November 2002
Lead stories

Turnaround in Recruitment

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chris Taylor has praised his staff following a well-earned turnaround in recruitment since the beginning of the year.

January's figures had shown the University with a 30% decline in undergraduate applications compared with 2001. This was largely felt to be caused by negative media coverage following last year's disturbances in the city. Despite the initial downturn, however, the University has not only met but exceeded this year's undergraduate intake target with the number of admissions increasing by 16% since 2001. Overseas student intakes at both undergraduate and postgraduate level have also increased. The University now has more than 1200 overseas students from over 100 different countries.

Right: Supersides were booked on buses across the region as part of the recruitment drive.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chris Taylor, said: "Staff within the University have worked extremely hard to counteract the impact of the riots on recruitment and I am delighted that this hard work has paid off. Although undergraduate applications were initially down those that did apply appear to have been more committed to Bradford and more applicants accepted our offer of a place. We've encouraged applicants to visit the University and the city to judge for themselves and they seem to have liked what they have seen. A number of new courses, available for the first time in the summer, such as Clinical Sciences and Pharmacology, have also proved extremely popular, and we had a much larger number of late applications from people who had not applied to any other university."

One of the key initiatives since January has been to encourage potential students and their parents to visit the University and the city to get a feel for living and studying in Bradford.

Left: Potential students could surf the web in the Richmond Foyer as part of the Open Days.

Visitor numbers at Open Days have increased significantly and 74% of students who returned Open Day questionnaires in July said they were more likely to apply to Bradford after visiting the University. Parents of a Cybernetics student summed up the University's approach: "We travelled from Australia to visit five universities. My son liked your University the best! The atmosphere at Bradford was very pleasant and I should say the best organised by far."

Another parent commented: "It was clear that the University and the city had a lot to offer students. The positive image did much to counteract the sometimes negative image of Bradford in the media. We hope that other visitors feel the same." - Parents questionnaire (July, 2002).

The University introduced many new features to its Open Days including talks on accommodation, more information on the city, special mini tour guides to the campus, live broadcasts in the Foyer from student radio station RamAir and laptops in the coffee bar to encourage visitors to surf the University's website.

Right: Bradford created the first ever university mini-guide - written by students for students - to give potential students a students-eye view of the city.

The University has also included additional information in its promotional literature, following feedback and suggestions from students and staff alike. Bradford also created the first-ever university miniguide - written by students for students - to give potential students a students-eye view of the city which has proved very popular.

Many students are also attracted by the University's excellent track record in graduate employment, aided by the opportunity to complete a placement year as an integral part of a wide range of courses.

New systems have also allowed the University to keep in touch with prospective applicants and provide them with all the latest information on courses, availability and open days.

Professor Taylor said: "The University is also continuing to grow in popularity with overseas students, both undergraduate and postgraduate. They are drawn to Bradford because of a series of excellent QAA scores, the cultural mix within the city and the University's friendly approach. We have also been aided by the fact that the cost of living is lower than in other areas of the UK, flagged up by the recent Guardian/Virgin survey. Value for money is obviously important to students of all nationalities."

12 November 2002

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