31 January 2026
UCAS waiving application fees for care leavers
UCAS has announced that it is expanding its scheme to waive application fees to include care leavers up to age 26.
Following the successful waiver of application fees in 2025 for over 40,000 students eligible for dree school meals, UCAS has announced that the scheme will be expanded to include care leavers up to the age of 26 from this year.
Only 13% of care leavers go on to higher education, compared to 46% for all other young people, and the waiver hopes to encourage more care leavers to apply. It recognises that care leavers may not have the financial support in place so application fees themselves become a barrier.
Also, by sharing their information through UACS earlier, it can help colleges and universities put in place support for them as they go through the application and joining process.
Read more about UCAS’ waiver of application fees for care leavers.
Following the successful waiver of application fees in 2025 for over 40,000 students eligible for dree school meals, UCAS has announced that the scheme will be expanded to include care leavers up to the age of 26 from this year.
Only 13% of care leavers go on to higher education, compared to 46% for all other young people, and the waiver hopes to encourage more care leavers to apply. It recognises that care leavers may not have the financial support in place so application fees themselves become a barrier.
Also, by sharing their information through UACS earlier, it can help colleges and universities put in place support for them as they go through the application and joining process.
Read more about UCAS’ waiver of application fees for care leavers.
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