Student Feedback Highlights: Insights from UK Education Guide Higher Education Fairs

Higher education fairs are an invaluable opportunity for students to explore their university and course options, and the feedback from recent fairs offered by UK Education Guide to independent schools has been overwhelmingly positive. With a 96.9% satisfaction rate, respondents praised the events’ content as either good or excellent.

What Do Students Want?

When asked for further suggestions, many students described the fairs as both interesting and helpful. Some participants expressed a desire for more information on extracurricular activities, while others noted that certain courses they were interested in were not represented by the universities present. These insights provide actionable opportunities to tailor future events more closely to student needs.

What Influences Student Decisions?

The feedback highlighted the decision-making processes students go through when considering universities and courses:

Course vs. University: Nearly 90% of students said they prioritise the course and university together or look at the course first. Only 12.9% of respondents focused on choosing a university before evaluating course options.

Key Factors: Personal interest in the degree subject ranked as the most important factor for over a third of respondents, followed by future earning potential. Surprisingly, the cost of the course was the least important factor for 45% of respondents, though it remained the top priority for 20.7%.

The Role of University Fairs

Almost one-third of respondents identified attending university fairs as the most important factor in deciding on universities and degree courses. These events provided a platform for students to ask questions, gather materials, and gain clarity about their options. However, discussing their options with current university students was ranked as the least influential factor by 44.4% of participants, suggesting students value structured, professional input.

Concerns and Aspirations

When it comes to transitioning from school to university life, students cited concerns about making new friends and potentially losing their established support networks. Despite these worries, over three-quarters of respondents felt confident about the career paths associated with their chosen degree subjects, indicating that career-focused discussions and resources were particularly effective.

Looking Ahead

This feedback provides valuable insights into how schools can continue to improve the higher education advice and information provided to students, and of how higher education organisations can best promote themselves. Ensuring a broader representation of courses at fairs, incorporating more details on extracurricular opportunities, and addressing students’ concerns about the social aspects of university life are all key.

The fairs remain a key touchpoint for students navigating the complex world of higher education, and their value is clear from the overwhelmingly positive feedback we’ve received. As we plan future events, we’ll continue to prioritise students’ needs, ensuring these fairs remain a trusted resource for independent school students making important life decisions.

UK Education Guide’s Higher Education webinars, open to students from Year 11 and above, cover key university application and course selection issues for various different topics including Medicine, Engineering, Computer Science, Creative Arts and Life Science. If you would like to register places for your students to attend then please do visit Events – UK Education Guide . The next webinar will be held on 14 January 2025.