This is our first article of the University Experience and Survival Skills series based on the based on the Sweeney Uni Student Report. In the coming weeks, we will be discussing some of the key issues facing today’s university students and their experiences of university life.
Deciding on what and where to study at university is a daunting experience. One of the key findings from our study shows students, particularly school leavers, feel under pressure to choose the ’right‘ course and subjects from a vast array of options, making the transition to university life a scary prospect.
"Sometimes I love uni and other times I am thinking 'what am I doing here?'"
Some of the most pressing concerns have included:
Is this the right course for me?
What if I make the wrong decision? There’s no turning back there!
What if I don’t make the university entrance score?
Which university is best in field for my course?
There are 36 publicly funded universities and two private universities nationwide, operating through a multitude of campuses. This, combined with the wide range of faculties and courses on offer, can make this decision making process an overwhelming experience.
Navigating through university course guides and websites can read like a complicated roadmap, especially when students might not know how to compare all the options. This is further compounded by the fact that many students have no idea which field to specialise in and have little idea of how to compare universities after ’making up’ their minds on a preferred course.
Pressure to make the right choice
From our work in the educational area, we have seen that many students delay making a decision about university and course choice for as long as possible. The reality is, many students are still weighing up their options and may not settle on a pathway until they absolutely have to.
Our qualitative research revealed that many students assume there will be no flexibility to switch courses or institution during their course, putting immense pressure on them to make the ‘right’ decision. Not surprisingly, flexibility is found to be highly appealing feature for school leavers when it comes to deciding on a university and course of a choice.
Course quality and reputation drives university choice
Despite the confusion and complexity around university and course choice, today’s university students are becoming more discerning in their decisions. With the ease of performing information searches online, students are beginning to do more research beforehand about their course and university of choice.
When asked about the important factors when choosing a university, we found that the top five factors that mattered most to students were…
University reputation in discipline/study area (85%)
The course design (84%)
Academic reputation (77%)
Practical reputation (75%)
Approachability of lecturers (73%)
This suggests that the course itself, including its content and reputation, is the most important reason for selecting a university. In fact, quality of courses within the specific disciplines is considered more important than general university reputation or prestige. In the second part of this article, we'll look at practical ways students can narrow down their choice of course and university to find the perfect match, and which factors influence students' overall satisfaction with their course.
Adeline Ong, PhD
Head of Education
Adeline heads up our Education research portfolio at Sweeney Research.
Completing her Honours degree in marketing and a PhD in consumer behaviour, Adeline has presented and published her work in a number of leading academic conferences and journals. Some of Adeline’s key clients include various universities and learning institutions, where she has worked in a consulting capacity with some of the leading institutions in Australia. Her years in research and academia – both in Australia and overseas have enabled her to understand the intricacies of what our clients in the Education sector require.
CONTACT DETAILS
Adeline Ong
+61 3 9699 8466
adeline.ong@sweeneyresearch.com.au
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