It is very common for students to use a ranking as a way to understand the university that they intend to study at. Although rankings are, of course, important, they are not the only reason you should choose a university. Other factors that must be taken into consideration are the location of the institute, the course content, value for money and access to senior members of staff. UKEAS counsellors will be able to sit down with you and provide a much clearer insight into these areas. It is important that you base your choice on more than just the ranking. You should be aware for example, that most UK university rankings are aimed at UK students and therefore many of these criteria are not suitable for international students. Also bear in mind that universities will rank very differently under different ranking schemes.