Education Cubed

15/06/2026

The UK says it wants international students. 🇬🇧🌎
But is that what the market is hearing?

In our latest blog, Adam Smith, Director of International at Education Cubed, explores the growing disconnect between policy intent and market perception.

From tightening visa rules to increasing scrutiny and uncertainty, the UK’s message is becoming harder for prospective students to interpret. And in a world where students are actively comparing destinations, confidence is becoming just as important as reputation.

The reality is:

• International students aren’t just choosing a course, they’re choosing a country
• Visa clarity and post-study opportunity are now early decision drivers, not late-stage considerations
• Competing destinations are telling a clearer, more confident story

For universities, this is no longer just a policy issue. It’s a brand, positioning and conversion challenge.
So what can the sector do?

The answer isn’t reactive messaging. It’s a more strategic, collective approach grounded in clarity, consistency and real student value.

👉 Go to the link in our bio to read the full blog

09/06/2026

Could your university be one of the first in the UK to advertise on ChatGPT for Clearing? 🚨

Alongside search engines, social media and university comparison sites, prospective students are increasingly using ChatGPT to explore courses, compare universities and research their next steps.

We’re now exploring opportunities for universities to access ChatGPT advertising ahead of Clearing 2026.

👉 Interested in exploring ChatGPT advertising for Clearing? Get in touch with us today: [email protected]

29/05/2026

Our first strategy day in our new Brighton office ☀️

A full day of big ideas, shaping what’s next for Cubed and how we can better support our clients.

Fuelled by Pizza Pilgrims 🍕
Coaching from the brilliant Lee Hawkins
Sunset volleyball on the seafront 🏐

No rules were broken.*
*Apart from Vivek Evjemo

Want to be part of it? We’re hiring: https://educationcubed.com/cubed-careers/

28/05/2026

Google just showed us the future of search, and it’s a major shift for Higher Ed marketing.

Our Paid Media Director, Josh Kilmister, has been exploring what Google’s latest Search changes could mean for universities and HE brands following announcements at Google I/O.

Google unveiled the biggest evolution of Search in 25 years: moving from a list of links to an AI-powered experience that answers questions directly.

That changes how people discover universities, courses, and brands online.

What this means:

• Search is becoming conversational
• Answers are replacing clicks
• Users may spend less time visiting websites
• Discovery is increasingly happening inside Google itself

For Higher Ed marketers, this is a significant shift.

For years, success was measured by rankings and traffic. But if users get answers without leaving Search, visibility starts to look very different.

The question is no longer:
“How do we rank?”
It’s:
“Will we be part of the answer?”

Early takeaways for HE teams:

• Clear, trustworthy content matters more than ever
• Content must answer genuine student questions
• Brand credibility will become even more important in discovery
• SEO and AI visibility are quickly becoming the same conversation

This is one to watch closely.

Read more 👀 https://shorturl.at/2ehm4

22/05/2026

Google just changed the rules and agencies need to pay attention 🚨

When Sundar Pichai took to the stage this week, he didn’t just announce new AI features. He delivered a clear message to the marketing industry: adapt fast or risk becoming irrelevant.

Our Services Director, Will Greeves, believes this shift marks a turning point for agencies. In his words the biggest threat is not AI itself, but agencies continuing to operate with models built for a pre-AI world.

In our latest blog Will explores:

- Why Google’s AI evolution could become a P45 moment for traditional agency models
- How automation is already reshaping planning, optimisation and creative delivery
- What forward-thinking teams need to do now to stay competitive
- Why HE marketers should be preparing for an AI-first future today

👉 Read Will’s full breakdown: https://shorturl.at/tNfRN

07/05/2026

Trying to target parents in paid media lately and wondering why it feels harder than it used to? 🤔

You are not imagining it.

In our latest blog, our Paid Media Director Josh Kilmister looks at how privacy changes, platform updates and shifting audience behaviour are making parent targeting more challenging for Higher Education marketers and what universities can do about it.

The blog covers:

🟦 Why traditional parent targeting methods are becoming less effective
🟦 What changes on platforms like Meta mean for Higher Education campaigns
🟦 How your university can improve parent messaging and website journeys to influence decisions
🟦 Practical ways universities can adapt their paid media strategies

Parents still play a huge role in student decision-making, which makes understanding how to reach them effectively more important than ever.

Read the full blog here 👀 https://educationcubed.com/2026/05/06/targeting-parents-in-paid-media/

06/05/2026

Introducing this month’s Cubed Takeaways 🔥

A quick snapshot of the platform updates shaping paid media right now, from AI‑driven creative tools to shifting audience behaviours and new ad formats changing how we plan and optimise campaigns.

💡Swipe through for fresh insights from our Paid Media Director, Josh Kilmister

01/05/2026

We were thrilled to welcome our Research Club to our beautiful new office by the sea this week, the perfect backdrop for a day of data‑led insight and sector‑wide collaboration.

We explored a wide range of topics, covering themes such as AI, clearing, brand strategy and preparing for Gen A 🎓 We’re already shaping the next set of studies to support members with the challenges ahead.

Cubed’s Research Club is built on practical, actionable insight. Members leave with recommendations they can put straight into practice, supported by a trusted network of HE colleagues who challenge ideas, share approaches and work towards common goals.

Wednesday delivered exactly that, along with some excellent tarts and a surprise rooftop cameo from the UK’s pro parkour team Storror 🏃‍♂️

If you’d like to find out whether you’re eligible for one of the remaining spaces in our upcoming sessions, contact Emily at [email protected]

17/04/2026

📣 Paid media in Higher Education has changed.

In our latest blog, Josh Kilmister, Paid Media Director at Cubed, shares what Meta campaign performance really looks like in 2026 and why creative now matters more than targeting.

“Performance today isn’t about telling Meta who to target. It’s about influencing delivery through stronger creative and better signals.”

👉 Read the full blog. Link in bio.

17/04/2026

Paid media in Higher Education has evolved, and that’s opened up new opportunities for teams who are willing to adapt.

In this blog, Josh Kilmister, our Paid Media Director, shares his perspective on how Meta campaigns really perform in 2026, and why creative has become one of the most powerful levers universities can pull.

As Josh puts it:

“Performance today isn’t about telling Meta who to target. It’s about influencing delivery through stronger creative and better signals.”

With broader audiences and automation now built into the platform, the focus shifts towards what you feed the algorithm. Clear messaging, meaningful variation and high‑quality signals now play a much bigger role in success.

Josh breaks down what’s changed, what’s working right now and how HE teams can get more from their paid media by focusing on inputs rather than old controls.

👉 Read the full blog:

Why Creative Matters More Than Ever for Universities Running Meta Ads in 2026