WISE is collaborating with the Department of Economics at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) on a new research initiative aimed at transforming how students navigate their university applications.
Research indicates that students often rely more on informal advice from peers and parents when making university application choices, rather than on formal sources like admissions guides and university websites. This can highlight socioeconomic inequalities as students from different backgrounds have varying access to reliable information. This project seeks to address and mitigate these inequalities, particularly in the UK, where recent studies have highlighted the issue.
The research will focus on Year 12 and 13 students, exploring how various interventions can influence their university and course choices.
The interventions are now running with schools through the summer and autumn terms. Thank you to all the schools and volunteers who are supporting this work.
Initial evidence from the research suggests that women and students from disadvantaged backgrounds feel they are less likely to fit in socially at universities they are unfamiliar with, relative to more advantaged students with similar grades, which can lead to inequality in application choices. However, interventions to provide them with informal information about these universities can make them more optimistic about their chances of fitting in.
We will be sharing the full findings from this research at an event in Spring 2026. More information about this will be shared soon.
A special thank you to WISE Member AtkinsRéalis in helping support this collaboration through their school supply chain, bringing awareness to under-represented young people through their STEM Governors.
If you’re interested in working with WISE on a similar project, please contact WISE@theiet.org.