Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I complete the survey more than once?
• I think I have already responded. How will I find out whether I did?
• Can I stop the survey half-way through, save my answers and return to it later?
• An error occurred when I was completing/submitting the questionnaire
• Why doesn't your email have a warwick.ac.uk domain?
• How do I unsubscribe from Futuretrack?
• I am not a student at Warwick University - will this survey concern me?
• Will my uni/college find out my answers?
• How are the National Students Survey (NSS) and Futuretrack linked?
• Can I have access to the research findings?
• Will the research team contact me after university/college?
• How will the research team contact me after university/college?
• Will the research team contact me by telephone/text?
• Will my personal details be passed to companies/organisations trying to sell goods or services?
• Who is the research team?
• Does it matter if I don't get around to completing this survey?
• What is Snapsurveys?
• Why is the website address for the survey not part of www.futuretrack.ac.uk?
• How does Futuretrack relate to the survey on first job destinations (DLHE)?
• Is the Futuretrack survey open to everyone in Higher Education?
• Can I ask for help with my career/future planning?
• Can I ask you a question now?

Q Can I complete the survey more than once?
A No - although some have tried in the past. Duplicates are removed.

Q I think I have already responded. How will I find out whether I did?
A Email the research team to find out with you name, age, university and course.

Q Can I stop the survey half-way through, save my answers and return to it later?
A  You can save your progress at any time and come back to complete the questionnaire. Just make sure you remember to complete it!

Q An error occurred when I was completing/submitting the questionnaire, how will I find out whether my response has gone through?
A Sorry about that! Unfortunately, these glitches happen occasionally. Please email the research team to find out what’s happened.

Q Why doesn't your email have a warwick.ac.uk domain?
A Snapsurveys is a specialist research company who have been contracted by the research team at Warwick to assist with the design, hosting and data collection of the Futuretrack survey. They send out the emails on the research team’s behalf.

Q How do I unsubscribe from Futuretrack?
A Please email the research team and we will take you off the contact list.

Q I am not a student at Warwick University - will this survey concern me?
A Yes! The survey is for the cohort of 2006 UCAS applicants. So if you applied to go to uni in 2006 (or deferred entry until 2007) you can do Futuretrack.

Q Will my uni/college find out my answers?
A No - everything you say is treated as confidential and will be seen only by the research team.

Q How are the National Students Survey (NSS) and Futuretrack linked?
A The NSS and the Futuretrack survey are entirely separate. Eligible students are invited to participate in Futuretrack once they have completed the NSS – only if they wish to do so.

Q Can I have access to the research findings?
A The results from the first Futuretrack survey can be accessed here. If you’re really interested why not look at the interactive Stage 1 results that allow you to search the survey answers for yourself.

Q Will the research team contact me after university/college?
A Yes - they will want to find out how you are progressing into work or postgraduate education. You will be asked to complete a fourth survey in 2011/12 (Futuretrack Stage 4).

Q How will the research team contact me after university/college?
A They plan to continue to use email to contact respondents. It would help us if you can keep us up-to-date with changes to your email address and also provide us with your mobile phone number.

Q Will the research team contact me by telephone?
A Possibly. It is planned to conduct follow-up interviews with a small sample of respondents. You will have to give the research team permission to do this when prompted by the survey if you want to be included.

Q Will the research team contact me by text message?
A Possibly, if you have given us your mobile phone number. Any contact made this way will only be to tell you that the next survey is out. The text will ask you to check your inbox for the link to the survey.

Q Will my personal details be passed to companies/organisations trying to sell goods or services?
A No. Your personal details will only be used to enable the research team to contact you.

Q Who is the research team?
A A team of researchers at the University of Warwick Institute for Employment Research, led by Professor Kate Purcell.

Q Does it matter if I don't get around to completing this survey?
A Yes, the more people who respond, the more robust the findings will be. Consequently, the results will be more valuable as a way of informing policy and practice in Higher Education. The time you spend completing Futuretrack will ultimately benefit other students - so thank you for that.

Q What is Snapsurveys?
A Snapsurveys is a specialist research company who have been contracted by the research team at Warwick to assist with the design, hosting and data collection of the Futuretrack survey. The information you provide on the questionnaire is collected and stored securely by Snapsurveys, where it is treated in confidence and passed to the research team at Warwick.

Q Why is the website address for the survey not part of futuretrack.ac.uk?
A See the answer to the previous question.  Snapsurveys has the secure hosting resources and server capability required for a survey of this size and nature. They are bound by the terms of their contract with the Futuretrack team at Warwick to treat the data in confidence and conform to the University of Warwick’s research ethics policy and practice.

Q How does Futuretrack relate to the survey on first job destinations (DLHE)?
A We work closely with colleagues at the Higher Education Statistics Agency and have timed the Futuretrack surveys so they don’t conflict with the DLHE. You will be asked to contribute to DLHE in the January following the summer in which you graduate. Futuretrack Stage 4 will be approximately eighteen months after that.

Q Is the Futuretrack survey open to everyone in higher education?
A No, it is a longitudinal study of the 2006 cohort of entrants to higher education. In other words, a single cohort study.

Q Can I ask for help with my career/future planning?
A Yes, your institution has a careers advisory service. If you are unsure how to contact your careers advisory service please see the list in the Prospects website. Many careers advisory services continue to provide help to graduates long after they have completed their studies.

Q Can I ask you a question now?
A Yes – please email the Futuretrack team.