important that you research all the choices open to you when you are thinking of studying at university. As well as reading the prospectus, and going online for the most up-to-date information on courses it is a good idea to take the opportunity to visit the university, either through an organised visit with your school/college or with your family.

Open Days and Information Sessions

Our annual Open Days are a huge and popular event that usally take place during September on the Coleraine, Jordanstown and Magee campuses. Please note that for those students who wish to study at the Belfast campus, there are separate Open Days held in June. Schools/Colleges will be informed of dates of these events.

Visiting us during Open Days is a must if you want to experience what life as a student would be like at Ulster. About 15,000 pupils will visit us during this week. We organise a very exciting programme of events which will give you the opportunity to chat to staff and students about all aspects of university life.

You can attend general and subject-specific talks, take a tour of our on-campus facilities including accommodation, study facilities in our libraries, Sports Centre and Students’ Union. You can also grab a snack on-campus in one of our cafés, coffee bars, or restaurants. Each campus has its own individual personality and we hope that you take the opportunity to experience this during Open Days.

University is also about fun, so we make a real event of each Open day, with local radio stations providing top-class entertainment and great prize giveaways. There really is lots to see and do. You'll see that Uni life is a change from school but don't worry – it's a positive change. And we think it is really important to help you make that change by offering a number of support services to you.

Attend Careers Events

Your school/college will probably arrange for you to attend a number of careers events during the year to ensure that you get lots of advice and information to help you make those all important decisions – which university to choose and which course to study.

Not only will we be at the two major careers events – UCAS Higher Education Convention, Belfast and Irish Times Higher Options event, Dublin – but also local fairs organised by individual schools and colleges. Look out for us at an event near you and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have and discuss the courses that interest you.

Keeping you informed

Pick up a copy of the Undergraduate Prospect at your school/college Careers Office. Please ensure that you check our online prospectus for the most up to date information.

We produce 'The Right Choice' which you can also pick up careers fairs and this gives a list of all the courses available at Ulster and information on the University itself.

There are all sorts of publications and websites available that offer help in choosing courses, some being of more help than others. League tables, which are published in newspapers, rank universities on their performance in different areas; however the criteria can vary which can make it hard to accurately draw comparisons. What you do need to know is that the quality of teaching is measured in all UK universities and we have had consistently excellent results (including some perfect scores) in the assessments to date.

So research your choices, be inquisitive, ask questions and remember – we are here to help!