Our commitments to access and participation

We are a selective university with an embedded commitment to widening participation, diversity and equity. Our Access and Participation plans, approved by the Office for Students, and the Office for Students fee summaries detail our expected fee income from Home/EU students and our ambition and strategy to widen access and participation.

Provider fee information

Read previous access and participation plans on the OfS website.

Transparency information

The information published in this document shows the number of students who attained a particular degree or other academic award, or a particular level of such an award, on completion of their course with us. It shows these numbers by reference to:

  • the gender of the individuals to which they relate
  • their ethnicity
  • their socioeconomic background

Transparency data 2023 (Excel, 35kb)

For more information about our access and participation work please contact the Education Services.

University staff can visit the internal access and participation plan pages (log-in required) for more information.

What is an access and participation plan?

Access and participation plans set out how higher education providers will improve equality of opportunity for underrepresented groups to access, succeed in and progress from higher education.

The plans include: the provider’s ambition for change, what it plans to do to achieve that change, the targets it has set, the investment it will make to deliver the plan.

Our current institutional access and participation plan runs from 2020/21 to 2024/25.

Who needs to have an access and participation plan?

English higher education providers are required to have an approved access and participation plan if wish to charge higher tuition fees for home/EU undergraduate and ITT (initial teacher training) students.

Which groups of students are underrepresented in higher education?

Students categorised as being underrepresented in higher education are:

  • Those living in areas of low higher education participation (POLAR4) or from lower household income or socioeconomic status backgrounds (English Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD))
  • Black, Asian and minority ethnic students (BAME)
  • Mature students (over 21)
  • Disabled students (those in receipt of DSA and those who have declared a disability but are not in receipt of DSA)
  • Care leavers.

The OfS also consider the groups below as underrepresented in higher education:

  • Carers
  • People estranged from their families
  • People from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
  • Refugees
  • Children from military families.

I am a student at the university, which access and participation plan applies to me?

The access and participation plan that applies to you is based on the academic year that you started your current studies with us, even if the University introduces a new plan in subsequent years. All plans can be accessed via the Office for Students' website.

What activities has the university undertaken as part of its access and participation plan?

As part of our commitment to equality of opportunity for underrepresented groups, we deliver a broad range of activities, including but not limited to:

Previous access and participationpPlans detail activities delivered prior to the current academic year. These can be accessed via the Office for Students’ website.

Access

Our mission is to provide students from all backgrounds with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their future. We have a broad range of enrichment activities, information sessions and progression programmes available for all year groups including access to HE students in schools, colleges and communities, online and on campus to widen access to higher education.

schools@leicester.ac.uk

Transition

We know the transition to university can be a challenge for everyone. That's why we launched our transition support programme for offer holders at Leicester. This programmes provides our future students with relevant resources, guidance and academic support as and when they need it, from May all the way through the summer, right up to the very first class in October.

admissions@leicester.ac.uk

Academic

We are here to help our students from the moment they start at the University of Leicester until they graduate. Students can also access our Centre for Academic Achievement through the Library.

Inclusivity is at the heart of our education strategy and we are continually looking to broaden our understanding of the issues associated with it.

Read the case study on tackling racial inequalities in assessment in HE (PDF, 413kb)

Wellbeing

As well as our academic support, students can access support through the Information Hub in the David Wilson Library. The Students' Union also provides a range of support services for students.

Learn more about wellbeing at Leicester

Employability

We encourage students to think about their career, from the moment they arrive at the University. We help develop the skills, knowledge, experience and confidence for whatever they want to go onto next.

Prepare yourself for the future with our specialised career development services

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