Top universities risk ‘elites’ domination as teenagers turn backs on degrees

Prestigious universities could become “the preserve of privileged elites” even more as a greater number of disadvantaged students appear to be turning away from degrees, an education expert has warned.

Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, said more students waiting for their results are questioning the value of higher education following negative narratives about universities over the past year.

Growing cost-of-living concerns, the attainment gap in schools since the pandemic, and anti-university rhetoric could see this year’s A-level cohort seek alternative routes over higher education, experts have suggested.

Ahead of A-level results day next week, Prof Elliot Major said he was concerned that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds across the country will be “put off” from studying university degrees disproportionately.

He added that more privileged students, including pupils educated in private schools, could be more likely to achieve higher A-level grades and secure places at selective universities over their peers after pandemic disruption.

“So I think those things are probably having an impact and it’s a real pity because of course what we know is university can be incredibly transformative in terms of young people’s lives.”

His comments came as students across Scotland are set to receive their results for their Nationals, Highers, Advanced Highers and national certificates on Tuesday.

Students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive their A-level results on Thursday next week.

Figures released by Ucas last month showed a decline in the proportion of school leavers in the UK population applying to higher education this year.

The application rate for UK 18-year-olds has fallen to 41.9%, from 42.1% last year and 44.1% in 2022, according to the data from the admissions service.

He added: “From a social mobility perspective, the concern is that students from lower-income backgrounds are disproportionately turning away from higher education, potentially missing out on the transformative impact it can have on their futures.

“In the post-pandemic era of widening school divides in the race to secure the top grades, the fear is that the country’s most prestigious universities will become even more the preserve of privileged elites.”

The latest Ucas figures suggest the application gap between the most and least advantaged students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has widened compared to last year.

As of June 30 – the final deadline to apply to up to five courses simultaneously through Ucas – applications from disadvantaged 18-year-olds in England fell to 25.4%, while applications from the most advantaged rose to 60.7%.

Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK (UUK), said the cost-of-living crisis and attainment gaps in schools following the Covid-19 pandemic had contributed to the higher education participation gaps.

“So ministers would really openly question the value of going to university and the [former] prime minister did this on a number of occasions. I think that really has an effect.

“I was talking to somebody recently who had met a student who had decided not to go to university because they had been offered a place and then they talked to their parents and their parents sort of referred back to what ministers had been saying about ‘well it’s not worth going to university’. They didn’t take the place up as a result. That’s a real tragedy.”

Rose Stephenson, director of policy and advocacy at the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) think tank, said: “School leavers are aware of the cost-of-living crisis and that the current maintenance support package is no longer fit for purpose.

“This, combined with the negative rhetoric from the previous UK Government, is resulting in a challenging recruitment environment for higher education providers.

“Whilst alternative routes into the workforce are welcome, it is imperative that students have the ability and drive to go on to higher education don’t have their ambitions curtailed due to their economic circumstances. I am concerned we are going to see this trend develop this year.”

A spokesman for the Russell Group, which includes many of the most selective and research-intensive universities in the UK, said: “Latest Ucas figures for this year do not show a significant drop in demand from disadvantaged applicants, with application rates for UK students of all backgrounds similar to last year.

“However, our universities understand that cost-of-living pressures and the loss of learning from the pandemic disproportionately impact on disadvantaged young people.

“That is why they have introduced a range of measures to support students from these backgrounds, such as accommodation and work experience bursaries and academic programmes to support the transition to university.”