Thousands of disadvantaged students with top A-level grades are missing out on their dream universities as they opt for less prestigious institutions instead. Research from the UCL Institute of Education reveals that these students are more likely to choose courses where their peers have lower grades, raising questions about the effectiveness of current higher education policies aimed at levelling up opportunities.
The study analysed data from a cohort who enrolled in university in 2008 and found that nearly a quarter (23%) of all students were under-matched, attending courses where their fellow students had lower average A-level grades. Crucially, students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were significantly more likely to be under-matched than those from wealthier backgrounds – despite having similar academic results.
Professor Gill Wyness, who led the research, suggested that factors such as a lack of confidence and feeling they wouldn't 'fit in' at top universities may contribute to this mismatch. While financial considerations might seem a likely explanation for poorer students choosing local universities, the study indicates that even within this group, they tend to select lower-quality institutions compared to their more affluent counterparts.
Citing London as an example, Professor Wyness noted that wealthier students might attend Russell Group universities like UCL, while poorer students in the same area might choose institutions such as London South Bank University. This suggests that geographical proximity is not the primary driver of this academic 'mismatch'. The study's findings have significant implications for higher education policy and highlight the need for targeted outreach work from top universities to support disadvantaged students.
The research also shed light on a worrying gender disparity, with female students tending to enrol in courses associated with lower future average earnings than men. This has broader implications for addressing the persistent gender pay gap – a pressing concern for policymakers and employers alike.