Care leavers across the UK will no longer have to pay application fees for university or college, Ucas has confirmed. The £28.95 fee will be waived for those starting their studies in autumn 2027, in a move aimed at closing the higher education access gap for this group.
Ucas chief executive Dr Jo Saxton said the service wants to 'remove a barrier to accessing higher education for the group least likely to go on to higher education'. Just 13 per cent of care leavers in England entered higher education by age 19 in 2023/24, compared with 46 per cent of all other pupils.
The waiver applies to care leavers up to their 25th birthday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and up to 26 in Scotland, in line with legal definitions. Ucas previously removed fees for students receiving free school meals, which helped 40,000 young people in its first year.
Dr Saxton noted that many universities are unaware of which students are care-experienced, and hopes the waiver will encourage applicants to disclose their status so they can access additional support. The announcement comes amid rising student concerns about living costs, with a recent NUS survey showing over half of parents contribute at least £200 a month towards their child's expenses.
The National Network for the Education of Care Leavers and charity Become welcomed the move. Chloe Grant, director of services at Become, said care leavers face multiple challenges in reaching university, and removing the fee is a positive step.
