Whether you’re a seasoned expert or just getting started in the world of student engagement, you’ll know how important it is to support students at every stage of their journey.

From the moment they begin searching their new campus to the day they don their cap and gown, your role in shaping their experience is huge and exciting. This guide breaks down ten key stages of the student journey, offering practical ideas to make sure every moment matters.

Pre-Freshers’ Planning – Start Before They Arrive

The student journey begins long before anyone steps foot on campus. As students prepare for their new life, they’re turning to online spaces for reassurance, information, and that first sense of connection. That’s why your digital presence, particularly your website, is so important; it must make a powerful and lasting first impression.

An engaging, accessible, and easy-to-navigate website helps to set the tone for everything that follows. It should offer an excellent experience on mobile devices, clearly answer common questions, and provide useful tools such as campus maps and welcome videos.

Pre-arrival email campaigns are another great way to nurture relationships early. A friendly message, a link to Frequently Asked Questions, or a warm welcome from the SU President can go a long way in calming those pre-Freshers’ nerves and helping students feel part of the community from day one.

Some MSL clients even go a step further by setting up a dedicated microsite for A-Level results day, a clever way to welcome offer-holders, answer their most pressing questions, and start building a relationship before they’ve even packed their bags.

Freshers’ Week – Make It Easy to Get Involved

Ah, Freshers’ Week, the most energetic, chaotic, and opportunity-filled time of the year. It’s a key moment to help students feel like they belong. But let’s face it, it can also be overwhelming. So, how do you cut through the noise and make it easy for students to find their place?

Start by thinking digital. QR codes dotted around campus can link to schedules, society sign-ups, and maps of key locations. Events tailored for different groups, like mature students, commuters, or international students – can ensure that everyone feels included, not just the typical Freshers’ crowd of new students.

Many Unions choose to run a dedicated Welcome Week microsite or homepage takeover during this time, giving students one clear, central place to find everything they need. MSL even offers a ready-to-use microsite template to make this quick and easy to set up – ideal for showcasing events, signposting services, and spotlighting your clubs and societies.

Promoting clubs and societies through social media and email ensures students know what’s out there, and makes it more likely they’ll get stuck in.

Events – More Than Just a Night Out

Events are more than just a calendar filler, they’re the heartbeat of student life. Whether it’s a club night, film screening, charity fundraiser, or cultural celebration, these are the moments where students make memories and form friendships. To achieve true success, planning and promotion are essential. Consider how you’re spreading the word – a combination of social media, email, posters, and good old-fashioned word of mouth is often the most effective approach. 

Displaying events clearly on your website is a brilliant way to boost discoverability and engagement – a student may come looking for the Accounting Society meet-up and leave with tickets to the Ultimate Frisbee social. Curated event listings, categorised by theme or interest, help students quickly find what resonates with them and feel confident getting involved.

Many MSL clients make the most of our events tools to do just that, using ready-made templates to build accessible, mobile-friendly listings, manage RSVPs and streamline ticketing to avoid bottlenecks and confusion. It’s all about reducing barriers to entry and making those ‘I’ll just take a look’ moments turn into lasting connections.

And remember to offer a range of experiences – not every student wants to party. Quiet spaces, daytime activities, and alcohol-free options can make your events programme more inclusive and appealing to a broader audience.

Memberships & Merch – Give Them Something to Belong To

Students love feeling part of something, not just a University or a Union but a group of people who share their passions, interests, and values. That’s where memberships and merchandise come in. joining a club or society isn’t just ticking a box; it’s often a student’s first step towards finding their people and feeling at home.

That sense of belonging often starts at the group level – a dance class, a quiz night. And from there, it grows – into friendships, confidence, and into a stronger connection with the wider student organisation.

Branded merchandise, whether it’s a society hoodie, a sports team tee, or a tote bag with your Union’s logo, helps students express that pride. It’s a visual reminder that they’re part of something bigger.

Offering memberships and merch through your online shop makes it easy for students to join and show their support. Click-and-collect options reduce postage costs and brings students into your physical space, while bundles (like a membership and a hoodie combo) offer great value and boost engagement.

Some student organisations take it further by collaborating with student designers to create exclusive collections, a fantastic way to showcase creativity and make your merch even more meaningful. And behind it all, MSL’s eCommerce tools help keep things secure, mobile-friendly, and simple to manage – so students can focus on belonging, not barriers.

Volunteering, Employability & Participation – Show the Bigger Picture

Students today are increasingly focused on their futures. And your Union has a key role to play in helping them build valuable skills and gain real-world experiences. Volunteering opportunities, be they long-term roles or quick, flexible micro-volunteering gigs, allow students to give back to the community, build confidence, and enhance their CVs.

Employability workshops, skills sessions, and leadership training add even more value. It’s essential to celebrate these achievements as well, highlighting success stories through awards, blogs, or social media posts helps students recognise the tangible benefits of getting involved and encourages others to do the same. 

Targeted Messaging – Taking Things Personally

One-size-fits-all communication? Not anymore. Students expect, and respond to, personalised messaging that’s relevant to them. That’s why segmentation is your best friend. Whether you’re dividing your audience by course, group, or previous engagement, smarter targeting leads to better outcomes. Successful segmentation requires having a system in place that stores data and allows you to create and manage groups. Without a centralised area for data, creating segments can not only be difficult but also a very manual process.

Want to boost ticket sales? A well-timed SMS can be a game-changer. Looking to test new ideas? Try A/B testing subject lines or visuals to determine which one performs best. With the right tools, targeted communication doesn’t have to be complicated – it just has to be personal.

Elections – Democracy in Action

Elections are a cornerstone of Union life. They’re not just about picking the next President – they’re about empowering students to shape their own experience. Making the process easy and accessible is key. Online nominations and voting simplify the admin and open up participation. Providing candidate training, Q&A sessions, and campaign support helps build confidence and fairness. And don’t forget to shout about your democratic successes, from record turnout to historic firsts, celebrating these moments publicly helps foster a culture of engagement and pride.

Student Feedback – Make It Easy to Speak Up

Listening to students is essential, making it easier for them to speak up. A good feedback system lets students share their thoughts quickly and easily, whether that’s through forms, quick polls, or suggestion boxes (digital or physical) or simply asking “How did we do?” after an event helps students feel heard and valued. The insights you gain can inform decisions, improve services, and show your members that their opinions matter.

But gathering feedback is only half the story. What really makes a difference is what you do with it. Insights from students can shape decisions, improve services, and spark new ideas. And when you act on that feedback, it shows students their voice truly matters.

This is also where your student representatives come in. From course reps to full-time officers, representation plays a key role in turning individual feedback into collective action. By feeding insights into your democratic structures, you’re not only closing the loop, you’re empowering students to shape their own experiences.

And with tools like MSL’s Feedback and Student Voice systems, it’s easy to track themes, surface issues, and make sure those insights reach the right people so nothing gets lost in the noise.

From Data to Insight – Know Your Students

Chances are, you’re already sitting on a goldmine of data, from event attendance to society sign-ups. The next step is turning that data into insights. Tracking engagement by demographics, activities, or location can help you identify patterns, pinpoint gaps, and refine your offerings. Dashboards make this easier, giving you real-time visuals to share with colleagues, University partners, or your trustee board. The better you understand your students, the better you can support them – and that’s a win-win for everyone.

Graduation & Alumni – Stay Part of the Story

Just because a student graduates doesn’t mean the journey has to end. Staying connected with alumni helps to build a lasting community. Encouraging final-year students to opt in to alumni comms gives you a head start. Offering event or merch discounts to graduates can keep them engaged. And bringing former members back as guest speakers, mentors, or volunteers creates powerful links between past and present – and shows current students what’s possible.

Support Students at Every Stage of Their Journey

From the first welcome email to the final graduation celebration, managing all the touchpoints in the student journey can be complex. That’s where MSL comes in.

The MSL System® is designed specifically for Student Unions, Associations, Guilds, and Universities. Giving you all the tools you need to:

• Build engaging, mobile-friendly websites.
• Run Fresher’s events and online society sign-ups.
• Sell tickets, memberships, and merchandise.
• Promote student volunteering and track employability skills.
• Manage elections and encourage democratic participation.
• Send personalised communications via email and SMS.
• Collect feedback and insights from your students.
• Report on activity and engagement – in real time.
• Stay connected with alumni and graduates.

All from one central platform – no spreadsheets, no switching between tools, no lost data.

Want to see how it could work for your organisation?