Your university/college will be your social base for the next few years, so it is very important that you choose somewhere which offers the kind of lifestyle and opportunities you are after.

If you play basketball for England, or any other sport at county level, the facilities available to pursue your sporting interest will be of primary concern. If you want to find out which universities have excelled in a particular sport, you should contact the ‘British Universities Sports Association’ on 020 7357 8555, or visit www.busa.org.uk.

Other factors you may wish to consider are: bars and discos, clubs and societies (whether it’s the hang-gliding club or the Teletubbies Appreciation Society!), cultural and political activities, voluntary
work opportunities and religious societies.

You can find out about these by consulting the official prospectus and the alternative prospectus of the universities/colleges you are interested in.

‘The Student Book’ and the ‘Push Guide’ give details of the social scene from the ‘consumers’ point of view. Also check out the following website for a students view on most institutions: www.unofficial-guides.com.

A visit to the student union would also be helpful when you attend open days. For some students the availability of library and computing facilities is of great importance. If the course you are likely to choose will require lots of reading or regular access to a computer, the university’s/college's own facilities might save you a lot of cash.