I am exploring the University Life concept, which focuses on helping 6th form students navigate the overwhelming process of choosing a university course, by doing competitor analysis, user interviews, creating user personas and empathy maps, mapping user journeys, and writing user stories to better understand their needs and deliver a solution that addresses the challenges they face in making informed decisions about their future.
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6th form students struggle with the transition to university due to unclear guidance, scattered information, and a lack of insight into university teaching styles, making it difficult to navigate independent study, explore diverse course options, and make confident, informed decisions.
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An app that combines all of the information in the same place, allowing users to save and compare university options, allocate courses that are related to their interests and subjects they study.
→ To help with the uncertainty of university, I want an area where users can interact with an AI chat-box or have an interactive lecture, which will give users a real feel for each course and will be less overwhelming when they start going to uni.
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My target audience consists of 6th form students (ages 17-18) who are navigating the often overwhelming process of applying to university and choosing a course. Based on survey results, I found that these students face several challenges, including difficulty comparing courses, understanding entry requirements, and making informed decisions about their future. While the primary focus is on 6th form students, the platform may also be useful for mature students and GCSE students who are exploring A-level subjects and looking for guidance on potential university courses.
I started by mind-mapping an idea for an app to refine my idea. For their mindmap, I wanted to focus on the target audience of 6th form students, as I found after my research that they have had many problems exploring and choosing a course or university. Some of the ideas that I came up with were a course meeting app where the 6th form students will be able to find course classmates before they start uni, removing the stress of starting uni and not knowing anyone on the course. Another idea that I had was a mentorship app, which will allow students to connect with university students, and they can help them with the transition to university from school. Another idea that I thought stood out was the lectures with an AI assistant, which will allow the students to connect and ask questions about the lecture, find out teaching styles and methods, which was a main problem in the survey I conducted.
I think that the most evident idea that I came up with was the Tinder course app, which will allow students to compare universities and differnt, more unique university courses so that they have a better understanding of the course and the university. I want to incorporate some of these ideas to make an interesting and unique app.
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This was a class task where we had to define our app idea. I thought that this was a really important task as it allowed us to get feedback from the class, but also think out the idea more in-depth.
6th form students struggle with university decisions due to unclear guidance and uncertainty about what to expect. Many find it hard to imagine themselves in a university setting.
The goal is to help students make confident university choices by offering clear information, addressing financial concerns, and giving a realistic view of university life.
By creating an app with all of this information in one place
A more engaging and fun website to see information, rather than the structure of UCAS, with interactive elements
How might we help simplify the process of choosing a university and provide a more realistic preview of student life to potential students?
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From the feedback on the survey from the 6th form students, it was suggested that all of the information could be presented in the same place where they can easily save and compare universities and courses.
6th form students often face a challenge in finding a university course and institution that truly suits them, as the information they need is scattered across multiple platforms and resources. Many students find it difficult to navigate through this maze of websites, brochures, and advice, especially since traditional courses are often pushed as the go-to options, leaving less room for alternative or more niche courses that might better align with their interests. The financial concerns and the high cost of accommodation are significant barriers for many, discouraging them from even applying to university in the first place. If I were to create an app that consolidates all the necessary information in one place, it could help students make more informed decisions. With a clearer understanding of what a course entails before committing, students would feel more confident in their choices, leading to higher application rates and potentially lower dropout rates. The app would make the entire university search process more accessible, less overwhelming, and more tailored to individual needs, increasing the likelihood of students applying and staying on track throughout their studies.
To make the app more innovative, I would include an AI lecture for each course, allowing students to immerse themselves in a real-time, interactive experience. Using AI, the lecture could offer a back-and-forth conversation, where students can ask questions and explore the course in more detail. This would give students a better sense of what studying the course would be like, helping them make more informed decisions and increasing the likelihood of applying to university and staying committed to their studies.
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6th form students struggle with university decisions due to unclear guidance and uncertainty about what to expect. Many find it hard to imagine themselves in a university setting.
6th form students struggle to find university courses due to the information being scattered across different sources
→ also, the push for more traditional courses in schools
→ Financial concerns for students
→ Students can imagine themselves in a university setting
6th form students struggle with the transition to university due to unclear guidance, scattered information, and a lack of insight into university teaching styles, making it difficult to navigate independent study, explore diverse course options, and make confident, informed decisions.
An app that combines all of the information in the same place, allowing users to save and compare university options, allocate courses that are related to their interests and subjects they study.
→ To help with the uncertainty of university, I want an area where users can interact with an AI chat-box or have an interactive lecture, which will give users a real feel for each course and will be less overwhelming when they start going to uni.
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