Supporting our Young People into University - Our Guide

One key talking point when visiting Newcastle University on our recent trips, was discussing the range of routes and support available to students from varying backgrounds, to ensure that they can still access the opportunities that more privileged students can access. This ranges from reduced grade offers, to financial support whilst at university, to a support network of similar students before they begin university; we have collated this helpful guide of some of these access schemes available in the North East.

Newcastle University PARTNERS scheme

Newcastle University offer a lower contextual offer of up to 3 A Level grades (or equivalent) lower than the standard offer, the opportunity to meet other students before beginning university, the chance to develop essential skills to be successful at university and support from applying to starting university. These benefits are based on applying for the PARTNERS scheme and attending the free PARTNERS Academic Summer School in the summer of year 13.

Receiving a lower contextual offer takes the pressure off those end of year 13 exams or coursework, as students could need BBB rather than AAA for example. This also opens doors for students achieving slightly lower grades to still attend one of the top third universities in the country. Attending the summer school also gives you a taster of what university life is like, preparing you for September, and making the transition a little less daunting.

There is a huge variety of eligibility criteria, and you only have to meet one of these, meaning a huge number of students can access this incredible offer. Some of the eligibility criteria include living in an area where few people complete higher education or that has high levels of socio-economic deprivation, attending a low performing school, if neither of your parents have a degree, experiencing time in care, or if you have a disability or long-term health condition. This year, if you are applying to study maths, engineering, physics or natural and environmental science, you are eligible for this programme too!

Find out more here- https://www.ncl.ac.uk/partners/how-to-apply/eligibility/ 

Durham University Supported Progression

Durham’s summer school programmes support students who are typically underrepresented in higher education, giving students the opportunity to attend events and activities during years 12 and 13 to gain an insight into university life at Durham. Students who complete this programme get a guaranteed reduced offer, the chance to experience student life at a free summer residential, develop their personal and academic skills, and gain support, advice and extra information about applying to university.

This opportunity is only available to students in the North East who attend a state school with low attainment and progression rates to higher education. Students must also be high achieving with at least 8 GCSE grades at grade 6 or above. This is a specific opportunity for local students to experience life at one of the top universities in the country!

Find out more here- https://www.durham.ac.uk/visit-us/schools/access-engagement/supported-progression/ 

Sunderland University Medstart

This opportunity is also specifically for students at schools or colleges in the North East who are looking to apply to study medicine at Sunderland University. This programme includes a series of targeted medicine sessions, aiming to teach students the skills required to excel in their application and interview to study medicine. Sessions include ‘A Day in the Life of a Doctor’, hospital clinical experience, UCAT workshops and an introduction to life as a medical student. Students are given opportunities to learn about medicine through simulations and teaching sessions, as well as meeting new people with similar interests. If you attend all sessions and meet the academic requirements, you will be guaranteed an interview for their competitive medicine course!

Details about eligibility criteria are available on their website: https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/study/medicine/med-start/ 

Destination Northumbria

Northumbria University also offer contextual offers or Destination Northumbria points, which equal to UCAS tariff points, for students who meet certain eligibility criteria. Alongside this, students will also receive information and advice to support their transition to university, and the opportunity to attend social activities and networking events.

Details about this opportunity are available here- https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/study-at-northumbria/information-for-schools-and-colleges/supported-entry-schemes/destination-northumbria/ 

Realising Opportunities

This is a programme which connects high performing year 12 students to leading universities, including Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield and Nottingham. If schools sign up to this programme, students are more likely to go to a leading university, get a higher degree result and secure a graduate job after finishing university. The programme helps students from underrepresented groups to realise the opportunities available to them, be part of a network of prestigious universities, and gain support in preparing for university life. Successful completion of the two-year programme allows students to be given lower grade offers across all 14 of their partner universities.

Students must meet at least two eligibility criteria, including living in an area of high socio-economic deprivation, being the first generation in your family to attend university, being entitled to free school meals or discretionary payments, attending a low performing school or being a young carer/estranged/spent time in care.

Find out more here- https://www.realisingopportunities.ac.uk/eligibility/ 

Sutton Trust

The Sutton Trust offer one-week Summer Schools at a variety of partner universities, providing students opportunities to experience university life, gain an insight into their chosen subject, receive application support and make new friends. This allows students to spend a week living in university accommodation, attending lectures and activities related to their chosen course and experience the social activities on offer at university.

They also offer Pathways to Medicine or Law, which are two-year programmes, whilst in sixth form or college. These pathways include the opportunity to go on a work experience placement, weekend skill workshops and information sessions, mentoring opportunities, networking events, university taster days, application support and a summer residential! Students must live a 90-minute commute away from a partner university due to the nature of the pathway, therefore the closest university for the medicine pathway is Newcastle, and the closest university for the law pathway is Leeds.

Find out more here- https://summerschools.suttontrust.com/ 

https://pathwaysprogrammes.suttontrust.com/ 

Offers for high performing athletes

Many universities also offer reduced contextual offers of up to two grades lower than the standard offer for athletes who compete at a regional, national or international level in their sport. Alternatively, many universities also offer scholarships for athletes, for example Northumbria University offers financial support, a kit package, specialist coaching, support and advice and much more.

Research specific universities to find out their offers for athletes.

Many universities also offer contextual offers of one to two grades lower than the standard offer for varying eligibility criteria, without having to complete a summer school or access programme. These criteria vary from university to university and from year to year but may include your home postcode, being in care, being the first one in your family to go to university, having free school meals or going to state school etc.

Additional Financial Support

Once at university, there is a whole host of financial support available for students who may need it, on top of tuition and maintenance loans. For example, Newcastle University give out Opportunity Scholarships of up to £2,000 per year for students whose household income is lower than £35,000 a year, and this does not need to be paid back. They also offer four St Nicholas’ Educational Trust Scholarships of £1,250 per year for students with a specific NE postcode. They also offer a variety of subject-specific scholarships. Find out more on their website- https://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees-funding/scholarships-bursaries/ 

All universities will offer a range of scholarships and bursaries which students may be eligible for, so make sure to do your research. Universities will also offer financial advice and support in places such as the careers service, student union or student wellbeing service, which all students can access at any point during their academic journey. There will be trained advisors who can give professional advice to students about any of their money-related issues. Therefore, whilst it may seem like a scary topic at first, there are many opportunities for support with finances whilst at university.

Glad to have helped...

We hope this guide is helpful for students to see that university is accessible for students from less privileged backgrounds, and that even high-ranking universities are developing schemes to enable more students to attend. All students deserve to access further education if they wish to, and universities do offer both financial support and application support for those who would benefit.