Undergraduate recruitment is a significant activity for all universities. This brief report sets out the results of a survey regarding the course and institutional choices of the 2005-06 entry cohort of bioscience students in four universities. The key findings show that enjoyment of the subject and the wish to learn more are the primary reasons underlying subject choice for this cohort and that the reputation of the institution and course content were the main reasons for selection of the university. In terms of information used to make that choice, the prospectus and visits to the institution were rated as the most significant, though, in contrast to previous studies, web-based information and league tables also figured as being important in decision-making. Over 70% of the respondents indicated that they wanted a career in the Biosciences after graduation. (Contains 1 table and 9 figures.)