One in 10 students regrets choosing their university, reveals new research, which rates the best and worst universities in the UK.
The study, by Which?, rates UK universities on sport, creative arts, politics, student union activities and nightlife, as well as asking around 8,000 students for their views on their experience of higher education.
Oxford and Cambridge are among the best universities for the creative arts, but not among the best places for sport. Would-be politicians should consider studying in London or the South East, while those after exciting nightlife should head north or to Scotland, the report also found.
The report, based on a survey of more than 16,000 undergraduates, show that the vast majority (85%) of students say they are satisfied with their university, with the same proportion happy with their course.
But more than a quarter (26%) say they wish they had done more research, and one in 10 regrets the university they chose. Around 11% had regrets about the course they picked.
The survey found that University College London, Glasgow, Birmingham, and Leeds scored well across all categories examined.
Eight universities in the North of England and Scotland were among the top-rated by students for their diverse nightlife. These were Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores, Northumbria, Leeds, Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian.
Potential politicians were more likely to be found in the UK capital, with the School of Oriental and African Studies, the London School of Economics and Political Science, Goldsmiths, and University College London among those considered the best for a political experience. This meant that they offered many different political groups and activities, such as meetings and demonstrations, and that politics is a visible part of university life.
Oxford and Cambridge were also rated highly for politics, as well as for being creative institutions - those with many arts societies, groups, events and facilities.
Others to perform well in the creative category were a number of specialist institutions including the Arts University Bournemouth, University of the Arts London and University for the Creative Arts.
Unsurprisingly, Loughborough - known for its sports facilities - was considered among the best sporty universities, alongside institutions such as Durham, Bath and Birmingham.
Jenni Allen, head of Which? University, said: "The academic and extra-curricular experience at university varies widely. With increased tuition fees, it's never been more important for prospective students to weigh up all the options and make sure they make the right choice for them."