UCAS Announces Landmark Fee Waiver for Care Leavers from Autumn 2027
The university admissions service UCAS has revealed a significant policy change that will see care leavers exempt from paying application fees when applying to higher education institutions. This initiative, set to commence for students beginning their studies in Autumn 2027, aims directly to address the substantial participation gap in university attendance between care-experienced young people and their peers.
Removing Financial Barriers to Higher Education
Speaking exclusively to the Press Association, UCAS chief executive Dr Jo Saxton explained the rationale behind this decision. "Care leavers are the group in society least likely to go to university," Dr Saxton stated. "We can play a small part in trying to do something about this, so that's why we are removing this barrier." The fee, which currently stands at £28.95 per application cycle, represents a meaningful financial obstacle for many young people leaving care.
This new waiver builds upon UCAS's existing commitment to supporting disadvantaged students. In 2024, the organisation scrapped application fees for pupils receiving free school meals, a move that reportedly assisted 40,000 young people in its first year alone. "A lot of care-experienced people will be served by our free school meals waiver," Dr Saxton noted, "but there is a cohort who aren't necessarily financially disadvantaged, and so we want to make sure that they're not missing out."
Addressing a Stark Participation Gap
The statistics reveal a concerning disparity in higher education progression rates. According to the latest available data for the 2023/24 academic year, only approximately 13 per cent of care leavers in England progressed to higher education by age 19. This figure represents more than three times fewer than the 46 per cent of all other students who continued their education at university level.
The application fee exemption will be available to care leavers until their 25th birthday across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and until their 26th birthday in Scotland. These age limits align with statutory definitions of care leavers across the different nations of the United Kingdom.
Encouraging Disclosure and Accessing Support
Dr Saxton highlighted another crucial aspect of this initiative: encouraging care leavers to disclose their background during the application process. "What we've heard from our university beneficiaries, very loud and clear, is that they often don't know who the care-leaving or care-experienced students are," she explained, drawing from her own experience as an academic at Cambridge University.
By removing the financial barrier of the application fee, UCAS hopes that care leavers will feel more comfortable revealing their care background. This disclosure would enable universities to direct these students toward the additional support services specifically designed to assist care-experienced individuals throughout their academic journey.
Context of Growing Financial Concerns
This policy change arrives against a backdrop of increasing student anxiety regarding university costs and living expenses. "We talk to young people all the time at UCAS," Dr Saxton remarked, "and one of the things that's really surprised me during the time that I've been here, is they tell us loud and clear that they are concerned about costs today."
Recent research underscores these financial pressures. A study published by the National Union of Students earlier this week revealed that over half of parents contribute at least £200 monthly toward their child's university living costs, with most reporting that this expenditure strains their household budgets significantly.
Furthermore, recent UCAS figures show a record proportion of 18-year-olds beginning university in Autumn 2025 plan to remain living at home while studying, particularly those from less affluent backgrounds.
Support from Care Organisations
The National Network for the Education of Care Leavers and care charity Become have both welcomed UCAS's decision to waive application fees for care leavers. Chloe Grant, director of services at Become, commented: "We know care leavers face multiple challenges in reaching university. Many will have been forced to leave care without the support they need, making the financial barriers difficult to overcome."
Grant added: "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."
Broader Policy Context
The Government has confirmed it will reintroduce maintenance grants for students pursuing specific subjects from the 2028/29 academic year. However, the National Union of Students has urged policymakers to go further by reforming household income thresholds that determine student support levels.
When questioned about whether these income thresholds warrant review, Dr Saxton responded: "Obviously, I would support anything that might help increasing participation by encouraging students to apply. I'm delighted that the Government has taken the action it has around maintenance."
This UCAS initiative represents a targeted intervention aimed at addressing one specific barrier facing care leavers as they consider higher education options. By eliminating the application fee, the admissions service hopes to contribute meaningfully toward closing the persistent education gap that has long disadvantaged care-experienced young people across the United Kingdom.
