The pie graphs illustrate information regarding five primary factors driving the university selection of students in the UK between 1997 and 2007.
Overall, there was a decreasing number of students choosing their universities based on most given reasons, except for suitable degree courses and proximity to parental home factors, which showed a reversed trend. Additionally, the highest proportion of students considered suitable degree courses a significant factor in opting for their educational institutions.
In terms of drivers noticed by more students, in 1997, only one-tenth of the total students chose their universities based on proximity to parental home, and after a decade, this figure almost doubled to just above one-fifth. Moreover, an insignificant difference of 2% was also seen in the suitable degree courses factor, rising to 37% in the last surveyed year, which was higher than that of the distance factor in the same year just 15%.
Concerning the rest, in 1997, there was a slight difference between quality of teaching and good sports and social activities, which accounted for 15% and 19%, respectively. However, after 10 years, while the percentage of students considering teaching standards increased by only 3%, that of good sports and social activities decreased by more than one-tenth. Similarly, the proportion of quality of resources also decreased modestly by 4% by the last surveyed year.