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Postgraduate Focus Seminar 2015

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The research methodology

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9%

International

Scotland - 8%

N.Ireland - 3%

North East - 3%

East Midlands - 8%

North West - 10%

Midlands - 9%

Wales - 4%

South West - 10%

South East - 16%

London - 12%

East of England - 12%

1015 respondents

91% UK

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Postgraduate funding1

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Funding - were you aware of the changes?

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78% disagreed

Why do you think this is?

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“At my Uni, there hasn't been any

information distributed to my knowledge about the changes. It

could encourage more to apply.”

“Make all undergraduate

students aware of the new measures through university methods - eg. sending emails,

talks about it.”

“The media and Government should have worked together on promoting this, it would have redeemed some of the damage done from raising

undergrad fees. Universities should be making us aware - holding more talks on this and making students aware

at any opportunity.”

“A lot! I don't know anything about

them, and I read the news daily. Info

could be passed on through uni as well,

but as far as I'm aware it hasn't

been”

“I feel that there needs to be information talks/

open days for each course which fully go through all

aspects of the funding available.”

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How might better communication have affected your decision?

59% of students who

weren’t planning on doing a postgraduate degree would

reconsider their choice based on the new funding

measures

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When and why2

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30%before university

12%first year

24%second year

22%third year

Most students start thinking about postgraduate study before university

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Why2

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83% Interested in the course

subject 71% To

enhance my job

prospects

Why are students planning to undertake a postgraduate degree?

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U.K. employment of full-time leavers from U.K. HEI 2013/14:of full-time leavers from U.K. HEI 2013/14:

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Profiling: Guardian Undergraduates vs. Postgraduates

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Undergraduate degree

£37,528

Postgraduate degree

£46,712

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Undergraduate degree

Postgraduate degree

£37,528 £46,712

Guardian Postgrads are 2x more likely to get to the top of their careers than Guardian

Undergrads

Guardian Postgraduates are 6% more likely to be promoted in their roles than

Guardian undergrads

Guardian Postgrads are 15% more likely to be happy in their roles than Guardian

undergrads

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75% Want to start their

career

Why are students not planning to undertake a postgraduate degree?

70%Want to

earn money

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Retention of current undergraduate students

Impact of international study3

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What you told us? “Funding. This will become an even

bigger issue for us when HEFCE

introduce PG loans (it's most likely these will not be portable

and therefore students won't be

able to use them at Scottish

universities).”

“Reputation issues and poor credibility

as a whole in professional

development . Our own course leads don't encourage

current UG to PG”

“Lack of cultural capital - families and

peer groups often have limited

knowledge of and experience of PG

study and there isn’t a culture of

progression”

“Financial implications

encourage students to find work after

their undergraduate degree and

potentially come back to study a postgrad

course in a couple of years.”

“We are a low ranking HEI and so people

tend to wish to 'upgrade' at Masters

level. Also, non-London students may well return to their

home town and study at a local HEI to have cheaper or free rent”

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54% of those who have applied have chosen to apply to

study a postgraduate course at their current

university

Surveyed Universities

expect 22% of those going on to

postgraduate study to stay at their current

institution

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16% Of those who have

applied plan to study their

postgraduate degree

internationally

International study

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Where are they applying?

33% 8%17%17%

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42% for personal development

67% to attend a new

university

58% due to course offered

Motivations for moving abroad:

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Half of core Guardian global readers would consider relocating to the UK to study

42% of our US audience would consider relocating to the UK to study

1 in 5 of our European audience would consider relocating to the UK to study

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• More communication of funding changes

• Strategies to focus on influencing decision making at earlier stage

• Highlighting value of postgraduate study via a Guardian audience

• Global brand positioning vital for successful HEI

Summary