It is important that you feel safe wherever you go.
First check whether the city’s university is located. Check whether
it is safe, what the crime rate is and what time public transport runs
in that area.
Then you can check the university’s web pages to see if they have
their own security services on campus and in student housing. Your
safety should be one of your university’s top priorities.
The course
Unsurprisingly, the course itself is what ranks top for
prospective students. Afterall, a degree is ultimately the end goal of
attending university in the first place. The majority of students will
have an idea of the subject they want to study before reaching the
application stage, so they’ll be looking to find out things like how the
course is taught (i.e. lectures, tutorials, practicals, independent
study), how they’ll be assessed, how many topic areas are covered and
what facilities are available.
The university's reputation
Reputation factors in significantly when it comes to choosing a
university, and this is all about trust. If prospective students
believe that many others rate the quality and standard of a university,
it will carry a lot of weight. And this isn’t just about league tables -
although they do hold some influence. Students will be on the hunt for
case studies and testimonials where they can hear the real-life
experiences of alumni first-hand.
Employment prospects
The prospect of getting a good job is a major driving factor in
why so many people choose to go to university. Career prospects for
each university course should be made very clear so that students know
what they can expect. They’ll also be wanting to know what work
experience opportunities are on offer, as well as the jobs and career
paths previous alumni have pursued after graduating. It’s highly likely
they’ll also be looking out for the graduate employment rates for your
institution.
The location
Although it’s not usually the primary consideration, the
university’s location will always carry some weight. Students will be
looking to get a feel for what life offers in your neck of the woods,
including things like local culture and the nightlife. They’ll also be
looking for information around things like how accessible the campus is
to local transport links, as well as the general cost of living in that
area.
The facilities
Campus is a fairly central and ‘happening’ place for
students, so they’ll want to know just what they can get out of it
should they choose to attend your university. They’ll want to know
things like whether they’ll have access to a gym, and if there is more
than one library. Does your campus have many study facilities like labs
and studios? And do you have on-campus bars, cafes and restaurants? This
is the sort of information that needs to be made readily available to
students during their selection process.
With so many prospective students not able to find the information
they need to choose a university that’s the right fit for them, it’s
crucial that you make sure that you’re providing students with
everything they need to know about your university to help guide that
decision process fairly. And don’t just leave it down to open days to do
the work. Make the information relevant and easily accessible on your
website all year round, providing immersive experiences like virtual 360
tours, online open days and a library of video content.
