This Access to Leeds scheme is part of the University of Leeds' commitment to widening participation, supporting access and improving outcomes for students.
In its first year, Access to Leeds received 92 applications and registered 25 students. By 2023, nearly 8,000 applicants to Leeds were eligible for the scheme, and over 1,000 students were accepted onto degree programmes, constituting 18% of the undergraduate cohort.
The support offered by Access to Leeds starts before students arrive at Leeds with the Access to Leeds module, which eligible applicants follow during their Year 13 summer term at school or college.
The module is a remote programme that is completed on the university's virtual learning platform. It comprises study skill workshops designed to strengthen students’ writing, referencing and critical reading abilities, putting them on a level footing with others more likely to have developed these skills at school.
The module culminates in a subject-specific task with guidance from a university tutor who marks the work and provides feedback, familiarising students with university-style assessments prior to starting their degree, and provides an insight into what to expect as a Leeds student.
Over the past five years, 86% of students from areas of low participation in higher education (LPN) who completed Access to Leeds achieved 2:1 or higher, in contrast to 81% of students who were also from an LPN area but did not complete Access to Leeds.
More information about the support under-represented students can receive before and during university through the Access to Leeds programme is available from the university's Student Success Team.
