Overview
What’s On adapts to show relevant categories based on your student journey stage:- Prospects
- Offer Holders
- Enrolled Students
- Courses (28,000+ options)
- Universities (140+ institutions)
- Open Days (400+ events)
- Accommodation (2,500+ properties)
- Apprenticeships (job listings)
Map-First Interface
The primary view is an interactive map with overlaid search controls:Map Features
Markers
Color-coded pins for different categories (courses, events, properties)
Clustering
Automatic grouping of nearby items with count badges
Annotations
City markers that filter results when tapped
Camera
Independent viewport for each category (remembers your position)
Map Controls
Style Switcher
Style Switcher
Choose from map styles:
- Standard: Clean streets and labels
- Satellite: Aerial imagery
- Hybrid: Satellite with street overlays
- Dark: Night mode map
Light Preset
Light Preset
Adjust map lighting for time of day:
- Day, Dawn, Dusk, Night
Location
Location
- Recenter on current location
- Show distance radius
Map style and light preset preferences are saved and persist across app sessions.
Category Selector
Horizontal scrolling pill selector at the top:Available Categories
- Courses
- Universities
- Open Days
- Accommodation
- Events
- Societies
- Sports
- Apprenticeships
28,000+ university courses across the UK
Search Bar
Persistent search interface at the top showing:- Current search query (or category default)
- Active filter count badge
- Sort button (tap to cycle, long-press for menu)
- Filter button (opens advanced filters)
Smart Search Titles
Search bar displays context-specific placeholders:| Category | Search Title |
|---|---|
| Courses | ”Search 28k+ Courses” |
| Universities | ”Search 140+ Universities” |
| Open Days | ”Search 400+ Open Days” |
| Accommodation | ”Search 2.5k+ Properties” |
| Events | ”Search 10k+ Events” |
| Societies | ”Search 20K+ Societies” |
Search Subtitles
Contextual hints below the search bar:- Courses
- Universities
- Accommodation
- Events
“Business · Law · Medicine · Psychology”
Draggable Search Sheet
Below the map, a draggable sheet displays search results:Sheet Positions
Sheet Sync
Zoom synchronization:- Expanding sheet (dragging up) → Map zooms out for broader area view
- Collapsing sheet (dragging down) → Map zooms in for detail
- Smooth 1:1 gesture tracking for natural feel
Zoom sync uses the base zoom level when drag starts, preventing jarring camera jumps.
Search Results
Results are displayed as cards in the sheet:Course Cards
- Course name and university
- UCAS code
- Entry requirements
- Tuition fees
- Match percentage (if using Course Match)
University Cards
- University logo and name
- Location and founded year
- Student population
- Key rankings
- Russell Group badge
Accommodation Cards
- Property images (swipeable carousel)
- Property name and provider
- Room types and prices
- Distance to campus/city center
- Amenity icons
Event Cards
- Event cover image
- Title and venue
- Date and time
- Ticket price
- Event category badge
Open Day Cards
- University logo
- Event type (in-person/virtual)
- Date and time
- Registration link
- Subjects covered
Advanced Filters
Tap the filter button to open category-specific filters:Courses Filters
Subject & Category
Subject & Category
- Subject category (Business, STEM, Arts, etc.)
- Specific course keywords
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
- UCAS points range
- A-Level grades
- Qualification types accepted
Location
Location
- City/region
- Distance from your location
- Campus type
Cost
Cost
- Tuition fee range
- Total cost estimate
Accommodation Filters
Price
Price
- Weekly rent range (£47-£655)
- Annual cost calculation
Room Type
Room Type
- Single rooms
- Studios
- Apartments
Amenities
Amenities
- WiFi, Gym, Common Room, Study Area, Cinema
- Security, Parking, Bike Storage
Provider
Provider
- University halls
- Private PBSA providers
Events Filters
Date Range
Date Range
- Today, This Week, This Month
- Custom date picker
Event Type
Event Type
- Club Nights, Gigs, Sports, Academic
- Freshers Events, Societies
Price
Price
- Free events only
- Max ticket price
Open Days Filters
- Event Type: In-person, Virtual, Hybrid
- Date Range: Upcoming, This Month, Next 3 Months
- Subject Area: Filter by degree subject
- University: Specific institutions
Filter count badge on the search bar shows total active filters across all categories.
Sorting Options
Quick sort accessed via the sort button:- Tap Once
- Long Press
Cycles through common sort methods:
- Distance (nearest first)
- Price (cheapest first)
- Relevance (best match)
City Filtering
Tap city annotations on the map to filter results:
City filter shows in search bar subtitle: “in London” or “in Edinburgh”.
Map Preview Cards
When you tap a map marker, a preview card appears:Quick Info
- Primary image
- Title and key details
- Price/cost information
- Quick action button (“View Details”)
Actions
- View Full Details: Opens full profile
- Add to Shortlist: Quick save (courses/universities)
- Directions: Get walking/driving directions
Preview cards automatically collapse when you tap another marker or drag the map.
Header Visibility
Intelligent header hiding:- Scrolling down in sheet (results moving up) → Header hides
- Scrolling up in sheet (results moving down) → Header shows
- Sheet position: Header hides when sheet is fully expanded and scrolled
This maximizes screen space for results while keeping controls accessible.
Search Overlay
Tap the search bar to open full search interface:Full-Screen Search
- Large search input field
- Recent searches (last 10 per category)
- Suggested filters
- Quick category shortcuts
Recent Searches
Automatically saved per category:- Stored in Supabase (synced across devices)
- Tap to re-run search
- Tap X to delete individual searches
- “Clear All” button to reset
Performance Optimizations
Data Loading
- Initial Load
- Pagination
- Caching
- Skeleton screens during first data fetch
- Category data loaded on-demand (not all at once)
- Map markers load separately from sheet results
Search Debouncing
All search inputs are debounced:- Text Search: 500ms delay after typing stops
- Filters: 1-second delay after filter change
- Map Pan: Results update when map stops moving
Integration with Other Features
What’s On connects to:Hub
Recent searches and recommendations appear in Hub carousels
Course Discovery
Shares course data and filters
University Search
Shared university profiles and rankings
Accommodation
Unified property search with map integration
Best Practices
Use the Map Strategically
Use the Map Strategically
- Explore unfamiliar cities visually
- Compare distances between properties and campuses
- Discover clusters of options in specific areas
Combine Filters
Combine Filters
- Start broad, narrow down gradually
- Use price and distance together for accommodation
- Filter by date for events and open days
Save Searches
Save Searches
- Recent searches auto-save per category
- Shortlist items for later comparison
- Share discoveries with family/friends
Troubleshooting
Map not loading
Map not loading
- Check internet connection
- Allow location services for distance features
- Force refresh by pulling down on the sheet
No results found
No results found
- Clear some filters to broaden search
- Check you’re in the correct category
- Verify city filter isn’t too restrictive
Results not updating
Results not updating
- Wait for debounce delay (text search: 500ms)
- Scroll the sheet to trigger pagination
- Close and reopen filter sheet to apply changes