University is universally lucky for love
As Wills and Kate’s first wedding anniversary approaches, survey finds a third of graduates have married their university sweethearts.
It appears that Britain’s students regard university as more than just a place to bag a degree, with 23% of UK couples revealing, that like Prince William and Kate Middleton, they got together at university.
81% of respondents surveyed agreed that university is an ideal place to meet a partner. And just as the royal couple’s romance reportedly blossomed whilst sharing digs during their second year at St Andrews, 54% of British graduates have also experienced a ‘romantic encounter’ with a housemate.
The survey, conducted by top accommodation finding service accommodationforstudents.com (AFS), was conducted in honour of the imminent first wedding anniversary of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to find out if the royal couple’s courtship reflected that of the nation’s ‘commoners’.
And it seems that Wills and Kate really are the Prince and Princess of the People as 32% of the paired off graduates surveyed had mirrored the royal story by going on to marry their university boyfriend or girlfriend.
57% of students enter into a new relationship at university with many of them believing uni’s social aspects and the opportunity to meet like-minded people make it easy to be lucky in love. And just like Britain’s future monarchs, 21% of those student couples questioned got together with their significant other whilst sharing student accommodation.
The results of the survey indicate that we’re a nation of traditionalists at heart with 60% of university romances borne after the boy plucked up the courage to ask the girl on a date. And though Wills may have wooed Kate with polo games and skiing holidays, predictably the most common first date activities for civilian students were a trip to the local pub (34%) closely followed by a romantic dinner (26%).
Simon Thompson, Managing Director of Accommodationforstudents.com who commissioned the survey, comments: “It’s hardly surprising that so many couples are borne out of university; it’s such a sociable experience. But I’m pleasantly surprised that a third of graduates are now married to their university sweethearts.
“If, like Prince William and Kate Middleton, students find that love is blossoming with a housemate, be sure to bear in mind that your other housemates might find it annoying.
“Try to keep public displays of affection to a minimum and don’t involve other members of the household in your arguments. Make time for your other housemates socially and don’t think that, just because you’re a couple, you can take over the house!”
After the survey revealed that universities are hives of romantic activity, Simon Thompson launched Datingforstudents.com, a dating website aimed exclusively at the student body. With over 50,000 members already signed up, students can chat and meet with other single students in their area. For more information, log on to datingforstudents.com.