Prospective students are being priced out of far-flung universities due to the high cost of cross-country train travel, limiting the choices of disadvantaged students.
Social mobility professionals in higher education have highlighted prohibitive travel costs as a major reason why potential students may choose not to pursue university.
Open days play a crucial role in students’ university choices
Many students are unwilling to apply to a university they haven’t already visited, particularly given the cost of tertiary education in the UK. This makes the ability to attend open days a huge and influential factor in students’ decisions on where to study.
Some universities offer means-tested bursaries towards open day transport, or free overnight accommodation, but these are not always widely advertised to prospective students.
