Social 19 On the whole, I have good relationships with family and friends Strongly disagree Moderately disagree Neutral Moderately agree Strongly agree Figure 13: Breakdown of responses to Social theme questions 3% 5% 15% 26% 51% I have people I can turn to in a crisis 6% 9% 16% 27% 42% I get on well with other students at my school/college 3% 7% 17% 27% 45% I’m anxious that I won’t fit in at university * 19% 16% 21% 20% 24% This year, the social index score has fallen by one point, linked to lower scores for relationships with family and friends and for having people to turn to in a crisis. International applicants are more likely to agree that they have good relationships with family and friends (86%) compared with UK applicants (76%). Among UK applicants, those from more affluent households (A socioeconomic group) have better relationships with family and friends than those in social grades D and E. The data also highlights groups who may be more vulnerable in a crisis during their time in higher education. Care‑experienced and estranged applicants, applicants of Asian and Asian British ethnicity, and those who have received free school meals are less likely to say they have people to turn to. This should not be taken to mean that all applicants with these characteristics are less supported, but these findings can help guide compassionate practice and prompt personal tutors and accommodation teams to offer support when a student is going through a difficult time. Social confidence has softened, with fewer applicants reporting strong support networks. * For this question, agreement indicates a negative response; the score for this question was reversed when calculating the index score Appendices Introduction Social Thematic analysis Applicant Index Report 2026 Belonging, equity and inclusion The Social score measures the strength of existing social relationships and social confidence in the context of going to university. 65 Down 1 from 2025 Back to contents