Navigating Changing Options
Current Students report – Autumn term 2022
Wave Nine – Fieldwork October 2022
Date: 2nd March 2023
Report Prepared by:
Liam Clements, Research Executive
Barbara Bradshaw, Senior Market Research Consultant
Beth Wiles, Research Manager
The Student Room Group 2023
Summary of findings
University Experience
• Overall, nearly nine-tenths (86%) of current undergraduate respondents reported being happy on their course so far this academic year, around four-fifths (83%) of current undergraduate respondents felt supported by their university at this time
• Respondents most frequently indicated that they were happy with their university’s approach to teaching and learning (88%), providing the resources they need to do their course (83%), and health and wellbeing support (81%). Respondents were least happy with their university’s approach to supporting students with rising costs of living (50%).
• Respondents were most likely to agree that their university is doing the best it can under the circumstances (75%) and least likely to agree that they are getting value for money for tuition (55%). Final year respondents were however less likely to agree with the statements than those in earlier years of their university life.
• When asked for one word to describe their feelings about their university experience so far this academic year, the most frequently mentioned words were ‘busy’, ‘interesting’, and ‘exciting’, however feelings were mixed, with ‘stressful’ or ‘overwhelming’ also suggested.
• Current undergraduate respondents identified planning their time/managing their workload (70%), advice on staying motivated (53%), and developing independent study skills (53%) as areas in which they now required support having started university.
• Getting the grades they want/need (66%), managing their workload (64%), and the cost of living (62%) were the most frequently cited issues worrying respondents at the moment. Respondents had a number of concerns, each selecting an average of around 6 of those listed.
• To support with the rising cost of living, current undergraduate respondents most frequently wanted to see subsidised food and drink options available on campus (62%), subsidised costs for course essentials (61%), and on campus facilities for students to make their own hot drinks / meals (47%).
• 85% of respondents currently living away for university were satisfied with their accommodation this academic year.
Careers and Employability
• Nearly three-fifths (59%) of respondents reported feeling either quite or very concerned about getting a job after they graduate; among final year respondents 79% were quite or very concerned.
• Only around two-fifths (37%) of respondents had already decided on a career path. Similar proportions indicated that they had maybe (35%) or not (28%) made this decision.
Mental Health
• Around two-fifths (37%) of respondents reported that their mental health was either good or very good at the moment.
• Over three-fifths of respondents felt that they knew how to connect with coursemates / classmates (65%) and that they had a support network they could reach out to (63%). Around half of respondents (54%) felt able to cope with the uncertainty at the moment .
The Student Room Group 2023
Background and Target Audience
The Student Room Group 2023
Background and Approach
These findings are from the 9th wave of The Student Room’s Navigating Changing Options Research. We repeat this survey regularly, so that we can help young people navigate these challenging times, to track changes over time and to deliver value to our clients and The Student Room.
Methodology and target audience
An online survey was shared with relevant members of The Student Room Community.
• The target audience was current undergraduate students studying a degree at a UK university.
• Fieldwork took place between 17th October and 1st November 2022.
The Student Room Group 2023
Respondent
395 complete and partial responses were received, all UK students currently studying an undergraduate degree. Any significant differences by year of study are identified throughout this document.
The Student Room Group 2023
Profile Current/most recent year of study Foundation Year Student 7% First Year Undergraduate Student 47% Continuing Undergraduate Student 28% Final Year Undergraduate Student 18% Prefer not to say 1% Gender Male (including transgender men) 19% Female (including transgender women) 77% Non-binary / gender-fluid 3% Prefer not to say 2% Stay at home/ Move away Staying at home and commuting to university 28% Living away for university 72% Parent(s) went to university? Yes 48% No 49% Prefer not to say 3% Age 17 1% 18 29% 19 25% 20 20% 21 or over 25%
University Experience
The Student Room Group 2023
When asked for one word to describe their feelings about their university experience so far this academic year, reaction was somewhat mixed. The most frequently mentioned words were ‘Busy’ and ‘Interesting’, and ‘Exciting’. However, other frequently mentioned words also suggested that the overall experience of this academic year so far was not without its complications, for example ‘Stressful’ or ‘Overwhelming’
Descriptions of university experience this academic year so far
What one word describes your university experience so far this academic year? (Open Comment) (Base: 349)
The Student Room Group 2023
Respondents most frequently identified planning their time/managing their workload (70%), advice on staying motivated (53%), and developing independent study skills (53%) as areas in which they now required support having started university. Respondents selected an average of 4 options each
Help required by respondents having started university
Developing
Q: What help and support do you need now you have started university? Please select all that apply (Multiple Response) (Base: 161)
The Student Room Group 2023 4% 2% 22% 35% 39% 42% 50% 53% 53% 70%
me
part-time job
None of the above Something else Learning to do things on my own (e.g. cooking, laundry) Mental health support Connecting
with other students Getting a
planning
Budgeting /
finances
on staying motivated Planning my time / managing workload
independent study skills Advice
Overall, nearly nine-tenths (86%) of respondents reported being happy on their course so far this academic year. However, among final year respondents more than one in five were not happy
Whether respondents are happy on their course so far this academic year
Final year undergraduate respondents were less likely (77%) than both first years (89%) and continuing undergraduate respondents (90%) to report being happy on their course so far this academic year.
First year undergraduates
More than one in five final year undergraduates (22%) said they were not happy on their university course.
Continuing undergraduates
Final year undergraduates
Yes No Prefer not to say
Q: Are you happy on your university course so far this academic year? (Single Response) (Overall Base: 354, First year undergraduate base: 161, Continuing undergraduate base: 102, Final year undergraduate base: 64)
The Student Room Group 2023 77% 90% 89% 86% 22% 5% 7% 9% 2% 5% 4% 4%
Overall
Respondents most frequently indicated that they were happy with their university’s approach to teaching and learning (88%), providing the resources they need to do their course (83%), and health and wellbeing support (81%). Respondents were least happy with their university’s approach to supporting students with rising costs of living (50%)
Respondents’ happiness with their university’s approach to various issues
Teaching and learning
Providing the resources you need to do your course
Providing health and wellbeing support
Providing careers support
Helping you connect with future employers
Providing financial guidance
Supporting students with rising costs of living
Q: Are you happy with how your university has approached the following? Yes/No (Grid Question) (Base: 352)
First year undergraduate respondents were more likely (92%) than both continuing (84%) and final year undergraduate respondents (83%) to be happy with how their university has approached Teaching and Learning.
Similarly, first year undergraduate respondents were more likely (58%) than both continuing (41%) and final year undergraduate respondents (41%) to be happy with how their university has approached supporting its students with rising costs of living.
First year undergraduate respondents were also more likely than final year undergraduate respondents to indicate that they were happy with how their university had approached providing financial guidance (65% cf. 41%) and providing health and wellbeing support (87% cf. 75%).
The Student Room Group 2023 50% 57% 68% 78% 81% 83% 88%
Whether respondents felt supported by their university
Q: Do you feel supported by your university at this time? (Single Response) (Base: 351)
The Student Room Group 2023 Yes 83% No 17%
Around four-fifths (83%) of respondents felt supported by their university at this time
85% of respondents currently living away for university were satisfied with their accommodation this academic year
Satisfaction with accommodation
Q: Are you satisfied with your accommodation this academic year? (Single Response) (Base: 238, respondents living away for university)
The Student Room Group 2023 Yes 85% No 8% Prefer not to say 7%
Respondents were most likely to agree that their university is doing the best it can under the circumstances (75%) and least likely to agree that they are getting value for money for tuition (55%). Final year respondents were however less likely to agree with the statements than those in earlier years of their university life
Extent of respondent agreement with statements about their university and university experience
My university is doing the best it can under the circumstances
My university experience is better than expected
I am getting value for money for university experience
First year undergraduate respondents were more likely (83%) than both continuing (68%) and final year respondents (67%) to agree that their university is doing the best it can under the circumstances.
Similarly, first year undergraduate respondents were more likely (71%) than both continuing (53%) and final year undergraduate respondents (40%) to agree that they are getting value for money for university experience.
I am getting value for money for tuition
First year undergraduate respondents were also more likely than final year undergraduate respondents to agree that their university experience is better than expected (72% cf. 49%).
Agree Disagree
Q: Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (Grid Question) (Base: 351)
Final year undergraduate respondents however were less likely (33%) than both first year (62%) and continuing undergraduate respondents (52%) to agree that they are getting value for money for tuition.
The Student Room Group 2023 55% 60% 64% 75% 45% 40% 36% 25%
Getting the grades they want/need (66%), managing their workload (64%), and the cost of living (62%) were the most frequently cited issues worrying respondents at the moment. Respondents had a number of concerns, each selecting an average of around 6 of those listed Things
Final year undergraduate respondents were more likely (51%) than first year undergraduate respondents (30%) to report feeling worried about the cost of accommodation.
Final year undergraduate respondents were conversely almost half as likely as first year undergraduate respondents to be worrying about getting a part time job (20% cf. 38%)
Similarly, final year undergraduate respondents were less likely (25%) than both first year (43%) and continuing undergraduate respondents (41%) to report feeling worried about making friends.
Reflecting on the prospect of getting a job after they graduate, final year undergraduate respondents were more likely (75%) than both first year (37%) and continuing undergraduate respondents (52%) to be worrying about this.
The Student Room Group 2023 3% 4% 13% 16% 19% 28% 33% 34% 35% 36% 38% 49% 56% 62% 64% 66% None of the above Something else Finding suitable accommodation Accessing the space and resources I need Being accepted by my peers My degree being valued Getting a part time job Accessing work placements / industry experience Getting the university experience The cost of accommodation Making friends Getting a job after I graduate Motviating myself to study The cost of living Managing my workload Getting the grades I want / need
worrying respondents at the moment
Q: Which of the following, if any, are worrying you at the moment? Please select all that apply (Multiple Response) (Base: 346)
To support with the rising cost of living, respondents most frequently indicated that they would like to see subsidised food and drink options available on campus (62%), subsidised costs for course essentials (e.g., textbooks, lab coats, field trips) (61%), and On Campus facilities for students to make their own hot drinks / meals (47%)
Help requested by respondents from universities to support students with the rising cost of living
Subsidised food and drink options available on campus
Subsidising costs for course essentials e.g. text books, lab coats, field trips
On campus facilities for students to make their own hot drinks / meals
Providing support and info around finding part-time jobs or paid opportunities on campus
Free transport between campuses
Support with energy bills
Free transport to budget supermarkets
Food banks on campus
Swap shop/freecycle style events
Laptop loans
Warm banks on campus
Other (please specify)
None of these
Almost all respondents (94%) identified ways universities could support students with the rising cost of living. On average each respondent selected 4 options from the list provided.
Other (please specify) responses included subsidised travel costs for those on mandatory work placements, free parking on campus, and contributions towards train tickets for students.
Q: What would you like to see from universities to support their students with the rising cost of living? Please select all that apply (Multiple Response) (Base: 345)
The Student Room Group 2023 6% 1% 23% 30% 34% 39% 41% 41% 41% 44% 47% 61% 62%
