A new report from UCAS (supported by the Carers Trust) shows how being a young adult carer affects the courses these students want to study. This report is special because it’s the first of its kind in the UK. It looks at the experiences and goals of young adult carers on their journey into higher education.

It found that young adult carers are 59% more likely to apply for health and social care courses and 57% more likely to choose nursing and midwifery compared to those without caring responsibilities.

Specifically, young adult carers typically provide care and support to a family member or friend who has a physical or mental illness. 

Due to their caregiving roles, they often take on significant responsibilities, such as assisting with daily activities, managing household tasks, and providing emotional support. These responsibilities can impact their course choices regarding further education.

Highlights from the Report:

  • Caring roles shape academic choices: Young adult carers are 59% more likely to apply to health and social care courses and 57% more likely to apply to nursing and midwifery than their peers.
  • Tendency to stay close to home for studies: 39% more likely to live at home during studies; 41% choose to study within a 30-minute drive from home; 25% more likely than non-carers.
  • Hesitancy in disclosing caring responsibilities: 72% of young carers rarely or never spoke to teaching staff, and 71% rarely communicated with support staff about their caring responsibilities.

Moreover, the report shows that they are also more interested in subjects like

  1. Pharmacy, 
  2. Pharmacology, 
  3. Medicine, 
  4. Toxicology, 
  5. Dentistry, and 
  6. Medical Sciences

Last year, 18,915 young adult carers applied to universities or colleges. This represents 3.9% of all UCAS applicants. Most of these applicants were 18 years old. Among them, 11,960 stated they had caring responsibilities.

UCAS has suggested several ways to help schools identify young adult carers. They want to raise awareness about the support and resources available at universities and colleges. These recommendations include:

  • Offering specific information, advice, and guidance for young adult carers as they transition to higher education.
  • Involving young adult carers and their families in university and college outreach activities.
  • Appointing young carers leads to making sure these students have the support they need for their next steps.

AHZ appreciates the focus on young adult carers. And our dedicated team here is committed to providing the essential support needed to facilitate a seamless transition into higher education in the UK for this important community.