Mismatch in higher education report launch at the Nuffield Foundation

By Nuffield Foundation

The Nuffield Foundation is hosting an event to launch the ‘Mismatch in higher education’ report at the Nuffield Foundation on Thursday 5 December from 10:30 till 13:30. 

The seminar, chaired by Mary Curnock Cook, will summarise findings from new research, led by Dr Gill Wyness of the UCL Institute of Education about the extent of ‘match’ between student academic credentials and the course they attend, the characteristics of students more likely to mismatch, the impact of this on university and labour market outcomes.

The researchers will present findings about the extent to which students from lower income families are missing out on opportunities to attend high-ranking universities, even though they have the right A Level results. The event aims to bring together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss these findings and consider the implications for how universities and the broader education system can support these students when choosing university courses.

Lastly, please note that due to the constraints of our listed Georgian building, we are sadly unable to provide access or facilities for wheelchair users. If you have mobility needs, please contact us for guidance in advance of the meeting. Please also contact us in advance if you require a hearing loop.

For further information on this seminar, and how to register, please contact events@nuffieldfoundation.org

Details

Date: Thursday 5 December

Time: 10:30 – 13:30. Lunch will be provided.

Venue: Nuffield Foundation, 28 Bedford Square, London

Explore our projects

Elevated view of students sitting and learning in computer room
New

Education | 2025 - 2027

Improving wellbeing-focused online media literacy in schools

View project
Childminder playing with toddler

Education | 2025 - 2027

Examining the challenges and benefits of childminding in England

View project
New

Welfare | 2025 - 2027

All women are born (un)equal: menopause, HRT and women’s well-being

View project
Female electrician arrives at job. She is wearing an orange hi-vis jacket and behind her is a van.
New

Welfare | 2025 - 2026

Characterising the job ladder in England

View project
New

Education | 2025 - 2026

Pupil wellbeing and increased persistent absenteeism: An investigation

View project
traditional detached house within residential estate in England UK, several houses in view have solar panels on the roof.
New

Welfare | 2025 - 2026

Distributional impacts of net zero on electricity consumers

View project
New

Education | Welfare | 2025 - 2028

Clear Skies, Clear Minds: Air quality and children’s welfare

View project
New

Education | Welfare | 2025 - 2028

The evaluation of Thrive at Five’s sites in Stoke and Redcar

View project
SEND pupil drawing in classroom
New

Education | 2025 - 2026

The uneven distribution of pupils with SEND in mainstream schools

View project
baby eating fruit on highchair
New

Welfare | 2025 - 2026

Impact of the cost of childcare on parental mobility

View project
Shop assistant in supermarket re-stocking fresh vegetables in shelves of produce section.
New

Education | 2025 - 2026

Youth transitions to good employment: East Birmingham & North Solihull

View project
New

Education | 2025 - 2026

Investigating performance across Key Stage 2 maths topics

View project
New

Education | 2025 - 2026

Pupil wellbeing and increased persistent absenteeism: An investigation

View project
traditional detached house within residential estate in England UK, several houses in view have solar panels on the roof.
New

Welfare | 2025 - 2026

Distributional impacts of net zero on electricity consumers

View project
Female electrician arrives at job. She is wearing an orange hi-vis jacket and behind her is a van.
New

Welfare | 2025 - 2026

Characterising the job ladder in England

View project
In progress

Education | 2023 - 2025

Interventions supporting early self-regulation: a systematic literature review

View project
New

Education | 2025

Implementing effective early education interventions at scale

View project
Shop assistant in supermarket re-stocking fresh vegetables in shelves of produce section.
New

Education | 2025 - 2026

Youth transitions to good employment: East Birmingham & North Solihull

View project
New

Welfare | 2025 - 2027

All women are born (un)equal: menopause, HRT and women’s well-being

View project
baby eating fruit on highchair
New

Welfare | 2025 - 2026

Impact of the cost of childcare on parental mobility

View project
SEND pupil drawing in classroom
New

Education | 2025 - 2026

The uneven distribution of pupils with SEND in mainstream schools

View project
Childminder playing with toddler

Education | 2025 - 2027

Examining the challenges and benefits of childminding in England

View project
Pre-school students sitting in an art classroom being taught by a teacher. The classroom is colourful and the children are sat at a big table.
New

Education | 2024 - 2025

A comparative analysis of EY workforce policy in the four UK nations

View project
Elevated view of students sitting and learning in computer room
New

Education | 2025 - 2027

Improving wellbeing-focused online media literacy in schools

View project
In progress

Education | 2023 - 2025

Interventions supporting early self-regulation: a systematic literature review

View project
In progress

Education | 2024 - 2026

Beyond teacher assessed grades: Post-16 education choices and COVID-19

View project
Group of students sit around a table listening.
In progress

Education | 2024 - 2025

Educational dialogue for improving Foundation Year student outcomes

View project
In progress

Education | Justice | 2024 - 2027

Evaluating the Fundamental British Values initiative of the DfE

View project
Happy woman talking to a colleague at work
In progress

Education | Welfare | 2024 - 2026

Employer investment in upskilling and reskilling in a changing economy

View project
A boy, wearing his PE kit, leans against the lockers. He's on his own in a corridor at school and is looking at the camera.
In progress

Education | 2024 - 2027

Out of sight: exclusions, alternative provision and later life outcomes 

View project
Nursery child playing with teacher in the classroom
In progress

Education | 2024 - 2026

Achieving high-quality provision in the baby room of English nurseries

View project
In progress

Education | 2025 - 2026

Artificial intelligence and education

View project
Two little boys and a little girl, all wearing primary school uniform, work together to solve a puzzle in their classroom.
In progress

Education | 2023 - 2025

What has ‘Free School Meals’ measured and what are the implications?

View project
Teenager hugging their mother
In progress

Welfare | 2023 - 2026

The long-term effects of being a young carer

View project
Father and daughter having fun at home
In progress

Education | 2023 - 2025

Optimisation and feasibility of Triple P parenting programme for remote delivery

View project
Early years professionals playing with children
In progress

Education | 2022 - 2024

Understanding the take-up of early education entitlements

View project
New

Education | 2025 - 2026

Pupil wellbeing and increased persistent absenteeism: An investigation

View project
traditional detached house within residential estate in England UK, several houses in view have solar panels on the roof.
New

Welfare | 2025 - 2026

Distributional impacts of net zero on electricity consumers

View project
Female electrician arrives at job. She is wearing an orange hi-vis jacket and behind her is a van.
New

Welfare | 2025 - 2026

Characterising the job ladder in England

View project
New

Education | 2025

Implementing effective early education interventions at scale

View project
Shop assistant in supermarket re-stocking fresh vegetables in shelves of produce section.
New

Education | 2025 - 2026

Youth transitions to good employment: East Birmingham & North Solihull

View project
New

Welfare | 2025 - 2027

All women are born (un)equal: menopause, HRT and women’s well-being

View project
baby eating fruit on highchair
New

Welfare | 2025 - 2026

Impact of the cost of childcare on parental mobility

View project
SEND pupil drawing in classroom
New

Education | 2025 - 2026

The uneven distribution of pupils with SEND in mainstream schools

View project
Pre-school students sitting in an art classroom being taught by a teacher. The classroom is colourful and the children are sat at a big table.
New

Education | 2024 - 2025

A comparative analysis of EY workforce policy in the four UK nations

View project
Elevated view of students sitting and learning in computer room
New

Education | 2025 - 2027

Improving wellbeing-focused online media literacy in schools

View project
New

Education | Welfare | 2025 - 2028

The evaluation of Thrive at Five’s sites in Stoke and Redcar

View project
New

Education | Welfare | 2025 - 2028

Clear Skies, Clear Minds: Air quality and children’s welfare

View project
Reception class children using a parachute in a PE lesson
Reported

Education | 2022 - 2023

A movement and story-telling intervention for reception children

View project
Reported

Education | Welfare | 2022 - 2024

Understanding school attendance, education and labour market outcomes

View project
Grandparents having fun outdoors with their granddaughter, who is eating an apple and laughing: Understanding family and community vulnerabilities in transition to net zero
Reported

Welfare | 2021 - 2023

Understanding family and community vulnerabilities in transition to net zero

View project
Father and son using laptop at home
Reported

Welfare | 2021 - 2025

Developing a minimum digital living standard for households with children

View project
Side view of two female high school students in classroom working on laptops social distancing. Student in foreground is in focus and student in background is blurred
Reported

Education | 2021 - 2022

COVID-19 and disadvantage gaps in England 2020 and 2021

View project
Close up of a young girl and her father wearing protective face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic outside.
Reported

Welfare | 2021 - 2023

The Economy 2030 Inquiry: navigating a decade of change

View project
Young boy draws and plays with a globe as part of nursery education
Reported

Education | 2020 - 2022

COVID-19 and childcare: local impacts across England

View project
Reported

Education | 2020 - 2022

Ethical principles underpinning co-production with young people

View project
Reported

Education | 2020 - 2021

COVID-19 mitigation measures: education provision and access to special schools

View project
Young-boy-uses-tablet-with-mother-for-maths-learning-Can-maths-apps-add-value-to-learning-PROJ
Reported

Education | 2020 - 2022

Can maths apps add value to learning?

View project
Male secondary school student working at home on laptop
Reported

Education | 2020 - 2021

The impact of COVID-19 on mainstream schools in England

View project
Teenage-girl-looks-at-smartphone-next-to-laptop-Growing-up-under-COVID-19-PROJ
Reported

Education | Welfare | 2020 - 2022

Growing up under COVID-19

View project
Search projects

We improve people’s lives by funding research that informs social policy, primarily in Education, Welfare and Justice. We also fund student programmes that give young people skills and confidence in science and research.

We offer our grant-holders the freedom to frame questions and enable new thinking. Our research must stand up to rigorous academic scrutiny, but we understand that to be successful in effecting change, it also needs to be relevant to people’s experience.

Profile