A third of pupils who engage in UCL Access and Widening Participation events go onto apply to UCL

Recent data shows that 38% of the students who engaged in UCL Access and Widening Participation activities in 2022-23, went onto apply to study at UCL.

The application rate has increased from 35% in 2021-22. This means that that over a third of Year 13 pupils made an application to enter higher education at UCL, indicating a positive correlation between attending UCL Access and Widening Participation events and activities and applying to study at UCL as a result. UCL was also in the top three university destinations for this cohort of students. 

View a short summary of the Access and WP Impact report here (UCL login required)

The UCL Access and Widening Participation team run events and activities which are designed to give students a greater insight into UCL’s degree programmes and student life as well raising aspirations of students from groups who are underrepresented at university. The 2022-2023 academic year saw a return to pre-pandemic levels of activities delivered by the team, as well as total number of participants engaged with. 65% of activities were delivered in person and 35% online. Post-event survey results showed that a positive intention to apply to university and/or UCL. Over half of the Year 12 Sutton Trust Summer School students went onto apply to study at UCL whilst 94% of these students felt that they would ‘fit in’ at UCL. 

Bryan, a Sutton Trust Summer School participant, said: 

“It has really positively impacted me…Every day and every lesson I experienced something new – which has built me up a bit more as a character - socially, knowledge wise. It has helped me to define my ideas more clearly by coming to the summer school. It has made me certain that I want to go to university.” 

Meanwhile 84% of Discover UCL Summer School students said they would apply to study at UCL. Discover UCL is the summer school for deaf and hard of hearing students in Year 12. This intention is reflected in enrolment data which shows an increase of 22% in enrolment rates at UCL for students with disabilities, the largest increase across the Access and Widening Participation priority groups. 

A Discover UCL Summer School participant said: 

“I just wanted to say a huge thank you to the team. I really enjoyed today especially meeting with other people who are also deaf/hearing impaired. It was also great to meet and to hear what other deaf/hearing impaired professionals have gone through in order to be in a position where they are today. Thank you so much for the experience.”  

Recent data also shows that the UCL Access and Widening Participation team are reaching a wider range of participants from priority groups including 61% first-generation students, 13% students with disabilities and 26% Black students.

A participant from the Envision UCL programme said: 

“The insight into university life as a black person was life changing as it rid me of all worries about being at a top university as a black person.” 

This is also reflected in the application rate for 22-23 where of the Access and WP past participants who applied to study at UCL, there were 34% of Black students, 41% of students who are in receipt of Free School Meals, 42% of first generation students, 34% of students with disabilities and 24% of care experienced students. 

Data also shows that progression into higher education was much higher than the national average for students that had engaged with UCL Access and Widening Participation activities, within 2 years of their expected entry year. This could indicate a positive correlation with having sustained engagement with the team and their events in terms of progressing to higher education.  

Lucie March, Head of UCL Access and Widening Participation, said: 

“These results represent the excellent work of the Access and Widening Participation Office, it's encouraging to see a return to pre-pandemic levels of activity. We reach a wide range of students who are from groups less likely to go to university, so we are thrilled to see such a high application rate from our participants.”

View a short summary of the Access and WP Impact report here (UCL login required)

You can hear more about these findings and hear about the wide range of widening participation & student success work taking place at UCL at the Widening Participation & Student Success Community of Practice Awards taking place on 1st Feb 2024

Further Links

• UCL alumna selected as part of 100 faces campaign
• Widening Participation & Student Success Community of Practice Awards Feb 2024
• UCL's Access and Participation Plan for 2020/21-2024/25
• News from UCL's Access and Widening Participation team
• Learn more about the Access and Widening Participation Priority Groups
• Events and activities for Years 12-13
• Events and activities for Years 7-11