Our new approach to publishing tuition fees went live last week. We now need web publishers in all schools to update the content they publish. We’ve created guidance and are on hand to answer your questions.

UPDATE: An email covering was sent on 13 May to lead publishers of schools and subject areas, covering all the points in this blog post.

We’ve created a new wiki space containing guidance for web publishers who provide information for prospective students.

In this blog post, I’m covering the key concepts and why it’s important that everyone takes a consistent approach to presenting information on cost of study.

Cost of study is a key task for all prospective students, so it’s vital that we make this as easy and understandable as possible.

The updates needed

If you manage content for prospective students, you need to take action.

Full guidance on the Communications and Marketing wiki

1. Create clear routes to fees-related content
   • This is critical content, so we must make it as obvious and easy as possible. We’re testing everything with students so you can be assured of our guidance.
2. Use the central fee rates content
   • The golden source for prospective students is via the degree finder. We must ensure that students are only directed to this to ensure they consistently get definitive figures.
3. Use the central fee increase content
   • Information about annual fee increases has recently changed, and could be updated further in future. In line with guidance on presentation of fees rates, this should not be presented on your website.
4. Use the central fee status content
   • We’ve seen the question of fee status cause problems for students in some circumstances.  Directing to the definitive guidance will ensure that students better understand how the process works, and can get help from the Fees Service if they need it.
5. Encourage users to self-serve when answering fees queries
   • Our goal is to facilitate student self service, and to effectively channel enquiries where they need further help. Throughout the updated central fees web content, there is a clear path to get in touch with the Fees Service via a new web form. This will ensure we can monitor the effectiveness of our provision, and encourage enquirers to provide the necessary information upfront.

Check the full guidance

We’ve created guidance pages on the Communications and Marketing wiki to help you evolve your presentation.

This should be followed by anyone promoting a degree offered by the University of Edinburgh.

Guidance on presentation of prospective student cost of study information

Why you should follow this guidance

It’s evidence based

We’ve conducted user research with students and staff throughout this project, as well as auditing the web estate, enquiry trends and website analytics.

Better student experiences

We’ve seen first-hand the issues that arise for prospective students. Aligning our provision on fees and cost of study creates a more consistent and coherent student experience.

Reduce unnecessary enquiries

Supporting students to self-serve, and channeling those that need help to the right place reduce enquiries fielded by college- and school-based staff. We also help the Fees Service to respond in the most efficient manner possible.

Reduce duplication and risk

Our audit of provision in schools and subject areas highlighted areas where information was incorrect, out-of-date or simply open to misunderstanding.

Read more about the fees info content audit – Lauren Tormey’s blog post

Following our guidance reduces content management overhead across the University and eliminates this Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) compliance risk.

CMA guidance and consumer law on the Communications and Marketing website

Get in touch

The team are available to provide advice and answer your questions.

Contact the Prospective Student web content team

Tuition fees guidance for web publishers: What you need to do now / Future student online experiences by blogadmin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0