The fact that higher education is becoming a privilege rather than a right for some is a reality. It is a topic that is debated endlessly within universities, who employ experts to discover which demographic is applying to study with them, governments and professional bodies, all of whom are pouring over and scrutinising the data; but the truth of the matter is that whatever way you look at the findings, there is a dearth of people from non-affluent backgrounds applying, because they simply cannot afford to.
Recent findings taken from UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admission Services) show that the current crop of university goers are having to make their money go further, which is wonderful to see, but what we also need to consider are those individuals who didn’t or, perhaps more importantly, couldn’t, make it into Higher Education for financial reasons. These are the ones who are missing out.
Those from poorer backgrounds face immense barriers when it comes to entering top-tier universities. In 2022, only 3.4% of 18-year-olds from England eligible for free school meals managed to secure a spot in higher ranking universities, a figure that is expected to have declined for 2023 and will continue to decline for years to come.
The ‘Growing Educational Divide’ - The Sutton Trust’s report on results day in 2023 reveals that many young people, especially those from working-class families, are deterred from applying to university due to financial constraints. In the last ten years, the price of buying college or university text books has gone up by 80 per cent. In the last two years, the cost of living has gone up across the board.
UCAS figures show that students will have to allocate 62 per cent of their money to buying textbooks for their courses – a luxury few can now afford. As a result, many are turning to piracy and illegal downloads, which is costing the publishing industry nearly £3 billion globally annually. In the UK, publishers are losing £200m every year.
The primary reason for many not to go into higher education is financial costs, with 22 per cent citing this as the main reason.
The shift in behaviour is forcing publishers, booksellers, and academic retailers to adapt to an evolving market where outright textbook purchases are dwindling. Universities are also feeling the pinch, and as part of cost cutting measures are also looking at the cost of stocking their libraries.
Students are looking for an affordable solution, publishers are looking to end piracy and universities want to be able to attract people who may not be able to afford the costs involved.
Universities cannot afford to buy and offer all the books needed in their libraries and many are now using Perlego, a British company that has a strap line of “all you can read” a concept that has been described as ‘Spotify for textbooks’. They are working with more than 250 universities in Britain and the U.S and other educational facilities in more than 190 others countries. They have recently partnered with the University of West London, giving 20,000 students access to every academic text book they need.
There must be a change as access to higher education becomes a privilege rather than a right for some. It is imperative that policymakers, businesses, universities, and society at large take action to address these disparities. Whether through increased financial support, innovative cost-saving measures, or broader educational reform, urgent steps are needed to ensure that higher education remains an achievable aspiration for all, regardless of their socioeconomic background. The future of our society’s progress and prosperity depends on it.
Gauthier Van Malderen, is the founder and CEO of Perlego, the world’s largest digital library with more than one million books available on subscription.
