Student Recruitment at University College Cork

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Student Recruitment at University College Cork
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Before we start

Two Case Scenarios Group 1 Imagine you are a 17
year old student from Dublin in your final year
at school and you are trying to decide what to do
when you leave school. What factors are involved
in making your decision and where do you look
for information? Group 2 You are in your final
year of a primary degree in Chemical Sciences at
UCC and you wish to undertake a postgraduate
programme at either taught Masters or PhD level.
What factors are involved in making your
decision and where do you look for
information?
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What are the main factors?

• programme choices
• the location
• reputation
• cost
• academic excellence
• peer choices
• branding and marketing

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Location, Location, Location

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Information Sources

• Word of Mouth
• School Visits
• University Open Days
• University Prospectus and Brochures
• Website
• Facebook, twitter and other social media
• Electronic Newsletters

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Our Target Market

• Undergraduate Students
• Postgraduate Taught Students
• Postgraduate Research Students
• International Students

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UCCs SWOT Analysis

• Strengths
• Where Finbarr taught let Munster learn
• UCC attracts 92 of its student population from
  the province of Munster.
• At postgraduate level almost 50 of our places
  taken by UCC graduates
• Excellent track record in attracting research
  income,
• World-class research centres such as the Tyndall
  National Institute
• A stunning campus which lies within walking
  distance of the City Centre.

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UCCs SWOT Analysis

• Weaknesses
• Difficulty in attracting students from outside
  Cork and Munster at undergraduate level
• Strong competition from Cork Institute of
  Technology and University of Limerick

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UCCs SWOT Analysis

• Opportunities
• internationalisation of education has opened up
  previously untapped markets
• Threats
• Private Institutes and the IoT sector have taken
  a societal marketing approach and have responded
  quickly to changing demands.
• Other universities have increased resources for
  marketing their programmes and recruiting
  students.

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Mastering the Digital Universe
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Academic Worries

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Attracting Postgraduate Research Students

• Funding
• Expertise in Research Area
• Reputation of Research Group and Supervisor
• Location
• Unique Selling Points of the University
• UCC Doctoral Showcase
• Boolean Research Journal
• Postgraduate Skills and Training Modules
• Student Induction and Support Programme
• Work Placement
• Erasmus Mobility Funding

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From Interest to Application

• Undergraduate Programmes
• Students apply to the Central Applications Office
  by
• 1st February of year of Admission
• - up to 10 programme choices
• www.cao.ie
• Postgraduate Programmes
• Students apply to the Postgraduate Applications
  Centre
• - varying closing dates
• Up to 5 programme choices for taught programmes
• www.pac.ie

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Why is student recruitment so important?

• Quality of Students
• Quantity of Students
• Key Performance Indicators
• 1st preferences (undergraduate programmes)
• No of applications
• No of offers
• No of students entering with over 500 points
• Conversions of offers to acceptances
• Conversion of acceptances to registrations
• Retention Rate
• Number of different nationalities represented on
  campus
• Quality in means quality out

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Questions
For any queries please contact Michelle
Nelson, Graduate Studies Office,
UCC m.nelson_at_ucc.ie 353 21 4903076 www.ucc.ie/en/
graduatestudies