42.9% selected cheaper on-campus food. 21.4% selected mental health support; 21.4% selected better quality teaching; and 14.3% selected career guidance.
How all 140 respondents answered
Respondents selected one answer from four options.
Percentages are based on the published response counts. Where whole-number percentages are shown, totals may differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
Everyday affordability can shape how students judge university life
Campus costs are visible every day
Food prices can affect students repeatedly across a week, making them a tangible part of university life.
Support still matters
21.4% selected mental health support.
Teaching and careers remain important
35.7% collectively selected better teaching or career guidance.
Students experience university through everyday details as well as the big promises
University discussions often focus on teaching, employability and student support. This poll adds an everyday affordability perspective, with cheaper on-campus food receiving the most selections.
The result does not prove food is the biggest problem at universities. It shows which of these four options this audience prioritised when asked to choose one improvement.
How to report this poll accurately
Keep the response base and indicative audience label attached to the headline finding.
How this poll was recorded
- Question
- What do you wish your university did better?
- Responses
- 140 total responses
- Date recorded
- 24 August 2026
- Collection
- Unifresher audience poll
- Evidence label
- Indicative first-party Unifresher audience poll
This is an audience poll rather than a population survey. It is useful as a snapshot of the respondents who took part and should not be described as representative of every UK university student.
Questions readers ask next
What was the most common answer?
42.9% selected “Cheaper on-campus food”, making it the largest answer in this poll.
How many respondents chose the top answer?
60 of 140 respondents selected “Cheaper on-campus food”.
What was the second most selected answer?
21.4% selected “Mental health support”, equal to 30 responses.
Is this representative of all UK students?
No. This is an indicative Unifresher audience poll with 140 responses, not a nationally representative student survey.
How should this result be reported?
Keep the 140-response base, collection date and indicative-audience label attached to the finding.
Explore more student attitudes
Cite this poll
Unifresher poll, “What do you wish your university did better?”, 140 responses, recorded 24 August 2026. Unifresher Data Hub.
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