The University of Surrey recognises that a number of students with the ability to progress to higher education still do not choose to do so. There are many perceived barriers to progression. Sometimes these are simply not recognising the benefits of a higher education to future earnings and improved social mobility. In other cases they may be associated with pressures from family and friends and being part of a culture that has no history of engagement with higher education so they are left with the feeling that "university is not for the likes of me".