student lifestyle report media student... · report which, as in previous years, gives us unique...
TRANSCRIPT
STUDENT LIFESTYLEREPORT
INTRODUCTION
An introduction from our Director
Methodology
Two surveys were sent to students currently in their first year of university or college – one for tech and retail, the other for media and travel. In total, over 5,300 students completed the surveys.
Before we started our calculations, we adjusted for imbalances in response rates. For example, we know older women are more likely to respond to surveys than younger men, so we weighted our responses to account for this difference. Results displayed are therefore representative of the student population.
Now in its eighth year, I’m delighted to introduce the 2019 student lifestyle report which, as in previous years, gives us unique insight into the student journey – from how they prepare for uni, to celebrating their results, and the all-important freshers’ week. Each year hundreds of thousands of young people start what is a significant transition to higher education – but for many it is also a pivotal point in their role as a consumer.
At UCAS Media, we help brands make these critical connections at exactly the moment students are actively seeking them. For you, that means loyalty with a product or service that could last a lifetime.
Our survey to students, capturing the views of 5,000 individuals, covers a wide range of issues, including travel, tech, social media. To get advice on how to refocus your marketing strategy using this insight, get in touch with one of our team.
Sander KristelExecutive Director – UCAS Media
CONTENTS
KEY FINDINGS
STUDENT SPEND
BRANDS
TECHNOLOGY
SOCIAL MEDIA
ENTERTAINMENT
TRANSPORT
TRAVEL
THE STUDENT JOURNEY
1
2
6
3
7
4
8
5
9
KEY FINDINGS
BEFORE STARTING UNI, STUDENTS SPENT OVER £2,000 IN TOTALON ITEMS SUCH AS STATIONERY, CLOTHES, BOOKS/STUDY MATERIALS, AND KITCHENWARE.
38% OF STUDENTS BOUGHT A LAPTOP OR COMPUTER SPECIFICALLY FOR UNI, SPENDING CLOSE TO £800 ON AVERAGE. FOR THOSE THAT DIDN’T, A LAPTOP WAS THE NUMBER ONE ITEM THEY WISH HAD BOUGHT.
WHILE NETFLIX AND AMAZON PRIMECONTINUED TO GROW THEIR MARKET SHARE SINCE 2017, USAGE DECLINED FOR ALL OTHER ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES.
DURING FRESHERS’ WEEK, STUDENTS SPEND AN AVERAGE OF £435, WHEREAS DURING A TYPICAL WEEK AT UNI, THEY SPEND £223.
WHEN CHOOSING BETWEEN BRANDS, STUDENTS WERE MOST INFLUENCED BY THE PRICE OF ITEMS AND OFFERS, BUT THE OFFERS HAD TO BE WORTHWHILE.
14% OF CURRENT FIRST YEAR STUDENTS TOOK A GAP YEAR BEFORE STARTING UNI. THEY SPENT OVER £500 ON ITEMS FOR THEIR TRIP BEFORE THEY WENT.
WHEN STUDENTS RECEIVED THEIR RESULTS CONFIRMING THEIR PLACE AT UNI, THE MOST POPULAR CELEBRATORY PURCHASE WAS CLOTHES/SHOES.
FACEBOOK’S MARKET SHARE AMONG STUDENTS DECLINED FOR THE FIRST TIME – INSTAGRAM TOOK ITS PLACE AS THE MOST POPULAR SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNITY.
ON AVERAGE, STUDENTS HAVE A TOTAL BUDGET OF £1,019 FOR HOLIDAYS WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR, WITH OVERSEAS STUDENTS PLANNING TO SPEND THE MOST.
Students started researching and
purchasing items for uni months before
they started university. When students
found out they had a place at uni, the
most popular celebratory purchase was
clothes or shoes, followed by a laptop.
In total, students spent around £2,000 on items in preparation for uni, with
significant help from family. Students also
spent over £400 during freshers’ week, with
the most being spent on clothes or shoes.
STUDENT SPEND
PRE-UNI SPEND
What students bought in preparation for uni
Stationery
Clothes/shoes
Books/study materials
Kitchenware
Homeware
Health & beauty products
Travel cards (e.g. railcards)
Printer
TV
Car
Bike
81%
74%
72%
63%
61%
52%
42%
17%
6%
4%
4%
Students spent £686 in total on these items, while parents spent £649, and other family members spent £724. This means that in total, students spent an average of £2,059 on purchases for uni before they went.
PRE-UNI SPEND
Before their course started, when did students start researching and purchasing?
Just under half of students started researching their pre-uni purchases before receiving their results.
RESEARCH STARTS EARLY. BUILD BRAND AWARENESS WITH STUDENTS BEFORE THEY ACCEPT A PLACE AT UNI.
Started researching
Purchased
PRE-UNI SPEND
What students didn’t buy for uni but wish they had
29% OF STUDENTS REGRETTED NOT PURCHASING SOMETHING FOR UNI.
‘CLOTHES AIRER (OUR LAUNDERETTE IS USELESS), PLANTS, AND EXTRA POTS AND PANS.’
‘A TWO-IN-ONE LAPTOP TO MAKE NOTES AND WRITE ESSAYS.’
‘MORE DECORATIONS TO MAKE MY ROOM FEEL HOMELY.’
Laptop/computer
Printer
Kitchenware
Clothes/shoes
Clothes dryer
TV
Homeware
Books
Stationery
Bedding
1 6
2 7
3 8
4 9
5 10
CELEBRATING RESULTS
Once students had their uni places confirmed, what
celebratory purchases did they make?
SOME STUDENTS ALSO SPLASHED OUT ON A HOLIDAY, JEWELLERY, A TABLET, AND A CAR WHEN THEIR PLACES WERE CONFIRMED.
‘I BOUGHT MYSELF A FANCY ONE-PIECE SUIT THAT I WOULD WEAR ON OFFICIALOCCASIONS, MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS, OPEN DAYS, AND INTERVIEWS.’
‘A FEW NIGHTS OUT, FOOD OUT TO SAY GOODBYE TO MY FRIENDS AT HOME, AND ALCOHOL.’
ONE MESSAGE, SENT AT EXACTLY THE RIGHT TIME, SHOULD BE A KEY PART OF YOUR CONVERSION STRATEGY THIS SUMMER.
Clothes/shoes
Alcohol
Laptop/computer
Meal out
Food
Books/study materials
Night out
Make up
Mobile phone
Takeaway
1 6
2 7
3 8
4 9
5 10
FRESHERS’ WEEK VS. UNI
Student spend during freshers’ week
vs. a typical week at uni
£74
£37
£80
£0
£68
£36
£60
£29
£56
£28
£53
£25
£44
£22
£44
£36
Clothes
Books
Nights out
Groceries
Homeware
Alcohol
Eating out
Takeaways Groceries
Clothes
Nights out
Eating out/ Homeware/ Books
Takeaways
Alcohol
A typical week at uni
Fres
hers
’ wee
k
TOTAL SPEND DURING
FRESHERS’ WEEK:£435
TOTAL SPEND DURING A TYPICAL
WEEK AT UNI:£233
DURING FRESHERS’ WEEK, 66% OF STUDENTS CARRIED OUT AN INITIAL LARGE GROCERY SHOP. JUST OVER HALF OF THESE STUDENTS PAID FOR IT THEMSELVES, WHILE THE REMAINDER RELIED ON PARENTS OR GUARDIANS TO PAY.
GROCERY SHOPPING
Where do students shop for groceries while at uni?
Up one position since 2017
Down one position since 2017
=Stayed the same since 2017
Tesco
Aldi
Sainsbury’s
Lidl
Asda
Co-op
Morrisons
Iceland
Marks & Spencer
SPAR
Waitrose
OneStop
62% =
37%
36%
32%
31%
22% =
18% =
15% =
7% =
6% =
5% =
2% =
Tesco was the most popular supermarket among students in 2018, with a 25 percentage point difference between them and the next most popular supermarket, Aldi. Aldi positioned fourth in 2017, whereas in 2018, it was the second most popular supermarket.
STUDENTS ARE PRICE CONSCIOUS – AS SEEN IN THE GROWTH OF THEIR USE OF DISCOUNT GROCERY RETAILERS.
BRANDS
When we asked students about their
favourite brands, a range of sectors
appeared in their top five choices, including
fashion, supermarkets, tech, and
luxury brands.
82% found low price to be most influential when choosing one brand over another,
followed by good prices at 79%. Only 2%
said they were influnced by a celebrity’s
endoresment.
TOP BRANDS
Unprompted, we asked students what their favourite brand was –
here are their top 20 first choices
1 11
7 17
4 14
10 20
2 12
8 18
5 15
3 13
9 19
6 16
Although Heinz and Gucci feature in the top 20 list of favourite brands, they rank 41st and 35th in the most frequently mentioned brands.
TOP BRANDS
We asked students what their top five brands were – here are the
top 30 most frequently mentioned brands across all five choices
1 16
7 22
4 19
10 25
13 28
2 17
8 23
5 20
11 26
14 29
3 18
9 24
6 21
12 27
15 30
TOP BRANDS
Top ten most frequently mentioned brands, split by gender
1 1
7 7
4 4
10 10
2 2
8 8
5 5
3 3
9 9
6 6
MALE STUDENT
FEMALE STUDENT
SWITCHING BRANDS
Since starting uni, for which items have students changed the brands they use?
Why did students switch brands?
46%
20% 19% 16% 13%
Food shopping Homeware Clothes Health & beauty Technology
LACK OF AVAILABILITY DUE TO NEW LOCATION DISCOVERED
NEW BRANDS
PRICECAN AFFORD MORE WITH
STUDENT LOANNEEDED TO UPGRADE LAPTOP
FOR COURSETO FIT IN
STUDENT DISCOUNTS
QUALITY
RECOMMENDATIONS
BRAND INFLUENCERS
What influences students to choose one brand over another?
Low prices
Good offers
Large range of products
Trusted brand
Parents
Loyalty rewards
Friends
Social media influencers
Celebrities
79%
82%
40%
38%
15%
17%
14%
3%
2%
CONSISTENTLY COMMUNICATE YOUR USP SO STUDENTS CAN CONNECT WITH YOUR BRAND, FROM THE FIRST MOMENT THEY ENGAGE WITH IT.
At least half of students started
researching laptops/computers,
smartphones, and tablets for uni before
their places were confirmed. Apple was
the most popular brand for all three tech
items, following the trend seen in 2017.
When buying their new laptop, tablet, or
smartphone, battery life was considered more important than price, which could
be influenced by parent(s)/guardian(s)
or relatives who are helping pay for
these items.
TECHNOLOGY
SMARTPHONE OWNERSHIP
98%of students own a smartphone. 10% bought one specifically for uni.
£30is the average cost of a student’s monthly phone contract.
When did students start to research and purchase their smartphones for uni?
By July, half of students had started researching their smartphones for uni, and a third of students had purchased them.
Started researching Purchased
SMARTPHONE PLANS41% OF STUDENTS HAD A MONTHLY CONTRACT OR SIM ONLY DEAL IN A FAMILY MEMBER’S NAME.
Phone plans
Data allowances
64%
20%11%
1% 1%2%Monthly contract
SIM only Pay as you go Shared plan Don’t know Other
7%
38%
17%9% 13% 7%10%
Less than1GB
2GB-5GB 6GB-10GB 11GB-15GB 16GB-20GB More than 20GB
Unlimited
SMARTPHONE BRANDS
Which brand of smartphone did students purchase for uni?
Apple
Samsung
Huawei
Oneplus
Sony
LG
Motorola
Nokia
Acer
HTC
Alcatel
Other
3%
4%
10%
18%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
2%
2%
4%
51%
APPLE PURCHASES DECLINED BY 15 PERCENTAGE POINTS, AND HUAWEI SAW THE BIGGEST GROWTH AT 8 PERCENTAGE POINTS.
BUYING A SMARTPHONE
What is important to students when buying a smartphone?
Battery life
Price
Camera spec
Features
Brand
Style
Network
Most up-to-date
Recommendation
Incentives
SIM only deal
69%
60%
50%
48%
42%
35%
29%
26%
23%
9%
8%
SMARTPHONE ACTIVITIES
What do students use their smartphones for?
Messaging
Calling
Taking photos/videos
Social networks
Banking
Streaming music
Shopping
Video calling
Satnav/maps
News
Streaming video
Gaming
Notetaking
Reading (e.g. ebooks)
Tracking fitness
Dating
97%94%94%
90%88%
85%80%
71%
18%
69%67%
65%63%
49%45%
36%31%
LAPTOP OWNERSHIP
Students started researching their laptop/computer for uni months before receiving their results.
38% £776 49%of students bought a laptop or computer specifically for uni. 92% own one overall.
was the average cost of a laptop or computer bought specifically for uni.
of students relied on parents or guardians to help pay for their laptop.
When did students start to research and purchase their laptops for uni?
Started researching Purchased
LAPTOP BRANDS
What brand of laptop/computer did students purchase for uni?
Apple
HP
Lenovo
Acer
Dell
ASUS
Microsoft
Chromebook
Toshiba
Other
34%
3%
4%
8%
9%
10%
24%
2%
1%
3%
ENSURE YOU PLAN YOUR CAMPAIGNS EARLY. BY JULY, HALF OF STUDENTS HAD STARTED RESEARCHING THEIR LAPTOP FOR UNI, AND A THIRD HAD PURCHASED THEM.
BUYING A LAPTOP
What is important to students when buying a laptop/computer?
Battery life, recommendations, and style were more important to female students than male students when looking to buy a laptop for uni. Male students were more interested in the incentives offered, and laptop features.
Battery life
Price
Features
Most up-to-date
Style
Recommendation
Brand
Incentives
Camera spec
66%
64%
61%
37%
34%
34%
34%
9%
5%
LAPTOP ACTIVITIES
What do students use their laptops/computers for?
Shopping
Notetaking
Streaming video
Social networks
Streaming music
Reading (e.g. ebooks)
Banking
News
Messaging
Video calling
Gaming
Satnav/maps
Calling
Taking photos/videos
Dating
Tracking fitness
88%69%69%
65%57%57%
53%50%
4%4%
9%13%16%
28%
48%40%
35%
TABLET OWNERSHIP
Over half of students started researching their tablets for uni before August, and over a third purchased them.
48% £561 39%of students own a tablet. This has increased from 38% in 2014.
was the average cost of a tablet bought specifically for uni.
of students relied on parents or guardians to help pay for their tablet.
When did students start to research and purchase their tablets for uni?
Started researching Purchased
TABLET BRANDS
What brand of tablet did students purchase for uni?
Apple
Samsung
Microsoft
Dell
ASUS
Acer
Sony
HP
Blackberry
Lenovo
Kindle
Other
59%
3%
3%
4%
4%
5%
6%
7%
1%
1%
1%
2%
7%
SAMSUNG PURCHASES DECLINED BY 9 PERCENTAGE POINTS, AND MICROSOFT SAW THE BIGGEST GROWTH AT 4 PERCENTAGE POINTS.
BUYING A TABLET
What is important to students when buying a tablet?
Battery life
Features
Price
Brand
Most up-to-date
Style
Recommendation
Camera spec
Incentives
64%
55%
46%
43%
35%
32%
16%
29%
10%
TABLET ACTIVITIES
What do students use their tablets for?
Streaming video
Gaming
Social networks
Streaming music
Shopping
Reading (e.g. ebooks)
Notetaking
News
Video calling
Messaging
Banking
Taking photos/videos
Satnav/maps
Calling
Tracking fitness
Dating
60%56%
50%46%46%46%
44%41%
3%4%
9%11%
20%21%
34%33%32%
SMART TECH
What smart technology do students own? 2017 vs. 2018
Other smart tech owned in 2018
30%17%
13%13%
28%21%
41%32%
Wearable fitness tracker
Smart watch
Voice-controlled home assistant
VR headset
8%7%
3%
Drone
Smart home thermostat
3D printer
Since 2017, smart tech ownership has increased the most for smart watches.Female students were 17 percentage points more likely to own fitness trackers than male students. Male students were more likely to own smart watches, VR headsets, and home assistants.
Ownership in 2017
Ownership in 2018
When we look back to 2017, Snapchat
and Instagram were both enjoying a
steady increase of student users, whereas
Facebook usage was slowly declining,
although still positioning first. During
2018, however, Instagram was one of the only social media communities to grow its market share, while overtaking Facebook for the first time. Snapchat
usage actually declined (albeit only
by 2 percentage points), ranking
third overall.
SOCIAL MEDIA
SOCIAL MEDIAFor the first time ever, Facebook
has been overtaken by Instagram
as the most popular social media
community used regularly by
students. Its popularity decreased
by 8 percentage points since 2017,
whereas Instagram usage increased
by 4 percentage points. Snapchat
usage also declined, although
only by 2 percentage points.
Since 2015, Instagram popularity
has grown the most, and
Snapchat and WhatsApp also
experienced an increase
overall. Facebook usage,
however, declined by
10 percentage points,
and Twitter
usage declined by
6 percentage points
2015
2015
2016
2016
2017
2017
2018
2018
85%77%
54%75%
53%71%
50%64%
40%35%
Most popular social media communities
In 2017, students chose Facebook
as the one social media community
they’d use if they could only use one,
whereas this year, Instagram came out on top. Facebook dropped two
places, just behind Snapchat,
but remained ahead of
WhatsApp and Twitter.
SOCIAL MEDIA
If students could use only ONE social media
community, which would they choose?
25%
19%
16%
10%
7%
SOCIAL MEDIA
Demographic differences for most preferred social media community
Female students
77%74%
74%
67%60%
38%31%
67%
82%70%
Snapchat
Most preferred site for female students
Most preferred site for male students
Male students
Overall, Instagram was the most popular social media community among students, overtaking Facebook for the first time. For male students, however, Facebook remained most popular in 2018.
SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE
Which social media sites are students using to do the following?
52%20%
14%
17%27%
31%
25%
37%30%
18%5%
31%
22%23%
11%
20%16%
38%
Sharing photos/videos
Researching new products
Finding offers
Discovering more about a brand
Chatting to friends/family
Using video chat
91% of students use an entertainment
service, with Netflix remaining the most
popular service in 2018. Netflix continued
to increase its market share among students
alongside Amazon Prime, whereas, for all
other entertainment services, student
usage declined.
Alongside entertainment services, students
also subscribe to fashion, food and drink,
and health and beauty subscription services.
ENTERTAINMENT
ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES
Which entertainment services do students use?
2016
2016
2017
2017
2018
2018
76%
47%
31%27%
9%
22%
11%
7%9%
3%
Student usage increased for all entertainment services between 2016 and 2017.Between 2017 and 2018, however, only Netflix and Amazon Prime usage increased among students.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Which other subscription services do students sign up to?
Other subscription services mentioned include:
37% OF STUDENTS SUBSCRIBE TO A SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE OTHER THAN ENTERTAINMENT.
28%18% 17%
6%
Fashion Food & drink (e.g. Graze,
Gusto)
Health & beauty
(e.g. Birchbox, Glossy Box)
Other
Course-related subscriptions
(e.g. course-related magazines, The Economist, etc.)
Gaming
60%46%48%
37%
14%
53%38%
22%
47%
22%14%
SUBSCRIPTIONSMORE STUDENTS EAT OUT AND GO TO THE CINEMA, THAN GO CLUBBING.
43% OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN SPORT WHILE AT UNI.
What do students do in their spare time?
Favourite student sports 1
2
3
4
5
Running
Football
Swimming
Yoga/pilates
Badminton
6
7
8
9
10
Netball
Basketball
Rugby
Tennis
Hockey
Eat o
ut
Cine
ma
Club
bing
Take
away
s
Gym
Part
-tim
e jo
b
Uni
clu
bs &
soci
etie
s
Mus
ic fe
stiv
als
Gig
s
Volu
ntee
r
Them
e pa
rks
With 115,000 first year students
travelling home from uni every week,
students are looking for the best value
transport, that travels closest to their
home, in the quickest time.
Overall, 74% of students pay for their
own travel tickets home. For UK students,
this increased to 81%, whereas the majority
of EU and overseas students relied on
their parents.
Cost of transport was most important to
students from Wales, where only 15% sought
help from their parents, and 85% paid
for themselves.
TRANSPORT
TRAVELLING HOME
How often students travel home from uni
22%
7%18%
26%
4%
At least once a week
Every fortnight
Every month Between terms
During the summer holidays
115,000students 93,000
students
22,000students
39,000students
139,000students
STUDENTS’ TRAVEL PATTERNS ARE CHANGING. TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT YOUR PROMOTIONS DIFFERENTLY.
TRAVELLING HOME
Which sites do students use to purchase their travel tickets?
Important factors when deciding which method of transport to use
61%
19% 15%2% 2% 1%
Cost Ease of travel (e.g. location
of stops)
Length of journey
Last minute availability
Easy to book Travelling with others
TRAINLINE.COM LEADS THE MARKET, WITH 68% OF STUDENTS USING THE SITE TO BOOK THEIR TRAVEL TICKETS HOME FROM UNI.
BOOKING TRANSPORT
Who relies on parents or relatives to pay for travel tickets home from uni,
and how important is the cost of travel tickets?
Cost of travel tickets is least important to overseas students, who are also least likely to pay for their own transport home from uni.
64%
49%
64%
59%62%
68%
60%
55% 21% 17% 10%15%Overseas EU Northern
IrelandEngland ScotlandWales
Rely on parents to pay for travel tickets home
Cost most important factor
Student domicile
Students had a substantial budget of £981 for holidays in the next year, although 45% were likely to rely on parents/guardians or relatives to help pay for them. Overseas students had the highest budget, although 72% planned to seek help from their parents/guardians or relatives.
Out of the 13% of students who took a gap year to go travelling before starting uni, 65% booked their travels before or during September in the year they finished school or college.
Ahead of their travels, students spent £518 (on average) on items for their trip. Male students spent £48 more than female students, with a total spend of £546 vs. £498. This is likely to be because male students were more likely to buy cameras, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. Female students were more likely to buy clothes and shoes.
TRAVEL
BOOKING GAP YEARS
When students booked their gap year travels
Gap year spend
Before Sep
Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar After Mar
52%
13%
5%
16%
5%3% 3%2% 2%
13% of students took a gap year to go travelling between finishing school/college and starting uni. 52% booked their trip before September.
74% OF STUDENTS PLANNED TO PAY FOR THEIR GAP YEAR TRAVELS THEMSELVES.
£2,083 £518Total spent on transport and accommodation
Total spent on pre-travel purchases
STUDENTS ARE PLANNING THEIR GAP YEARS WELL BEFORE THEY LEAVE SCHOOL. ENSURE YOU’RE ENGAGING WITH THEM EARLY TO INSPIRE THEIR TRAVELS.
BOOKING GAP YEARS
Gap year organisations
Why students booked with specific organisations
10% 4% 4% 2% 1% 1%
81% OF STUDENTS ARRANGED THEIR OWN TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION FOR THEIR GAP YEAR TRAVELS.
Reco
mm
enda
tion
Easy
to fi
nd/b
ook
with
Flex
ibili
ty
Low
cos
t
Firs
t com
pany
I lo
oked
at
Trus
ted
bran
d
Loca
tions
avi
labl
e
Revi
ews
Activ
ities
ava
ilabl
e
ATO
L pr
otec
ted
trav
el
43%25% 23% 23% 17% 16% 14% 12% 6% 6%
GAP YEAR PURCHASES
What did students buy in preparation for their gap year?
Clothes/shoes
Insurance
Toiletries
Luggage
Camera
Mobile phone
Laptop
Tablet
56%
43%
43%
6%
11%
12%
21%
26%
80% OF STUDENTS BOUGHT ITEMS SPECIFICALLY FOR THEIR GAP YEAR TRAVELS.
HOLIDAYS
When are students planning to go on holiday?
Holiday budgets
49%
26% 20% 17%
Summer break
Christmas break
Weekends/short breaks
Easter break
72% OF STUDENTS PLAN TO GO ON HOLIDAY IN THE NEXT YEAR.
55% OF STUDENTS PLAN TO PAY FOR THEIR HOLIDAYS THEMSELVES.
45% PLAN TO RELY ON PARENTS OR FAMILY TO PAY FOR ALL OR SOME OF THEIR HOLIDAY.£981
is the average total budget for students’ holidays over the next 12 months.
Northern Ireland
EU
Scotland
England
Wales
Overseas
£732
£756
£767
£892
£887
£2,019
Stud
ent d
omic
ile
STUDENT JOURNEY
Trusted by students and their advisers, 700k applicants use UCAS every year to progress to higher education, and thousands more decide on an alternative route. That puts UCAS Media in the perfect position to support brands that want to help students, with products and services that will make their next step a confident one.
STUDENT JOURNEY
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP
Year 13
Emma‘I’ve applied and am excited about
my future.’
UCAS main deadlines Emma isn’t receiving the offers she wants. She’s open to new and different opportunities, and keeps everything crossed.
It’s exam time. Emma’s focused on the job in hand, and nothing else.
Finally, she’s secured a place. Emma also applied for an apprenticeship scheme, but if she gets this uni place confirmed, she’ll be happy.
Emma takes a few months working abroad to top up her finances.
Results day. Emma gets the grades she needs to confirm her place.
Emma starts preparing for uni – so much to think about and organise.
73% of students start researching their accommodation options before getting an offer.
90k students are unplaced following their initial application – convert those who are still looking at their options.
Reach prospects who are looking for something to do over the summer before uni.
Open rates to those with confirmed places are 267% higher than the national average. Click rates were 200% higher.
75% of students purchase all the uni essentials before they start.
Target 500k who are placed each year, with providers and services they’ll need to support that transition.
Why UCAS Media?If you need a partner that can cut through the noise to reach the right students with your acquisition campaigns, speak to UCAS Media. Targeted, early access to the UK’s verified student audience, months before anyone else, means we give your brand the edge.
Get in touch
For more information on any aspect of this report, or to find out how we can connect your brand to this important audience, please get in touch.
Nicola McClymont, Commercial Manager t: 01242 223730 e: [email protected]
Luke Clarke, Senior Media Consultant t: 01242 545 708 e: [email protected]
www.ucasmedia.com
UCAS Media Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of UCAS. By working with us, you’ll be directly supporting today’s and tomorrow’s students, because we gift aid our profits back to UCAS, the charity. This reduces the cost of admissions services for students and higher education providers alike.