Choose wisely
Six study choice tasks will set you on the right path
Making a good study choice is a challenging task. After all, the range of programs in higher education is extensive. Arteveldehogeschool helps you search for the appropriate programme based on our experience and research.
The following six study tasks will help you make the right choice. You do not have to respect the order. Where you start depends entirely on you and your situation. Are you still stuck in your study choice process at some point? Then, it may help to focus on another task or repeat it.
Step 1: Do I want to make a study choice?
Spend time on your choice of study by scheduling moments when you work on it precisely. In doing so, ask yourself the right questions. Why do you want to study? Do you already know where you want to go in the future?
We want to get you started with some questions to help you in this phase. Take some time to do this and write down your answers.
- Do I want to spend time making a study choice?
- Why do I want to study?
- What is my vision for the future? Do I have a specific goal in mind?
- What drives me to want to continue studying?
Tips
- Provide some moments in your calendar to work on your choice of study.
- Ask your parents, friends or teachers for advice about your interests, passions and talents. Ask them what they think your strengths are.
- Beware of some motivational pitfalls. Do your parents expect you to pursue a particular education? Do you know from a young age what education you want to pursue, or do you tend to choose an education your friends will also pursue?
- Do you notice by going through this phase that higher education is not for you? Then adult education might suit you. You can read all about it on the website of De Stap. Would you like to work immediately? Then, register as a job-seeker on the VDAB website.
Would you like to postpone the choice and gain experience abroad? Read more info about the options here. You can also find a lot of information on Go Strange.
Step 2: Who am I?
Try to get a picture of what you like to do and what you are good at. Talk to your parents, friends and teachers about your interests, passions and talents. What do they think are your strongest points? What do you often get compliments on?
We want to set you on your way with some questions to help you in this phase. Take some time to do this and write down your answers.
- What do I find important? What values define me?
- What am I good at?
- What do I like to do? What are my interests?
- Do I have the right entry-level competencies? What general skills do I need to enter higher education?
Tips
- Talk to your friends, parents and teachers about your interests, passions and talents. Ask what they think are your strengths.
- What values drive you?
- What do you get excited about?
- What gives you energy?
- When does time fly by?
- What did you enjoy doing as a child?
- What do you learn quickly?
- What do you get compliments on?
- What do others ask you for advice about?
- Test your interests on Icares, Onderwijskiezer, and Columbus. On Columbus you can also test your basic competences.
Step 3: What does higher education look like?
Discover the difference between a bachelor's, graduate and master's degree to choose the program that suits you best. The examination system and the structure of the calendar year are also interesting to take a closer look at.
We want to set you on your way with some questions to help you at this stage. Take some time to do this and write down your answers.
- Do I know the difference between a bachelor's and a master's degree?
- What are my options after college? Can I continue studying?
- What is the difference between a graduate degree and a bachelor's degree?
- How does learning credit work?
- What does a calendar year look like in higher education?
- What is the examination system like?
- When do I pass, and what are the consequences if I don't?
Step 4: What study programmes are there?
Try to explore many study programmes in a broad sense, and keep many options open. Browse through our programme brochures, and visit a SID-in or open day. Below you will find an overview of our open days.
We want to get you started with some questions to help you in this phase. Take your time and write down your answers.
- Do I know what fields of study exist?
- Are there any specific skills I need to enter a particular field of study?
- What professions can I pursue with the different fields of study?
Tips
- In this stage, try to explore broadly and keep open many options.
- The Dutch website Onderwijskiezer offers a complete overview of all higher education study programmes in Flanders.
- Browse through programme brochures. Check the admission requirements and specific basic competences if relevant.
- Go to the open days of several educational institutions. You can usually find the dates on their website.
- Do you know any people who are in a study programme that you are interested in? Meet with them to talk about their experiences.
- Talk to people with a profession you find interesting. Maybe you can use your parents' network.
Step 5: Can I choose?
Make a thorough analysis of several courses and compare them. This will make the information more concrete. This will put you in a better position to tie the knot and enrol in the right course.
We want to get you started with some questions to help you in this phase. Take some time to do this and write down your answers.
- How many programmes remain?
- How confident am I in my choice?
Tips
In this stage, you will dig deeper and make a thorough analysis of certain programmes and compare them. Now you have even more concrete information.
- Make a top 3 (up to 5) of the programmes that you are considering.
- Have a look at the course materials, online or in the info library (STIP, Hoogpoort 15, Gent - without appointment) or during an open day.
- Go to another (online) open day. Or chat with a student or lecturer.
- Check the objectives, content, examination formats, etc. of the course units (subjects) of a study programme via the ECTS-sheets.
- On the site ‘opleiding in cijfers’, you can find what kind of students enrol in this programme, how well they do in the first year, and how long it takes them to obtain their degree.
- Make a list of pros and cons per study programme.
- Ask yourself the dream question: what if there were no restrictions?
- Are you always in doubt? How do you make choices for other aspects in your life?
- Be aware that even though choosing is loosing, it is not all-decisive for later. You can always adjust your choices and you should know that you can learn throughout your life.
- Still indecisive? Make an appointment with the Office of Study Guidance.
Step 6: Am I happy with my choice?
Listen to your heart and gut feeling to decide if you are happy with your final choice of study. Are you proud of what you will do and glad to tell those around you? Do you want to start your education?
We want to set you on your way with some questions to help you in this phase. Take some time to do this and write down your answers.
- Am I happy about my study choice?
- Am I eager to start the programme? Do I want to study in that city/at that educational institution?
Tips
- Tell someone what you have decided. Does it sound good? Are you proud of what you will do?
- Listen to your heart and gut feeling.
- How convinced are you on a scale of 0-10?
- Try to keep some time between choosing a study programme (and enrolling in it), and the start of the academic year. Ideally this is before the summer holidays so you can enjoy some carefree time, look back at your choice now and then, and thus be better prepared mentally for what lies ahead.
Request a study choice interview
Do you need a talk about your study choice? Are you having doubts about your current study programme? Is this your first study choice, or are you considering continued studies? We want to help you in an individual study choice interview!
In this interview, we start from your interests, values, and talents to support you in your study choice process. Curious about the study programmes? Discover the Artevelde UAS offer during our open days.
Book a moment with one of the Study Career Coaches of the Office of Study Guidance. You can opt for an online interview via Teams or a live interview on campus Hoogpoort.