The Sutton Trust and the IFS have published a new study that examines the role that universities play in social mobility.
The report uses the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset to estimate a “mobility rate” for all English universities for the first time. The rate is calculated by looking at how many students from disadvantaged backgrounds get in, as well as how many of those become top earners after graduation.
The report says that universities overall are powerful vehicles for social mobility. Graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds are much more likely to become socially mobile and end up as a high earner than those who don’t go to university, and that the most selective institutions level the playing field the most amongst their graduates.
It found that Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), Westminster, City University, Greenwich and London South Bank were best at promoting social mobility, which the study measured as the percentage of students formerly eligible for free school meals who studied at university and went on to gain jobs paying in the top 20% nationally.
QMUL was the only Russel Group university to have an outstanding result, with a social mobility rate of 6.8%.
It also found that on average, lower income students are much less likely than their better-off counterparts to gain access to the most selective institutions. This means less selective ‘Post-1992’ universities, which take on the majority of low income students, have played the most significant role in driving social mobility.
Oxford, York and Cambridge were all found to have a 0.5% social mobility rate, well below the IFS’ estimated national average of 1.5%.
The research is based on a cohort of students who are now in their mid-30s. The focus on access in the past years – including through the work of universities, the Sutton Trust and other organisations – means we are likely to see improvements in social mobility rates at many universities.
Sir Peter Lampl, founder and chair of the Sutton Trust and chair of the Education Endowment Foundation, said:
“Universities are among the most powerful engines for social mobility that we have. Today’s ground-breaking new research confirms the role they play in enabling disadvantaged young people into well-paying and rewarding careers. In particular, less selective universities are really doing the heavy lifting to promote social mobility.
“However, the findings also highlight significant challenges. Disadvantaged students who go to the most selective universities are more likely to become socially mobile. But while it’s clear that significant progress has been made on access in the past decade, there remains work to be done to further open up these institutions.
“Today’s research is a reminder of why access and outreach is so important for social mobility and the government’s levelling up agenda.”
