Websites
Accurate:
Comparative: *
Comprehensive: *
Detailed: *
Independent:
Understanding:
Problems: Unless it’s a website from a reputable organisation, such as Push Online, UCAS (www.ucas.com), or NUS (www.nusonline.co.uk), you have to assume it was put together either by people who had something to market — as in the case of universities’ own websites — or who may not have got their facts right.
Most websites that cover a range of universities have obtained their information from someone else anyway, either by lifting it (in which case you’ve got to doubt not only the original research, but how accurately it was lifted) or by buying it in.
What they’re good for: University’s own websites are like more up-to-date and interactive versions of their prospectuses and are very useful to the same extent. The same goes for students’ unions’ websites as a more easily accessed way of getting the same information as in alternative prospectuses.
Other websites — if reputable — can be an excellent way of researching specific issues or aspects of student life. Skill’s website, for example, is very good for students with disabilities (www.skill.org.uk).
Verdict: As ever with the web, there’s a lot of hay in that stack, but a fair few silver needles too.
Last updated on: 21 May 2008