Pre-Application Process

  1. Consider offering one qualified, under-privileged applicant a departmental scholarship/bursary to generate interest in your programme
  2. Review Programme Prospectus, Brochures and Pamphlets for accuracy, relevance and attractiveness
  3. Ensure curriculum meets market and institutional needs
  4. Review department’s website for relevance, accuracy and completeness
  5. Submit complete list of programme offerings to Office of Graduate Studies & Research by published deadline (usually mid-October of each year)
  6. Submit names of staff members to be granted access to Application Portal for decision-making purposes.
  7. Request training for new academic staff involved in the Applicant selection process

Promotion

  1. Utilise local print, television, radio and digital media advertising
  2. Create unique landing pages on departmental website and create links to www.mona.uwi.edu/postgrad/prospectus.php
  3. Consider using UWI vehicles as advertising billboard whether for specific programmes or general applications advertising
  4. Utilize QR codes to encourage ease of access to our landing page and enquiries from prospects
  5. Group department's programme offerings as a single package to attract a broader range of prospects and promote them on a department or faculty basis.

Attract applicants

  1. Identify high flyers in undergraduate studies within and outside of your department and encourage them to apply. This is a starting point.
  2. Do market research to find out where the 'best fit' persons come from and establish linkages
  3. Identify grants that can be used for student recruitment
  4. Identify other institutional resources (scholarships, Grants, bursaries) that could support your research activity and use knowledge of that when engaging prospective students
  5. Ensure accurate, up-to-date and relevant programme info is available through various media (esp print and electronic). Send copies to OGSR.
  6. For departments with a range of programmes, how can you collaborate for out-of-town visits, fairs etc for cost-savings?
  7. Consider this - in what ways has the department engaged current students in recruiting and engaging new prospects?
  8. Determine minimum # of students for enrollment and craft a strategy to achieve that number.
  9. Get administrative and academic staff engaged in the department's marketing thrust. Establish recruitment priorities.
  10. Plan ahead so that relevant staff can be given necessary system access before the start of the admissions cycle

Follow-up

  1. Consider developing an incentive programme to encourage current students to give referrals
  2. Keep in touch with enquirers either through text messages, emails or telephone call
  3. Develop mobile app as a mobile tactic to encourage programme-specific enquiries.