Personalising the student experience

University leaders increasingly recognise that personalisation is becoming a defining capability of the modern institution. Yet delivering it at scale requires more than investment – it demands deliberate choices about where personalisation matters most and how to embed it across the student lifecycle.

Download the full report to explore key findings from our global survey of more than 400 university leaders and students, and learn how institutions are advancing their personalisation maturity.

Download the report (PDF, 4MB)

Key findings

Personalisation delivers a 4x impact on student outcomes

Students at universities with more mature personalisation capabilities are up to four times more likely to report improvements in wellbeing, alongside strong gains in engagement and satisfaction, highlighting the multiplier effect of getting personalisation right.
Only 11% of universities are leading on personalisation maturity

While most institutions recognise personalisation as a priority, just 11 per cent demonstrate leadership-level maturity, leaving a significant gap between ambition and execution across the sector.
93% of universities are already using AI to personalise experiences

Adoption is accelerating rapidly, with 93 per cent of universities using AI to support personalised student experiences, positioning AI as a key enabler of scale, but not a substitute for strategy, governance and design.

Download the report (PDF, 4MB)

5 key takeaways

Treat personalisation as a whole-of-university strategy

It must span academic design, services, data and governance, not sit within a single function.
Focus on outcomes, not activity

Leading universities align investments to measurable student and institutional value.
Use AI to augment judgement

AI enables better decisions at scale, but impact depends on how it supports human-led interventions.
Be deliberate about where to personalise

Prioritise high-impact moments across the student lifecycle rather than trying to personalise everything.
Address culture, not just capability

Governance, incentives and ways of working are often the biggest barriers to scaling personalisation.

Download the report (PDF, 4MB)

How KPMG can help

KPMG Ireland and our global education network works with universities to design and deliver personalised student experiences at scale.

We help institutions define strategy, align operating models, unlock the value of data and AI, and embed the governance and capabilities needed to deliver sustainable impact.

Get in touch to learn how we can support your institution through its personalisation journey.

Download the report (PDF, 4MB)