Young people have significant concerns about getting into
university and what student life will be like, according to new
polling published by the Sutton Trust ahead of A-level results
day.
Three quarters (73%) of applicants are most worried about how the
pandemic will impact their ability to take part in university
social life, and two thirds are worried about the impact of
little or no face to face teaching. Just over half (54%) are
worried about the possibility of catching or spreading Covid-19.
The polling of 502 university applicants by YouthSight also
highlights how many university applicants remain unsure about
whether to go to university this year. Almost a third (32%) say
that the pandemic has made them less likely to begin higher
education this autumn. Of those still uncertain, half (50%) are
worried about achieving the grades to get into their first-choice
course, while two fifths (42%) are worried about the quality of
education on offer due to the pandemic. Other students report
considering changing their plans in order to live at home while
studying. 36% of working-class applicants and 42% of BAME
applicants are worried about moving away from home.
The polling also shows that a third of students overall (34%) say
they’re more likely than usual to go through Clearing this year
due to changes in the way grades have been awarded. Previous Sutton Trust
polling showed that almost half (43%) of applicants expect
their grades to be negatively impacted. Almost 1 in 3 think that
this year’s grading process will make getting into their
preferred university less likely, despite warnings about
university places being undersubscribed due to a drop in
international student numbers.
In April, the Sutton Trust published an impact
brief looking at the initial effect of the coronavirus
pandemic on university admissions and current university
students. It recommended that university applicants from
disadvantaged backgrounds who have narrowly missed their offer
grades should be given additional consideration. This is more
important than ever, given the recent upheaval in schools and the
cancellation of exams.
Over the summer, the Sutton Trust is delivering its flagship
summer schools and other access programmes through Sutton Trust Online.
This is a new platform developed through a partnership with
Bloomberg to support 6,000 year 12 students (16- and 17-year
olds) across the UK to make informed decisions about their next
steps. It comes as almost all face-to-face university access
programmes are unable to take place this year due to social
distancing restrictions.
Sir Peter Lampl, founder and chairman of the Sutton Trust,
said:
“Today’s research shows there is a huge degree of worry and
uncertainty amongst young people applying to university.
“This year has been unprecedented. But what is of upmost
importance is that students from low-income backgrounds don’t
lose out. If these students narrowly miss their grades tomorrow,
universities should give them the benefit of the doubt, given the
upheaval in their education and the cancellation of exams. They
should be given a break given how much they’ve been affected by
the pandemic.
“Many young people are extremely worried about what student life
will be like in the upcoming year, and the impact of the pandemic
outside the lecture hall should not be underestimated. Three
quarters of applicants are most worried about how the pandemic
will impact their ability to take part in university social life,
and two thirds are worried about the impact of little or no face
to face teaching. Just over half are worried about the
possibility of catching or spreading Covid-19. It’s an extremely
difficult time for students to be applying to university.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
- The Sutton Trust is committed to improving social mobility
from birth to the workplace. Founded by Sir Peter Lampl in 1997,
the Trust has supported 40,000 young people through evidence-led
programmes and published over 200 pieces of agenda-setting
research, many of which have influenced government policy.
- YouthSight surveyed 502 young people across Great Britain who
applied to university this year through UCAS, with polling
carried out online through their applicant omnibus between the
16th and 22nd July 2020. The applicant omnibus is weighted to be
representative by gender, age and school type.
