So why do students choose to go to university? Through research conducted amongst the UK's largest online student community, we investigated when the dream to attend university starts, what motivates a student to attend and what influences their choice of course and university. The results may surprise you. We also offer some useful advice on connecting and engaging this vibrant, young audience in the moments they're making these key decisions.

1. Why do
students go to
university?
Page 1

2. The dream starts early
Page 2

3. 87%
of final year
GCSE students
expect to go to
university
(TSR, 1,000 students)
Page 3

4. Spyrogyra: “Do
GCSE resits look
bad when
applying to
university?”
GCSE
Ayeeesha-r, A-level:
“...what kind of careers/
fields could they lead me
into? I still have no idea
what job I'd like to do!”
A-level
LeFruitcake: "I've just
finished at Chester/
Reaseheath after 6 years,
so if you want to ask for
any help or advice, send
your messages my way"
University
(or equivalent)
Awareness
Action
Advocate
Page 4

5. 100,000
GCSE
discussions
per year
200,000+
KS5
discussions
per year
1.1million +
University
discussions
per year
A-level
University
bad when
applying to
university?”
GCSE
(or equivalent)
Awareness
Action
Advocate
Page 5

6. What motivates a
student to go to
university?
Page 6

7. • TheStudentRoom.co.uk
surveyed over 4,000
students in early 2013
• Investigated awareness,
understanding and
motivations for applying
to university
• Download your copy of
the report from
tsrmatters.com
Page 7

8. Page 8

9. 190%
rise in discussions on
The Student Room
concerning careers and
jobs over 2012 numbers
Not all about
having a good time
„Student experience‟
factors losing traction
Page 9

10. Page 10

11. What influences
student decisions?

12. Page 12

13. 40% of
students don’t
know where to find
the information that is
now included in KIS
data to help inform
their decisions
© www.TheStudentRoom.co.uk
11/20/2013
Page 13

14. How to
connect with
students
Page 14

15. We asked: “Where did you go to find out this
information about universities?”
Go where your audience are!
© www.TheStudentRoom.co.uk
11/20/2013
Page 15

16. 1.7 million
study and education
posts on
TheStudentRoom.co.uk
by
656,338
students in 2012
Page 16

17. The Student
Room is the UK
largest online
student
community
Honest peer advice
means students come
to shape study &
career decisions
We‟re uniquely able to help
you influence decisions by
understanding, connecting
& engaging with students
as those decisions are
being formed
Page 17

18. Reaching students...
• Display advertising +
University Profile for
awareness
• Q&As + Official Rep
accounts for
engagement
• Research to
understand student
audience
Page 18

19. Increased
applications
and attendees
Increased data
and insight
Activity in
communities
Greater
visibility of
your brand
More awareness,
knowledge and
discussion about
your uni
Greater content
about your uni
and more shared
in Google

20. Build reputation through long
term engagement
GCSE
A-level
University
(or equivalent)
Awareness
Action
Advocate

21. Want to connect
with students?
Find out more at SRMatters.com
or call 0800 999 3222
Page 21