The pie charts illustrate the reasons why students chose a particular UK university in 1987 and 2007. Overall, suitable degree courses were the most common reason in both years, while being close to home was the least popular. Over the 20-year period, the importance of being close to home and quality teaching increased, whereas the significance of good sports and social activities and quality of resources declined.
In 1987, over one third of students selected their university because of suitable degree courses, which was the largest. About one fifth mentioned the quality of resources, while 10 % of them wanted to study to close to home. Good sports and activities were chosen by 19% of undergraduates, and only 15% thought about quality teaching.
In 2007, suitable coyrses were still the main reason, rising gradually to 37%. The quality teaching showed a slight increase by 3%, while the quality of resources decreased by 4%. Moreover, being close to parental home had an enormous growth to 22%, whereas good sports and social activities fell down sharply to 6%.