Access

The goal of our strategy is to increase knowledge of study and career paths, and the benefits of HE for Access and Participation Plan eligible pupils. We identify and work with target schools and colleges with the highest proportions of young people from underrepresented backgrounds.

Pupils from these schools are prioritised for many of our activities, including campus visits, residential events and opportunities to take part in our Progressive Programmes. In addition, we provide financial support towards transport to facilitate visits to the university.

* This figure represents participants with confirmed free school meal (FSM) status. More of our participants are likely to have been FSM eligible.

Our residential events, which form part of our outreach strategy, provide a range of activities including workshops, taster sessions and social activities, designed to enable participants to gain an insight into their subject area of interest and experience university life.

The Athena STEM programme, funded by philanthropic donations from Ford Motor Company, aims to address the underrepresentation of female-identifying students enrolled on STEM courses and progressing into related careers. The programme involves a four-day and three-night residential with fifty Year 10 young people, who also meet Access and Participation Plan eligibility criteria.

Following the residential event, 54% of attendees indicated that they had increased their understanding of different STEM subjects available at university, and 92% believed that university study could be an option for them, and that they would like to study at least one STEM subject in the future.

We run Engineering Experience, a two-day and one-night residential, for Access and Participation Plan eligible Year 11 young people who are interested in degrees and careers in Engineering.

Participants take part in a varied programme of engineering-focused activities, which include subject-based practical sessions, meetings with alumni and careers advice. 

Following the event, 82% of our attendees rated themselves as very or extremely knowledgeable about engineering courses at university. 

Our Progressive Programmes offer young people in Years 12-13 the opportunity to engage with us over a sustained period to facilitate their progression to HE.

Our own LUDUS Gold two-year sustained Progressive Programme offers a wide range of activities and events to support participants to increase their knowledge of study and career choices, develop study skills and make a successful transition to university.

On successful completion of the programme, participants are eligible for a reduced offer through our Contextual Admissions Policy.

Once at Loughborough, students become part of the Success Programme offered by the Student Success Academy and are encouraged to apply for our paid Student Ambassador roles.

We are also part of Realising Opportunities, a collaboration of research-intensive universities offering a Programme to students focused on providing information, advice and guidance, developing skills and supporting their progression to HE.

We are committed to making Loughborough accessible by considering academic qualifications in the context in which they have been achieved. 

In the 2023/24 application cycle, we continued to adapt admissions policies and processes to reduce potential barriers and better identify those underrepresented in higher education with the potential to succeed.