News

In this section we let you know what's new - press stories based on our findings, competition winners, major new projects we're launching...

Click a headline below to read the full story.

It's all about them14/01/10

The universities that do well in Times Higher Education's Student Experience poll put students first, but there is more than one way to do it. Opinionpanel Research polled over 11,000 full-time undergraduates on every aspect of university life, from the quality of teaching to student support, social life and institutional …

Higher Expectations 2009/10 launched02/12/09

Each year we conduct a major study with most new first year of students on The Student Panel. Higher Expectations 2009/10 looks at how students make their university choices, how competitively strong each university is (via a benchmarking report) and what improvements universities can make in terms of recruitment and …

Opinionpanel wins major Panel Build project for Learning and Skills Council09/11/09

Opinionpanel, the online research agency, has won a major new panel build project for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Opinionpanel has been commissioned to build and recruit The Learner Panel. Comprised of 10,000 learners from age 14 upwards in schools, training providers and colleges, and those learning in the …

What do UK students think of mobile handset brands?23/10/09

Opinionpanel has been working with the consultancy, mobileYouth, looking at how students interact with their mobile handset brands; in particular looking at mobile handset brand advocacy and trust among students. The results are fascinating. While Nokia is hugely trusted – more than any other brand – Apple gets higher levels …

Student panellists on BBC Radio Four19/10/09

Tune in to Radio Four's Moral Maze programme on Wednesday 21st October 2009 at 8pm to hear a panellist from The Student Panel give their views on the role of university within society, how the current system serves them now and how given the opportunity, they would change it. …

Congratulations Queen Mary, University of London!19/10/09

Queen Mary, University of London has been awarded the 2009 Times Higher Education Award of 'Most Improved Student Experience'. Over 11,000 members of Opinionpanel's Student Panel took part in the polling for the award. Queen Mary's biggest improvements were in students ratings for its facilities including its shops, bars and …

Opinionpanel appointed to COI Research Framework20/07/09

After a famously rigorous selection process, Opinionpanel has been invited to join the Central Office of Information (COI)'s Market Research Services Framework. Opinionpanel have been successful in the categories of online quantitative research and online omnibus research. The COI commissions over 600 market research projects per year and in 2007/8 spent …

Opinionpanel and The Knowledge Partnership launch COMPARe for Higher Education institutions (HEIs)27/05/09

Click here to download a brochure. COMPARe stands for Course Optimisation for Marketing, Portfolio Assessment and Review. It is a new set of research and consultant-supported review approaches that let HEIs dovetail their market assurance process with the established quality assurance processes …

The Academic Experience of Students07/05/09

Once again, Opinionpanel has helped the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) with the latest wave of their ongoing research into ‘The Academic Experience of Students in English Universities’. The 2009 report published recently follows HEPI’s two previous surveys of the academic experience of students in English universities, in 2006 and …

The Complete University Guide29/04/09

The Complete University Guide will soon be publishing their updated annual league table. As an additional benefit for student visitors to their website, they are featuring some Opinionpanel top ten university rankings. Did you know, for example, that the University of Dundee’s students now regard their city centre campus facilities …

We're your future26/03/09

Opinionpanel has released a report on graduates and the recession. Key findings from over 500 recent graduates highlight their desire for employers to see beyond the short term and keep recruiting despite current economic circumstances. The research was carried out on Opinionpanel's weekly Graduate Omnibus Survey. …

Opinionpanel supports Comic Relief13/03/09

We've had a fun week here at Opinionpanel raising money for Comic Relief. The office has raised over £165 through delicious cake sales, a gripping Connect 4 tournament and a wear all red day. Well done team!

Asking for it16/02/09

A London Student survey carried out by Opinionpanel Research on the Student Omnibus Survey has revealed the attitudes of the UK's student population to rape. Key findings were that if a woman was raped while drunk, 31 per cent of students think that she would be partly responsible and a …

THE's Student Experience polling15/01/09

Results from the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey have been published in the THE Magazine in the 15th to 21st January 2009 edition. The fieldwork was carried out by Opinionpanel Research who asked over 12,000 students to rate their university on best all-round student experience. Loughborough University was rated …

Students want more action on climate27/11/08

Results from Opinionpanel's Student Omnibus Survey reveals that students want their universities to take more action to tackle climate change. Three quarters of students (74%) would like their university to have the Carbon Trust Standard to prove it has taken action. Almost half (47%) would like their institution to do more to …

Graduate Earnings Uncovered27/11/08

Universities are delivering on student expectations of higher graduate salaries, according to a new report by the 1994 Group of student-focused, research-intensive universities. The report compares students’ employment and earnings expectations when they begin university with the reality of what they achieved three and half years after graduation. …

Prospect of a recession worries students10/11/08

One in 12 final-year university students regrets their degree choice now that recession looks likely, and almost half believe the downturn will jeopardise their career prospects. Opinionpanel Research quizzed 1,041 undergraduates last week, from freshers to final-year students, on whether they thought they would suffer in the economic slowdown. …

Congratulations Loughborough!24/10/08

Last night the Times Higher Education hosted their annual higher education awards ceremony. For the fourth year in succession, Opinionpanel ran the polling behind their Student Experience Award. And for the third year in succession, Loughborough University won. Eleanor Simmons, our associate director for Higher Education research commented, “The fact …

Student Voting Study released26/06/08

Opinionpanel Research has released the latest results of their Student Voting Study, the only comprehensive analysis of the political views of the student population over the last four year period. Links Press release – Press release on the release of The Student Vote by Paul Whiteley and the latest data from …

Who's that02/06/08

Nearly 50 per cent of UK undergraduates didn't attend this year's Freshers Fair, and less than three per cent can name the President of the National Union of Students - some findings from a recent Opinionpanel survey for the London Student newspaper. …

Charity donations02/06/08

Thank you to the students that took part in a recent questionnaire that we carried out on behalf of The Guardian. As part of the incentive for taking part in the questionnaire students were able to nominate a charity of their choice for The Guardian to donate some money to. …

Recent Prize Draw Winners13/05/08

Congratulations to the following for winning prize draws for taking part in a our recent questionnaires: AP0109 - Dina Kaluba - 7 megapixel digital camera, Angela Beckford - Pure digital radio, Shaima Majidi - £100 in Arcadia vouchers AP0117 - Heather Prentice - Gift hamper RF02 - All winners received £10 in Bonusbond vouchers - Thomas Thompson, Saher Shah, Luke …

The Future is here, now!14/04/08

We've launched a new panel of Year 12 and 13 students (predominately aged 16-18) from schools and colleges across the UK plus smaller sub-sets of mature and international applicants. Our new panel, The Future Panel provide a unique platform for anyone wanting to conduct research with young people and prospective …

Opinionpanel launches The Future Panel10/03/08

Opinionpanel, the owners and operators of The Student Panel and The Graduate Panel are delighted to announce the launch of The Future Panel. Set up in collaboration with UCAS Media, the panel comprises around 15,000 applicants and prospective applicants to higher education. Built from UCAS’s Applicant and Pre-Applicant Database, it …

RIP CD25/02/08

New research by Opinionpanel and London Media shows that students, the vast majority of whom own PCs and MP3 players, are staying loyal to the CD format despite the convenience of itunes. The CD player however is becoming obsolete with most young people listening to music on computers and MP3 …

Shifts in the student account market18/02/08

Research carried out by Opinionpanel – The Student Account Acquisition Study 2007/8 – reveals the latest trends in the student account market in both England & Wales and Scotland. Click here to open the press release.

Best Student Experience Award 2007...30/11/07

Congratulations to Loughborough University for winning the Times Higher Best Student Experience Award 2007! Over the past three years Opinionpanel has been examining and measuring student experience with the Times Higher Education Supplement, helping them run the development and polling for their award (THES Best Student Experience Award) which has …

Higher Expectations 2007/814/11/07

We're pleased to be launching our 4th annual Higher Expectations Study in partnership with The Knowledge Partnership. Based on up to 13,000 interviews with the new 2007/8 cohort of full-time undergraduate students in the first few weeks of term, this study gives a unique picture of the university applicant journey …

Media Week Awards 200705/11/07

The Guardian's Grad Facts research, fieldwork for which was conducted by Opinionpanel, won the prestigious Media Week 2007 Silver Award for Best Research Initiative. Congratulations to everyone involved! See the article

THES Awards - Student Experience 200731/10/07

Opinionpanel carried out the polling of up to 20,000 students in the UK who rated their university on academic reputation, teaching, social life and facilities of their institutions. The following universities have been shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Supplement Award for Best Student Experience: Cambridge University, Glasgow University, Loughborough …

David Roberts joins the board31/10/07

We're delighted to announce that David Roberts, Managing Partner of The Knowledge Partnership has joined the Opinionpanel board as a Non Executive Director. David has 18 years' senior consulting experience. He is former Chief Executive of Heist and led the development of MaXimizE - the widely adopted evaluation and benchmarking …

University Applicants air their views29/10/07

Opinionpanel was featured in The Insight Show's Preview Magazine. The article draws attention to Opinionpanel's new Applicant and Pre-Applicant Panel which comprises of those who are considering going to university or who have submitted their application. Read the article in the press section. Opinionpanel will be exhibiting at this year's …

30 per cent have no insurance03/10/07

Recent research carried out by Opinionpanel reveals that despite an average student's belongings being valued at around £3,000, only 30% have insurance. Please see the press area for recent articles.

Graduates in more debt15/08/07

Research by Opinionpanel Research shows that graduate debt has increased significantly over the last 10 years. Please see the press section for recent articles.

Working students lose out on pay13/08/07

Students in Scotland are the most hard-working in the UK, with a third working more than 25 hours a week. Scottish undergraduates typically graft for five hours more than other scholars, but they are not the best paid, according to a survey to be published this week. See press area …

Can students spell?13/07/07

University students often get a bad rap in the press – especially when it comes to spelling and grammar! So we decided to run a mass test – just for a bit of fun. Based on multiple choice selections nearly all students knew the difference between ‘their’, ‘there’ and ‘they’re’ …

Another prize draw winner!12/06/07

Congratulations to Zongqi from Bristol for winning a pair of two-day tickets to the O2 Wireless Festival for joining The Student Panel recently!

New prize draw winners!07/06/07

Congratulations to the following for winning prize draws in recent competitions: Adewole from Sunderland won a Samsung 5 mega pixel digital camera for taking part in survey AP84. The following won magazine subscriptions worth £40 after taking part in survey AP75: Jenny from Buckingham, Stephanie from Bedfordshire, Antony from Leicester, Adam from …

In-Flight Education10/04/07

PRESS - The Guardian - The Age of the Student Eurocommuter. Almost a sixth of first-year UK university students from European countries other than Britain plan to visit home often. See The Guardian article

How much would students pay?04/04/07

PRESS - The Guardian - Students demand value for money over fee increases. Opinionpanel conducted a survey amongst 14,000 first year students which reveals new insights on attitudes to university tuition fees. Using the van Westendorp Price Sensitivity Meter approach to examine patterns of price consciousness Opinionpanel found that should the …

Hamper prize draw winner!29/03/07

Congratulations to Zoe who has won a delicious Classic Emerald White Wine hamper for taking part in survey AP64 about student finance on The Student Panel!

Recent Prize Draw Winners!!19/02/07

Congratulations to all recent winners of prize draws. All winners took part in questionnaires on either The Student Panel or The Graduate Panel over the last few months. Both the survey code, prize and winner are listed below: AP59 - Magazine subscription: James from The University of Oxford AP69 - iPod Shuffle: Kirstie from …

More Recent Prize Draw Winners!!19/02/07

Here are more recent prize draw winners: RG02 - Magazine subscrition: Kate - a graduate from The University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Rachael - a graduate from The University of Sheffield, Lauren - a graduate from The Universith of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Elaine - a graduate from The University of Paisley, Elena - a graduate from …

Higher Expectations 2006/7 launched30/01/07

Opinionpanel Research and The Knowledge Partnership will launch an important new study on undergraduate recruitment and fees; Higher Expectations 2006/7. Higher Expectations 2006/7 is the first large scale survey of the university application process to include a detailed analysis of fees. Based on over 13,000 online research interviews with new first …

Mariah - The Marmite of Christmas Pop22/12/06

With the festive season well and truly under way, The Student Panel asked a representative sample of 1,000 university students across the UK which Christmas songs they loved and hated the most… Scumbags and maggots were the order of the day with one in six students spontaneously nominating ‘The Fairytale …

Recent Competition Winners!!!04/12/06

Congratulations to Jonathan and another unnamed male student from Queens University Belfast for winning a magazine subscription for taking part in survey AP55W2!!

Best Student Experience 2006 winners20/11/06

Loughborough University gets a thumbs up from students and has won the award for Best Student Experience 2006. The award was based on the results of an online survey of 6,552 full-time undergraduate students conducted by Opinionpanel. Students rated their lectures, courses, social life and students' union among other things. …

Degrees in Destruction13/11/06

The London Student Newspaper has reported on a survey conducted by Opinionpanel on university investment in the arms trade. The results show that two-fifths of students believe that universities should boycott companies with any involvement in the arms trade, while one fifth believe that universities should be allowed links with …

Opinionpanel staffer wins!10/11/06

On 6th November 2006 Opinionpanel's new Project Manager, Mia Lorenz won the MRS Research Excellence and Effectiveness Award for her masters degree. Opinionpanel staff were there to cheer her on and we're all very proud of her achievement. Congratulations Mia!

Unequal access02/11/06

The Education Guardian and The Times Higher has reported on a survey carried out by Opinionpanel for the Higher Education Policy Institute. The report highlights the variance in teaching hours and methods at different universities for the same degree. See the press section to download a PDF of the article.

Best Student Experience13/10/06

Last year, The Times Higher commissioned Opinionpanel, owner of The Sudent Panel, to run the survey for its first Student Experience Award. After polling more than 10,000 students, Swansea University came out top. See under recent press clippings for shortlisted candidates for 2006. The winner will be annouced at the …

Creation and Evolution16/08/06

Our recent research on students' beliefs about life on earth and how it came about was reported in the Guardian and has been causing a bit of a stir. Have a look at the original research: it's under 'Our Research' and 'Research'. Or you can read the Guardian's article on …

Recent iPod winners11/07/06

Thank you to everyone who took our survey called BAS02 about banking. We offered an extra incentive of 10 iPod shuffles, and the winners in our prize draw were Stacey Allan – Paisley, Helen Ashton – Edinburgh, Nila Roy Choudhury – Edinburgh, Euan Duncan – Strathclyde, Swantje Holtken – Stirling, …

Sweet charity06/07/06

We'd like to say a big thank you to all panellists who took part in project AP35! Not only did you earn yourselves Amazon points, you also helped donate just over £2000 to charity. We gave £1 per respondent and we asked you where you'd like your £1 to go. You …