Coventry University Applications up 18% for 2013

By Galya Dimitrova

It seems like 2013 will be a successful entrepreneurial year for Coventry University as the latest figures show a dramatic rise in its applications compared to the same point in 2012. Despite the fact that the introduction of the new fee system lead to an overall decline of the applications for university places throughout the country, Coventry University has managed to buck the national trend. Its undergraduate applications are 18% up on 2012, while the latest figures published by UCAS show university applications are down by 5.6% throughout the UK. As well as an increase in undergraduate applications, the University has seen a rise of over 50% in its applications for postgraduate studies.

In response to last year’s changes to the university fee system, Coventry University announced that it would implement a variable fee scale with a view to encouraging applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, rather than charging £9,000 for all courses. The University also launched an initiative which sees students provided with their core textbooks and materials as part of the tuition fee, adding further value for money to Coventry’s courses.

Vice-chancellor Professor Madeleine Atkins believes the increased interest can be attributed to the University’s ongoing improvements in performance and reputation, as well as its different approach to setting course fees.

“We are still at an early stage in the applications cycle for September 2013 starters, but these are positive signs that Coventry’s ‘Fair Fee Policy’ and much-improved standings in the league tables are setting the University apart from the competition.

 “At Coventry we felt that setting variable fees which were based on the actual cost of delivering the course was the only fair answer to the changes to the higher education fee system. Value for money and transparency around costs are crucial to prospective students when choosing a university, and so far the evidence seems to suggest that students and their families are supportive of our different approach.”, she added.

 

Second year Journalism student from the Erasmus scheme Lilice Werner observed that “it is a good strategy to vary charges at Coventry University”, so that students from various social and economic backgrounds can get a place in it.

“Also, students don’t only choose a University because of it’s course offer and reputation, but also because of it’s location and leisure facilities”, she added.

Even though she believes a lot more could be improved in terms of the campus and the internal organisation of the courses, she definitely enjoys her studying here and would recommend Coventry University to everyone she knows searching for a place at an UK university:

“I can recommend Coventry University for students, that are open minded, like to engage and don’t get scared by Coventry’s rough appearance. It is definitly not the UK’s flagship town, but the University is nice.

“All in all it’s a very informal, pleasant atmosphere with helpful lecturers and multicultural mates.”

The increase in applications follows a strong year for the institution, which saw its best ever student satisfaction ratings in 2012 and a significant boost in the Guardian and Times university league tables.