Yes. Reading the guides and using the tools costs nothing and needs no account. If a page ever carries an ad or a partner link, it is labelled and kept apart from the guidance.

Which country does it cover?

At launch, Education Guidance covers general higher-education concepts. Country-specific guides begin with the UK — using data from UCAS, the Student Loans Company and the Office for Students. Each page states which system it applies to.

Do you rank universities?

No. We explain how rankings work and what their limitations are. For official programme comparison data, see Discover Uni, the UK government's official comparison tool.

What happens to what I type into a tool?

Nothing leaves your browser. Every calculator and questionnaire runs entirely client-side. No inputs are sent to any server, logged or used for analytics.

Can you tell me whether I will get in?

No. Admission decisions involve factors we do not have access to. We explain how admissions processes work and what universities say they look for. For official entry statistics, check Discover Uni or the university's own admissions page.

Who reviews the content?

Every guide cites its sources — official bodies including UCAS, HESA, the Office for Students, the European Commission ECTS Guide and the QAA. If you spot an error, use the contact link at the bottom of the page.

About

University, explained.
Nothing sold.

Education Guidance is a free guide to choosing, entering and finishing university. It explains how things work, gives you tools to test them on your own numbers, and leaves the decision to you.

Browse the guides Read our principles

Free to read

No account

What this is

Every idea comes in three forms

01 · Read

A guide

A short answer first, then how it works in plain words, with the source for every fact.

02 · Try

A tool

A calculator or planner beside the guide, so you can run the idea on your own grades, credits or costs.

03 · See

A chart

One picture of the idea, labelled as sourced data or as an illustrative model.

Principles

Six rules every page follows

Education, not advice

We explain how things work in general. Your own case belongs with an admissions, funding or academic adviser.

No paid recommendations

No university, course or lender can pay to appear inside a guide, tool, chart or questionnaire result.

Every figure has a source and a date

Deadlines, fees and funding rules link to the official page and show the academic year they belong to.

The system is always stated

Grading, credits and funding differ by country. A page says which one it describes, or says it is general.

Your inputs stay with you

Calculators and questionnaires run in your browser. Nothing you type is sent or stored.

Models are labelled as models

A chart built from a formula says so. Nothing predicts your grade, your cost or your admission.

How a page is built

The same eight parts, in the same order

Once you have read one page, you know where to look on all of them.

Where and when

Which system and year the page applies to, and who reviewed it.

Short answer

Two or three plain sentences.

The guide

How it works, with sources.

Steps and dates

What to do, in order, and by when.

The tool

A calculator or planner for this topic.

The chart

Sourced data or a labelled model.

When to ask an adviser

And which office to ask.

Sources and next pages

Official links and related guides.

The line we hold

Information, not advice

What you will find

Plain explanations of admissions, funding, credits and study methods
Calculators and planners you run on your own numbers
Charts that say where their data comes from
Questionnaires that point you to a place to start reading
Links to the official source for every rule and figure

What you will not find

A ranking of universities, or a "best for you" pick
Predictions of your admission chances or grades
Sponsored universities or lenders presented as guidance
Personal financial advice or loan recommendations
Visa and immigration guidance

Who it's for

Anyone with a university decision to make

Future students Shortlisting, applying and working out the cost.
Current students Managing workload, grades and credits.
Parents and guardians Understanding fees, loans and funding offers.
International applicants Comparing grading and credit systems.
Counsellors and teachers Pages and tools to share with students.

Common questions

Before you start

: Yes. Reading the guides and using the tools costs nothing and needs no account. If a page ever carries an ad or a partner link, it is labelled and kept apart from the guidance.
: At launch, Education Guidance covers general higher-education concepts. Country-specific guides begin with the UK — using data from UCAS, the Student Loans Company and the Office for Students. Each page states which system it applies to.
: No. We explain how rankings work and what their limitations are. For official programme comparison data, see Discover Uni, the UK government's official comparison tool.

All common questions

: Yes. Reading the guides and using the tools costs nothing and needs no account. If a page ever carries an ad or a partner link, it is labelled and kept apart from the guidance.
: At launch, Education Guidance covers general higher-education concepts. Country-specific guides begin with the UK — using data from UCAS, the Student Loans Company and the Office for Students. Each page states which system it applies to.
: No. We explain how rankings work and what their limitations are. For official programme comparison data, see Discover Uni, the UK government's official comparison tool.
: Nothing leaves your browser. Every calculator and questionnaire runs entirely client-side. No inputs are sent to any server, logged or used for analytics.
: No. Admission decisions involve factors we do not have access to. We explain how admissions processes work and what universities say they look for. For official entry statistics, check Discover Uni or the university's own admissions page.
: Every guide cites its sources — official bodies including UCAS, HESA, the Office for Students, the European Commission ECTS Guide and the QAA. If you spot an error, use the contact link at the bottom of the page.

Found a mistake, or something missing?

Tell us at [CONTACT EMAIL]. We check every report and correct the page if it is wrong.

Back to the guides

University, explained. Nothing sold.