Student Recruitment at University College Cork

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.

Student Recruitment at University College

Cork

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?

• programme choices

• the location*

• reputation*

• cost

• academic excellence

• peer choices

• branding and marketing*

What are the main factors?

Location, Location, Location

• Word of Mouth

• School Visits

• University Open Days

• University Prospectus and Brochures

• Website

• Facebook, twitter and other social media

• Electronic Newsletters

Information Sources

•Undergraduate Students

•Postgraduate Taught Students

•Postgraduate Research Students

•International Students

Our Target Market

UCC’s 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

UCC’s 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

UCC’s 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

Mastering the Digital Universe

Academic Worries

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

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

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

For any queries please contact Michelle Nelson, Graduate Studies Office, UCC

m.nelson@ucc.ie

+353 21 4903076

www.ucc.ie/en/graduatestudies