Access schemes run by Russell Group universities

Access schemes run by Russell Group universities
Access schemes (sometimes also known as ‘compact schemes’) allow students from under-
represented backgrounds to learn more about higher education, encourage them to consider
and apply to university and enrich the education they receive at school. A number of
schemes also provide supported entry routes into university. There are different types of
access courses – those that aim to widen participation through the provision of information
and guidance, others that assess the potential of the participants to succeed on a university
course and those that further provide pupils with an alternative offer to the university. This
alternative offer is based on successful completion of a given programme, which provides
additional weight to an application. Many Russell Group universities also run separate
foundation years for students who have the ability to succeed on the course but did not have
the necessary grades or subjects to progress directly through the traditional route.

Realising Opportunities

A number of Russell Group universities1 are involved in Realising Opportunities, a
collaboration of 12 leading UK universities working together to promote fair access to higher
education and encourage social mobility, for able students from under-represented groups.
Students are supported through a programme of activities and opportunities designed to
raise their aspirations to progress to a research-intensive university, and develop their skills
and knowledge so that they are able to make informed choices about their future and are
better equipped to succeed at university. Realising Opportunities and the partner universities
won the award for the Widening Participation Initiative of the Year at the Times Higher
Education Awards 2011. Judges commented ‘this is an innovative national partnership
showing evidence of real impact and great potential’. http://www.realisingopportunities.ac.uk/

University of Birmingham

The A2B (Access to Birmingham) Scheme, for students from participating state schools or
colleges in the greater West Midlands area, consists of an online study support module to
help with academic writing skills, a student shadowing experience that helps students find
out more about the style of teaching they can expect at university, and an essay relating to
the student’s chosen course. The work is set and marked by university tutors, and
completed after summer exams. If the A2B application is successful, with satisfactory
completion of the A2B Higher Education Learning Module, Birmingham will make a lower
conditional offer, typically amounting to a reduction of up to two A-level grades (e.g. ABB
rather than AAA).

University of Bristol

Access to Bristol is a programme of eight afternoon sessions designed to give prospective
students a taste of being a student at the University. The sessions are aimed at Year 12
students and priority is given to students who are the first in their family to go to university.

1
 Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, King’s College London, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle,
Warwick and York

                                                                          The Russell Group of Universities
                                                                                  www.russellgroup.ac.uk

University of Cambridge

HE+ is a project run by the University and its Colleges with local partnerships of state
schools and colleges. It is for Year 12 students who have the potential to make competitive
applications to Cambridge and other research-intensive universities; working with groups of
schools means that students who might be among only a few in their school considering
applying become part of a wider community. The programme offers activities that stretch and
challenge pupils academically, including extension classes and activities to develop
independent learning and research skills. It also provides them with advice and guidance
about applying, with opportunities to talk to Cambridge Admissions Tutors and Schools
Liaison Officers about university choices, making a competitive application and preparing for
interview. Participants may also attend masterclasses delivered by academics from the
University, providing them with a taste of subject areas which can be explored at university,
and visit one of the Cambridge Colleges to speak to current undergraduates. Of the students
who took part in HE+ in 2010-11, 42% of those who applied to Cambridge were made an
offer, compared to the University average of around 25%.

University of Cardiff

The Step-Up to Health Compact Scheme operates over three years starting in Year 11. It
gives pupils a range of opportunities to learn more about higher education and, in particular,
about health courses and health professions. It includes presentation evenings, student
mentors, a summer school, mentor shadowing and a conference on applying to university.

University of Edinburgh

Pathways to the Professions works with 46 state schools in Edinburgh and the Lothians to
encourage progression by under-represented students to professional courses in Medicine,
Veterinary Medicine, Law and Architecture. Working with schools, families and professional
bodies, the project supports and informs pupils from S4 to S6 (Years 11 to 13), their parents
and teachers regarding these professions. Providing guidance on entry requirements and
applying as well as delivering career exploration events and opportunities, Pathways also
employs trained student ambassadors, usually former participants, who provide valuable
input and act as role models. Pathways applicants also have access to subject specific
mentoring from the time they apply to the time they take up a place, and during their first
year. www.ed.ac.uk/student-recruitment/widening-participation/pathways

LEAPS Summer School is for eligible students holding one or more UCAS offers. Lasting 7
weeks, students undertake courses taught and assessed at degree-level by staff from a
range of universities. As well as giving pupils another opportunity to demonstrate their
academic potential to Admissions tutors, the Summer School offers the chance to develop
skills and build self-confidence in a friendly, supportive environment. Students who take part
in the summer school progress not only to partner HEIs but to HEIs all over Scotland and
beyond. http://www.leapsonline.org/activity-descriptor.html

University of Glasgow

The Top-Up Programme has been designed to help S5 and S6 (Years 12 and 13) school
pupils prepare for the transition from school to university or college and make informed
choices about their futures. In addition to equipping students for higher education, the

programme provides a portfolio of work that has been graded and a certificate for when they
apply to university.

King’s College London

Access to Medicine works to encourage and enable young people from eligible areas to
study at medical school or train for careers in the health service or biomedical sciences. It
includes the Extended Medical Degree Programme (EMDP), a six year medical degree
programme for students from disadvantaged backgrounds in targeted inner London
boroughs.

University of Leeds

Access to Leeds is a contextual admissions scheme which provides additional admissions
consideration to students from socially and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.
Applicants typically receive an offer two grades or 40 points below the standard offer.
Eligible students are flagged to admissions staff on application, or alternatively can apply
directly to the scheme. To keep their alternative offer students must complete and pass a
study skills module and a piece of assessed academic work allied to their chosen course.
Around 3000 applications are received annually through Access to Leeds and since its
inception over 1000 students have entered programmes at Leeds. In addition, Access to
Leeds applicants and other groups of applicants (i.e. mature entrants and care leavers) are
given priority for the university’s UK undergraduate scholarships. The success of Access to
Leeds and its participants is evidenced through the 97% retention rate – in line with the
wider student undergraduate body – and degree classification results which are also
equivalent to their peers.

University of Liverpool

The Liverpool Scholars Scheme is a specifically targeted programme for Year 12 students
from underrepresented groups. Scholars are given advice and support to help with gaining a
place at a research intensive university, which aids the transition between further and higher
education. On successful completion of the project, which includes an academic assignment,
applicants are given the equivalent of up to 40 UCAS points towards entry. Becoming a
Scholar also gives young people the maximum financial bursary from the university.

University of Manchester

The Manchester Access Programme is the University’s flagship equity programme for
Year 12/13 students in Greater Manchester. It supports the progression of talented
individuals from under-represented backgrounds to Manchester and other leading
universities and thereby contributes to long-term enhanced employment prospects and
social mobility. The programme is a two-year scheme for students who meet specific
academic and background criteria, enabling them to complete a portfolio of work
demonstrating specific knowledge and skills through a series of activities and tasks. These
include a 1,500 word academic assignment, a University Life Conference and a series of
seminars and workshops. Students who successfully complete the programme gain 40
UCAS points towards entry to The University of Manchester which takes account of the
additional evidence they provide through the completion of MAP.

Newcastle University

PARTNERS at Newcastle University involves over 120 state schools and colleges in the
North of England, and consists of a programme of interventions for young people to promote
the benefits of a university education. The events begin in primary schools, with one-to-one
student tutoring in schools, up to Year 13 events to support the progression and transition to
higher education. Activities include student shadowing experiences, subject taster events
and the opportunity to take part in summer schools designed to give students a taste of
university life, develop skills and support successful transition. All of these activities are
underpinned by the involvement of Student Ambassadors; current students at Newcastle
University who offer support at events and activities. Many of these Ambassadors have
taken part in the PARTNERS Programme themselves and so can offer first-hand experience
to potential students.

In addition to the chance to receive a guaranteed offer from the University for students from
PARTNERS schools and colleges, the PARTNERS Programme supported entry route offers
an alternative route in to Newcastle University for able students from widening participation
backgrounds. Through this route, students who have successfully completed an Assessed
Summer School can receive a PARTNERS offer which is slightly lower than the University’s
normal offer.

University of Nottingham

Ambition Nottingham is a free scheme for local students run by The University of
Nottingham. The aim of the scheme is to support entry to The University of Nottingham, or
other research-intensive universities, by offering a range of experiences and opportunities
that will help pupils prepare for and progress to higher education. After running Ambition
Nottingham for sixth-form students, the scheme is being introduced at GCSE level.

’Nottingham Potential Summer School’ participants are flagged up in the admissions process
and those that enrol as undergraduates are guaranteed a £1000 Nottingham Potential
bursary for each year of study. The University uses comparable contextual information on
home postcode and school performance in assessing all UK applicants. This allows
applicants to be flagged up and given preferential treatment in the admissions process.

University of Oxford

Following a very generous donation from an alumnus, through the Helsington Foundation,
the UNIQ summer schools programme was established to widen access to the University of
Oxford. The programme aims to inform Year 12 state school students of the opportunities
Oxford has to offer just a few months before they return to school and make their
applications to university. Students apply for a specific subject strand (ranging from Medicine
to Art History) and the week long summer school aims to give them a realistic view of an
undergraduate timetable. Throughout the week, participants meet current Oxford
undergraduates, alumni, and admissions tutors, as well as having tutorials, utilising Oxford’s
network of libraries, and social activities.

In 2012, UNIQ received 3,400 applications for 750 places across 28 academic strands.
UNIQ will expand to offer 850 places for next year’s summer schools. Of the 2011 UNIQ
participants , 68 per cent applied the University for 2012 entry (444 out of 647). Of these,
185 gained offers for 2012 entry and 168 are now studying at Oxford. For more information,
please visit www.uniq.ox.ac.uk

The Pathways Programme is an initiative coordinated by the Colleges of the University of
Oxford, with support from the Sutton Trust. The programme aims to provide information,
advice and guidance on higher education and Oxford to academically able students, and
staff members, in non-selective state schools with little history of student progression to
Oxford. All events are run in Oxford, and are free to attend. The programme is distinctive in
the way it includes tailored events for each year group, working with a small cohort in each
school through the four years of the programme. It is a collaboration between Oxford's
undergraduate colleges, which work together to coordinate and run the events.

The programme works with specifically targeted state schools across the UK. On the whole
these are schools without sixth forms or with little, if any, history of sending students to
Oxford. More information on the Oxford Pathways Programme can be found on its
webpage.

Queen Mary, University of London

The Access to Dentistry scheme aims to raise aspirations and awareness of dentistry as a
career pathway among students from groups that are significantly under-represented within
the profession. Access to Dentistry is a long-term project, with age-appropriate interventions
at Years 5-6, Year 8, Years 9-10 and Years 11-12. All Students who have completed the
Access to Dentistry programme, who meet Queen Mary’s minimum entry requirements will
be guaranteed an interview for a place on the undergraduate dentistry course.

University of Sheffield

Sheffield’s Outreach and Access to Medicine Scheme (SOAMS) is a well established
scheme that gives local students who have the potential to become good doctors from
currently under-represented groups in higher education the opportunity to study for a degree
in Medicine or in allied courses. Access to Dental Occupations: Practice and Tutoring
(ADOPT) is a two-year programme for students starting in Year 12 who are considering a
career in dentistry (as a dentist, or hygienist and therapist).

Discover Law is a two-year programme that aims to raise awareness and aspirations to
study towards a legal profession at university. The programme offers young people
opportunities to experience real life cases in one of the Sheffield Law Courts and talk to a
Judge or Barrister, visit the Galleries of Justice and see how the law and its punishments
have changed over the ages, participate in Law taster sessions and team building activities,
visit and talk with inmates at a local prison and visit the Royal Courts of Justice and either a
London Law firm or Parliament. This highly interactive programme of activities gives
participants a full appreciation of the variety of legal professions available as well as
encouraging them to consider entering university to study for the relevant qualifications.

University of Southampton

The Access to Southampton (A2S) scheme is designed to provide special consideration
and financial support to eligible students. A2S consists of a Summer School in Year 12,
including an assessed undergraduate-style assignment, and a Transition and Skills event in
Year 13, which assists prospective students in the transition from school/college to higher
education. In addition, the participants are provided with a University of Southampton e-

mentor in Year 13. Successful applicants will receive an alternative offer, as well as a £1000
bursary in their first year of study.

University of Warwick

Warwick AWARDS (Access to Warwick Degrees) was established to enable prospective
students, through completion of an additional form, to provide the university with information
to supplement the UCAS form. Often it is not easy to explain personal circumstances on the
UCAS form, so Warwick provides an opportunity for pupils to do so if, for example, they have
faced family difficulties, financial restrictions, ill health, or restricted choices at school or
college. This information is then taken into account when considering the application.

University of York

The University of York Access Scheme aims to facilitate access to the University for
applicants who have faced challenges – social, personal or educational – which may have
affected their performance in education. It allows applicants to provide additional information
to the University alongside their UCAS application, which admissions selectors will take into
account. Access to York students also receive additional support both before they start their
studies and in the first weeks of term.