University fees biggest barrier to wider access, research finds

By Richard Adams. Study of state-school pupils not planning to enter higher education reveals 57% see finances as the greatest obstacle. The cost of going to university is more of an obstacle than lack of ability among state school pupils likely to skip higher education, a study of the next generation of students has found. An Ipsos Mori survey of 2,500 11-to-16 year-olds at state schools funded by the Sutton Trust found that among those who say they are unlikely to go to university 57% cite financial considerations as the reason – more than the 41% who say they aren't clever enough to go. Read more...