In a landmark decision aimed at tackling educational inequality, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) has announced it will completely scrap application fees for care leavers across the United Kingdom. This significant policy change represents a major step forward in addressing the persistent gap in higher education participation for young people who have experienced the care system.
Fee Waiver Details and Implementation Timeline
The admissions body confirmed that individuals who have been in care and are applying to begin university or college studies in autumn 2027 will see the current £28.95 application fee waived. This initiative follows Ucas's 2024 decision to remove fees for students receiving free school meals, which reportedly benefited 40,000 young people in its first year of operation.
Dr Jo Saxton, Chief Executive of Ucas, emphasised the service's commitment to removing barriers for those least likely to access higher education. "Care leavers are the group in society least likely to go to university," Dr Saxton stated in an interview with the Press Association. "We can play a small part in trying to do something about this, so that's why we are removing this barrier."
Addressing a Significant Educational Gap
The latest available figures reveal a stark disparity in higher education participation rates. During the 2023/24 academic year, only 13 per cent of care leavers in England progressed to higher education by age 19. This figure stands in stark contrast to the 46 per cent of all other pupils who continued their education at university level, highlighting a participation gap of more than three times.
The application fee waiver will apply to care leavers up until their 25th birthday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and up until their 26th birthday in Scotland. These age limits align with the legal definitions of care leavers across the different nations of the UK.
Broader Context of Student Financial Concerns
This initiative comes amid growing concerns about the costs associated with higher education and the ongoing cost of living crisis affecting students nationwide. Dr Saxton noted that Ucas regularly engages with young people about their financial worries. "One of the things that's really surprised me during the time that I've been here is they tell us loud and clear that they are concerned about costs today," she revealed.
Interestingly, many students do not identify tuition fees as the primary barrier to university access, but rather the additional living expenses and application costs. Dr Saxton shared a poignant anecdote from a Nottingham Trent University student who "had to hide the application fee from her mum because of how tight things were in their household."
Identification and Support Mechanisms
A significant challenge identified by Ucas involves the identification of care-experienced students within university systems. "What we've heard from our university beneficiaries, very loud and clear, is that they often don't know who the care-leaving or care-experienced students are," Dr Saxton explained, drawing from her own academic experience at Cambridge University.
Ucas hopes that by removing the financial barrier of the application fee, care leavers will feel more comfortable disclosing their care background during the application process. This disclosure would enable universities to direct these students toward available support services and tailored assistance programmes.
Supporting Evidence and Wider Initiatives
Recent research underscores the financial pressures facing university students and their families. A survey conducted by the National Union of Students (NUS) found that more than half of parents contribute at least £200 monthly toward their child's living expenses at university, with most reporting that this expenditure significantly impacts their household finances.
Furthermore, Ucas data reveals a record number of 18-year-olds planning to live at home while studying from autumn 2025, particularly those from less affluent backgrounds. The government has announced plans to reintroduce maintenance grants for students studying certain subjects from 2028/29, though the NUS has called for more comprehensive reforms to household income thresholds that determine student support levels.
Endorsement from Support Organisations
The National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) and care charity Become have both welcomed Ucas's decision to waive application fees for care leavers. Chloe Grant, Director of Services at Become, commented: "We know care leavers face multiple challenges in reaching university. Many will have been forced to leave care without the support they need, making the financial barriers difficult to overcome."
Grant added: "Removing the Ucas application fee is an important and welcome step in bringing university within reach of more young people with huge talent and potential." This sentiment reflects broader recognition within the education sector that targeted interventions are necessary to address systemic inequalities in higher education access.
