Access and Participation Improving equality of opportunity in Higher Education. 

Access and Participation seeks to improve access for specific groups of students, remove barriers to HE, remove attainment gaps, and achieve significant reductions in progression gaps for those groups most significantly affected.   

Unfortunately, some young people are less likely to achieve the necessary qualifications to access and study at university. These gaps in opportunity and achievement are apparent from a young age. There can also be inequalities between different groups of students once they access HE, and some groups of students are likely to do better than others, even when their prior academic achievement is the same. Finally, we know some groups of students find it easier to find jobs after university or access further study.

We therefore seek to work collaboratively with key partners to remove the barriers to HE which students from under-represented groups face, in order to bring about tangible, positive change for students, communities and businesses.

Our Access and Participation plan is approved by the Office for Students. 

- Working collaboratively with staff, our local community, teachers and advisors to offer a range of Access and Participation outreach and recruitment activities widening access to all.  Encouraging them to get involved. 

- Helping prospective students make informed choices about their future in HE, supporting retainment in science and widen access to underrepresented groups.

- Supporting schools and inviting students and schools along to our outreach activities. 

We are committed to working with students to plan, deliver and evaluate our Access and Participation work and work with our Specialist Student Ambassadors to do this. Read more about their involvement with Access and Participation below.