COVID-19 disrupted all aspects of society, and student transitions to higher education were not protected from this impact. The pandemic extended health, economic, social, and educational inequalities across the UK, and we experienced considerable impact across the learning ecosystem. As we aim to support all learners into, through and beyond the university experience, it is essential to look at applicants’ intentions to study through this contextual lens, and to consider the impact of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis alongside other key learning and life experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]