Newly published UCAS figures reveal a 7% rise in applications to universities this year. But there’s only a modest rise in applications from the lowest socio-economic groups, apparently.
Research from the Sutton Trust suggests that many students from poorer backgrounds are put off from applying to university because they’re afraid of getting into debt - and very few of them tend to be aware of the bursaries or maintenance grants on offer.
Moreover, students from homes with an annual income of less than £35,000 are much more likely to consider a local university. Over the past ten years, the percentage of students planning to attend nearby universities so that they can live at home has increased more than threefold, from 18% to 56%.
Sutton Trust chairman Sir Peter Lampl said “Young people need better information on the complex system of bursaries and grants, and this needs to be provided before they have made their higher education choices.”
Welcoming the new UCAS figures, higher education minister Bill Rammell commented: “We want to ensure that money is not a barrier to higher education, which is why we have introduced an improved financial package of support, starting this autumn, that has been well publicised to students, their parents, careers advisers and schools… nobody should be put off considering higher education for financial reasons.”
Src : www.ri5.co.uk
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