Category: Research
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Is university worth it? Higher education and social mobility
According to the British Social Attitudes Survey, a third of British people now think that university isn’t worth it, as reported by the BBC today. Here at The Access Project, our mission is to support young people to access top universities in order to achieve social mobility. This has always been our core focus as we strive for a fairer society where every young person,… Read more
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Third of university students come from the wealthiest backgrounds
Latest data from HESA shows that a third of British university students now come from the wealthiest backgrounds, suggesting a backwards step for social mobility. 31% of undergraduates now come from the highest socio‑economic group, up from 25% in 2021/22. Despite widening participation initiatives, of most concern is the sharp drop in the intake of students with parents working in semi-routine jobs, falling from 13%… Read more
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Maintenance grants to be reintroduced by 2029 – The Access Project response
Maintenance grants will be reintroduced in England for students from low income households, the government has announced. Students from lower income backgrounds who are “studying priority courses that support the industrial strategy and the Labour government’s wider mission to renew Britain” will be eligible for grants, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson shared at the Labour Party… Read more
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The Missing Lesson: Financial literacy can help unlock university for under-resourced students
by Chloe Manuel The Access Project’s Cost of Living and University Choices report highlights a concerning trend: financial worries are pushing talented students to rethink or even abandon higher education altogether. The problem isn’t just the rising costs—it’s the lack of financial education. Many students from wealthier backgrounds grow up with financial guidance at home,… Read more
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Bursaries and scholarships are key to unlocking higher education – Transparency of student funding must improve
“It’s kind of scary. You hear a lot of stories about students living off ramen and rice and stuff like that… You have to be responsible with your money and not spend it all.” – Student at The Access Project For many under-resourced young people, going to university presents the chance of a lifetime. Yet,… Read more
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Rising tuition fees must not impact student prospects, further student finance reforms crucial
The government’s plan to increase tuition fees in England to £9,535 per year presents a mixture of welcome changes and disappointing omissions for the fortunes of under-resourced young people across the country. We wholly welcome the decision to increase maintenance loans in line with inflation. This increase—which averages £317 per year for students studying outside… Read more
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Cost of Living and University Choices Report: Our recommendations for protecting young peoples’ futures
The Access Project is today launching its ‘Cost of Living and University Choices’ report, exploring the impact of the cost of living crisis on under-resourced young people. The Access Project is a leading social mobility charity dedicated to supporting under-resourced students in accessing top-third universities. Our new research aims to explore the link between the… Read more
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Cost of Living: Introducing our student researchers
The Access Project is investigating the impact of the cost of living on student prospects. Over the course of 2024, we have explored the strengths and challenges of our programme amidst the backdrop of financial uncertainty, investigating how The Access Project can best support students through the cost of living crisis. In this final blog… Read more
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“Support students now or you won’t have any in the future” – Mentoring for university access in the Cost of Living crisis
At The Access Project, our programme centres around expert mentoring to support students applying to top universities. Our mentors help young people at critical junctures in researching universities, selecting subjects, exploring choices and making applications. Financial considerations are at the heart of many discussions, and The Access Project mentors often must navigate difficult conversations, particularly… Read more
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“It’s kind of scary” – Students worried about Cost of Living at university
Student worries about finances are nothing new. The popular image of the ‘skint student’ is pervasive, but the current pressures of the cost of living crisis are making student life financially untenable, particularly for those from under-resourced backgrounds. As we covered in our last blog post, the current crisis is impacting the entire education system… Read more