Student’s name:

Getting started with research about universities

Turning the spotlight on yourself

How do you turn the spotlight on yourself? We all approach decision-making in different ways, and this can be influenced by various factors, such as our personality, how those around us make
decisions, how confident we feel, how independent we are, the pressure we’re feeling, and the extent we feel destiny plays a part in life. Whichever is important to you, here are some steps
you can take to help discover what’s important to you and your future.
Activity 1: Where are you now?

This is a good starting point – it’s about you, so think carefully about it and note down your thoughts or ideas.
• What are your interests? I have interests in maths and physics
(this could be hobbies, activities, or During free hours I enjoy engaging in physical activities with friends such as basketball
subjects).
I also enjoy documentaries on ancient history and space
• What are your skills? Working with numbers and identifying patterns
(the sorts of things you’re good at - use Drawing (with reference pictures)
obvious skills such as working with numbers,
Adaptability ( camping, navigating through hikes )
as well as softer skills such as being a good
listener).

• What do you value? Close social circle/community

(the things that are important to you, both
in your social and study life. For example
family, work, socialising, personal interests,
being active, money, structure, flexibility).
My interests in subject matters
Money
Engaging in activities with family and friends

• What motivates you?

(the things you’re enthusiastic about, or My future endeavours
encourage you to take action and get
involved)
Now you’ve worked out what your options might be, it's time to start researching in a little more detail.

Activity 2: Explore, explore, explore

Think about your favourite subject or the fact you might find something entirely new. You might have a specific career goal in mind. Or you might still be unsure. The best place to start – is
with an open mind. The following is a tool to help you understand if what you’re studying might be a good fit, and to check if you need any specific subjects or qualifications for your career
goals.

(a) Explore: Use the university websites to explore detailed subject guides. These will give you a description of:
● what the subject is all about
● entry requirements
● what you can do with a degree in the subject
● what it’s like to study
Record your findings about at least two courses which you are most interested in

Task Course option 1 Course option 2

Brief course outline for this course per year e.g. for Journalism
Year 1:Practical journalism, Journalism skills, Media law, Inside
journalism
Year 2: Practical journalism, News writing and journalism skills, Public
affairs, Inside journalism
Year 3: Sports journalism, magazine journalism, Sub-editing and design,
Forms and practices of radio, Political communication
Mechanical engineering
Year 1: Fundamentals of Engineering Mechanics, Materials in
Design, Engineering Design for Sustainability, Foundations of
Engineering Mathematics, Engineering Computing and Analysis,
Physics for Engineers, Essentials of Engineering Mathematics,
Electrical Systems.
Year 2: Chemistry for Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Practices, Mechanics of Solids, Engineering Fluid
Mechanics, Advanced Engineering Mathematics and
Statistics, Engineering Analysis, Mechanical Engineering
Design 1, Dynamics, Thermodynamics, Experimental
Methods and Analysis
Aerospace engineering
First year:
 Two introductory courses in Mathematics 
 An introductory course in Physics, 
 and an introductory course in Computing 
and also study an introductory course related to specialisation
of choice.
second year
 Courses from selected specialisations 
 Core courses to give the fundamental knowledge in area
of interest. 

The third and fourth year will be focused on developing

Year 3: Dynamics of Engineering Systems, Thermodynamics knowledge further with a range of core and elective courses.   
of Engineering Systems, Manufacturing Engineering
Principles, Fundamentals of Innovation &
Entrepreneurship, Mechanical Engineering Design 2, Heat
Transfer and Aerodynamics, Control of Machines and
Processes, Sustainable Energy Technologies

Three things I found out which I didn’t already know about this
course are…
Year 4: Finite Element Methods in Engineering, Managing
Engineering Projects, Thesis A, Professional Experience,
Reliability Engineering, Engineering Asset Management,
Robotics and Flexible Automation, Structural Design 1,
Automotive Dynamics, Computational Fluid Dynamics
Scope of content (more expansive than expected) Elective courses that allow further specialization

Involvement in AI, statics

Having to sit for a placement test in the first year of the

course
The things I like most about this option are… Vast subject content as it opens more opportunities for It aligns with my interest in space
interest to develop and keeps my options open.

The things I am most uncertain about this option are… Narrow opportunities it provides due to high specialisation

The likelihood of me considering this option, and researching it 9 8

further is…

(Rank 1 – 10, with 10 being most likely).

Activity 3: University life – what’s important to you?

Along with thinking about the type of subject you might like to study, it’s important to think about how uni will fit with you.

The reality is, no one university is ‘best’ for everyone. You need to consider what type of university you want to attend; the experience can vary enormously. Here are some things to consider,
make a note of your responses to some of these questions so you can come back to this when you’re doing more detailed research on your choices.

Factor Things to think about What is important to you?

Learning Universities can have a focus on subject-based courses and research, or a greater focus on Subject based
(Style vocational courses. Do you have a preference?
and size)
Do you want to study at a campus university (all in one place) or one that is spread out
across a town/city with different locations? Campus university

Some larger universities can have more than 20,000 students, whereas some of the smallest Larger university
have only a few thousand. What would suit you best?

Location Some are based in large cities, others in smaller towns. This can have a major influence on Small town
the environment and lifestyle on offer.

Do you want to live at home? If not, how far away do you want to be?
Not a priority preference
Would you rather be in a city, countryside, or near the sea? Is the local surrounding area
important? What would you like to have access to? E.g. museums, nightlife, walks, parks etc. A surrounding with access to leisure services such as parks would be ideal

How will you travel around? Do you want to take a car? Will you need access to a train Travelling through car, and access to airport
station/airport?

Lifestyle This can be influenced by a range of factors, including the diversity of students who attend.
(Culture
and What teams, clubs, or societies could you take part in? Can you continue to pursue a current Ideally a club of physical activity ( basketball, Badminton)
facilities) hobby or interest?
Are the facilities important to you? What would you like to access? e.g. library, sporting
facilities, students union. Library, sporting facilities, dorm rooms

Are there any specialist services you need access to?

 Graduate All universities collect destination statistics which is where students then go on to. It can be
and interesting to find out the types of jobs or further study students choose.
career
services Is it important that they offer comprehensive career services? E.g. interview training help
Not top priority, but ideal
with job applications.

Do you want the opportunity to have a placement year or internship opportunity?

What about the chance to study abroad?

I would like a placement year

Yes
Costs Tuition fees can vary between course providers. How might you pay for university? Would you Yes I would like to access a scholarship
be looking to try and access a scholarship or bursary?

What type of accommodation would you like? Halls of residence? Off campus living? Shared?
Think about longer term too not just for your first year when you might be in student halls. I would be fine with campus provided university however I don’t mind living off
campus
How will you travel to and from lectures? Would this influence the type of accommodation
you would like?

What transport options are there? Would you be able to take a car (if that’s important to
you)?

Think about other costs you might have such as socialising, food, clothes, study materials.
Different regions of the country will vary in cost.

Activity 4: So what is university really like?

Hopefully you should now have a rough idea of what you might be interested in studying and what’s important to you. The best way to explore the universities themselves is to visit – which is,
of course, a little trickier and sometimes not possible. But don’t worry, there are still plenty of ways to find out what university life is really like. So, complete the tasks below to find out more
and help you make your decisions. Remember to use what you have identified as important to you as a guide.

A) Virtual tours: Take virtual tours on university websites so you can see what it’s like on campus and what facilities are available. Now is the time to really do your research, you aren’t
limited to the number of tours you can take, so spend some time exploring as many as possible. If the uni/college you're interested in isn't listed, then take a look at their website or
YouTube channel instead or their Instagram page.

B) Social media: Check out university’s social feeds. Many are promoting live chats, and extra info to help students find out more.
Summary

So far from my research, the universities I’m most interested in are:

What is unique and interesting about the

lifestyle
Name of university What appeals to me about learning there What I like about its location
Quality of education and environment Favourable climate
University of Monash

1
Caltech Quality of education and environment Favourable climate