Do Students Select a Unviersity Based on Rankings?

Last week I attended a conference in Sydney on the "Student Experience". Many Pro and Deputy Vice Chancellors spent two days discussing how to have happier students and increase experience rankings. But does any of this have an effect on which university the student chooses?

Torben Drewes and Christopher Michael, found that Canadan domestic students choose a university which is close to home, has scholarships and good teaching, extra-curricular student services and small classes. The found research activity put off students. But it is not clear if these also apply to international students.

Rahul Choudaha suggests that international students select which country to study in based on income of destination country.