Choosing Your University

The question most frequently asked is: "Which is the best university for studying my chosen subject?" There are no meaningful answers to such a question.

In principle, a degree from Brighton is every bit as good as a degree from Oxford, and a first class degree is always better than a third class degree. Furthermore, universities change rapidly; it is dangerous to rely on the accumulated wisdom of others. Departments can go up and down as tutors and professors move on; courses come and go, reputations are often based on false impressions and prejudice.

But it is not just the courses you will be looking at; what about the location of a university? Does it match the sort of place where you want to be? It is crucial that you visit universities yourself and ask questions when you are there. The page on prospectuses and open days tells you what to look for and what to ask.

What about Oxbridge? Yes, Oxford and Cambridge are hard to get into. The application procedures are different. And above all they will not be interested in you unless you have genuine intellectual enthusiasm. The Oxbridge page tells you everything you need to know.

Increasingly, Tonbridge boys are looking beyond UK shores for their higher education, and several apply to American universities. There has also been an interest recently in Australian, Hong Kong and Irish universities. As with all other non-UK institutions, these are outside the UCAS system. Follow these links to find out more about American universities and Australian universities.

But you should start here, the page that tells you everything you need to know about choosing your university in general.