News25 September 2025
Thousands of teenagers across the country are set to receive letters from King’s College London (KCL) students encouraging them to apply to university, as part of a major initiative intended to make higher education feel more accessible and boost attendance at selective institutions.
The project, supported by TASO and led by Professor Michael Sanders and Vanessa Hirneis of the KCL Policy Institute and School for Government, involves sending letters written by KCL students who come from similar socioeconomic backgrounds to nearly 10,000 Year 12 pupils, many of whom attend schools in deprived areas and send fewer qualified students to university.
The letters encourage the pupils to consider applying to selective universities, with KCL students sharing personal stories intended to challenge the perception that university is only for the privileged. The letters also highlight the potential benefits of higher education and detail the financial support available through bursaries.
In 2017, research by Sanders and colleagues found a similar intervention increased the likelihood of accepting a place at a selective university from 8.5% to 11.4% – the equivalent of an extra 300 students a year.
I hope students feel empowered to apply for university and that they know they deserve to be there just like anyone else
Kemi Adeyemi, KCL student and letter writer
KCL student and letter writer Kemi Adeyemi – now a resident doctor – said: “It’s so important that young people know that their background doesn’t determine where they can study. It should be based purely on you, your grades and your choice alone, which I feel isn’t a message reiterated enough to pupils in state schools. As a result of the letters I hope students feel empowered to apply for university and that they know they deserve to be there just like anyone else.”
TASO is focused on ensuring that young people from all backgrounds can access and succeed in higher education. That’s why we’ve supported this project to address the sentiment some people feel that higher education ‘isn’t for me’.
Dr Omar Khan, TASO CEO
Dr Omar Khan, TASO CEO said: “As the What Works Centre for higher education, TASO is focused on ensuring that young people from all backgrounds can access and succeed in higher education. That’s why we’ve supported this project to address the sentiment some people feel that higher education ‘isn’t for me’. We are pleased the Department for Education supports this work, and to be collaborating with King’s College London to understand how we best ensure fair access and allow talent to thrive.”
Our research shows that this kind of timely contact with a relatable role model can make a massive difference to young people’s lives.
Michael Sanders, Professor of Public Policy and Director of the School for Government
Sanders, a Professor of Public Policy and Director of the School for Government at KCL, said: “One of the biggest barriers is young people feeling like university ‘isn’t for people like me’. This project sees current students act as role models, which helps to create a bridge between people’s current lives, and what they can experience at university. Our research shows that this kind of timely contact with a relatable role model can make a massive difference to young people’s lives and ability to seize the opportunities in front of them.”
Hirneis, a social psychologist in the Policy Institute and a care-experienced adult herself, said: “This is a very simple and low-cost intervention, but the potential impact on young people’s life trajectories is enormous. Not everyone needs to attend university but we should do everything in our power to lower the barrier to entry for those who wish to.”
The schools and colleges targeted by the project were identified through Department for Education data, with the letters also written on DfE letterhead. The initiative comes ahead of reforms to higher education that the government hope will boost access and participation as part of its Plan for Change.
I’m proud that we’ve been able to support this brilliant initiative
Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education
Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education, said: “I’m proud that we’ve been able to support this brilliant initiative – which comes ahead of further steps from government to break the link between young people’s background and success through our Post-16 and Skills White Paper.”
Speaking to the Guardian about the project, Year 12 pupils form Christ the King Aquinas sixth-form college in Brockley, south-east London, described the impact it had had on their plans.
It’s changed my view of what’s achievable
Adam Dragan, Year 12 student and letter recipient
Adam Dragan, 17, had been considering a degree apprenticeship but is now hoping to study economics and management at the University of Oxford. He said the letter he received – which was written by Adeyemi – had “changed my view of what’s achievable” after he learned about the bursary schemes and contextual offers available.
David Zheng, also 17, received a letter from KCL student Daya Chotai. He said: “It made me feel a bit more confident, reading other people’s experience of university, telling them they are not alone on their journey.”
Originally published on kcl.ac.uk: Letters from King’s students urge pupils from deprived areas to try university