Leeds Beckett Student Survey Highlights the Positive of Clearing and Staying Local

Carried out ahead of this year's A-Level results, the national research conducted with 1,000 current university students by Opinion Matters and Leeds Beckett University found that many students living at home feel well supported, with 45% saying they receive a high level of emotional support.

Contrary to expectations, 57% reported that staying at home near campus has not lessened their university experience and more than half (53%) say it encourages them to attend more lectures and seminars.

In addition, students say that staying local contributes to a better social life and helps them make friends more easily (48%), suggesting proximity can enhance, not limit, university integration.

The main reasons students choose to live at home while attending university include saving money (64%), to be near family (46%) and that their best choice of course was at their local university (22%).

With A-level results day just a couple of weeks away, the findings paint a picture of a student population that is increasingly exploring a wider range of options when it comes to accessing higher education.

The research also highlighted the positive impact of entering university through Clearing. Approximately two in five (41%) students say going through Clearing helped them make bold, quick decisions, and three-quarters (75%) said it gave them a better experience than expected.

65% of students said that choosing university over other options, such as entering the workforce, travelling, or pursuing an apprenticeship, led to a better experience than they had originally expected.

Commenting on the research, Tracey Lancaster, Deputy Vice Chancellor at Leeds Beckett University, said: "The next generation of students - whether they’re school leavers or mature learners - are navigating many challenges, including the rising cost of living to balancing work and family commitments. It’s therefore more important than ever that students feel empowered to make the right choice for them.

"Whether that means staying local, going through Clearing, or taking a different route entirely, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to university. What matters is that students find a path that supports their wellbeing, ambitions, and sense of belonging. However you get there, or wherever you lay your head at night, university can be a life-changing experience."