How can I tell whether I am choosing a department just because it seems popular?
Set popularity aside and check whether the department’s subjects, teaching and practical-work methods, required courses, and possible paths after graduation fit your interests and goals. Ask yourself whether you could explain, in your own words, why you would still want to study there if it were no longer popular, and compare it with other departments. Official information, open events, and conversations with current students can also help.
Key points
- Review the curriculum, teaching methods, practical work, and required subjects in concrete terms.
- Put into words how the department connects with your interests and future goals.
- Compare several departments using criteria other than popularity, and use events to learn about the actual study experience.
Things to check
- Course content, practical work, and post-graduation options vary by university, faculty, and academic year, so check the latest official information.