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Ideas, insight and inspiration. Direct to your inbox on Tuesdays.
Previous newsletters
A-level results day, Clearing, and word of mouth recommendations.
This week we focus on what is, whether you are a university applicant, an adviser or an admissions officer, probably the busiest, most exciting and most stressful day in the whole calendar: A-level results day.
In particular, we look at what happens, and how to prepare for the best and the worst outcomes!
I also have a favour to ask. It's not a big favour, but it’s one that could have a big impact.
Protecting status through league tables, The Russell Group, and Art & Design shows.
I saw a post in Linkedin last week that, once again, challenged the way I think about Higher Education. In particular, it challenged the way I think about league tables.
So this week, instead of a lengthy piece, I’ve gathered just a few thoughts below in response to the post. Perhaps it will challenge your thinking too?
We also revisit my thoughts on the Russell Group. It seemed timely.
And we learn about Art & Design degree shows - a fantastic opportunity to be inspired, and to see first hand what studying art and design really involves.
Career decisions, a request for help, and some fantastic super-curricular resources.
This week is aimed squarely at teachers, advisers and other supporters, with a quick analysis of two really interesting reports on career decision making.
Once again, I’ll be asking for your support in getting my guidance on Personal Statements and Admissions Tests out to your students.
And we’ll finish with some great super-curricular resources from Cambridge and Imperial.
This one is all about the money: student finance and budgeting.
For many final year school students, right now the only thing on their mind will be their impending exams.
Meanwhile many parents are looking a little further down the line and are wondering just how much student life is all going to cost; for them, and their sons and daughters. And so, in a slightly different newsletter from normal, this week we focus on money.
We also learn an important fact about applying for student finance.
A golden ticket to success, crazy degree titles and a fab medical admissions resource.
This week we have a look at the relationship between students and universities. As a fee paying customer, students are entitled to see going to university as a guarantee of success, right?
We look back at the weird and wonderful world of degree titles.
And we find a great resource for all medicine applicants.
Just one thing… UCAS Personal Statements 2026
Once again, just one thing this week.
If you haven’t guessed already by the giant image at the top of this email, I’ve now launched a brand new guide “How to write your UCAS Personal Statement, 2026 edition”.
The Best of #BetterUniChoices (for right now)
It’s coming up on the Easter Holidays for most students, and for teachers too.
So rather than have something new to think about, I thought it would be a good time to revisit a bunch of seriously useful stuff for this time of year.
Your application timeline 2026, a new cost of living calculator, and a fully career-focused university.
Last year I launched an application timeline, complete with every major university deadline, plus everything you need to be thinking about at every stage.
I’ve updated this for 2026, including all the super-useful links that will help you find your way through the journey!
Secondly, we have a look at a new cost of living calculator from WhatUni.
Finally, we look at Aston, a career and profession focused university in the heart of Birmingham.
Just one thing… university admissions tests
Last year I wrote an article all about admissions tests. It very quickly became my most popular page, and so I’ve been keeping it up to date ever since.
Every time admissions tests get discussed on social media groups, and I chime in, I get hundreds of hits on the article. It turns out there really isn’t anywhere you can go for comprehensive, accurate and up-to-date information on which university admissions tests students need to take.
And so, I’ve built a new website.
Your confidence scorecard, clarity from Martin Lewis, and possibly the most complicated art school in the UK
You’ll know that I don’t shy away from the fact that choosing and applying to university can be complicated. That’s just the nature of things sometimes.
But today we have two ways to make your life a little less complicated.
Firstly for those making their firm UCAS choices, we have a confidence scorecard. It won’t tell you which choice is best for you, but it will tell you whether you should be confident in the decision you are about to make!
Secondly, Martin Lewis brings much needed simplicity and clarity to the insane complexity of student finance and student loans.
Finally, we look at a fantastic art school in London. Or is it six art schools? Well… it’s complicated!
New UCL admissions test, being curious, and the UK’s ‘newest’ university
This week we hear about a new admissions test, the TARA (Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions) which UCL will require for applicants to a range of courses from 2026.
We check out some advice from three wise authors about letting your career define you, and what it means for you as you look ahead to your own career.
And we look at the UK’s most recently formed university.
Belonging at university, excellent careers resources, and the university that left me torn.
This week we look at the importance of finding a sense of belonging at university. You might think it’s all about gut instinct; that feeling you get when you visit, that tells you whether you can see yourself being a student there. It turns out there is a way more to it, and there are important questions you should ask a university to see whether they are playing their part in helping you belong.
We revisit an article all about UCAS Extra, which opened just last week.
We discover a couple of really helpful careers platforms who are using community and networking to help early career searchers.
And we look at one of the world's most prestigious universities - while I do my best to be objective.
Ten things you should know about the new UCAS Personal Statement, Contextual Offers, and a university with a unique history.
This week, ten things you should know about the new UCAS Personal Statement, that you won’t find by asking ChatGPT.
A really helpful resource all about contextual admissions.
And the only university opened between the wars.
Holding on, the career connection, new guides from UCAS, and the great northern powerhouse.
This week, we get some accidental advice from my two elder (and wiser) sisters.
We look back at the connection between universities and careers.
We hear about some super-useful new Personal Statement guides from UCAS.
And we hear about a university in the north that I have a bit of a soft spot for.
ZNotes’ inspirational founder, driver vs. passenger, taster courses at East Anglia, and Somerset’s lesser known university.
This week, something completely different! In what I hope can become a regular thing, I interview someone who is making waves in the world of education.
Zubair Junjunia founded ZNotes a little under 10 years ago to help international students the world over to revise for their A-levels. Now ZNotes is the largest community of high school students in the world. His story is as inspiring as it is informative.
We also dig out an article from last year which will help you decide whether you are a driver or a passenger in your university application journey.
We hear about some useful new Personal Statement guides launched by UCAS just last week.
And we take a trip to Bath to find Somerset’s lesser known university.
Embracing the super-power of “I don’t know”
You’ll know that I’m in a handful of applicant, parent and adviser groups on social media.
In fact I spend far too long on them.
They provide members with an incredible resource to crowd-source a wide range of opinions, get answers to questions, and find out about others' experiences of applying to university. They create a tangible sense of community and camaraderie, as you can see that many others are having similar experiences. And they are an incredible barometer of what people are thinking, asking, and concerned about right now when it comes to university applications.
But I can’t help thinking that when it comes to parents and advisers, very often there are questions asked that seem, well, a bit much.
Are universities worth it, student finance and a university with an undeserved reputation
This week we have something a little different as our lead story, taking a look at a couple of reports that were released last week. I know, reports… yawn!
But in this case, they are pretty important, as they look at two things that are super-critical about going to university.
Secondly, our Did You Know? is also all about student finance. And the reality is that if you didn’t know, then it's high time you did.
And we finish with a snapshot of a university with a reputation that isn’t quite what it should be…
A bias to action, a university by the sea, and being an adult.
This week we look a little deeper into the idea of having a bias to action, specifically when it comes to planning and deciding your future.
We go to the vault and dig out the article you have all been looking for.
We have a look at a very special and unique university by the sea.
And hear a tip on adulting from Naval Ravicant.
Making your final UCAS choices, another East Midlands gem, and some wisdom about worrying
A very Happy New Year to you all!
Right now, many students will be finalising their UCAS forms, while others will have received several offers already and will be turning their attention to making their final firm and insurance choices.
So today we start by looking at some super-useful articles that I’ve written in previous years about making those final choices, plus there is a brand new piece with four questions that you should be asking about universities you are considering.
Meanwhile in today’s university snapshot, we look at a university in the East Midlands that definitely merits a closer look!
And we finish with some wisdom about worrying.
Building your career part 2, the sports university, and the truth about passion.
This week, in part two of What you can do at university to start building your career, we look at the plethora of opportunities at university to explore and build your future career.
We have a look at the university that everyone knows is good for sport. Yep, you know the one!
And we finish with the truth about passion.