Welcome and Belonging This year, applicants in general are more confident about their welcome and sense of belonging than last year, and socioeconomically disadvantaged applicants are more sure they will feel welcome. Overall, international applicants are far more likely to expect to feel welcome (86%) and that they belong (80%). Applicants who have attended a fee-paying school are more likely to expect to feel like they belong (69%) than those attending a state school (59%). The disparities seen in 2024 across socioeconomic groups in terms of expected welcome have not been replicated this year, however applicants from D and E socioeconomic groups, and those who had qualified for free school meals are still less likely to expect a sense of belonging than their peers (51% v 61%). Other groups of applicants that are less sure of their sense of belonging at university include estranged applicants, neurodivergent applicants and applicants with a mental health condition and/or other disability. Additionally, those applying for degree apprenticeships are less likely to expect to feel that they belong. Figure 11: Expected welcome and belonging (agreement) 2024 and 2025 2024 2025 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% I expect I will feel welcome 0% I expect I will feel like I belong 58% 64% 68% 74% Unite Students | Applicant Index Report 19 INTRODUCTION THEMATIC ANALYSIS COMMUNITY METHODOLOGY TOPICAL ISSUES BACK TO THEMES