UCAS decision to waive application fee for FSM students is welcome, says AoC

Eddie Playfair, Senior Policy Manager, Association of Colleges, said:

“We know how much financial hardship can impact on young people’s educational opportunities, so removing any barriers to progression is a move in the right direction.

"Many colleges are drawing on their limited bursary funds to help pay the UCAS application fee for students from low-income families. Waiving this fee for students who have received free school meals in the last six years removes some of the pressure on bursaries and releases some funding to support applicants in other ways, for example with the cost of getting to university open days.”