7% 20% 27% 4% Community International applicants, and Chinese applicants particularly, are significantly less interested in the social side of university compared to domestic applicants. The improved representation of Chinese students in this year’s sample is partly – though not entirely – responsible for the change. Despite current concerns about the widening divisions in society, it is reassuring that the proportion of applicants who look forward to making friends from different backgrounds is both high (81%) and stable. *For this question, agreement indicates a negative response; the score for this question was reversed when calculating the index score I would like to feel like I belong when I’m at university 5% 13% 22% 57% I look forward to making friends from different backgrounds *I have little interest in the social side of university I want to be an active part of the student community while I’m at university Strongly disagree Moderately disagree Neutral Moderately agree Strongly agree Figure 7: Breakdown of responses to Community theme questions The Community score measures the orientation of the cohort towards being part of a student community, and the importance they place on this. No change 70 Overall, little has changed in this theme over the last two years, with consistent interest in the community aspects of higher education and a strong desire to belong among all demographics. However, this year’s applicants are more likely to say they have little interest in the social side of university (31% v 25%). 3 4% 12% 27% 3 54% 30% 21% 17% 15% 16% 42% Unite Students | Applicant Index Report 21 INTRODUCTION THEMATIC ANALYSIS COMMUNITY METHODOLOGY TOPICAL ISSUES BACK TO THEMES