Deadline to apply for university 2020 is 15 January

The deadline for applying to start university in 2020 is fast approaching – 15 January – so use this holiday time wisely if you are yet to submit your application.

Applying to university can be daunting as studying a degree is a big decision.

Over 20,000 first year students don’t start their second year so it’s really important to make sure you get as much information as possible to help you make the decision that’s right for you.

Dr Lisette Johnston, former BBC World News Editor, shares her top tips:

Subject first

Which degree will best suit you? Most courses give a course overview to give a sense of what topics you’ll cover across the degree.

Are there similarities or differences in the courses you like?

League tables give some idea, but also look at university websites.

University next

Just because a university offers your preferred degree subject and ranks well doesn’t mean it’s the best place for you.

Reach out to current students via social media and forums – ask them about their experience at the university.

If you haven’t already, book on an Open Day as soon as you can – you’re probably going to have to apply whether you’ve visited the uni or not at this late stage, but before you accept an offer, try to get to the campus.

Remember you will spend three or four years there, and may have to move from home, so you want to make sure you will be happy.

Some universities also offer UCAS Deadline open days or open house a week before the 15 January deadline.

Also check out how easy it is to get to class and if you are on a campus or in a city.

Knowing these things will make it easier to make a decision when the offers start coming in.

Think about the future

The decisions you make about where and what to study are only part of the story. Find out:

• If you get to do work experience
• Does the university offer any relevant partnerships with industry and / or are there sandwich course options with year in industry?
• Also look at employability rates for the university as a whole and your field of study.

Know what and when

Universities know how scary the UCAS application process can be, so most will help talk you through the process, from researching a course, to personal statements and student finance.

Even if you aren’t currently studying a 'relevant' subject, don’t discount applying to a course that really interests you.

To help you learn more about the course that you’re interested in, make sure you call the university as soon as you can after the Christmas break.

Have a list of questions at hand and make sure you know about any open days, workshops and applicant visits BEFORE you accept an offer.