Last January we tipped the trends to watch in 2019. As a new decade unfolds, we thought we should apply some 2020 hindsight to our predictions and see what topics came to the boil...

We've worked with the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) to publish new research about students' views on data security. 

Higher education institutions collect and hold huge...

A new study reveals which UK university courses have the heaviest and lightest workloads, and how this affects students' perceptions of value for money.

Study International News...

If experience is the new status symbol, how should universities be using experiential marketing to boost their open day conversion? 

Experiential marketing is the buzzword of 2019....

As the dust settles on results day and Clearing, hopefully the phone is ringing a little less and your staff are catching their breath. For us, it’s one of our favourite times of...

In the past decade the number of 18-year olds has been in decline and over the same period, mature and part-time study numbers have also dropped. It's simple economics that fewer...

What's the Gen Z perspective on Clearing? And how can universities ensure they're prepared? The recent Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and Squiz event on 'boosting student...

If you thought 2018 was an eventful year in Higher Education, it may prove to have been nothing more than a warm-up act. With review announcements, political upheavals, new...

International students mean big business for Britain and its universities. The UK played host to 438,010 foreign under- and post-graduates in 2015-16, generating an estimated £25.8...

For those of you who’ve read our ‘Who is Generation Z’ Youth Culture Snippet, you’ll know that the way Gen Z consume information has changed quite a lot in comparison to...

Where students choose to study in the country might set them back over £5,000 in living costs, according to new findings from Which? University, who commissioned YouthSight to...

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On clearing day last year, Staffordshire University made the unusual choice of offering last-minute places via Snapchat. Sheffield Hallam made offers on Facebook Messenger, and...

In March this year, a student sued Anglia Ruskin University for her ‘Mickey Mouse’ degree which, she claimed, did not prepare her for future employment. “The

The growing importance of employability for prospective students picking a course or university has been big news for some time. Yet certain

The race to convert applicants into students has well and truly begun. The main UCAS application deadline was in January, so it’s now ‘make or break’ time

The number of students dropping out of university citing mental health issues is at a record high. So why are institutions forcing students to wait for up

How do young people work with their parents when choosing where to study? Do parents collaborate or impose? Are there consistent and predictable ‘styles’ of involvement out there? 

We think the new PG loan is big news.  It was introduced in 2016 with the aim of boosting the stagnating PGT enrollment numbers[1], especially from lower socioeconomic groups...

Gender pay inequality is big news. Last week’s IFS’s report on the topic dominated the headlines. In her inaugural speech as Prime Minister, Theresa May stressed the need to...

When choosing a university for a postgraduate degree, reputation becomes more important for many prospective postgraduates. YouthSight’s syndicated study, PGT

The sector has crossed a symbolic line. For the first time our Higher Expectations survey has recorded that, when selecting where to study, high-achieving prospective students now...

Our HE Research Snippets reveal interesting findings. 

University league tables are used widely by students and parents, but do they adequately examine student experience? Our latest research polled 15,000 full-time undergraduates from ...

The UK’s HE funding bodies are asking if they should include an optional question in NSS on feelings of community membership at university.

"How can I eat for the rest of the week if I go out tonight?" 

This is the question many cash strapped students regularly face. But what is it really like to live on a student loan...

More than 61,000 undergraduate students were accepted through Clearing for 2014. The final number for 2015 entry will be even higher. That means that around 12% of freshers will...

In a recent presentation at GuildHE (the body representing 27 UK universities, university colleges and specialist colleges) James MacGregor, Head of HE Research at YouthSight, and...

The drivers of university choices among UK prospective undergraduates are well-researched. Reputations, course appeal, and employability figure prominently as they hint at how much...

Vague measures of reputation and employability have long been the dominant factors in university choice. But, their meanings are ambiguous. They are overlapping and multi-faceted...

The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on Government-backed loans for postgraduate taught students is reigniting senior teams’ interest in offering these courses.

Our latest snippet of research looks into the importance of open days. 

Img source: University of NewCastle Open day 2017

Open days matter more than ever.

Open Days are becoming...

Universities have been operating in a fast-changing environment in recent years. Having timely insights on which to base decisions has never been so important. Our Snippets have...

University marketing teams are always keen to discover what makes their institution unique. Sometimes the answer – or at least part of the answer – lies right under everyone’s...

We’ve been measuring what new undergraduate starters regard as being most important in their decision making process for 11 years. In that time, nearly every one of the 42 factors...

Future employability statistics now play a major role in prospective students’ decision-making, feeding into, amongst other things, league tables, Key Information Sets and HEI...

November’s Snippet is based on findings from our latest syndicated research study, PGT+BE: Using behavioral economics (BE) to understand how students really make their taught...

YouthSight’s first HE Research Snippet unearthed an interesting upward trend in parental attendance at university open days. Although this research was conducted with ‘pre-£9,000’...

Most students who go through Clearing have had to re-evaluate their university choices because their grades were not what they hoped for. Having not got into their first choice...

University choices are often complex, multi-faceted decisions, but the decision on what subject to study at undergraduate level often boils down to a few key factors. Our Higher...

A new study released by the Nightline Association suggests negative feelings and mood states including depression, anxiety, and stress are prevalent in the UK’s student population.

Our latest research shows that Open Days are becoming increasingly – and significantly – more important in the applicant decision-making process.Our Higher Expectations study (which...

Net Promoter Scores (NPS) have been touted as the ‘Ultimate Question’ for business leaders because of their strong positive correlation with revenue growth. Bain & Co, the...

Love them or hate them, university league tables are central to the decision-making of many university applicants. And with increasing consumerisation

YouthSight's Ben Marks shares his thoughts and insight on open day.

With the recent growth in membership of the Russell Group and following a series of departures from the 1994 Group (e.g. the universities of Bath and Surrey),

YouthSight has been commissioned by a pre-1992 university to undertake a two-stage research project exploring applicants’ views on multidisciplinary degrees. The project will...

It’s time to measure student engagement rather than just satisfaction.

With the rise in tuition fees, many of us are asking ourselves exactly what young people's expectations are in regard to the student experience are, and whether the UK higher...

The University of Chester has won the “Most Improved Student Experience” at this year’s Times Higher Education (THE) Awards. The winner of this category is determined by research...

The 2012/13 batch of fresh-faced first year students are now just over a month into university life. Many will already be reflecting on how their early university

Ofsted, the organisation responsible for inspecting and regulating further education and skills providers in England, launched its revised Common Inspection Framework in September...

Last year we distributed a free research paper on parental involvement in university open days, 2008/09 to 2010/11. We asked if the rise in helicopter parenting and the...

Which? launches new free independent website aimed at helping prospective students choose the right course and university. 

The latest data from our Higher Expectations survey is released.

How have higher tuition fees affected the decision-making process of applicants?

Open days are one of the most important marketing channels available for universities. They present a unique opportunity for HEIs to present themselves in a way that is untrammelled...

Research carried out by OpinionPanel in 2006 about how students were taught creationism in school was cited in The Guardian in an article on demands for tougher guidelines on...

By Melanie Cohen, Project Director Bright Young Things – OpinionPanel

Last week we asked 1000 students what was at the top of their wish list for Christmas this year on our Student Omnibus Questionnaire.

An insightful conference about strategies for universities to effectively market to, recruit and retain students in a time of increased student expectations and a challenging job...

Research carried out by OpinionPanel and the University of Leicester, looking at a cross section of 10 named universities, found that 1 in 10 of prospective students would be put...

A poll by OpinionPanel and the University of Leicester found that 14% of students from low-income homes would be deterred from applying to university if fees rose from the current...

Research conducted by OpinionPanel and the University of Leicester, looking at a cross section of 10 named universities, found that 1 in 10 of prospective students would be put off...

Data analysis of key student voting questions and demographics over 55 waves.

Opinionpanel's new report "How much more will students pay?" by Professor Anna Vignoles examines likely responses to changes in higher education tuition fees.

Opinionpanel has been working with the consultancy, mobileYouth, looking at how students interact with their mobile handset brands; in particular looking at mobile handset brand...

Three-quarters of students have a holiday job to help fund their university studies research shows. About 73% of students said they had a job to help cover the cost of their degree,...

Half of full-time students set to graduate this summer are seriously considering postgrad options. This option is popular among student who attend either Russell Group or other...

We carried out some research about what students hope to go on to do after they complete their studies. The results show that half of this year's undergraduates are seriously...

The Complete University Guide will soon be publishing their updated annual league table. As an additional benefit for student visitors to their website, they are featuring some...

Opinionpanel has released a report on graduates and the recession. Key findings from over 500 recent graduates highlight their desire for employers to see beyond the short term and...

A London Student survey carried out by Opinionpanel Research on the Student Omnibus Survey has revealed the attitudes of the UK's student population to rape. Key findings were that...

Results of the Times Higher's Student Experience polling is published in full.

New research published yesterday shows that students who want to get a good job that pays well should apply to an institution belonging to the Russell Group or 1994 Group of...

NUS President Wes Streeting said: “This report gives us an unprecedented insight into the experiences and concerns of students. We look forward to working with tutors, institutions...

Universities are delivering on student expectations of higher graduate salaries, according to a new report by the 1994 Group of student-focused, research-intensive universities. ...

Managing director at the student finance website wealthystudent.co.uk recommends The Student Panel as a way for students to swap their time over the internet to boost their income.

Coverage of a report published on June 26th by Opinionpanel which documents a big shift in political allegiances on campus since 2004.

New research by Opinionpanel and London Media shows that students, the vast majority of whom own PCs and MP3 players, are staying loyal to the CD format despite the convenience of...

Research carried out by Opinionpanel - The Student Account Acquisition Study 2007/8 - reveals the latest trends in the student account market in both England & Wales and Scotland.

Opinionpanel research found that more than 75 000 students with access to student radio tune in at least once a week and 92% want relevant news and services.

North West Evening Mail's coverage on how Lancaster University came 30th in the Student Experience Awards 2007.

A good social life and extracurricular activities rank alongside teaching quality when it comes to the factors students consider most central to their university experience.The...

Which universities offer students the best value for money? Ben Marks Managing Director of Opinionpanel looks into The Student Experience. See page 3 for Ben's article.

First-year students are totting up record debt levels of nearly £6 000 a year and face leaving university owing more than £17,500 ,according to a survey today by Opinionpanel...

Over the past decade annual student debt has increased by a staggering 167% - from £1.2 billion to £3.2 billion according to a new study by uSwitch.com carried out by Opinionpanel...

Almost 50,000 students will graduate in 2007 with an average debt of £11,000 but a staggering 14,500 will owe more than £20,000 with some even hitting the £30,000 mark according to...

STUDENTS in Scotland are the most hard-working in the UK with a third working more than 25 hours a week. Scottish undergraduates typically graft for five hours more than other...

Can students spell? Opinionpanel ran its very own spelling test. Click here to view the full article

University students often get a bad rap in the press - especially when it comes to spelling and grammar! So we decided to run a mass test - just for a bit of fun.

PRESS - The Guardian - The Age of the Student Eurocommuter.

New research carried out by Opinionpanel – The Student Account Acquisition Study 2006/07 - reveals the trends in the student banking market.

Loughborough University has been crowned the most popular university among students.

Two-fifths believe that universities should boycott companies with any involvement in the arms trade while one fifth believe that universities should be allowed links with arms...

Can a degree that takes less than 20 hours' work a week to complete be worth the same as one that demands more than 40 hours a week from students?

Read our tables from our recent research on students' beliefs about life on earth and how it came about.

Evolution is on the way out - more than 30% of students in the UK say they believe in creationism and intelligent design…