How to Choose the Right Business Undergraduate Program for You

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1. Go to an open day

Going to an open day is the best way to decide whether you will enjoy studying at a particular university. In addition to introducing you to the course, university open days give you the opportunity to tour the campus, departments and accommodation.

Due to COVID restrictions, some universities are hosting open days online. While it’s not the same as an in-person visit, we still recommend signing up for online open days, as they will be able to give you insight into university life, course content, and the support services on offer for students. Moving open days online also makes it cheaper and easier for you to attend, so take full advantage of these virtual sessions to check out as many universities as you can!

At EU Business School, we’ve organized on-campus and online Information Sessions for prospective students throughout December to January. Sign up on our website – or, if you can’t make any of these dates, reach out to our Admissions Department, who will help you arrange an alternative appointment.

2. Ask lots of questions

Open days are your opportunity to speak to instructors and to ask them any questions you may have about the course. Here are a few suggestions of things you might want to find out from them:

How many hours of contact will I get per week?
What is the average class size on this course?
How much independent study should I be doing each week?
Will there be group projects? Field trips? Work placements? Opportunities to study abroad?
How is this course assessed?

Don’t miss this chance to talk to student ambassadors either! Ask them what they think of the course, and quiz them about accommodation, student life, and student support services. Their firsthand experiences will be invaluable in helping you make your decision.

At EU, we believe in small class sizes and hands-on learning. We teach using the dynamic case study method, which encourages students to apply the theory they have learned in class to real-life business situations. We organize regular site visits to the offices of national and international organizations, including BMW, Tesla, Amazon, Nestlé, and UEFA.

3. Read the whole module guide, not just the title

Many universities offer the same course with a very similar structure. This can make it difficult to choose between degree programs based on courses or modules alone. In order to choose which course or institution is right for you, take a deep dive into the course outline and read all the module guides from start to finish.

The course outline tells you the module objectives, which subjects you’ll cover, and sometimes even how you’ll be assessed. If you struggle with public speaking, for example, you might want to choose a course or module that is assessed more through written work or forum posts than through presentations.

There is a detailed Program Structure for each of our degree courses online. Head over to the Programs section of our website and choose the course you’re interested in studying, e.g., BA (Hons) in Business Management. Under “Structure”, you will find the module guides for all the compulsory classes on the program.

4. Location, location, location

Choosing the right undergraduate business program involves looking at more than just the course content. You’re not just picking a course, after all, you’re choosing a university as well. And location could play a key part in helping you decide which ones you want to apply to.

Here are five things to think about when you are looking at different universities and their undergraduate programs:

Campus vs. city university – At a campus university, you have everything you need within easy walking distance. Classrooms, student accommodation, shops, nightclubs, they’re all there. At a city university, these things are more spread out, but you get to experience more of the culture of the new city that you’re living in.
Accommodation – Most people live in university accommodation during their first year. A year is a long time to live somewhere you don’t like, so research all your options very carefully before applying for a place in halls. Does this school offer shared or single rooms, en-suite bathrooms, or non-drinking apartments? It’s also very important to compare the prices of rent in different cities.
Local amenities and attractions – Check how close you are to the shops on Google Maps. Depending on your interests, you may also want to live somewhere with a reputation for the arts, culture, or a thriving night life. If you prefer the countryside to city living, however, you should also consider this when choosing a university.
Transport – Transport is especially important if you’re looking at city universities. Your accommodation could be a long way from the building where your lectures take place, so you may want to look up the bus routes. It’s also worth checking out things like university parking and rail transport links for long distance journeys.
Distance from home – Studying at home is a great way to save money as a student, but many undergrads look forward to student life and their first taste of freedom. If you want the best of both worlds, you could choose a university close to your home city or town. For those of you looking to broaden your horizons,have you ever considered studying abroad?

EU Business School has four campuses located in Barcelona, Geneva, Montreux, and Munich, as well as online. We have partnerships with different halls of residence in each of our campus cities, so students can choose from university or private accommodation.

5. Make a spreadsheet

Make a table containing all the courses and universities you’re considering and compare them directly across a range of criteria. These could include entry requirements, facilities, elective modules, rent prices, etc., depending on your priorities.