Once you've chosen your subject you can apply to five universities. There are lots of books and university guides available, but how do you know where to start?

Step One: What kind of uni?

The rising cost of fees makes students more likely to save money by living at home while they study. This may be difficult to stomach, but at least choosing a uni will be less bewildering. If you have decided to leave home think about whether you want to go to a big brash city or a small campus. You also need to decide if you want to stay near home or go exploring and make that move from Plymouth to Aberdeen.

John O'Leary, editor of The Times Good University Guide, explains: "Most people choose a university between one and two hours away from home. Close enough to pop back to see friends and get the washing done, but not so close that your parents can just drop in. That's why Leeds, Manchester and Nottingham are so popular, they are very close to major centres of population."

Smaller campus based universities like Loughborough and Royal Holloway tend to score highest in the student satisfaction charts. The satisfaction rating can be found in the main Times university rankings, which are published annually and grade British universities by a range of factors.

In case that seems a little straight-forward The Sunday Times do their own league table, and the results do vary so it is worth looking at a university's score on both charts. Glasgow is 31st in The Times 2008 table but The Sunday Times named it their Scottish University of the Year and placed it 26th in the country.

Step Two: Where will you get in?
Let's be realistic - if you're predicted CCD and got two Cs at AS, you're not getting into Cambridge, however much you fancy rowing. You need to tot up your tariff points, Ucas shows you how. Then take a look at these course rankings, which are divided by subject. They show the average tariff of someone starting that course at each university - for more detailed information you can find the standard offers for all courses on the Ucas website.

It is obvious when you look at the Good Uni Guide that the courses with the most difficult entry requirements do not necessarily score highest in the rankings for the best courses. By playing the game smartly you may be able to aim for a better course without improving your A-level grades.

Step Three: Great course at an average university

Some universities have relatively poor reputations and do not score highly in the overall university rankings, but have a few brilliant courses. So how do you decide whether to choose a course with a good reputation or a renowned university?

Our good friend John O'Leary from the Good Uni Guide reckons: "Although academics would like to think subject ranking is most important, most people are looking at the Times overall table and they have a point, because most employers will take more notice of that.

"If you are doing a vocational course like engineering you are more likely to look at the subject tables, but remember you might change your mind. Only half of people studying law go on to be lawyers."

Try and keep your opportunities as wide as possible. If you want to be a geologist, your future employers will know that the University of Liverpool's geology course is rated as the fifth best in the country. It is less likely that the institution will delight recruiters for accountancy.

Step Four: Somewhere you'll enjoy

You have already narrowed your choice down quite a lot. Now you need to work out which of the available courses is going to suit you personally. Johnny Rich, the editor of the Push university guide, is adamant that the decision is life-changing. He outlines three myths about choosing a uni: 1. You'll have a good time wherever you go. 2. There is a best uni for each subject. And 3. Unis don't vary that much.

"For some people the most important thing is cheap accommodation for others it is the atmosphere in the student bar," he says. "If you are doing medicine you are very likely to get a job at the end of the course, but for a sociologist the employability record is far more important."

Step Five: Going to visit

"You wouldn't dream of buying a pair of shoes without trying them on," Johnny Rich from Push points out. "Yet I'm amazed that people are willing to buy three years worth of teaching for £20,000 without having a look at the place."

He explains that the key thing is to make a list of what you want to see before you get there. They may show you the swanky new cybernetics department, but as a classics student you're unlikely to be a regular user. Make sure you see: The teaching facilities in your department, the student bar, the library you will use, the accommodation where you are most likely to live and if possible eat a meal in the canteen you will use.

Opendays.com have gathered together the visiting schedules.

Step Six: Get on with it
Universities start dishing out places long before the official Ucas deadlines so get your application in as soon as possible.

It's not that hard is it? Do you have any words of wisdom to share? How did you decide which unis to apply for?

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