The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), which manages the application process for British universities and colleges, has announced new measures aimed at helping potential students from low-income families.
The Cheltenham-based charity revealed that some students might be eligible for a discount on university application fees if financial barriers prevent them from considering higher education.
UCAS stated, “While the higher education (HE) sector has made significant strides in supporting the most disadvantaged students in the past decade, progress has slowed in recent years.”
As part of the new initiatives, students who receive free school meals (FSM) will no longer have to pay the university application fee. Currently, only 19.1% of 18-year-olds eligible for free school meals in England go on to university, compared to 36.4% of those who do not receive free school meals.
Although the application fee is not a significant barrier for most, with 90% of students saying they did not need financial help to cover the cost, those on free school meals are among the most likely to struggle with the fee.
Starting September 2024, UCAS will waive the £28.50 application fee for students receiving free school meals. A recent Teacher Tapp survey found that nearly two-thirds of teachers believe the fee waiver will help FSM students progress to higher education.
Ben, a 16-year-old from Devon who receives free school meals and plans to apply for a Computer Science program in 2025, commented on the change. “UCAS removing the application fee for free school meal students will mean a lot to me. The fee is three-quarters of my week’s salary from my part-time job, and now that money can go towards paying my bills, including the electric bill at home.”
Dr. Jo Saxton, Chief Executive at UCAS, emphasized the importance of this initiative. “In my career, I have led some of the most disadvantaged schools and taught in leading universities. I’ve seen both the challenges faced by students and the transformational impact of higher education. In my new role, I want UCAS to do everything it can to ensure more students from disadvantaged backgrounds benefit from the life-changing experience of university.”
She added, “I want to make sure no young person rules out higher education because of application costs or a lack of confidence in their application. These new initiatives are the first in a series of steps to make the university application process fairer, simpler, and more accessible. I’m delighted UCAS can announce this support today.”