With our back to uni packages you can promote your brand to a highly engaged student audience this summer through UCAS – a charity young people trust.
Students start researching, choosing brands and making purchase decisions months before they arrive on campus.
UCAS helps brands reach and influence future students at the point they’re planning, buying and preparing for independent life.
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By the time they arrive on campus, new students have researched and decided the brands that will support their university lifestyle.
They are navigating their first major life moment, moving away from home, and buying high-consideration items with the support of their parents or guardians, creating a unique opportunity for brands where they are:
Preparation for university starts earlier than many brands expect, well before results day or when students arrive on campus for Freshers Week. Each year, over 550,000 young people leave home for the first time, and during moments like this they are 2.5 times more likely to try something new. Engaging students early helps brands build familiarity and trust that influences decisions long before arrival and continues into student life.
UCAS supports over 1 million young people every year as they plan their futures, and 85% of applicants come to UCAS for information about university life. Students trust UCAS more than the BBC and on a par with the NHS, making it a highly credible environment at a key decision‑making moment. Partnering with UCAS allows brands to connect with students in a space they already rely on for trusted guidance.
Preparing for university is a shared process between students and their parents or guardians, with many purchases planned and funded together. On average, students spend £1,287 before starting university, often well ahead of arriving on campus. UCAS uses first‑party, GDPR‑compliant data from a new cohort each year to help brands reach students with timely, relevant messaging that builds long‑term trust and loyalty.
An investment in young people’s futures.
Every pound spent with UCAS is an investment into widening access and choice into higher education and career pathways for young people.
Reach students with confidence.
Our first‑party data ensures you connect with engaged young people who are actively planning their next step and open to new ideas and opportunities.
Expert support from start to finish.
We help you choose the right channels and audiences to meet your objectives and make your investment work harder.
Our blog shares insights on how brands reach and engage future university students. Discover student behaviour, decision moments, and ways to stay relevant before they arrive on campus.
The journey to university is shaped by key decisions that influence student choices. Understand when to connect with future university students as they research, plan, and prepare for university.
Our case studies show how brands engage future university students at key decision moments. Discover how early engagement builds trust and long-term brand relevance.
