6263Key reasons for going to university All respondents by course studiedOverall 2012Humanities & ArtsSocial SciencesScience & EngineeringMaths/Computing & Technology  Business & ManagementLawMedicine and allied subjectsTo improve job opportunities74%72%79%79%75%83%77%59%To improve knowledge in an area of interest64%71%66%69%65%54%49%49%To improve salary prospects62%51%65%73%67%73%62%53%Obtain an additional qualification58%58%67%61%58%67%51%44%To specialise in a certain subject/area57%63%50%60%44%44%60%67%To become more independent48%52%50%54%45%49%37%36%Essential for my chosen profession47%40%35%48%36%34%62%83%Meet new people45%51%48%48%43%46%39%33%It's the obvious next step - just what you do40%35%41%45%40%46%41%32%To experience a different way of life37%40%44%38%38%36%29%27%To have a good social life26%23%33%31%30%28%24%20%My parents expected me to26%22%27%27%30%32%35%23%I didn't want to get a job straight away24%27%22%26%28%30%17%9%I didn't know what else I wanted to do18%17%26%19%19%26%12%6%All my friends were going13%12%15%14%14%15%12%9%Can live at home and still go to university10%10%11%8%11%10%11%14%The top 10 most important reasons for going to university All respondents by regionOverall 2012London & SouthSW & WalesEast & the MidlandsNorthScotlandNIEssential for my chosen profession24%21%22%26%26%24%44%To improve job opportunities21%20%19%19%21%27%30%To improve knowledge in an area of interest10%13%9%9%9%12%3%To specialise in a certain subject/area9%9%9%10%7%9%0%It's the obvious next step - just what you do8%8%9%9%8%7%7%To improve salary prospects7%6%10%7%7%6%6%Obtain an additional qualification6%7%10%5%6%4%0%I didn't know what else I wanted to do4%5%2%4%5%2%0%To become more independent3%3%4%2%4%1%0%To experience a different way of life2%1%2%2%2%2%0%

6263The top 10 most important reasons for going to university All respondents by gender and university typeOverall 2012Male FemaleTraditionalNewEssential for my chosen profession24%19%28%20%27%To improve job opportunities21%22%21%23%19%To improve knowledge in an area of interest10%13%9%12%9%To specialise in a certain subject/area9%8%9%8%9%It's the obvious next step - just what you do8%7%9%11%6%To improve salary prospects7%8%6%7%7%Obtain an additional qualification6%8%5%5%7%I didn't know what else I wanted to do4%3%4%4%4%To become more independent3%3%2%2%4%To experience a different way of life2%2%2%2%1%Has the current economic climate led to a change in your course/career? All respondents by year of study, university type and regionOverall 2012Overall 20101st yr2nd yr plusTraditional  New  London & SouthSW & WalesEast & the MidlandsNorthScotlandNIYes11%13%11%15%12%14%14%13%14%12%12%7%No87%87%89%85%88%86%86%87%86%88%88%93%Has current economic climate led to a change in your course/career?All respondents by course studiedOverall 2010Humanities & ArtsSocial SciencesScience & EngineeringMaths/Computing & Technology  Business & ManagementLawMedicine and allied subjectsYes10%12%19%13%14%12%13%11%No90%88%81%87%86%88%87%89%