Improving access to Higher Education

The university has committed itself to continue to improve access to its courses and increase success rates and employability of groups currently under-represented in Higher Education.

7 September 2016

In particular it has committed to:

  • Continue to improve the number of full-time mature students who are able to successfully complete their degrees
  • Continue to maintain the number of full and part-time students in receipt of Disabled Student Allowance and the numbers who are able to successfully complete their degrees
  • Improve the number of those students in receipt of Disabled Student Allowance who move into jobs or further study after graduation

In addition to these new commitments the university will continue to maintain the numbers of its students who come from state schools and disadvantaged backgrounds with low participation rates in Higher Education.

 

Around £9 million of its income will be used to support under-represented groups. This will include £5 million in financial support for students who get into financial difficulties whilst studying, including those who will be affected by the government’s decision to significantly reduce Disabled Students Allowance.

Ογ½ΆΦ±²₯ Vice-Chancellor, Professor Debra Humphris said: “This university already has a great track record in opening up Higher Education to students from all backgrounds. But we want to do more. Our new five-year strategy commits us to providing an innovative curriculum designed to meet the needs of our increasingly diverse student population.

“This means continuing to invest in meeting the needs of learners entering Higher Education with a wide range of entry qualifications and further developing our Widening Participation strategy to support all our students to progress and succeed.”

College students getting the chance to experience university

The additional funding will support a range of activities, including:

  • The continuing expansion of the university’s outreach and Widening Participation programmes which engage everyone from primary school pupils, to secondary school and college students and older learners taking Access courses.
  • A wide range of support for students once they join the university including Student Support and Guidance Tutors who are there to help with a wide range of needs, as well as the Momentum mentoring scheme which specifically targets students with disabilities, BME students, care leavers and LGBT students.