Before You Apply: How to Decide What to Study
Most students start the application process by asking: which university should I apply to?
That's the wrong first question.
The right one is: what do I actually want to study — and why?
Skipping this step causes real problems. Students choose degrees based on what sounds impressive, what their family expects, or what their friends are doing. Then a year or two in, they realise it doesn't fit. Changing course wastes time, money, and application opportunities.
This article helps you make the "what to study" decision properly — before you open a single application form.
A career, a field, and a qualification are not the same thing
A field is a broad area — Health Sciences, Engineering, Business, Law, Education.
A qualification is the specific degree you earn within that field — a BCom, a BSc, a Bachelor of Social Work. Within one field, there are usually several different qualifications with different focuses and different outcomes.
A career is what you do with that qualification — and the link isn't always direct. A BCom graduate might work in finance, marketing, or consulting. A BSc in Biology could lead to research, teaching, or industry.
Some careers require a very specific qualification. To become a doctor, you need an MBChB. To practise as a lawyer, you need an LLB. In those fields, your degree choice is tightly linked to your outcome. In others, you have more flexibility. Find out early which situation applies to you.
Ask yourself these questions first
Before you look at any university website, sit with these:
What subjects do you genuinely enjoy? Not just what you're good at — what actually interests you. If you hate numbers, Accounting will feel like a long punishment.
What are you naturally good at? Problem-solving, writing, explaining things, working with people, analysing information — your strengths point toward fields where you're more likely to thrive.
What kind of environment do you want to work in? With people or independently? Creative or structured? Different fields lead to very different day-to-day realities.
What do your school subjects allow? Your Grade 12 subject choices directly affect which programmes you qualify for. Some degrees require Mathematics, not Mathematical Literacy. Some require Physical Science. Check requirements before assuming a door is open.
Why students change degrees — and how to avoid it
It's more common than people admit. The main reasons:
Chosen under pressure, not preference. Family expectations and peer influence are real — but living someone else's choice for three to four years is a different kind of real.
They didn't know what the degree actually involved. Psychology involves a lot of research and statistics. Architecture is technically demanding. The gap between what a degree sounds like and what it requires surprises many students. Look at the actual modules before you commit.
Chosen for status, not fit. Medicine, Law, and Engineering are prestigious and demanding. Choosing them because they sound impressive, without genuine interest or the right foundation, usually ends badly.
A practical process
List the fields that genuinely interest you — two to five.
For each, identify specific qualifications and look at what the curriculum actually covers.
Check whether your subjects and results meet typical entry requirements. Be honest.
Research career outcomes — what do graduates actually do, and does that appeal to you?
Narrow down to what fits your interests, strengths, and realistic qualifications.
Only then start identifying universities that offer those programmes.
Your course choice should drive your university research — not the other way around.
If you're still not sure
That's normal, especially without much career exposure or guidance. A few things that help:
Talk to people working in fields that interest you — ask what their day actually looks like. Look at university open days. Research broadly before narrowing. Factor in your real constraints: financial, geographic, subject-related.
A rough choice made thoughtfully is easier to refine than one made under pressure without thinking.
Before you move on, you should be able to answer:
What field or fields genuinely interest me?
What specific qualification am I pursuing?
Do my subjects and results meet typical entry requirements?
What careers does this lead to — and do those appeal to me?
Am I choosing this because it fits me, or because of outside pressure?
If you can answer these with some confidence, you're ready for the next step: understanding where to apply, what universities require, and how the process actually works.Over the past year, we’ve listened to feedback from thousands of users. They’ve helped us understand both the friction and the wins in our product. That input drives our decisions.
