Advisers: Free school meals application fee waiver guide

An overview for those supporting eligible applicants applying to undergraduate courses starting in 2025.

What is the free school meals fee waiver?

For the 2025 cycle, UCAS is pleased to share that we are removing the undergraduate application fee for any student who is/or has received free school meals (FSM) during the last six years, up until the end of their final year at school or college. 

Dr Jo Saxton, Chief Executive, UCAS

As the rising cost-of-living continues to present challenges to everyone, particularly those suffering financial hardship, I am keen to ensure that at UCAS, we do everything we can to support students in taking their next step.

Why is UCAS waiving the fee?

As an independent charity, UCAS has an important role to play in supporting the most disadvantaged applicants to access higher education. The entry rate to higher education of applicants receiving free school meals is at its lowest level since 2019. Our aim is to open more doors to accessing higher education for disadvantaged students. 

Dan Morrow, CEO and trust leader for Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust

In abolishing the application fee for students who receive free school meals, UCAS has in a single swipe stopped money being the psychological barrier for students. We are a trust that wants to broaden our students’ horizons and open their eyes to the world of possibility. Now, instead of being able to fund just one trip to a university open day, the saving afforded to us means that we can afford to pay for two open days, giving students more opportunity to get a flavour of what life is like at different universities.

How will it work?

To deliver this initiative for the 2025 cycle we would appreciate your help to encourage your eligible students to declare they have been in receipt of free school meals and support the process in the adviser portal.   

Eligible students will need to

  • declare they are in receipt of free school meals in the ‘More about you’ section of the application
  • choose to ‘Pay Centre’ when they ‘Pay and Submit’ their application from 3 September 2024 

If you would like to support your student’s declaration to receive the fee waiver, please check your payment options in the Adviser Portal: 

  • If your school/centre sets the application payment preference to ‘Invoice the school’ no action needs to be taken at this time.  

  • If your school/centre sets the application fee payment option to ‘All your applicants will pay online by credit or debit card’ settings will need to be changed before 3 September 2024 when pay/submit goes live for the 2025 cycle. 

Access ‘Centre Management’ in the adviser portal and tick the box to set your application fee payment method to the third option, which is:  

 Some applicants will pay online by card, UCAS will provide an invoice for remaining applicants (the invoice is to be paid by your centre) 

This will ensure that those students who are eligible, do not need to pay to submit their application and those students who currently pay by card can continue to do so. UCAS will provide an invoice for any remaining non-FSM applicants. 

This will ensure that those students who are eligible do not need to pay to submit their application. 

We want to ensure students across the UK are aware of this new scheme, so that all eligible applicants can benefit from the fee waiver. Please share this guidance with your colleagues. 

Next steps

We want to ensure students across the UK are aware of this new scheme, so that all eligible applicants can benefit from the fee waiver. 

We’re currently refining the verification process, which will be a simple tick box in the adviser portal.

Supporting documents for 2025 applications will reflect the new initiative and be sent to you before the end of June.

Frequently asked questions