Community Overall, little has changed in this theme over the last two No change years, with consistent interest in the community aspects of higher education and a strong desire to belong among The Community score measures the all demographics. However, this year’s applicants are orientation of the cohort towards more likely to say they have little interest in the social 70being part of a student community, and the importance they place on this. side of university (31% v 25%). 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 Figure 7: Breakdown of responses to Community theme ques琀椀ons not entirely – responsible for the change. I would like to feel like I belong when I’m at university 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 3 5% 13% 22% 57% backgrounds is both high (81%) and stable. I look forward to making friends from different backgrounds 3 4% 12% 27% 54% *I have little interest in the social side of university 30% 21% 17% 15% 16% I want to be an active part of the student community while I’m at university 4% 7% 20% 27% 42% Strongly disagree Moderately disagree Neutral Moderately agree Strongly agree *For this question, agreement indicates a negative response; the score for this question was reversed when calculating the index score Unite Students | Applicant Index Report 21