Reducing Gap In Poor And Rich Students In Universities Across The UK

In the past few years, the number of poor and rich students applying for a university programme has reduced significantly with more and more underprivileged teens planning to enrol than ever before.

More “Poor” Students Applying To University

Recent data published by UCAS reveals that the application rates of students in the age of 18, who reside in poor communities in the 4 nations of the UK, has risen to the highest recorded levels. However, although the gap between wealthy aspiring students and their less affluent peers is narrowing, the rich kids still are twice as more likely to enrol. The gap between male and female learners aspiring to pursue a degree is increasing as well. Overall around 100,000 more female students have applied to study a university programme than men this year. It has been observed that now 36 per cent of young women are more likely to apply than their male counterparts.

Mary Curnock Cook, chief of UCAS, had earlier notified that a “disquieting” gap exists between women and men applying for university. This has been increasing since the early 1990s and further worsened. The recent figures show that the numbers of individuals in the United Kingdom and other countries who submitted their applications by the closing date of 15th January 2015.

Growing Demand For University Degree

In general, a 2 per cent increase in applications was observed, as compared to the previous year with more than 592,290 students applying. A 1 per cent increase was seen among the applicants from UK, according to UCAS. Moreover in England, the number of students applying for university also rose by 1 per cent. Cook of UCAS believes that the growing demand for university seats will keep on increasing. However, she thinks that the rate of growth has somewhat reduced this year. She said “Demand for UK higher education, notably from younger people and from EU countries, has continued to rise in 2015. It is heartening to see the gap between rich and poor continue to narrow. Nevertheless, demand has grown more slowly this year and has fallen for mature students. This perhaps reflects improved employment prospects in the UK.”

An analysis of the data reveals that almost 21 per cent of disadvantaged students in England, who are 18 years old, applied for university in 2015, with 3 per cent in this group more likely to apply than last year. UCAS commented “Differences in application rates between advantaged and disadvantaged areas have reduced over the past decade, reduced further in 2015 and were at the lowest level recorded.”

Narrowing The Gap

The fact is now the wealthiest 18 year old students in the United Kingdom are 2.4 times higher probability of aspiring to attend university than the most underprivileged ones. Back in 2006, these students were 3.7 times more likely to send an application. Chairman of Social Mobility Charity at the Sutton Trust, Sir Peter Lampl, said “The continuing growth in disadvantaged applicants is welcome, and will narrow the access gap. Nevertheless, there is still a significant gap, particularly to the most selective universities, and a worrying dip this year in mature applicants.”

He added “There were many who said the reform of student finance would discourage young people from going to university. The opposite has occurred; numbers have grown, in particular those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Our reforms now also mean universities are well funded for the future. At the same time, we have expanded vocational training, particularly apprenticeships, which have reached two million. This is a record to be celebrated.”