Insights & Opinions

A photo of many prospectuses, stacked on top of one another

We Ordered 57 University Prospectuses, Here’s What We Found (2025 Edition)

Choice is up, personalisation is not. PDFs are everywhere. Expectations are unmet. Here's how the sector can close the gap in one cycle...

A young man and woman stand among towering stacks of printed prospectuses in a library, with the woman focused on a glowing tablet while the man looks on with folded arms.

Prospectus Plus vs. Printed Prospectuses

Once upon-a-time, 100-page printed prospectuses were the gold standard of recruitment. A glossy way to showcase courses and campuses. Today, student expectations and engagement have shifted, and the landscape looks very different.

A young man in a grey hoodie holds an open book while standing in front of a red-brick university building, with people walking in the background.

10 Surprising Truths About Prospectuses in Colleges, Backed by New Research

Prospectus Plus and the College Marketing Network surveyed 26 UK colleges, uncovering gaps between perception and reality in prospectus use, especially around sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and how engagement is measured.

A developer in a hoodie sits at a cluttered desk with dual monitors and sticky notes, resting his head in his hand with a tired expression under the glow of a desk lamp.

Prospectus Plus vs. A Bespoke Digital Prospectus

Building a bespoke digital prospectus promises total control... but often brings total chaos. High costs, delays, endless requests, and maintenance headaches. Find out how to deliver a sector-ready solution without the pain of custom development.

$The word “Prism” in white serif font over a soft-focus abstract background with flowing fabric-like shapes and light refractions creating rainbow-coloured bokeh effects.$

The Prism Report: What Students Really Want from University Recruitment

We partnered with UCAS to analyse 330+ student touchpoints around Discovery events. The Prism Report uncovers what drives engagement and why traditional approaches are losing impact, drawing on surveys, follow-ups, and in-depth interviews.

A student with a backpack holds a phone with a concerned expression, standing outside a university building with a clock tower.

Prospectus Plus vs. No Prospectus

Some institutions are ditching prospectuses entirely. Maybe they assume students will just use the website. Maybe they think open days and social media will do all the heavy lifting. Maybe they’ve decided a prospectus is just another marketing expense they can cut. It’s a bold move… but is it the right one?