The user journey for students applying for a project-based PhD is distinct from those looking for a self-directed PhD, so we’ve mapped each separately with an accompanying commentary on what we learned from our user research.
The user journey for students applying for a self-directed PhD is distinct from those looking for a project-based PhD, so we’ve mapped each separately with an accompanying commentary on what we learned from our user research.
This year, we spoke to 97 people about how they searched for degrees and whether they had used AI tools in the process. I used these insights, along with data from GA4 and results from stress-testing various AI tools, to create a presentation for the 2025 ContentEd conference.
Many of us got the opportunity to attend the Lean Agile Scotland conference in September, which took place on the University campus at Pollock Halls. We share our favourite conference sessions and top takeaways.
Our new postgraduate study site brings together content that was spread across our web estate into one location. This involved working with multiple teams to deduplicate and consolidate content, reducing our page count by 60%.
We audited web content for unsuccessful applicants on college sites, streamlined and redrafted it with admissions staff, and brought it onto our central study sites. The finished pages improve the user experience and reduce the need for unsuccessful applicants to seek feedback and request appeals.
DrupalCamp Scotland, Scotland’s annual conference about all things Drupal, is happening on Friday 7 November here at the University, and this year I’ll be presetning about our project to rebuild the degree finder.
The Postgraduate Entry 2026 website that launched on 7 October introduced new approaches to how we present degree programmes. Contributions from colleagues in schools, colleges and support units have been critical to our transformation of online provision.
Back in the summer, I surveyed the student recruitment and marketing community about the website and digital service improvements that would have greatest value for their work. The results of this survey have helped our steering group set priorities for the coming year.
In 2021 I created a diagram of the people, processes and systems surrounding the Degree Finders to help inform our technical planning and communication to stakeholders. I’ve just updated the diagram for 2025 to reflect our new service. Comparing old with new really highlights how much our technology landscape has evolved and simplified.
