The pie charts compare the reasons why students selected a particular university in the UK in 1987 and 2007.
Overall, it is clear that suitable degree courses were the most popular consideration while selecting a university in both years. Good sports and social activities had undergone the most pronounced decline, while the most noticeable increase was observed in proximity to the parental house.
In 1987, the most common reason for students when choosing a university was the suitability of degree courses (35%), which was 14 percentage points higher than the second most popular consideration, the quality of resources. While in 2007, suitability of degree courses increased by 2 percent, retaining its position as the most important criterion, quality of resources was down by 4 percent, ranking as the fourth popular reason.
By contrast, having started as the third most significant criterion in 1987 (19%), good sports and social activities had lost popularity by 2007, accounting for the smallest proportion of the reasons (6%). On the other hand, proximity to the parental house underwent a significant increase, increasing from 10 percent, the lowest figure in 1987, to 22 percent, the second highest figure. The quality of teaching only rose by 3 percent throughout the period, from 15 percent to 18 percent.