How Postgrad LIVE Has Evolved to Deliver Better Results for Universities

The postgraduate recruitment landscape has changed significantly in recent years. Student expectations have shifted, competition for high-quality postgraduate applicants has intensified, and universities are under increasing pressure to demonstrate return on investment from every recruitment activity.

At FindAUniversity, we've been listening closely to both students and exhibitors to ensure our Postgrad LIVE study fairs continue to deliver meaningful outcomes for universities.

That's why we've continually evolved our events, introducing new tools, partnerships and exhibitor support designed to improve lead generation, increase student engagement and create a better experience for university teams.

The results speak for themselves. Our Autumn 2025 Postgrad LIVE fairs welcomed more than 2,000 prospective postgraduate students, with 46% of attendees being international students currently studying in the UK. Just as importantly, 96% of exhibitors said they would attend a Postgrad LIVE event again.

Whether you've exhibited with us before or are considering Postgrad LIVE for the first time, here's how our events have evolved and how those improvements could support your postgraduate student recruitment goals.

Better lead generation starts with better data

Successful postgraduate recruitment starts with connecting with the right students.

Over the last few years, we've made a series of changes designed to help universities identify, engage and follow up with prospective postgraduates more effectively:

A more targeted marketing strategy

We've refined our event marketing mix to better reach students who are actively considering postgraduate study.

By continually analysing campaign performance and student behaviour, we've strengthened our ability to attract prospective Masters and PhD students who are researching their next step and ready to engage with universities.

As a result, universities exhibiting at Postgrad LIVE are connecting with a highly relevant audience of postgraduate prospects, including a significant proportion of international students already studying in the UK.

"It helps us meet prospective students, answer their questions and it helps us promote research in the humanities."

Kate Koblos, School of Advanced Study - University of London

Improved registration data

We've simplified the student registration process while improving the quality of information collected.

Students are now required to specify their intended level of study when registering, alongside additional information that helps universities better understand attendee interests and recruitment potential.

This means exhibitors can have more informed conversations on the day and conduct more targeted follow-up activity afterwards.

Across our Autumn 2025 events:

• 90% of attendees expressed an interest in Masters study
• 69% expressed an interest in PhD study
• 46% were international students currently studying in the UK

As students can indicate interest in both Masters and PhD pathways, this data provides valuable insight into the breadth of postgraduate demand represented at our fairs.

New local partnership opportunities

We've also introduced new marketing partnership opportunities for local institutions.

By promoting Postgrad LIVE to their students, participating universities can help drive attendance while gaining access to registration data from all student registrants (subject to GDPR requirements).

This collaborative approach helps increase event visibility, boost attendance and provide universities with an even larger pool of prospective postgraduate leads to engage with after the event.

Instant qualification on the exhibition floor

We've introduced colour-coded attendee lanyards to make conversations even more effective.

Students interested in Masters study and those considering PhD opportunities wear different coloured lanyards, allowing university representatives to quickly identify interests and tailor discussions accordingly.

It's a simple enhancement, but one that makes a real difference during busy event periods.

Helping students find the right universities faster

Generating attendance is only part of the equation. Students need to be able to discover and engage with the universities most relevant to their ambitions.

That's why we've invested in several initiatives designed to improve the student experience while increasing visibility for exhibitors:

Connect for Events

Our Connect for Events platform allows attendees to search for exhibitors based on subject interests and instantly locate relevant stands.

By helping students find the universities they're most interested in, we're facilitating more meaningful conversations and creating additional opportunities for exhibitors to connect with qualified prospects.

To appear within Connect for Events, institutions must have an active listing on FindAMasters.com and / or FindAPhD.com. We therefore encourage exhibitors to review their listings ahead of each event to ensure course information, subject areas and institution profiles are up to date, helping students discover them more easily both online and at the fair. 

 "It's a fabulous event basically. The organisation is amazing, there's a big stream of students come to the booth and ask a lot of questions."

Freddie Wahid, Le Cordon Bleu

A more focused talks programme

We've streamlined our talks programme to focus on the information students value most.

Exhibiting universities can volunteer to deliver presentations on a first-come, first-served basis, providing an opportunity to showcase expertise, raise institutional visibility and attract additional visitors to their stand.

For many exhibitors, talks become an effective way to engage highly motivated students who are already actively researching postgraduate study options.

The Ask Us Anything zone

We've introduced dedicated advice spaces where students can seek guidance on postgraduate study and funding.

Alongside support from the FindAUniversity team, exhibiting universities can volunteer to share expertise and answer questions from prospective students.

These conversations often create valuable opportunities to engage students who may not have initially planned to visit a particular stand but are seeking expert advice and guidance.

Improved event navigation

We've enhanced both indoor and outdoor event signage to improve visitor flow and make the event experience as smooth as possible.

By making it easier for attendees to navigate the exhibition space, students can spend more time engaging with exhibitors and less time trying to find their way around.

Students continue to value face-to-face conversations

While students increasingly use online resources to research postgraduate options, our attendee feedback consistently highlights the value of in-person engagement.

One student attendee told us:

"Made me feel excited and hopeful about the prospect of applying and completing a postgrad course."

Another shared:

"I found it helpful that I was able to speak with universities and get a better sense of what they look for in postgraduate applicants."

These comments reflect what we hear time and again from attendees. Students want the opportunity to ask detailed questions, explore their options and gain confidence in their next steps.

For universities, this creates an opportunity to influence decision-making at a crucial stage of the student journey through meaningful, high-quality conversations.

Creating a better experience for exhibitors

We know that successful recruitment events need to work for exhibitors as well as attendees.

That's why we've continued to invest in improvements that make participation easier, more effective and more rewarding for university teams:

A new home for Postgrad LIVE London

One of our most significant developments has been the permanent move of Postgrad LIVE London to Senate House, University of London.

Located in the heart of central London and surrounded by one of the UK's largest student populations, the venue provides excellent transport links, strong visibility and access to significant student footfall.

The move reflects our commitment to hosting events in locations that maximise student recruitment opportunities for exhibitors.

A streamlined exhibitor hub

We've brought together key event information, resources and logistical guidance into a single Exhibitor Hub.

This makes it easier for university teams to prepare for events, access important information and manage their participation efficiently.

Postgraduate Funding Masterclass

Funding remains one of the most common topics raised by prospective postgraduate students.

To help university representatives feel confident discussing funding options, we've introduced a dedicated Postgraduate Funding Masterclass - an online training course designed specifically for staff attending our study fairs and other recruitment events.

The course provides practical guidance that helps teams answer questions with confidence and support prospective students more effectively.

What's next?

We're committed to continually improving the Postgrad LIVE experience for both students and universities.

One area we're currently developing is a new tool that will allow us to monitor attendee demographics in real time, providing even greater insight into who is attending our events and helping us optimise the experience for exhibitors.

As postgraduate recruitment continues to evolve, so will Postgrad LIVE.

Our focus remains simple: helping universities connect with the right students through events that deliver meaningful engagement, high-quality conversations and measurable recruitment outcomes.

Ready to see the difference for yourself?

Postgrad LIVE today looks very different from the event we ran just a few years ago.

Through continual investment in attendee targeting, lead generation, student engagement tools and exhibitor support, we've created study fairs designed to help universities make stronger connections with prospective Masters and PhD students.

If you've never exhibited with us before, now is the perfect time to experience Postgrad LIVE for yourself. We're currently offering a special introductory rate for first-time exhibitors, making it easier than ever to test Postgrad LIVE as part of your postgraduate recruitment strategy.

Get in touch with the team today to learn more about upcoming events, discuss availability and discover how Postgrad LIVE can help you connect with high-intent postgraduate prospects across the UK. Or you can book directly on our website.