September 2024 sentiment deck

• As a new cohort of Year 12 moved up to Year 13 status we asked them at the start of term where they were in terms of university shortlisting.
• Life skills such as cooking and money management are the main needs of students moving away to university this month.
• Summer was all about relaxation for the TSR community when we asked what their summer plans involved.
• Almost half of Year 13 students were feeling overwhelmed at the new academic year.
• We asked students what influence their parents had in their uni choices.
• Over half of 2026 entry applicants have already started their research on future careers, universities and courses.
• What do students think universities are doing well?

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Our Insight team have also recently released some exciting new results from our TSR Asks research, with topics including Year 11 after GCSEs: Making subject choices at A-Level (or equivalent), firm and insurance choice decision making and our latest cost of living summary. You can access these summaries on our Insight Report page.

August 2024

– Year 12 – where they are with post FE options

– 59% would use Clearing if did not meet their grades

– Words prospective UGs liked and what would put them off a uni

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April 2024

– Year 13 students talk back-up plans

– Biggest worry for 2024 applicants is cost of living when starting uni

– Year 12s first port of call when researching their options is online research

– Year 11s are already factoring future employability into their course choice decisions

– We revisit the impact of Cost of Living on UG decision making

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July 2024

– A third of students polled found exams harder than expected
– Knowledge gaps still prevail on how Clearing works
– Financial skills (such as taxes and budgeting) was cited as the top thing missing from the school curriculum
– Clearing is the most popular Plan B for those not making the grades this summer
– How knowledgeable are their parents/carers about the uni application process

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March 2024

– Student opinions on apprenticeships
– 34% of students had no idea how student finance worked – Two thirds of 2024 UG applicants surveyed favoured halls as their accommodation preference
– New TSR Insight summary on insurance choice decision making

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June 2024

– How students plan to support themselves financially through university

– Main concern around A-level results is that they would miss their university offer

– 32% of students voted for in-person open days as their most favoured resource when it comes to researching universities

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February 2024

– Impact of the cost of living crisis
– Year 12: the help they need with making uni decisions
– Year 12 plans to attend Ucas fairs
– Over half of poll respondents still waiting to hear from some of their choices
– Who do prospective students trust to provide peer-to-peer support?

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May 2024

– 59% of Year 13 students have had all their offers back by end of April

– Cost of living is a significant concern for year 12’s

– Only 30% of Year 13 respondents planning to go to university in 2024 felt they knew a lot about Clearing

– We explore factors influencing prospective UGs’ choices and their information needs

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January 2024

– Students were apprehensive starting back for the new term
– Past papers top the chart on preferred revision methods
– Almost all 2024 entry prospective UGs had received guidance from their school or college on when to submit their UCAS application
– One quarter of Y12s and Y13s surveyed were interested in apprenticeships

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December 2023

– Revision remained the key focus for Year 12& 13 students over Christmas
– Almost one in five first year students say they were considering leaving.
– 44% of respondents said they were interested in using podcasts to support their learning

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November 2023

– Students’ university accommodation searches

– Where students are at in their application process

– Growing interest in Degree Apprenticeships among Year 12 students

– Student to student experiences and discussions highly valued during the application process

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October 2023

– More than half of student lack confidence with money management
– 25% of students feel current A level structure should change
– Almost 75% of students polled are unaware what the TEF rating is
– Email is the most commonly preferred method of communication from universities by students

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Sept 2023

– A new academic year brings nervousness
– Money management and study skills are top areas students are looking for support in
– Student experiences of Clearing
– Nearly two fifths of surveys 2023 undergrads felt that events had been the most influential information when deciding which university to go to

Read now