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

Planning my time / managing workload

Advice on staying motivated

Developing independent study skills

Budgeting / planning finances

Getting a part‐time job

Connecting me with other students

Mental health support

Learning to do things on my own (e.g. cooking, laundry)

Something else

None of the above

Q: What help and support do you need now you have started university? Please select all that apply (Multiple Response) (Base: 161)

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

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%).

Around four‐fifths (83%) of respondents felt supported by their university at this time

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

85% of respondents currently living away for university were satisfied with their accommodation this academic year

Satisfactionwith accommodation

Q: Are you satisfied with your accommodation this academic year? (Single Response) (Base: 238, respondents living away for university)

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

I am getting value for money for tuition

Agree Disagree

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (Grid Question) (Base: 351)

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.

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%).

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.

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 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)

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.

To support with the rising cost of living, respondents most frequently indicated that they would like to see subsidisedfood and drink options available on campus (62%), subsidisedcosts 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 thatapply (Multiple Response) (Base: 345)

Careers and Employability

The Student Room Group 2023

Nearly three‐fifths (59%) of respondents reported feeling either quiteor veryconcerned about getting a job after they graduate / finish their studies; among final year respondents 79% were quite or very concerned

Level of concern about getting a job after graduating / finishing their studies

Final year undergraduate respondents were more likely (34%) than both first year (10%) and continuing undergraduate students (19%) to report feeling very concerned about getting a job after they graduate / finish their studies.

Q: Thinking about the current situation, how concerned are you about getting a job after you graduate / finish your studies? (Single Response) (Base: 344)

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

Whether respondents have decided on a future career path

Q: Have you decided on your future career path? (Single Response) (Base: 343)

There were no significant differences recorded among respondents by year of study for this question, though interestingly just two‐fifths (40%) of final year undergraduate respondents indicated that they had decided on a future career path.

The Student Room Group 2023