Choosing a university: Why reputation matters
On your journey to choosing the right university for your needs, you’ll undoubtedly read dozens of articles and brochures packed with statistics and facts, like student enrolment, test scores, demographics, etc.
Trying to make sense of all those numbers can be intimidating at best and headache-inducing at worst.
There’s no need to overcomplicate things, though. As a prospective international student, you have enough to worry about already!
Really, there are four key elements to choosing the right university for your career goals – reputation, rankings, teaching quality, and employability prospects.
Let’s talk about one of the most important: the university’s reputation.
We’re not just talking about where the school lands in global league tables like QS World University Rankings, THE World Rankings, or the Shanghai Rankings.
We’re talking about how real people (and employers!) view the university.
Your university’s reputation affects you (and your career) more than you might think. Here’s how.
Why reputation is a key factor to consider when choosing a university
A university’s reputation goes far beyond numbers and rankings.
Consider world-class universities like Oxford and Cambridge. These exclusive schools have earned a global reputation for being among the best educational institutions in the world.
But how exactly do schools make a name for themselves?
Let’s look at a few of the key things that influence a school’s reputation.
The age of the university
Some of the best universities in the world are also the oldest. Cambridge has been a symbol of academic excellence in the UK since 1209.
Harvard was the first university to open its doors in the United States.
These schools have produced changemakers for centuries.
Among their prestigious alumni, you’ll find everything from government and industry moguls like Barack Obama and Mark Zuckerberg to world-class scientists like Stephen Hawking and Bill Gates.
Location, location, location
A university in the middle of London will offer more opportunities for employment and growth than, say, a small college in a secluded village.
Universities located in metropolitan areas that offer a variety of professional (and recreational) opportunities are more likely to receive high rankings.
Quality, not quantity
Just because a university is on the smaller side when it comes to student enrolment doesn’t mean it’s unpopular.
In fact, fewer students often means that the school is highly selective and competitive – which is a good thing!
The quality and variety of the courses and research opportunities offered also have a huge impact on a school’s status. (They’re also way more important than the school’s student count.)
Your university’s reputation affects your employability
Did you know that, out of all the universities in the UK, some of the world’s top employers source new hires from just 25 academic institutions on average?
Research by High Fliers shows employers actively marketed their graduate vacancies at a select group of universities.
The remaining 15 top universities on that list include:
⦁ Bath
⦁ Exeter
⦁ Edinburgh
⦁ London Imperial College
⦁ Sheffield
⦁ London School of Economics
⦁ Southampton
⦁ Loughborough
⦁ King’s College London
⦁ Newcastle
⦁ York
⦁ Cardiff
⦁ Leicester
⦁ Glasgow
⦁ Liverpool
The fact that employers source new hires from just a handful of universities doesn’t seem fair to individual students, particularly graduates from universities absent from this list.
After all, you have unique skills and abilities to offer, and your prospective employer should prioritize those over the university from which you earned your degree.
But, as the old saying goes, life isn’t fair, and the same applies to the job market.
The fact is that your potential employer might take one look at where your degree is from and decide you’re not the best fit for the job.
In fact, some employers are so selective that they only recruit new employees from specific universities based on their own experiences.
The best way to enhance your employability is to ensure your university has a good, if not excellent, reputation.
Not all reputations are created equal
Perhaps with the exception of ultra-famous universities like Oxford and Cambridge, not all universities have the same reputation in other countries.
You’ll need to do some market research to determine how your home country views your prospective university.
Remember, if the university you choose isn’t recognized internationally, your degree might not even be valid in your home country.
If you plan to fork out £22,000 annually, over a three-year period, for study in the UK – then you’d better make sure that’s not the case!
When in doubt, network
Let’s say you plan to return home after you finish your degree in the UK. You might already have some contacts in your chosen industry, you might not.
No matter where you plan to live and work after you graduate, it’s worth reaching out to professionals in your industry for suggestions on the best schools for that sector.
For example, if you hope to become a lawyer, you might contact some of the top lawyers in your country for advice on the best law schools.
If making direct contact isn’t an option, you can still research the top professionals in your industry to find out if there’s an overall preference for specific institutions.
Need more advice?
Choosing the right university can be daunting at best. This is a decision not to be taken lightly, and chances are you can use all the help and advice you can get.
Want to learn more about the international student experience from orientation to graduation?
Get a copy of the definitive guide for international students, International Student Pathfinder: The Essential Guide to UK Universities and Careers. Available worldwide on Amazon.
It is packed with advice about choosing the right university, how to maximize your study in the UK and so much more.
You can also see the Resources page for other useful information sources for students.
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Further reading on why university reputation matters
