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Russell Group universities have promised to be more transparent about contextual admissions following calls to make the process fairer.?

In a new plan focused on tackling educational inequality, including for care leavers, the group of research intensive universities committed to working with one another, as well as the wider sector, to establish a ¡°consistent language¡± for contextual admissions policies.

This ¡°means that future learners exploring their options for applying to higher education better understand policies across institutions, ensuring they can make better informed decisions¡±, the group said.?

Currently, all Russell Group universities consider individual student circumstances in?their admissions processes and may make contextual offers based on a students¡¯ background, which can see entry requirements lowered.?

Universities UK has also begun work to coordinate a ¡°consistent approach¡± to this type of admission offer among English universities, with the aim of encouraging more universities to adopt them.

Critics have previously said?the policies amount to ¡°discrimination¡± against students from wealthy backgrounds. There have also been accusations?that the process is shrouded in secrecy, with the actual grades for those admitted rarely acknowledged publicly.?

Nonetheless, the Russell Group announced the English universities in its network have ¡°committed to bold new targets¡± to improve opportunity ¨C a key mission of the Labour government ¨C through their access and participation plans.

¡°All have set targets to improve access to their institutions for specific disadvantaged groups,¡± the organisation said. ¡°Other targets include improving attainment for students from ethnic minority backgrounds and improving the continuation rate of mature students.¡±

The number of young people from the most under-represented areas studying at Russell Group universities has increased by 56 per cent since 2019. In the same period, Russell Group universities saw an increase of 62 per cent in black minority ethnic placed applicants.

The group said that while ¡°overall progress¡± on access to its universities for under-represented young people has ¡°steadily improved¡± ¨C with ?250 million a year spent collectively on access and widening participation-related activities ¨C there is ¡°a mixed picture across measures of disadvantage¡±.?

Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group, said care leavers ¡°remain one of the most under-represented groups in higher education, with specific challenges particularly around finances and independent living¡±.

In 2021-22, 14 per cent of care leavers were in higher education by the age of 19 compared to 47 per cent of the wider population.?

Under the new plans, universities will offer packages to care leavers, including accommodation support, bursaries and contextual admissions.?

¡°Providing a care leaver with a free home at university is the only proven intervention that supports progression and completion at a rate comparable to non-care experienced students,¡± said Fiona Ellison, co-director of the Unite Foundation, which offers accommodation to estranged and care-experienced students.?

The group also called on the government to review maintenance arrangements for students to ¡°help ease...growing financial pressures¡±, including reintroducing grants for the most disadvantaged students to ensure they do not graduate with the highest levels of debt.

It also said the parental earnings threshold should be reviewed as this has been frozen in cash terms at ?25,000 since 2008.?

¡°Had this threshold increased with earnings, it would now be closer to ?36,500 and many?more students would be eligible for the maximum level of support,¡± the group said.?

helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com