Objective
ELEVATE investigates a central driver of inequality: who gets into which college—and the downstream impacts on graduation, earnings, and social mobility. The project leverages two structural shifts reshaping access and success in higher education. First, governments now publish course-level indicators of access rates, admissions criteria, value-added, and earnings, substantially reducing information frictions and changing how students—especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds—choose where to apply. Second, universities are moving from score-based admission policies to holistic admissions that weigh non-academic factors alongside grades and tests.
Building on these transformations, ELEVATE addresses three essential questions: (1) Pipeline: How much enrolment inequality stems from where students apply versus how institutions admit? (2) Applications: Can targeted, personalised information on course returns, social mobility, admission chances, and peer composition re-route applications and reduce inequalities in admission? (3) Admissions: How much could holistic admissions raise graduation and earnings?
Methodologically, ELEVATE will assemble a unique cross-national pipeline dataset linking applications, offers, and enrolments across twelve countries; link college application records to long-term earnings data; design and implement large-scale surveys, embed randomised information interventions; and exploit admission-policy reforms for causal identification.
The project will deliver novel estimates of where the pipeline leaks, how targeted information shift student choices, and which admission rules best align talent with opportunity. Together, the four projects will build a unified, contemporary account of how applications and admissions interact to shape equity and success in higher education.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2026-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
E1 4NS LONDON
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.