3 UNITE STUDENTS | APPLICANT INDEX REPORT | 2023 university. Higher education offers a valuable opportunity for human interaction in an increasingly digital world and we could go further to reassure applicants about the welcoming and inclusive community that they will be joining. I have been struck by the disadvantage and poorer wellbeing experienced by LGBTQ+ applicants, which is especially acute for Trans applicants. This is a group that has been the subject of heated debate on points of principle, and yet in practical terms here is a group of young people who experience very high levels of anxiety, poor wellbeing and a higher incidence of disabilities and health conditions. The relative reluctance among LGBTQ+ applicants to share important information as part of the application process suggests a lack of trust in universities and their partners, and yet there is already plenty of inclusive practice within the higher education sector that could be communicated more clearly to applicants. Next year we will carry out further research on the experiences of LGBTQ+ students in their accommodation with the aim of improving their wellbeing and sense of belonging, and their confidence about going to university. Working towards a fairer and more inclusive society is everyone’s business. Within the property sector this is usually categorised as the “S” within ESG – the “Social” which typically receives a lot less attention than the Environmental and Governance aspects. Over the last two years I have seen universities and private accommodation providers come together to address the poorer experience of Black students in their accommodation, and commitments to action that will enable a better accommodation experience for neurodivergent students. This is encouraging, but there is much more to do to ensure diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in both education and employment. I would particularly like to encourage the property sector to step forward further into this space and consider what difference we could make if we work together for social impact. Those who start university this autumn do so in a time of economic and political uncertainty. They will graduate in a world dominated by technological and social change and, most likely, a period of continued inequality and division. What they learn and experience at university needs to prepare them for this. The Applicant Index shows us that, despite the anxieties they face, they show a level of adaptability and resilience that will serve them well and we must ensure that we all play our part in preparing them for the challenges ahead. This cohort of students, and those that will follow, will shape our world - and we should remain positive about their ability to make it a better one. Chief Executive at Unite Students