Opening Doors: Understanding and overcoming the barriers to university access

30 January 2015

Updated: In 2015 we published 'Opening Doors: Understanding and Overcoming Barriers to Access' which looked at the progress our universities had made in widening access and participation from students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Since then we have published Pathways to Potential (2020) which builds on this work, recognising continued progress and making further recommendations on how to tackle educational inequality, with the understanding that universities, the regulator, Government and wider society have to work together at the highest level to help ensure that the most talented people in society are never held back by background or circumstance. 

Download our latest report, plus case studies of how our universities are addressing these issues below.

Pathways for Potential - Full report

How universities, regulators and Government can tackle educational inequality

Download (PDF)

Pathways for Potential - Summary

How universities, regulators and Government can tackle educational inequality - Summary 

Download (PDF)

Pathways for Potential - Case Studies

Examples from Access and Participation work being carried out by each of our 24 members, which aligns with the principles laid out in the Pathways For Potential report.

Download (PDF)

If you are looking for the 2015 Opening Doors report, please contact us.

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At the University of Edinburgh, football is being used in an innovative way to reach some of the groups least likely to apply to university.

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