April 2024

As the UK's largest online student community, we witness daily the valuable exchange of support and advice among young people. Learning from their experiences guides us in providing meaningful support. These monthly sentiment digests will share results from some of our recent on-site polls, along with the latest survey findings from TSR Insight.

In this months edition:

• Students share their opinions on apprenticeships as an alternative pathway after their FE studies
• 34% of students had no idea how student finance worked
• Two thirds of 2024 undergraduate applicants surveyed favoured halls as their accommodation preference for their first year, with just over a fifth planning to commute from home
• We share a new TSR Insight summary on insurance choice decision making

Year 12s share thoughts on apprenticeships as their future pathway

The results of this poll reveal a mixed perspective. Approximately 22% of respondents express an active interest in pursuing traditional apprenticeships, while a similar percentage (approximately 21%) are considering a degree apprenticeship, suggesting a positive inclination towards this vocational pathway making up a total of around 43% of votes.

However, a significant portion (34%) indicated that they haven't considered apprenticeships suggesting either a lack of awareness for this route or preference for other educational routes.

Additionally, nearly 18% of respondents indicated that they have considered an apprenticeship but deemed it unsuitable for them, implying reservations or concerns about this as an option. 

Notably, only a small fraction of votes (2.8%) have said that they are actively seeking an alternative to university that isn't an apprenticeship, suggesting a minority viewpoint and that the vast majority are still leaning towards either university or apprenticeships as their main choices.

2024 applicants and their understanding of student finance

During the week that student finance opened for 2024-entry applicants, 34% of respondents said they don’t understand student finance at all.

Additionally, 48% had an idea but could with some more information. Only 15% said they understand the process.

With student finance now open for applications, it’s important to make sure students are provided with enough information to help them understand the process.

What's the preferred first year uni accommodation for 2024 applicants?

The results of this poll show a clear preference for Halls amongst our respondents for their first-year university accommodation with approximately 66% voting for this option. 

Meanwhile, a smaller percentage have opted for the private rental (studio/on your own) option, at only 9% of votes, which takes a slight lead against those who would opt for the shared housing option at 3.6% of votes; a stark difference between the vast majority that opted for communal living in university halls but are not yet prepared to commit to a shared housing situation in their first-year. 

Interestingly, a significant portion of respondents (21.6%) favoured commuting from their home to campus, suggesting a desire for familiarity or decisions influenced by other factors, such as financial considerations with the rising cost of living. 

New TSR Insight summary: Insurance choice decision making

While the majority (73%) of 2024 entry undergraduates surveyed planned to select an insurance choice with lower grades than their firm choice, more than a quarter (28%) were planning to select an insurance choice with grade requirements that were the same or higher than their firm choice option.

Perhaps surprisingly, those that had received information from their school/college about how to select their insurance choice university were no more likely than those who hadn’t to choose universities with lower grades than their firm choice.

You can read more in our firm and insurance choices summary.

Online survey, 209 respondents (1st – 4th March 2024)

Audience: 2024 entry prospective UGs, aged 16+ with an insurance choice university selected

That's all for April but please do let us know what other student insights you would like us to share by emailing hello@thestudentroom.com

As the UK’s largest online student community, The Student Room is a friendly and welcoming space, where everyone is free to share their knowledge, find support and guidance, and to connect with a world of educational opportunities.

We help students connect with each other and with education experts, so they can make richly informed pathway decisions at each step of their academic journey.