What success needed to be
Bangor University partnered with Uni-Life with one clear aim: increase conversion from offer-holder to enrolled student. The plan was simple: create a private, student-led space where offer-holders could meet early, ask practical questions, and see what’s coming up, so confidence and commitment rise before day one. The solution also had to be light on staff time, safe and GDPR-compliant, and quick to stand up for the international cohort.
Setting up a student-led community
Together, Bangor and Uni-Life created a private community for international offer-holders.
On first entry, a short and friendly onboarding flow helps them complete a profile (course, start date, background and interests) so they can immediately find “people like me.” From there, students can post on a home feed for open questions, move into one-to-one chats for quick answers, join groups around shared interests or courses, and browse events that are relevant to them.
Bangor retains light-touch oversight, while Uni-Life’s community team handles the operational lift including day-to-day engagement, moderation and data reporting. As Mandy Jones, International Marketing and Conversion Manager, put it: “Stefan and the team have been really helpful. He’s done most of the work.”
From invite to activity
From the moment the community went live, students leaned in. 441 profiles were created and the home feed filled with practical, reassuring threads - 173 posts that drew 985 replies and 194 likes around the big pre-arrival topics: meeting people, visas, accommodation, even travelling together. “It’s a very good initiative. It helps students get in touch with other students,” one offer-holder wrote, while another added, “I’m really excited to join Bangor University and Uni-Life helped me a lot throughout my process.”
Behind the scenes, peers were connecting in private too: 850 one-to-one chats and 12,345 messages, with chat rated the most-valued feature by a majority. Events clicked as well: 78.5% said they discovered relevant sessions through the hub, which turned “what is there?” into “I’m going.” Or as one student put it, “It is very useful for new students.”
All of this happened in a positive, trusted space. “There were no reports from students. We’re happy we created a safe environment where they can meet and exchange information,” said Stefan Peeman, Head of Community at Uni-Life.
That activity showed up where it matters most: 82.1% felt more confident about enrolling, 70.7%felt more prepared for study, 64.7% said Uni-Life played an important role in their decision, and 24.9% said they’d have been less likely to accept without it. In a quick pulse check, 161 of 168 respondents reported that they had enrolled. All of it happened in a positive, trusted space, reflected in a strong satisfaction score and no breaches of house rules, a cohort arriving not as strangers, but as a community.
What’s next
With a strong first intake, we’re excited for the spring cohort, and the momentum is already built in. 83 students (previous Uni-Life users) have volunteered to stay on Uni-Life as student ambassadors, giving Bangor a chorus of organic, authentic voices to welcome offer-holders, answer real questions, and model the culture of the community. They’re eager to share first-hand tips, lived experiences and practical advice - the kind of guidance only peers can offer.
Timelines are also aligned for spring; onboarding flows and communications are set; and our community team will continue to coordinate prompts, safeguard the space, and share concise insight reports - so the experience stays simple, trusted, and effective at moving offer-holders to enrolment.
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