Figure 8: Comparison of the percentage of applicants that agree they expect to feel welcome and a sense of belonging by socioeconomic group Welcome and Belonging International applicants feel more assured of their level of welcome and belonging when they arrive at university compared to UK applicants. But despite many years of widening participation efforts, working class applicants are much less confident of their welcome and sense of belonging compared to their more affluent peers. Around two thirds (68%) of applicants think they will be welcome at university, and this rises to almost three quarters (73%) among international applicants. However, working class applicants are much less sure of their welcome with a 20 percentage point difference between socioeconomic groups A and E. Those who qualified for free school meals expected to feel welcome at a lower rate (60%) than those who did not (70%). Similarly, disabled applicants are less confident of their welcome. Almost a fifth (18%) of those with a physical or sensory disability did not expect to feel welcome compared to 6% of applicants with no disability. When it comes to belonging, well over half (58%) of applicants expect to feel like they belong when they first go to university. Female applicants are less confident about this at 52%, whereas two thirds of male applicants (67%) agree. An anticipated sense of belonging is higher among international applicants (69%) and, poignantly, among applicants who have been in care (64%). However LGBTQ+ applicants, and those who are neurodivergent or have a mental health condition, are less likely to believe they will belong. There is also a strong socioeconomic effect here too, with anticipated sense of belonging declining steadily from group A to E. And yet the vast majority (80%) of applicants from all socioeconomic groups are equally keen to belong. Culture shock International applicants are not alone in anticipating a culture shock when they first arrive at university. While 57% of international applicants agree that it will be difficult to get used to the culture, 46% of UK applicants also agree. Care experienced applicants are more likely even than international applicants to anticipate a culture shock, at 63%. I expect that I will feel welcome I expect that I will feel like I belong A 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 73 63 B 72 62 C1 Socioeconomic group 68 58 C2 67 58 D 62 49 E 53 44 Working class applicants are much less confident of their welcome and sense of belonging compared to their more affluent peers. Unite S tudents | Applicant Index Report 22 INTRODUCTION THEMATIC ANALYSIS COMMUNITY METHODOLOGY TOPICAL ISSUES BACK TO THEMES