TSR Asks: What influence do parents have on university decision making?
We asked prospective undergraduates how their parent(s)/carer(s) were supporting their university application and decisionmaking
Methodology: TSR Asks monthly omnibus survey of prospective 2023 and 2024 entry undergraduates, aged 16+
Base: 829 responses (6th – 8th May 2023)
How are parents influencing university decisionmaking?
More than three-quarters of prospectiveundergraduaterespondents felt their parent(s)/carer(s) would influence their university choice, including 16% who thought they would have significant influenceon their decisions.
Q: How much influence, if any, do you feel your parent(s)/carer(s) will have on your university choice? (Single response)
Although 24% said their parent(s)/carer(s) had no influence, almost all (91%) mentioned stepstheir parent(s)/carer(s) had taken relating to their application, most frequently suggesting universitiesto consider (56%) or accompanying them to open days (49%).
Parents also appear to have a role in rejecting universities; 41% said their parent(s)/carers had helped them narrow down their university choicesand 31% said they had discouraged them from choosing certain universities.
Q: Have your parent(s)/carer(s) done any of the following in relation to your university application / decision making? (Multiple response)
56% Suggested universities you could consider
49% Accompanied you to a university open day
41% Helped you narrow down university choices
40% Paid for your travel to a university open day
40% Suggested courses you could consider
31% Discouraged you from choosing certain universities
22% Discouraged you from choosing certain courses
9% None of these
Got questions? Forfurtherinformation, to find out howwe can meetyour research needs or to add your own confidential ad hocor trackingquestions to ourmonthly TSR Asks surveys, pleasecontactus: hello@tsrinsight.com
“They went to open days with me and told me their opinions on each university.
How is the current cost of living impacting parental influence?
Over two-thirds (69%) of respondents thought their parent(s)/carer(s) were concerned about rising costs of living, with just 6% of respondentsreporting that they were not concerned.
Q: How concerned are your parents/carers about rising costs of living? (Single response)
Unconcerned about cost of living: 6%
Concerned about cost of living: 69%
“They’ve been talking about how expensive London is and the fact that London universities might not be options for me”
While a number of respondents mentioned that their parent(s)/carer(s) had at times accompanied them to an open day (49%) or paid for their open day travel (40%), the opposite was also true. Well over a third (37%) of 2023 entry respondents had occasions where they had been unable to attend a university open day/visit because their parent(s)/carer(s) were unable to take them or pay for their travel.
Q: Have you ever been unable to attend a university open day/visit because your parent(s)/carer(s) were unable to take you/pay for your travel? (Single response)
(Base: 321, 2023 Entry respondents)
Got questions? Forfurtherinformation, to find out howwe can meetyour research needs or to add your own confidential ad hocor trackingquestions to ourmonthly TSR Asks surveys, pleasecontactus: hello@tsrinsight.com
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