Execu琀椀ve Summary This year’s applicants will enter higher education with a higher level of optimism about their future employability, but less financial confidence and with significantly lower confidence in their academic skills compared to the previous two cohorts. Furthermore, about a third think it likely that they will not take up their place at university, though the majority of these only think it ‘somewhat likely’. Qualitative data suggests that this cohort is carrying Rates of absence due to mental health are higher is down on last year, and two in five applicants say a strong sense of loss due to the pandemic which, among female applicants than male, and significantly that financial issues are affecting their mental health, for most respondents, took place in their early teens. higher among LGBTQ+ applicants. While most which is an increase from last year: cost of living is This encompasses both learning and social losses, absences due to mental health are short, almost their area of greatest concern. Applicants described leaving a legacy of missed opportunities, poorer one in ten (9%) of all applicants have been absent in their own words the impact of cost of living on concentration and motivation, and a strong sense for more than 20 days due to mental health. Among their choice of university, with one in five mentioning of social anxiety. those who had been absent, 43% thought they location. Comments suggested that some applicants Learning confidence may also have been affected would need to miss teaching time at university due were choosing cheaper options, including limiting by school absence due to mental health, which has to their mental health. This represents a significant their choices to more budget-friendly cities. Others increased further this year from last year’s already minority (15%) of the total applicant population. had made a financial choice to live at home, though high base of 30%. Over a third (36%) of this year’s Overall, financial confidence among this year’s when asked about their accommodation intentions, applicants have missed school or college over the cohort is slightly lower than last year and on a par there was no evidence that we will see a higher rate last two years due to their mental health, rising to with attitudes in 2022. Confidence in budgeting skills of living at home this year. 39% among UK applicants. Unite Students | Applicant Index Report 6