Impact

Impact

Real-world examples highlighting the positive economic, societal and cultural impacts of Russell Group universities in every region and nation of the UK.

Feature: Access & participation

19 February 2025
Impact story
Access & participation
University of Exeter

University of Exeter's bespoke access pathway for mature students

A mature student working in a classroom
20 January 2025
Impact story
Access & participation
UCL

UCL partnerships are widening access to HE for pupils across London

15 February 2025
Impact story
Access & participation
Research
University of Warwick

The Warwick study making life better for care leavers

17 January 2025
Impact story
Access & participation
University of Oxford

Opening new access pathways to Oxford

Research
University of Oxford

The Oxford research that led to a coronavirus vaccine

Vital QR funding supported Oxford researchers to pivot and adapt existing work to develop a coronavirus vaccine

Covid vaccine
Access & participation
University of Exeter

University of Exeter's bespoke access pathway for mature students

The Mature Access Pathway (MAP) was launched to support mature students - those over the age of 21 applying to study their first undergraduate degree - in their progression to higher education.

A mature student working in a classroom
Access & participation
UCL

UCL partnerships are widening access to HE for pupils across London

Through access and widening participation work, UCL reaches around 1,000 schools and colleges each year, working with teachers and pupils from aged seven until 18

Research
University of Sheffield

Building a global Advanced Manufacturing hub in Sheffield

The University of Sheffield transformed the former Orgreave coking plant – the site of violent clashes between pickets and police during the miners’ strike in 1984 - into a global hub for advanced manufacturing…

Access & participation
University of Liverpool

Upskilling Liverpool school students in maths, science and computing

The University of Liverpool Maths School (ULMaS) is the first school in the North West of England to specialise in delivering an academic curriculum focused around A-levels in maths, further maths, computer science…

Students and staff outside the University of Liverpool Maths School
Research
University of Liverpool

Unilever and the University of Liverpool

Supported by QR funding, Liverpool and Unilever's long-term strategic partnership established the Materials Innovation Factory (MIF) – a world-class centre for materials chemistry and microbiome research.

The exterior of the Materials Innovation Factory building in Liverpool
Innovation
Research
University of Glasgow

Strengthening Scotland's sovereign capabilities in critical technologies

The Critical Technologies Accelerator (CTA), a University of Glasgow programme, aims to strengthen Scotland's manufacturing base by developing semiconductor, photonics and quantum technologies essential for…

Access & participation
University of Cambridge

A stepping stone to Cambridge for students facing disadvantage

The Cambridge Foundation Year is a unique course intended to provide a stepping stone to Cambridge for students who have been prevented from realising their potential due to educational disadvantage or disruption.​…

Innovation
Research
University of Bristol

Bristol’s quantum phenomenon

The University of Bristol has sparked a revolution in quantum information science, technology and innovation, generating a vibrant quantum ecosystem to take research out of the lab and into the real world.

A researcher at Bristol works in the state-of-the-art Quantum Engineering Technology Labs