New Whatuni research encourages prospective students to ask practical questions ahead of results day and Clearing
LONDON, UK. July 15, 2026. A new survey from Whatuni suggests many university students began higher education without fully understanding the financial realities of student life. Looking back, a significant number say they would have made more informed decisions if they had known more about living costs and other practical aspects before selecting where to study.
Based on responses from more than 1,200 students currently studying at UK universities, Real Voices, Real Choices explores the information students wish they had before applying, accepting an offer and preparing to start university.
Living costs emerged as the biggest information gap, with 56 per cent of respondents saying they wished they had understood more about day-to-day expenses before beginning university. Other areas students felt underprepared for included loans, debt and budgeting (49 per cent), job prospects, career planning, internships and industry experience (48 per cent), the overall value of investing in a degree (47 per cent), and course content, assessment methods and workload (47 per cent).
The research has been released as UCAS Clearing opens during July 2026 and ahead of Qualifications Scotland results day on 4 August 2026 and A-level results day on 13 August 2026. At this time of year, many students are confirming university places, reconsidering their options or making important decisions about where to study.
The findings also suggest that securing a university place does not necessarily mean students feel ready for the next stage. More than half of those surveyed (54 per cent) said the period between confirming their university choice and enrolling was the most stressful part of the journey. A further 32 per cent identified the first few days at university as the biggest challenge, while 15.5 per cent said researching university options was the most difficult stage.
Simon Emmett, UK CEO of IDP Education, which operates Whatuni, said: “The findings show that students need far more than course information and available places. They are looking for clear, practical answers from people who have already been through the university experience: what university will cost, how their studies will feel, how they will make friends, what support is available and how their choice connects to future careers. For universities, the survey also highlights where clearer, earlier guidance could help students to feel more prepared and confident as they move from application and Clearing into university life.”
The five areas students most wished they had understood before starting university were:
- Money and affordability.
- Developing independence and personal responsibility.
- Building friendships, creating new connections and feeling a sense of belonging.
- Understanding course expectations, assessment methods and workload.
- Career planning, graduate outcomes and developing employability skills.
The survey also found that the questions students want answered evolve throughout their university journey. During the application stage, they are focused on offers, course choices and future opportunities. After accepting a place, attention shifts towards budgeting, accommodation and preparing for university. Once they arrive, students become more concerned with making friends, becoming independent and adjusting to a new environment.
When asked where they prefer to get information about higher education and student life, respondents said they place the greatest value on hearing directly from people with first-hand experience, including current students, student ambassadors and graduates.
The purpose of Real Voices, Real Choices is to help future applicants benefit from the experiences of today’s students. By encouraging prospective students to ask more informed questions before accepting an offer, Whatuni aims to help them make decisions with greater confidence and a clearer understanding of what university life involves.
Simon Emmett added: “These findings highlight the importance of the real student voice during Clearing and results season. Students making big decisions want to understand what university life is really like, beyond official course information and institutional marketing.
“Clearing is often treated as the end of the application process but for students it can be the beginning of a whole new set of questions. Our survey shows that students want clearer answers on the realities of university life, from living costs and workload to making friends, finding support and understanding where their choice could take them.
“What makes Whatuni different is that we help students to make those decisions through genuine student experiences. Real Voices, Real Choices brings together the questions that current students wish they had asked sooner and the lessons they have learned from the gaps in knowledge and challenges they encountered throughout their university journey.
“When decisions move so quickly, preparing better questions can give students more confidence, more control and a stronger start at university. The message from current students is clear: ask these questions earlier.”
Students and families can visit Whatuni to access practical resources informed by real student experiences. These include the Student Cost of Living Calculator, which estimates likely living expenses, alongside verified student reviews, student-led advice, course comparison tools and the Ambassador Chat feature, allowing applicants to speak directly with current students about courses, accommodation, student support, campus life and settling into university.
The Real Voices, Real Choices survey is based on responses from more than 1,200 undergraduate students studying at universities across the UK. Participants represented every stage of undergraduate study, from first year through to fourth year and beyond.
