£27,000 is a lot of money, and as a potential university student you want to find the perfect subject to spend it on. But picking that subject can be a challenge. Unless you have a clear goal in mind picking something to spend that amount of money on is daunting to say the least. Today I am going to run through a few ways which might help you narrow down your choice and also chat about a few things you are going to want to consider before picking a university subject.

So the time has come to choose a subject and you are stuck. You don’t know what you want to do with your life (and not everyone does), but you know you want to go to university. So take a step back from the panic that is finding a course and start with yourself. What do you love? What do you spend your free time doing? What are your passions? Make a list of answers for the above three questions (feel free to add your own).

Now take your list and start looking at the courses on offer. While you might not find playing video games or watching movies as a subject, you will almost certainly find things that relate to your hobbies. Video games = game design. Movie going = media studies/film.

Field work over the summer for BSc (Hons) Archaeology

You can do this for almost anything. It is important to choose something that you love as you will be spending at least three years studying it at a very intense level.

But what if you literally have no hobbies or passions that you want to study at university? Well let me tell you a secret. It is also ok to pick a course that simply sounds interesting. However this is something that should be done with care. If you are choosing a subject like this I would advise you get as much information about the subject beforehand. Getting to university to find out that the course that had looked so interesting online is in fact full of heavy reading and really not something you enjoy is a bummer to say the least. So research first.

On the other hand it can be a great way to find a new passion and direction in life. Many people do find that the course that they had picked using this method is something they love and are really glad they chose it.

It is also important to consider a few things when choosing a subject to study at university. Firstly that you are going to be spending three years minimum on this subject. If you hate it, that is going to be a long three years. Don’t do a course because your family want you to do it, or just because your best friend is doing it.

Secondly, and very importantly, don’t be afraid to change your mind. Universities are there to help you. If you find that you picked the wrong subject don’t suffer and certainly don’t worry. Talk to the uni about whether you can transfer to a different subject. The university isn’t going to be offended, they want you to enjoy your time – maybe you’ll even come back and do a Master’s! So go and talk to someone and get help.

Finally, and I say this with some experience, don’t let people talk you out of doing something you love. People will have their own ideas and opinions, and while you can listen to them don’t let people stop you from following your dreams. If you love something and are willing to work hard for it you can get a job/make money doing nearly anything. So follow your heart, and don’t be afraid to change your mind and grow. That is university and the point of the whole experience.

By Amy Potts