June 30, 2022
A guide to choosing the right bachelor’s degree
The process of considering which bachelor’s degree you should get is arguably one of the most important decisions you’ll make throughout your education. It can shape your career, your future salary and, to a large part, the path you take in life.
Even before you choose your A levels it’s a good idea to have a rough idea about what you might want to study at university. This way you can ensure that you have the required qualifications to get onto the course you want to do.
A bachelor’s degree is one of the most popular forms of undergraduate degrees and most universities offer them in a wide range of subjects. For instance, at Abu Dhabi University (ADU), prospective students can take their pick from an array of top-quality Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree programs.
This includes:
- Mass Communication
- Business Administration
- Architecture
- Chemical Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Software Engineering
- Cybersecurity Engineering
- Environmental Health and Safety
- Human Nutrition and Dietetics
- Molecular and Medical Genetics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering - Robotics and Automation
- Mechanical Engineering - Industrial Mechatronics
When studying full time, most bachelor’s degrees last three to four years and they are assessed through a combination of exams, essays and assignments. Some might also even include a year of industry work experience or opportunities to study abroad.
Below are a few tips and guidelines that can assist you in working out which bachelor’s degree is right for you...
Invest in your passions
If you’ve decided that you want to study a bachelor’s degree at university, the next step is to define what subject you wish to focus on.
If you have a particular career in mind, such as engineering, journalism or nursing, it’s fairly straightforward to work out which degree is right for you.
Questions to ask yourself when considering which bachelor’s degree to choose
However, if you still don’t know what you want to do in the future, you can start by asking yourself the below questions:
- Which subjects do I enjoy studying?
- What are my talents and what am I particularly good at?
- What do I see myself doing after university?
- What are the most employable degrees?
- What kind of job do I want?
For instance, if you’re an analytical thinker who enjoys problem solving, then you might be best suited to a technology or computer engineering-based degree. Whereas if you enjoy making new connections and working with people, a degree in communications might be more appropriate.
Choosing a subject that you enjoy and you’re passionate about means you're more likely to achieve a higher grade than if you choose a subject you don’t really like, but think it will one day help you earn a high salary. Whilst it’s important the salaries that come with each career, don’t let that totally dictate your choice of bachelor’s degree.
2. Leave your options open
That said, you don’t need to put too much pressure on yourself to decide exactly what you want to do before you even start university.
A lot of graduate jobs just require candidates to be educated to degree level, and the particular discipline doesn’t really matter.
Not only that, but non-vocational degrees like English, politics and history can also be used to enter a wide range of careers and they leave you with plenty of options.
Finally, if you find you don’t enjoy your chosen bachelor’s or you’re struggling a lot with it, it is perfectly possible to switch courses once you have started it.
3. Consider programme entry requirements
One easy way to narrow down which bachelor’s degree is right for you is to look at the programme’s entry requirements for each course.
Look for courses that match your A-level results or predicted A-levels, or ones that accept students with the specific qualifications that you possess.
It’s also an idea to research application deadlines (you might find some accept late entries and others don’t) and what the course requirements are like, including how many hours of lectures and seminars and how many essays and practical assignments they include. If you’re someone who hates exams, then you might want to choose a course that is also assessed via essays, whereas if writing long pieces isn’t for you, then make sure you avoid courses with lots of written assessments.
4. Explore what the best university is for you
Once you have decided on your bachelor’s degree, the next step is to work out where you are going to study it.
Narrow down a list of universities that suit your budget and locational preferences, and start finding out more about each one by checking out their websites and social media platforms. You’ll want to know details about the teaching methods and facilities they offer, and what kind of student experience they provide in terms of social events and extra-curricular activities.
A good way of getting a proper feel for a university is to attend an undergraduate open day, or any similar virtual events if you can’t travel there in person.
After all, no two bachelor’s degrees are ever the same, even if they specialize in the same area.
Other things to consider when selecting a degree and university:
- The reputation and ranking for the course (for instance ADU was ranked amongst the top 2% universities in the world in the 2018 QS World University Rankings).
- The course structure, modules and timetable (assess if the hours involved suit your learning style and if the modules pique your interest).
- Any additional perks, such as studying abroad or a year in industry.
5. Use online tools
Finally, ADU has created a special program finder survey that specifically helps people work out which bachelor’s degree is right for them. Just fill in a few quick questions, and tick all the statements that apply to you before you get started.
ADU is proud to offer over 50 postgraduate and undergraduate courses spread across three campuses in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai.
To find out more about joining its current student body of over 7,500 international students, please get in touch.
