Widening Participation

As well as providing outreach to schools and colleges across the country, the Widening Participation team can offer bespoke guidance to students who may need additional support in order to access Higher Education.

Our Widening Participation Officers can meet with students and/or their supporters to discuss the support Edge Hill can offer, and can also arrange bespoke visits to campus. To find out more about the support we can provide for specific students, please see the tabs below.

What is Widening Participation?

The term “widening participation” refers to the activity undertaken by institutions to develop and support the aspirations and attainment of students from different social groups who may not normally consider Higher Education as an option, or are under-represented within HE.

Groups of students who may be identified in relation to widening participation include:

  • Students who are or have been eligible for pupil premium funding / Ever6 free school meals
  • Students from low-participation neighbourhoods (where very few people go on to higher education)
  • Students who are the first generation in their family to go to university
  • Students who have experience of being in care of their Local Authority
  • Students who are estranged from their family
  • Students who have caring responsibilities
  • Students living with a disability or mental health condition
  • Students from an ethnic minority
  • Students who have refugee status
  • Students from military families
  • Individuals who are returning to learning as mature students

Edge Hill University has a long-standing commitment to widening access to higher education, and the theme of opportunity for all is a key component of the institution’s vision.

For more information on our WP outreach activity, please contact our Widening Participation Officer, Anna Wooley.

Care Leavers

Students leaving care to enter into Higher Education may be eligible to access a variety of support both pre-entry and whilst studying on-course at Edge Hill University.

Dedicated points of contact

The dedicated pre-entry point of contact in the Student Recruitment team can offer bespoke information and advice on accessing Higher Education and can work with students on a 1 to 1 or group basis. Our member of staff can visit students in their own educational institution, as well as organize bespoke tailored visits to the University campus to meet with current students and staff.
Additionally, after students have started at Edge Hill University, they may also wish to access guidance and support from our on-course contact in Student Services. The dedicated member of staff can help students to make the most of their time at University and complete their course successfully. Student Services can also support eligible Care Leaver students to apply for the EHU Care Leavers bursary, as well as guidance in accessing potential employability development opportunities whilst on-course.
Furthermore, within the Careers team, students can also talk to a dedicated team member about their career aspirations, finding part-time work or experience, or any potential barriers or concerns they may have regarding employment.

Financial Support

Eligible Care Leaver students may also be able to access an annual bursary of £1000 for up to a maximum of three years whilst studying at Edge Hill, and may also be able access further funding from our Student Support fund.
On-course students can also apply for a grant of up to £2000 from our Student Opportunity Fund to support a career-enhancing project, initiative or opportunity that will enrich their student experience and enable them to stand out in a competitive environment.

365-day accommodation

Eligible care leaver students studying at Edge Hill University may also be able to access a room in the University Halls of Residence for 365 days a year, for the three years of their degree course.
If students do not wish to live in halls of residence on-campus, the Accommodation Team can also provide support in helping students to search for accommodation both during term time and the vacation period.

If you have questions or would like more information, please get in touch with our pre-entry point of contact, Anna Wooley, who will be happy to discuss the support available to students looking to access Higher Education.

Anna also works with educational practitioners, school/college staff and Virtual Head Teachers to offer support to students in care/about to leave care, and would welcome enquiries from anyone seeking support for their students.

Estranged Students

 

You may identify as an estranged student if you are a young person who is studying without the support of a family network due to a breakdown in relationships. This may mean that you have no contact at all or sporadic contact with your family.

If you are a student who is estranged from your family, then you can access support from Edge Hill University both pre-entry and whilst on-course studying with us.

Dedicated points of contact

Our dedicated pre-entry point of contact in the Student Recruitment team can offer bespoke information and advice on accessing Higher Education and can work with students on a 1 to 1 or group basis. Our member of staff can visit students in their own educational institution, as well as organize bespoke tailored visits to the University campus to meet with current students and staff.
Additionally, after students have started at Edge Hill University, they may also wish to access guidance and support from our on-course contact in Student Services. The dedicated member of staff can help students to make the most of their time at University and complete their course successfully. Student Services can also support students to apply for additional sources of funding support, as well as offer guidance in accessing employability development opportunities whilst on-course.
Furthermore, within the Careers team, students can also talk to a dedicated team member about their career aspirations, finding part-time work or experience, or any potential barriers or concerns they may have regarding employment.

Financial Support

Eligible students studying at Edge Hill could be entitled to apply for further funding through our Student Support Fund and can access guidance and support in applying for this from our dedicated point of contact in Student Services.
On-course undergraduate and PGCE students at Edge Hill University can also apply for up to £2000 from the Student Opportunity Fund, in order to support a career-enhancing project, initiative or opportunity that will enrich their student experience and enhance their employability and transferable skills.

Accommodation

If you need any advice or guidance on finding somewhere to live while you study with us, our dedicated Accommodation Team can help. We can offer you support in applying for accommodation both on or off-campus, whether during term-time or the vacation period.

If you have questions or would like more information, please get in touch with our pre-entry point of contact, Anna Wooley, who will be happy to discuss the support available to students looking to access Higher Education.

Anna also works with educational practitioners and other school/college staff to offer support to students who may be estranged from their family, and would welcome enquiries from anyone seeking support for their students.

Young Adult Carers

Students with caring responsibilities entering into Higher Education may be eligible to access a variety of support both pre-entry and whilst studying on-course at Edge Hill University.

Dedicated points of contact

Our dedicated pre-entry point of contact in the Student Recruitment team can offer bespoke information and advice on accessing Higher Education and can work with students on a 1 to 1 or group basis. Our member of staff can visit students in their own educational institution, as well as organize bespoke tailored visits to the University campus to meet with current students and staff.
Additionally, after students have started at Edge Hill University, they may also wish to access guidance and support from our staff in Student Services. The team can help students to make the most of their time at University and complete their course successfully.
Furthermore, within the Careers team, students can also talk to a dedicated team member about their career aspirations, finding part-time work or experience, or any potential barriers or concerns they may have regarding employment.

Financial Support

Eligible students studying at Edge Hill could be entitled to apply for further funding through our Student Support Fund, and can access guidance and support in applying for this from our dedicated point of contact in Student Services. On-course undergraduate and PGCE students at Edge Hill University can also apply for up to £2000 from the Student Opportunity Fund, in order to support a career-enhancing project, initiative or opportunity that will enrich their student experience and enhance their employability and transferable skills.

If you have questions or would like more information, please get in touch with our pre-entry point of contact, Anna Wooley, who will be happy to discuss the support available to students looking to access Higher Education.

Anna also works with educational practitioners and other school/college staff to offer support to students who may have caring responsibilities, and would welcome enquiries from anyone seeking support for their students.

Mature Students

If you are over the age of 21, UCAS (the University and Colleges Admissions Service) will consider you to be a “Mature Student”. Edge Hill University recognises and values the skills, motivation and life experiences that mature students can bring to university life. However, we also recognise that some of you may have other practical and financial commitments that may make studying a degree a difficult decision.

We are here to give you honest and clear information to help you make an informed decision that’s right for you.

Dedicated points of contact

Mature students have a dedicated Recruitment Officer who can offer bespoke information and advice on accessing Higher Education. Our member of staff can visit students in college to deliver group sessions and can also offer one-to -one support if required.
Once students choose to study at Edge Hill, there is also a wealth of support services available to them including wellbeing and counselling, disability support and money and careers advice.
There is also the opportunity to join the Mature Students Society via our Students Union.

Financial Support

Bespoke financial advice is available through our Money Advice Team who can advise you on what extra financial support may be available to you if, for example, you have children, dependants or a partner who is also a student. On-course students can also apply for a grant of up to £2000 from our Student Opportunity Fund to support a career-enhancing project, initiative or opportunity that will enrich their student experience and enable them to stand out in a competitive environment.

If you have questions or would like more information, please get in touch with our Recruitment Officer point of contact, Louise Macrae, who will be happy to discuss the support available to students looking to access Higher Education.

Widening Participation Activities

As part of our Widening Participation work, we currently run both stand-alone events and extended outreach programmes which are designed to support aspiration to HE for students in currently in secondary school who meet our WP criteria. For more information on these programmes, please visit our dedicated webpages.

For students in sixth form or college, who are considering entry into HE and meet our WP criteria, we can also offer bespoke 1 to 1 or small group sessions which are designed to support students during the HE application process. For more information, please contact our WP Officer Anna Wooley.

Additionally, Edge Hill University also runs a two year Widening Access to Medicine programme which is designed to support local students from state schools who have the ability and personal attributes to be successful in their application for a place in medical school. For more information on the WAM programme please visit our dedicated webpages

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