Figure 13: Responses to ONS Standard Wellbeing Measures for higher education applicants 2019-2025 Life satisfaction 25 20 15 10 5 0 18 13 10 10 15 19 Life worthwhile 20 16 15 16 21 23 Happiness 21 18 17 17 21 25 Low anxiety 25 22 14 16 22 22 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Standard Wellbeing Measures use a 0-10 scale to assess the level of self-reported life satisfaction, feeling that life is worthwhile, happiness and anxiety across the population. Results are reported in terms of the percentage of the population that reports the highest levels (score of 9 or 10) in the first three questions, and the lowest levels (0 or 1) of anxiety. This year sees an overall return to – and improvement on – pre-pandemic levels of wellbeing. However, as was the case last year, this is largely driven by international applicants. Among UK applicants there has been no recovery from the changes seen during and just after the pandemic. Figure 14: Responses to ONS Standard Wellbeing Measures for UK domiciled applicants 2019-2025 Life satisfaction 25 20 15 10 5 0 18 13 10 10 11 11 Life worthwhile 20 15 15 16 16 16 Happiness 21 18 17 16 17 16 Low anxiety 24 22 14 16 18 16 Unite Students | Applicant Index Report 21 INTRODUCTION THEMATIC ANALYSIS WELLBEING METHODOLOGY TOPICAL ISSUES BACK TO THEMES