16th January 2014 9:00
By Blue Tutors
New research has shown that students are now more likely to want to go to university further away from their home areas than in previous years. The study, which surveyed 17,000 sixth-formers across the UK, showed that the numbers of students wanting to stay local has dropped by 8% since 2004. However, as in previous years, the highest proportion of students wanting to stay local live in Scotland, where they would not pay tuition fees. The figures were compiled by careers service Cambridge Occupational Analysts, and included students from across the UK.
The overall drop in the numbers of students planning to study locally suggests that students are not choosing to stay local to save on rent, despite the rise in tuition fees. The increase in tuition fees to £9000 has apparently not encouraged more students to study locally so that they can live with their parents to save money, with the numbers staying at home falling from 8% in 2011 to 6% in 2013. The study suggested that the trend could nevertheless be due in part to the rise in tuition fees, as students are now being more careful about their chosen course and university, and are prepared to travel. Indirectly, the fees have also influenced their decision as universities are now doing more than ever before to recruit students to their courses.
The research has shown that some trends have remained the same, with those students living in London still the most likely after Scottish students to want to live and study in that region. Although the number has fallen, 31% of Scottish students still prefer to stay local, in particular to avoid tuition fees in England. The regions with students least likely to stay near home are East Midlands and the South West, with just 4% of student staying to study locally. The careers group organising the study have said that the results show that the rise in tuition fees is making students more discerning about the courses they choose, and demonstrates that young people are willing to travel further to attend the universities and courses which they fee will be worth the tuition fees they will be paying.