Choosing and applying
Choosing your university course is one of the most exciting steps towards your future. It’s your chance to focus on what you love, discover new interests, and start building the skills and experience to achieve your ambitions.
Finding the right course takes time and research, but it’s worth it. Here’s how to choose a university course and make the process easy and rewarding.
Follow your interests
Think about what you genuinely enjoy – subjects, activities or topics you can’t get enough of. Whether you love solving problems, creating ideas, helping people or understanding how things work, your passions can guide you towards a degree you enjoy and stick with.
Play to your strengths
What are you naturally good at? Your exam results, teacher feedback or hobbies might highlight your strengths. Choosing a course that builds on these helps you feel confident and motivated throughout your studies.
Explore your options
Don’t limit your search to one area. Look at job sites, graduate profiles or the National Careers Service to see what roles interest you and what qualifications they require. You might find new career paths that connect your skills and interests in unexpected ways.
Plan ahead
Think about your long-term goals. Some careers need specific qualifications or professional accreditation, while others value transferable skills such as communication, teamwork and problem solving. Check course entry requirements early to make sure you’re on the right track and know what grades or experience you need for your application.
Discover what’s on offer
Teesside offers a wide range of degrees – from animation and engineering to psychology and policing – designed with employers to help you develop real-world skills. You gain experience, confidence and the knowledge to make a difference in your chosen field.
Undergraduate coursesHow to apply
If you’re applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at Teesside University, you apply through UCAS. UCAS lets you apply for up to five courses at once, and applications open in September the year before your course starts.
What to include
When you submit your university course application, make sure you include:
- all qualifications – achieved and predicted
- a clear personal statement showing your enthusiasm for your chosen subject
- any relevant experience, work placements or projects.
Your school, college or referee will add a reference before your application is submitted.
Get tips for writing a personal statement and advice from our students and staff
What happens next
Once your application is submitted, universities will review it and send decisions through UCAS. If you receive multiple offers, you choose a firm (first choice) and an insurance (backup) offer.
You can track your application and reply to offers in your UCAS Hub.
Stay organised
Applying to university can feel like a big process, but planning helps. Keep track of important dates, entry requirements and tasks.
Use our handy checklist to keep on track with your application