Universities: Admissions
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2025 to Question 84664 on Universities: Admissions, what assessment has been made by (i) her Department and (ii) Office for Students on whether university admissions are materially determined by (a) the postcode of the applicant or (b) the parental occupation of the applicant.
Answered by Josh MacAlister
Higher education (HE) should be a gateway open to all who have the ability and desire to pursue it. Our Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper sets out our vision for a reformed system that helps everyone with the desire and aptitude to access high quality HE, breaks down the barriers to opportunity, and supports growth.
While universities are independent from government and are responsible for their own admissions decisions, it is essential that the students they admit are likely to succeed. Contextual admissions allow universities to consider an applicant's individual circumstances and background alongside their attainment, to better understand their potential. The Office for Students (OfS) provides guidance on the use of contextual admissions and expects providers to ensure policies are evidence-based and evaluated.
OfS monitors equality of opportunity, including access to HE, through its Equality of Opportunity Risk Register. HE providers are required, under Condition F1 of the OfS regulatory framework, to publish annual transparency information on applications, offers, acceptances and registrations broken down by sex, ethnicity and socioeconomic background.
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