Bright State School University applicants discouraged by financial worries and lack of information

New national campaign launches to tackle obstacles to university access and raise aspirations of young people

95% of Year 12 state school students say they know little or nothing at all about financial support/grants available at university

27% of students are less likely to go to university because of tuition fees

75% of students have not taken part in activities at school or college that will help them manage their finances while at university

A survey published today by Target 10,000 ñ a new and independent campaign to increase access to university ñ claims that worries over finance and a lack of information are discouraging bright state sector students from applying to university.

The research surveyed over 7,000 Year 12 (lower sixth) students from state schools and FE colleges throughout the UK who are predicted BBB or higher at ëAí level. 42% are on the Education Maintenance Allowance or income support and 57% do not have a parent or guardian who went to university. The research was carried out between April and June this year.

Worryingly, 95% know little or nothing at all about financial support that is available to them at university. Twenty-seven per cent of those surveyed say they are less likely to go to university because of tuition fees and only 25% have taken part in activities at school or college that will help them to manage their finances while at university.

Marc Zao-Sanders, co-founder of Target 10,000, the biggest campaign of its kind, comments: ìThere are still too many bright students who are missing out on the university experience because they donít realise their claim to a place is as strong as it is.î

ìStudents often lack confidence because they do not have access to the right information about basic issues such as financial support or even the opportunity to find out what university is all about.î

ìRecent research from the Sutton Trust* revealed that 45% of students with ABB at A-level from independent schools go to Russell Group universities compared to 26% from the state sector. There are a number of factors that contribute to this but very often it is due to a lack of applications from students with non-traditional backgrounds who may not feel confident about applying to these institutions.

ìTarget 10,000 aims to change this mindset, close the gap between talent and aspiration and help them fulfil their potential. It is the biggest scale campaign of its kind and this year we hope to raise the aspirations of over 10,000 bright students, mostly from non-traditional backgrounds. Bright students should not be put off going to university. These accessibility issues need to be addressed.î

The campaignís main practical focus is the ten free events taking place around the country every summer. Each brings one-thousand Year 12 students together with employers and universities to offer advice on issues ranging from interview techniques and the application process to picking the right course and where to go on a gap year. After the event students become part of their own network of like-minded Year 12 students with whom they can exchange tips and advice through an online forum and further events. Target 10,000 Days are supported by 28 leading organisations in business and education.

Cara Brown, a Year 12 student from London, says:

ìAll you hear is how much money university is going to cost you. You never hear about how to get help or what grants are available. You learn a bit from school but mostly they focus on the paperwork - filling in your application forms and stuff.

ìLots of people get put off university because they worry about money - they think that they could spend three years doing a subject that they are interested in it but end up in lots of debt and then wonder whether it was worth it. None of my family went to university so each stage is totally new to me. It’s kind of scary.î

Other findings...

Finances
77% say that having to pay tuition fees make them more likely to get a part-time job while at university

26% say that fees make them more likely to live with their parents/guardians while studying ñ this drops to 13% in Exeter and rises to 28.9% in London

Only 25% have taken part in activities at school or college that will help them manage their finances while at university

Confidence
11% of male students feel very confident about the university application process ñ this drops to just 7% for female students

More female students feel unprepared to start their personal statement (38%) than their male counterparts (31%). And less confident that they will get an offer from their first choice university (32% compared with 21% for males)

Which course?
Not surprisingly the majority of students (64%) rated their personal level of interest in the subject area as the most important factor in deciding which course to apply for.

But employment opportunities resulting from the course came second (20%), beating both the university delivering the course (4%) and the grades required (6%)

Female students were less likely to factor in employment opportunities than their male counterparts (19% v 24%) but more likely to rate level of personal interest in the subject (66% v 61%).

And where?
Academic reputation of the university was the most important factor for the majority of students (66%).

Second and third placed factors varied by region. In Newcastle and Exeter, students rated the town or city the university is in as more important than what theyíve been told by friends, parents and teachers; in London the position of the university in league tables was more important than its location; and in Manchester, Leeds, Leicester and Sussex location beat league table position.

What is Target 10,000?
Target 10,000 is a new and independent social enterprise founded by Marc Zao-Sanders and James Uffindell. The biggest campaign of its kind, it aims to raise the aspirations of 10,000 young people every year, encouraging them to apply to and achieve offers from excellent universities and employers by having a clearer understanding of what they are really looking for.

Marc and James, both graduates themselves, set up Target 10,000 because they believe passionately that all students should have access to information and advice so they are able to make the right decisions about their university and career. Universities are some of the most inclusive institutions in the country and this should be reflected in the intake. While universities are working hard at this there is still much to be done.

Pilot events ran last year, which hosted over 500 students at three events around the country. The feedback was outstanding, proving that there was a huge need for the campaign.