What Universities Really Want from Students in 2026
This report continues a series commissioned by ACS International Schools, in partnership with the International Baccalaureate Schools & Colleges Association (IBSCA), examining the perspectives of UK university admissions officers. The previous report was published in 2017, just one year after Brexit.
The latest 2026 University Admissions Officers Report brings together insights from 65 admissions officers across 50 UK universities, including Cambridge, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham and LSE.
The findings reveal a dramatic shift in favour of the International Baccalaureate, alongside a clear picture of the pressures shaping higher education and what universities now value most in applicants and in the qualifications they choose to pursue.
The report explores how the landscape has evolved over the past decade: from policy changes, funding challenges and the impact of Brexit, to shifting expectations around student skills versus subject knowledge.
Key Takeaways
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Growing pressures across the sector, including visa and immigration policy, affordability concerns among prospective undergraduates, and the impact of geopolitical factors on recruitment and forward planning.
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Universities are placing an increasing emphasis on critical thinking, curiosity and independent learning, rather than subject knowledge alone.
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The IB Diploma is widely seen by admissions officers as strong preparation for university success, offering both academic subject knowledge and future-ready skills.
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Financial pressures and the growth of alternative pathways are influencing how students and families view higher education choices.
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Technological change and courses related to the environment are attracting new interest from students considering university.
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Just under a third of Admissions Officers see alternative pathways, such as apprenticeships, as drawing students away from university.
About this Report
This report presents results from 65 university admissions officers from 50 UK institutions across a wide range, including selective and highly selective universities, conducted between October and December 2025.
It updates and extends research first conducted a decade ago, revealing how dramatically the picture has shifted.
Types of universities participating in this survey:
- 15 Russell Group
- 19 established pre-92
- 14 established post-92
- 2 specialist/private
At a
Glance
86 %
of Admissions Officers state Visas/Immigration is the biggest negative factor affecting admissions
69 %
state that the IB is the best overall pathway to thrive at university
23 %
On average, the IB Diploma scores 23% higher than A Levels across all competencies assessed.
Get it right, and you help to set your child up for success. Get it wrong, and you may have spent years preparing them for a world that no longer exists.
