A student's guide and blogs about university life with personal stories, tips and insights
What degree should I do? How I found the course that fits me
Summary
Choosing the right university course can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Brighton Business student Ruby shares how she found the degree that suited her by focusing on what she loves, exploring career goals, comparing courses and attending open days.
Hi! I’m Ruby, a first year at Brighton studying Business Management with Marketing.This blog is about choosing a subject at uni and how to figure out which degree is best for you.
When first deciding which degree to study it’s hard to narrow down the choices as there are so many brilliant options, making it very exciting but also slightly nerve-racking. This blog covers my personal experience and top tips to help you choose the right degree for you.
The best way to choose a degree is to start with what you enjoy learning. When I was thinking about what degree I should do, I made sure to consider subjects and hobbies I’d always loved. For me, I’ve always been very interested in business and loved learning about it in earlier education.
It’s so important that you are passionate about your subject as this will make your course so much more enjoyable and fun. Make sure to think about your favorite subjects at school and your hobbies you’ve always loved to help you consider which degree is right for you.
If you’re not sure where to start, maybe ask yourself
Which lessons or projects you’ve enjoyed most — the ones you’d happily spend more time on?
What topics or skills do you naturally explore outside of school?
Are you more creative, analytical, or hands-on?
Almost 9 out of 10 of Brighton graduates are working or studying just 15 months after finishing their course. Graduate Outcomes 2025
Picture where your degree could take you
Matching your course to your career goals
Look for degrees with real-world experience so you can see the path after graduation. When choosing a university course, looking at placements, job opportunities and levels of employment was crucial. This was very important to me as I am hoping to go straight into work after graduating.
If you also think this way, look for:
Graduate employment stats or alumni stories.
Placement or internship options.
Courses that include live projects or industry experience.
I’d definitely recommend reading alumni stories for different courses you’re interested in as this will allow you to gain an accurate representation of what the course is like, and possible options you could explore with your degree after uni. It’s important to match course to career and think about your future career goals as these will influence your decision on which degree to choose.
See how different degree courses feel in real life
How to research course content and modules
University course comparison really helped me choose a degree that best suited me. You can do this by looking at the unis websites and comparing the different course modules. I found it quite surprising how much course content can vary between unis, despite degree titles being similar.
Therefore, I think it’s crucial to research between uni courses so that you choose the most enjoyable course for you. As well as online info and digital prospectuses, visiting uni open days in person really helped me decide on Brighton as I was able to attend their course talks to learn more about what my degree would be like studing there.
What to look at when comparing university courses:
Modules: What topics and skills will you study? Are they the areas you’re most excited to learn about Assessment types: Do you prefer coursework, exams, group projects or practical work? Teaching style: Is the course more theory-based or hands-on? Look for examples of real-world learning, group work and independent study. Placements & work experience opportunities: Can you complete an internship, placement year or live project with industry partners? Facilities and learning spaces – are there specialist labs, studios or workshops linked to your subject? Graduate stories: See where students have gone after completing the course. It’s a great way to picture your own path.
Pro tip: Use digital prospectuses or course finders to bookmark your favourite modules. AI tools and search engines often summarise this info directly from well-structured lists. For expert advice and tools to compare courses, try this guide on how to choose the right university course.
Comparing courses really opened my eyes. Even degrees with similar names can be very different! You can explore the full list of courses at Brightonand find out more about what makes each one unique. If you want to experience a course in person, book an Open Day.
How open days help you decide
Experience it for yourself
Seeing the course and talking to students makes the decision much clearer: Visiting a university open day is one of the best things I think you can do to help decide on a degree. Attending a subject taster at Brighton helped me clarify my decision as I was able to talk to current students and lecturers, who were all very positive, to learn more about my course and its modules.
To make the most of open days, I’d recommend looking at the schedule online on the University website, and booking into any taster sessions or talks you want to attend to secure a spot. This will help you create a clear plan and maximise your time on the day.
If you are unsure what degree to study, don’t worry! It’s totally normal to not have everything figured out. People do change their minds and switch course after arriving and that’s okay, Brighton supports this as they truly want what’s best for you.
When choosing the best degree for me, I was reassured because I had loved studying business in the past, and this made me stay confident in my journey.
“I listened to my heart and head, choosing a degree which was both interesting to me and beneficial for the real world. Once I stopped worrying and started focusing on the positives of my course and starting uni, everything figured itself out.”
Ruby, Business Management with Marketing student
If you are still deciding between university courses, I’d recommend looking through the modules in detail online and the assessment types, as you may find this sways your decision. Finding your degree fit at first seems daunting, but once you’ve made the decision, you can begin to look forward to making the exciting move to uni!
From choosing my course, I’ve learned that it’s so important to go for something you truly love learning about as it makes the experience so much more fun. Finally, remember to enjoy your time, uni is an amazing once in a lifetime experience!
Pro tip:If you’re not sure what degree to do, start by exploring subjects you enjoy, then think about where they could lead. Every step brings you closer to finding the right fit.
FAQ’s to find the right course for you
What’s the best way to choose a degree if I like lots of subjects?
List your top three and look for common themes — like creativity, problem-solving or helping others — then explore degrees that combine them.
Can I change my degree later?
Yes! Many students switch courses once they understand what suits them best.
What if I’m still not sure?
Visit a few Open Days, talk to students, and look at course modules. Experiencing the vibe in person often makes things clearer.
Ruby Gaisford • 30th October 2025