student living survey 2004/5 wave 5

Student Living Survey 2004/5 Wave 5

Presented by:Professor Robert Worcester

26th January 2005

Contents Methodology Getting to University Student Life Accommodation Citizenship Academic Life Paid Employment Student Finances and Debt What Next? Key Findings

Methodology - Wave 5 1,007 face-to-face interviews with full-time students 20 UK universities Fieldwork: 25 October - 24 November 2004 (c. 30 min questionnaire) Quotas on:

– subject– ethnicity– gender – academic year /postgraduates

Same methodology across all five waves Wave 1 - sample 1,103 (Fieldwork 23 Oct - 15 Nov 2000)

Wave 2 - sample 1,068 (Fieldwork 22 Oct - 16 Nov 2001)Wave 3 - sample 1,086 (Fieldwork 22 Oct - 15 Nov 2002)Wave 4 - sample 1,065 (Fieldwork 30 Oct - 27 Nov 2003)

Getting To University

45%40%42%40%38% 37% 34%

41%42%

39%

12%11% 9% 9% 11%8%9%9% 9% 8%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3 Wave 4 Wave 5

AB C1 C2 DE

Social Class Profile of University Students

Base: All students; Wave 1 (1,103), Wave 2 (1,068), Wave 3 (1,086), Wave 4 (1,065), Wave 5 (1,007)

19 5 4 666

73

59

62

17

20

24

4

5

3

5

2

9

6

6

3

C2DE

AB

All students

C1

% A great deal

% A fair amount

% None at all

% Not applicable

% Not very much

Family EncouragementQ9 How much encouragement did your family give you in your

decision to go to University?

Base: All students; Wave 5 (1,007), AB (456), C1 (342), C2DE (202)

39%37%

59%

27%26%

21%20%19%

16%16%

What are StudentsBasing their Choice of University on?

Q8 Which factors were important to you in your selection of universities?

The course offered

Visited it & liked it

Located in city

Base: All students; Wave 5 (1,007)

Academic reputation

The atmosphereUniversity league

tables

Top Mentions

Ability to live at home

Close to my familyRecommendations from friends/family

Overall reputation of the university

Student Life

39

42

46

46 8

10

2

4

1

1

% Neither agreenor disagree

The Student Experience

“I am happy with life”

% Strongly agree

% Tend to agree

% Tend to disagree

“Having the freedom

to live how I want is the best part of the student

experience”

% Strongly disagree

26

26

42

39

16

20

9

8

1

1

Base: All students; Wave 1 (1,103), Wave 2 (1,068), Wave 5 (1,007)

Q75 To what extent do you agree/disagree with

W1

W5

W2

W5

DK/no opinion/

N/A%

1

2

5

5

85

88

68

65

5

3

10

9

Health & Fitness [1]

“I care very muchabout health and

fitness, in bodyand in mind”

26

25

44

46 17

2

2

21

8

6

2

*

Base: All students; Wave 1 (1,103), Wave 5 (1,007)


W1

W5

% Strongly agree

% Tend to agree

% Tend to disagree

% Strongly disagree


% DK/no opinion/ N/A

70

71

8

10

Health & Fitness [2]

“I care very much

about health andfitness, in body

and in mind”

25

29

23

46

44

48

17

17 8

2

1

2

17

8

8

*

*

*



W5

% Strongly agree

% Tend to agree

% Tend to disagree

% Strongly disagree



71 10

Men

Women

73 9

71 10

18 11 24 1331

Aged 26+

35

22

21

19

15

15

12

13

7

25

26

16

7

22

38

Aged up to 22

All students

Aged 23-25

% Single, not looking

% Single, looking

% Serious relationship

% Live with / married

% Relationship, not serious

Footloose and Fancy Free?Q76 Which of the following best describes your current

situation?

Base: All students; Wave 5 (1,007), Aged up to 22 (738), Aged 23-25 (117), Aged 26+ (151)

25 13 159 2

55

62

25

26

24

13

15

11

1

1

59

2

2

2

2

Men

All students

Women

% Very risky % Not very risky if careful

% Not risky at all

% Don’t know% Not risky in moderation

AlcoholQ77 How risky do you consider… Binge Drinking

Base: All students; Wave 5 (1,007), Men (461), Women (546)

32% spend over £20 a week

35% spend over £15 a week

% Not risky in moderation

87

91

98

16

7

4

16

3

2

63

*

2

* 2

3

3

2

Taking dance drugs

Smoking cannabis

Taking heroin

% Very risky

% Not very risky if careful

% Not risky at all

% Don’t know

DrugsQ77 How risky do you consider…?


Taking cocaine

% Ever done

(Wave 3)

39

10

8

N/A

48%

47%

36%

19%

16%

49%

53%

41%

32%

23%

47%

43%

32%

9%

11%

GadgetsQ73 Which of these do you personally own?

Advanced mobile phone

DVD Player

Non-portable games console

Digital camera

MP3 player


WomenAll students Men

37%

10%

1%

48%

4%


Not risky in moderation

Very risky

Not very risky, if careful

Not risky at all

Don’t know

Q77 How risky do you consider…?

Crime

Walking alone at night in a strange area

% very riskyAll 48%Men 22%Women 69%Non-white 42%White 50%Scotland 43%North/NI 58%

50%

43%

27%

27%

23%

The Worst Aspects of University LifeQ11 What, if anything, do you consider to be the worst

aspects of university life?

Top Mentions

Having little money

Being in debt

Juggling university work with other commitments

No regular income

Needing to work and study at the same time

40

30

-

55

31

Base: All student; Wave 1 (1,103), Wave 3 (1,086), Wave 5 (1,007)

W1%

W3%

43

30

24

51

31

Wave 5

Current Accommodation

Value for Money

60%

14%19%

4% 3%

Base: All students in rented accommodation; Wave 5 (649)

Very good value

Fairly good value

Very poor value

Fairly poor value

Do not pay / don’t know

Q45 To what extent do you consider your current accommodation to be value for money?

79

18

6%17%

48%

6%

22%

Complete tip

Fairly ordered

TidinessQ54 Which description best fits your bedroom if you were to go

into it right now?

Base: All students; Wave 5 (1,007), Students living in shared house / flat (409)

Very messy

Fairly messy

Very ordered

Citizenship

60%

25%

21%

7%

Ethical ConsumersQ25 Which of the following sound very much like you?

None of these

I am sympathetic to environmental and social concerns but not active

I frequently discuss companies’ ethical behaviour with my family and

friends


I would describe myself as an ethical consumer

32%

32%

62%

56%

29%

27%

CitizenshipQ24 Which of the following things have you done in the last

12 months?Donated money to

charity, including a badge

Read or heard about a company’s social actions

Taken action to be more energy efficient

Base: All students; Wave 5 (1,007), GB adults 16+ July – September 2004 (2,037)

Sent items to be recycled

Voluntarily helped a charitable organisation

Top Mentions

Attended a local community event

Adult figs%

71

-

-

-

39

38

10%90%

77%63%

49%36%

26%18%

13%9%

Level of ActivismQ24 Which of the following have you done in the last 12

months?None


Three or more

Number of activities done

One or more

Five or more

Seven or more

Two or more

Nine or more

Four or more

Six or more

Eight or more

5 or more actions

All 36%

MenWomen

33%38%

Up to 2223-2526+

32%38%52%

Wave 1

Wave 2

Wave 4

Wave 3

Wave 5

36

42

34

28

28

23

29

33

37

34

15

20

20

19

17

13

15

19

24

14

% Labour % Liberal Democrat % Conservative % Other

35 23 31 11

Changes in Students’ Voting IntentionsQ80 How would you vote if there were a General Election

tomorrow?

Base: All who would vote; Wave 1 (733), Wave 2 (730), Wave 3 (712), Wave 4 (687), Wave 5 (630), All British adults certain to vote November 2004

General public

Changes in Students’ Voting IntentionsQ80 How would you vote if there were a General Election

tomorrow?

Base: All who would vote; Wave 1 (733), Wave 2 (730), Wave 3 (712), Wave 4 (687), Wave 5 (630)

12%

3%

1%

3%

Green Party

Scottish/Welsh Nationalists

Other

UKIP

Others

19%

24%

26%

8%7%

35%

Neither agree nor disagree

Strongly agreeTend to

disagree

Tend to agree

Strongly disagree

(1%)Don’t know/no opinion

Government out of Touch


The Government is out of touch with the views of students like myself

By party support% Strongly Agree

All (1,007) 26

Other (115) 43

Conservative (123) 31

Lib Dems (217) 30

Labour (175) 18

Academic Life

Overall Attitude to UniversityOverall Favourablility

8%3%

39%

49%

Neither/nor Very favourable

Fairly unfavourable

Fairly favourable

Very unfavourable (1%)


Satisfaction with quality of teaching

35%

52%

3%10%

Neither/nor Very

satisfied

Fairly unsatisfied

Fairly satisfied

Very unsatisfied (1%)

88

4

87

4

Wave 4

% Very good

% Fairly good

% Fairly poor

% Very poor

% Neither goodnor poor

13

20

45

44 19 2

24 7

6

4

9

7


The customer service you receive from your university

Wave 5

% DK/not stated/ N/A

Rating of the University Package [1]

58

64

11

8

Wave 1

% Very good

% Fairly good

% Fairly poor

% Very poor

% Neither goodnor poor

20

17

26

39

41

38

23

21 6

3

3

13

9

6

18

7

7 4


The value for money you receive from your course

Wave 5

% DK/not stated/ N/A


Wave 3

59

58

64

11

10

9

34%34%33%

50%

27%

24%22%

25%

Q20 To what extent do you consider each of the following to be good or poor at your university?

Availability of IT

Standard of teaching / lecturing


Availability of periodicals journals

35

19

24

% Very goodW3%

W1%

Academic tutor system

Availability of course books in the library

Support received for academic studies

34

2219

43

26

26

29

2320


Availability of course materials online

Contact time with tutor / lecturer

--

--

23%18%18%

17%

31%30%

8%

12%9%

Additional FundingQ81 From 2006, universities will be able to increase the

charge for tuition fees for UK students up to £3,000 per year. What do you think this extra funding should be spent on?

More contact time with lecturers

Smaller teaching groups

More spending in the library

Better paid and better motivated staff

More access to PC’s/technology

Base: All students at English & Welsh universities; Wave 5 (796)

Improved security

Improved teaching rooms/theatres/labs

Top Mentions

Higher quality of student residential accommodation

Scholarships or bursaries

Paid Employment

42%

36%

41%

57%

Student Employment & Wages

All students

Q29 Do you currently have a job which you are paid to do?

AB

C1

C2DE

Base: All students; Wave 5 (1,007), AB (456), C1 (342), C2DE (202)

Average hours per

week

14.5 hrs

13.6 hrs

15.2 hrs

15.2 hrs

Average earnings per

week

£86

£80

£93

£88

% who have a job

68%43%

33%31%

27%23%22%

17%12%

6%

Reasons Why Students Say They Work [1]Q35 For which of the following reasons do you work?

Need money for basic essentials

Base: All who currently have a job; Wave 3 (435), Wave 5 (419)

To afford to socialiseTo afford new clothes/music/

mobiles etcCannot manage on student loan

Looks good on CV

To save

To afford a holiday

Pay for tuition fees

Afford somewhere nicer to live

Gain extra skills

W3%

Change(+/-)

57443828-

+11-1-5+3-

220230

11 +117 0

6 0

45%40%

39%

60%

28%26%

20%2%

5%3%

Q36 If you didn’t work, in which of the following areas, if any, would you need to make savings?

Going out

Base: All who currently have a job; Wave 5 (419)

Clothes

Alcohol

Mobile phone

Food

Accommodation

Other

None of these

Don’t know

Music

Reasons Why Students Say They Work [2]

17%12%

8%7%

5%5%5%

3%2%

33%

Types of Student WorkQ30 Which, if any, of the following types of job do you

currently do during term time?

Retail

Clerical/office

Catering


Bar work

Nursing/health care

Work for Students Union

Top Mentions

Teaching

Work for the university

Sport / leisure

Call centre

Attitude of University to Employment


Q37 To what extent do you agree/disagree with ….

“Received help from university in choosing paid work that would minimise the effect on my studies”

“Received help & advice from university to help balance work and course commitments”

Tutors/lecturers understand my need to work during term time

% Disagree % Agree

Neither/N/A/Don’t know

%

37

40

36

% Strongly agree

% Tend to agree

% Tend to disagree

% Strongly disagree

20 21 16 3

32 21 9 2

6 11 30 1617

41

53

46

19

11

Attitudes Towards Work


The percentage of working students who agree with each statement …

“My employer appreciates my course commitment & tries to be flexible” (81%)

“My employer values my contribution” (79%)

“I enjoy going to work” (69%)

“Only paid work available is

manual, unskilled work” (23%)

“The conditions at my workplace are terrible” (5%)

“The work experience I have gained while at university

will help me to get a full time job after graduation” (55%)

“Tutors/lecturers understand my need to work during term

time” (46%)

“Received help & advice from university to help balance work

and course commitments” (19%)

“Received help from university in

choosing paid work that would minimise

the effect on my studies” (11%)

Finances

Managing Finances

4%21%

55%

20%

Very organised

Fairly organised

Not very organised Very

organised%

All students 21Age: Up to 22 yrs 18 23 - 25 yrs 26 26 + yrs 35

Q58 To what extent would you describe yourself as financially organised?

Base: All students; Wave 5 (1,007), up to 22 years (738), 23-25 (117), 26+ (151)

Not at all organised

Don’t know (*%)

Managing Finances

% Keeping up without difficulties

% Keeping up but struggles from time to time

% Falling seriously

behind with

some bills

Wave 2

% Having real financial problems & have fallen behind with many bills

% Keeping up but a constant struggle

39

40

37

43

36

37

41

36

18

18

17

15

3

32

3

4

1

2

2

Base: All students; Wave 2 (1,068), Wave 3 (1,086), Wave 4 (1,065), Wave 5 (1,007)

Q60 Which of the following statements best describes how you are managing financially at the moment?

Wave 4

Wave 3

Wave 5

Don’t know

%

1

-

1

2

75

77

78

79

6

5

4

5

ExpenditureQ61 In a typical month during term time, how much do you & Q62 personally spend on…..

£126Food

£76Going out

£42Clothes

£31Mobilephones

£64Cigarettes

£22Music

£99Alcohol

Base: All students who spend on each item

£19Films

Men: £137Women: £116








£70

£16

£15

£10

£8

£8

Course books

Course related trips

Course related equipment


Stationery

Photocopying

Printing from computers

Course ExpensesQ63 This term, approximately how much, if anything, do you

personally expect to spend on …

£4,203

£3,326

£4,603 £4,760

£3,181£3,621

£4,406£4,619

£4,808£4,841

£4,579

£3,575

£4,515

£4,640

£3,157

£4,912

£3,000£3,250£3,500£3,750£4,000£4,250£4,500£4,750£5,000£5,250£5,500£5,750£6,000


All Students AB C1 C2DE£


Current DebtQ67 How much money overall, if any, do you currently

owe, and must repay as a direct result of being at university?

£5,889£5,778£5,285

£4,622

£8,133

£7,026

£8,816

£9,341

£6,304

£7,347

£8,419

£8,873£9,327

£9,161

£8,327

£7,430

£8,989

£9,376

£7,652

£10,255

£6,000

£6,500

£7,000

£7,500

£8,000

£8,500

£9,000

£9,500

£10,000

£10,500

£11,000


All Students AB C1 C2DE£


Anticipated DebtQ68 How much money overall do you anticipate owing once you

have completed university and have to repay as a direct result of being

at university?

£10,579£10,087£9,744£9,102

UNITE/MORI Student Debt IndexAll students Retail-Price

IndexCurrent

DebtAnticipated

Debt

Wave 1 100 100 100

Wave 2 103 123 116

Wave 3 104 138 125

Wave 4 107 143 133

Wave 5 110 159 139

36%17%

11%5%

3%3%2%2%2%2%1%2%

77%

Type of Student DebtQ69 To which of the following are you in debt to and must

repay?Government student loan

Overdraft from bankCredit card

Base: All students who are currently in debt; Wave 5 (687)

Average£6,514

Parents

Store card

Car financeHire purchase

Mail order catalogue

Other

Friends

Other familyUnpaid utility bills

Personal loan

£1,127£1,167£1,552£4,455£ 366£ 159£ 149£1,299

£4,497£1,858£5,473

£ 223


Concerns About Student Debt [1]

Wave 4

12

11

13

10

22

24

27

27

20

16

14

17

19

25

24

23

25

13

11

15

16

15

12

9

8

7

13

14

18

21


I am seriously worried about the debts I am going to incur as a result of going to university

Wave 2

Wave 1

Wave 3

% Strongly agree

% Tend to agree

% Tend to disagree

% Strongly disagree


Wave 5

36

36

38

40

30

32

36

39

39

40

10 20 17 25 15 13

% Neither agree nor disagree

Concerns About Student Debt [2]

“I am seriously worried about the debts I am going to incur

as a result of going to university”

16 33 11 16 10 14


“I don’t worry about my debts at the moment, I can

pay them off when I start working”

% Don’t know/no opinion/ N/A

% Strongly agree

% Tend to agree

% Tend to disagree

% Strongly disagree

30

49

40

26


Stress [1]

17

20

36

38 15

10

7

13 23

17

*

2



“Since being a university

student I feel under a lot more stress than

before”

W2

W5

% Strongly agree

% Tend to agree

% Tend to disagree

% Strongly disagree


53

58

33

24

56%

57%

66%

54%

61%

58%

Stress [2]


“Since being a university student I feel under a lot more stress than before”

All students (1,007)

AB (456)

Women (546)

Men (461)

C1 (342)

% agree

C2DE (202)

Investing for the Future“The money I am spending on my education is a good investment in

my future”

39%50%

6%2%

Don’t know/no opinion (2%)


Strongly agree

Tend to disagree

Tend to agree

Strongly disagree (*%) Strongly

agree%

Wave 1 44Wave 2 48Wave 3 48Wave 4 44Wave 5 50



A Worthwhile Experience

Wave 4

64

68

62

66

21

32

28

33

29

74

3

3

3

3

3

1

*

1

1

*

*

*

*


Going to university is a worthwhile experience

Wave 2

Wave 1

Wave 3

% Strongly agree

% Tend to agree

% Tend to disagree

% Strongly disagree

DK/no opinion/N/

A%

Wave 5

2

*

*

1

2

95

96

96

95

95

What Next?

24%

22%

19%

18%

13%

37%

What Next?Q26 Which of these statements, if any, comes closest to what

you intend to do when you have graduated?Top Mentions

Start work straight away in a ‘graduate’ job

Look for a ‘graduate’ job

Further study straight away

Take a temporary job

Go travelling

Go on holiday

W3%

Change(+/-)

33

23

20

17

+2

+4

+1

+2

+3

17+112


Employment ProspectsI’m optimistic about getting a job when I finish my course

9%4%

38%

45%

3%

Don’t know / no opinion


Strongly agree

Tend to disagree

Tend to agree

Strongly disagree (1%)


Strongly agree

%

All students 38

Science & engineering 43Social sciences 37Arts 30

Widening ParticipationEffect on Gaining EmploymentIncreasing numbers of graduates will make it harder for me to get a job

13%

15%

6% 21%4%

40%

Don’t know/no opinion


Strongly agree

Tend to disagree

Tend to agree

Strongly disagree


Strongly agree

%

Wave 3 10Wave 5 21Change +11

23%

10%3%

32%

10%

22%

Don’t know/ no opinion


Strongly agree

Tend to disagree Tend to agree

Strongly disagree

Money & SuccessI feel under a lot of pressure to succeed and make money

Base: All students; Wave 1 (1,103), Wave 2 (1,068); Wave 3 (1,086), Wave 4 (1,065), Wave 5 (1,007)

Strongly agree

%

Wave 1 8Wave 2 10Wave 3 13Wave 4 15Wave 5 10

Expected Salary LevelsQ27 What do you expect your annual salary package, before

tax, to be when you start work after university?

Average initial salary

Average salary after 5 years


WomenAll students Men

£19,314

£20,468

£18,394

£29,474

£31,384

£27,894

Preparation for Working LifeUniversity has set me in good stead for my working life

47%

12%34%

3%

Don’t know/no opinion (3%)

Neither agree nor disagree Strongly

agree

Tend to disagree

Tend to agree

Strongly disagree (1%)


Strongly agree

%

All students 34New university 30Old university 37

Will equip (1st Year)

Self confidence

Ability to work underpressure

Problem solving

Organisational ability

Working constructively with others

70%

64%

56%

51%

49%

Development of Soft SkillsQ22 First years….Which, if any do you feel university will equip you

with?Q23 Third+ years…Which, if any, has university already equipped you with?

Base: All 1st year students; Wave 5 (284), All 3+ year students (302)

49%

61%

48%

47%

46%

Already equipped (3+ Years)

47%

45%

45%

42%

24%

Development of Soft SkillsQ22 First years….Which, if any do you feel university will equip you



44%

34%

41%

28%

20%

Will equip (1st Year) Already equipped (3+ Years)

Verbal skills

Initiative

Networking / social skills

Budgeting / managing money

Good grammar / spelling

57%

49%

47%

43%

Development of Business SkillsQ22 First years….Which, if any do you feel university will equip you



58%

44%

48%

37%


Giving presentations / speeches

IT skills

Report writing skills

Analyse complex issues

22%

13%

10%

Development of Business SkillsQ22 First years….Which, if any do you feel university will equip you



20%

9%

9%


Good business sense

Commercially astute

Office skills

Key Findings

Key Findings (1) No statistically significant changes in social class profile of

students over five waves Two-thirds receive a “great deal” of encouragement to go

university by their family The course remains the most important factor in the choice

of university

Key Findings (2) Students are generally happy and contented, believing university to be

a worthwhile experience

Those who live away from home are happier, enjoying the freedom to live how they choose

The proportion of students who are feeling stressed is on the increase

Money continues to be a problem – and accounts for three of the top five “worst” aspects of university life

One the whole, students have a positive view of their university and are satisfied with the quality of teaching they receive

Key Findings (3) Few see academic aspects as key contenders for additional

funds, the library and increased security are given as the top priorities

Courses appear less demanding, as fewer students now feel “fully” stretched

One in eight have or are seriously considering changing course – most likely to be a result of them changing their mind or because the course had not met their expectations

Although sympathetic to the environment and social concerns, the majority are not active ethical consumers.

Key Findings (4) Students are less likely than the average British adult to

either donate their time or money to charity

Almost a quarter say they “will not vote” or are “undecided” on who they will vote for if there was a General Election tomorrow

Those who state a preference are most likely to support the Liberal Democrats

Four in ten students work during term-time, with the majority claiming to work to pay for basic essentials

Key Findings (5) Most likely to be employed in retail, bars and catering – few are

using the skills learned on their course

Most students consider themselves to be financially organised and to feel they are “keeping up with their bills & commitments”

As more feel confident about their abilities to manage their finances, fewer worry about paying off their debts than at any time since the study began

Most students are optimistic about getting a job despite possessing few business skills - they believe that university has given them a good grounding for their working life

Sample Profile (1)

All students (base) 1,103 1,068 1,086 1,065 1,007

Social class:AB 37% 38% 42% 41% 45%C1 41% 42% 41% 37% 34%C2DE 22% 18% 17% 20% 20%

Subject:Science and engineering 42% 41% 44% 44% 44%Social sciences 22% 25% 23% 22% 23%Arts 21% 20% 21% 22% 20%Other 15% 15% 12% 13% 13%(combined and education)

Unweighted percentages


Sample Profile (2)

All students (base) 1,103 1,068 1,086 1,065 1,007

Gender:Men 46% 46% 48% 44% 46%Women 54% 54% 52% 56% 54%

Type of student:Undergraduates 86% 89% 88% 86% 85%Postgraduates 12% 11% 12% 14% 15%

Mature student 33% 30% 29% 34% 32%

Type of university:Old 41% 50% 53% 51% 50%New 59% 50% 47% 49% 50%

Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3

Unweighted percentages

Wave 4 Wave 5

Thank You

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[email protected]

student living survey 2004/5 wave 5

Documents

key findingsmethodology

moderationq77how risky

dont knowq77how risky

agreedisagree withw5

choice of university

student living survey

serious relationship

selection of universities