In a significant move aimed at improving access to higher education, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) has announced that care leavers in the UK will no longer be required to pay application fees to start university or college in autumn 2027.
The £28.95 application fee will be waived for those who have experienced the care system and are applying to begin their studies in the upcoming academic year. UCAS chief executive Dr Jo Saxton emphasised the service’s commitment to “remove a barrier to accessing higher education for the group least likely to go on to higher education.”
The latest figures show that only 13 per cent of care leavers in England went on to higher education by age 19, compared to 46 per cent of all other pupils. This persistent gap in access is what the new measure seeks to address.
“The reason we’re doing this is because care leavers are the group in society least likely to go to university,” Dr Saxton explained. “We can play a small part in trying to do something about this, so that’s why we are removing this barrier.”
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, in line with the legal definition.
UCAS hopes that by removing the financial obstacle, more care-experienced students will feel comfortable informing the service of their background, allowing universities to provide them with additional support.
The move comes amid growing concerns from students about the cost of university and the rising cost of living. A recent survey by the National Union of Students found that more than half of parents were contributing at least £200 per month towards their child’s living expenses at university, putting a strain on household finances.
While the government has announced plans to reintroduce maintenance grants for students studying certain subjects from 2028/29, the NUS has called for further reforms to the income thresholds determining the level of support available.
Chloe Grant, director of services at the care charity Become, welcomed UCAS’s decision, stating, “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.”
