Widening participation aims to ensure that the higher education sector is an open and inclusive environment, representative of the society we live in.
Here at Lancaster University, we believe in:
For more information on our approach to widening participation, please see our Strategy and Engagement page, where you can read our Access and Participation Plan.
National access programme for Year 12 and 13 students
Coaching and support initiative for LU undergraduate students
Careers-focused scheme for current LU undergraduate and postgraduate students
Formerly known as The Children & Young People’s Partnership, our Early Years Interventions provides outreach activities that seek to raise young people’s awareness and understanding of higher education through meaningful and positive interactions with the institution and its students.
From pre-school to secondary school, our innovative projects enable pupils and students alike to take part in fun and engaging outreach opportunities both on and off campus.
Our framework of activities also supports schools in meeting the Ofsted and Gatsby 7 benchmark with on-campus activities working to accompany the National Curriculum.
For more information or to get involved, find out more on our Early Years Interventions page.
The Role Model Ambassador Project is an outreach initiative working with current Lancaster students and young people in Year 9 - Year 13 from the British South Asian community in the North West.
The project comprises of a series of Role Model Ambassador visits, community events and Madrasah workshops, sessions in local faith and non-faith schools and on campus events.
If you would like to get involved in the Role Model Ambassador Project or learn more about upcoming events, then please get in touch via wp@lancaster.ac.uk.
Starting in 2025, the Uncover Progress Programme is an exciting project working with Black students across the UK offering mentoring, tailored conferences and access to university insight events, supported by our team of current students.
As part of our commitment to improving social mobility and widening access to higher education for all, we take a holistic approach to reviewing applications and aim to understand as much as possible about our applicants and their potential.
All degree courses are included in the Contextual Offer Scheme, with the exception of MBChB Medicine and Surgery and MBChB Medicine and Surgery with a Gateway Year, which has a separate contextual offer scheme.
For more information on our contextual offers schemes, please visit the contextual admissions page.
The Research Internships are paid work experience opportunities for Lancaster University undergraduate students who meet widening participation criteria.
For more information on this opportunity, please visit the research internships page.
At Lancaster, we are investing in the future of our students by enabling access to a world-class education. We believe that funding concerns should not stop any student with the talent to thrive.
There may be some financial support initiatives that will be of particular interest to you:
To find out more, please visit the Scholarship and Bursaries webpage.
Our library team offers resources for teachers who are interested in visiting the library for a research day or tour, as well as students who are interested in undertaking research before university such as for the Extended Project Qualification or International Baccalaureate.
For more information on these resources, please see our Schools and Colleges LibGuides page.
Lancaster University's Medical School offers a range of activities for students interested in studying medicine, as well as resources for teachers.
The Morecambe Bay Curriculum aims to ensure that the different stages of the education system, from early years to postgraduate, provide the green skills, knowledge, and behaviours required by businesses and our communities to respond to climate emergencies.
The curriculum is supported and delivered by teachers, early years practitioners, researchers, health professionals and community leaders who recognise that a collective approach is critical to tackling the climate emergency and creating opportunities for young people.
We have created a series of online activities to help upcoming Lancaster University students with moving to university life.
The Ready for University course contains advice and guidance as well as tips and stories from students who were once in the same position as you. It is available for Lancaster University students once you have registered online and set up your IT account.
Smart Start is a free, online pre-arrival course available to incoming Lancaster University students. It is designed to help new students to make the transition to living and studying independently at University, and is offered as an additional module in the Ready for University course.
For more information on Ready for University, please see our Ready for University webpage on ASK.
For more information on Smart Start, please see our Smart Start webpage on ASK.
As care leavers and estranged students can face unique challenges when transitioning to University, we may be able to offer specialist support, including:
For more information for care leavers, please see our Support for Care Leavers page.
For more information for estranged students, please see our Support for Estranged Students page.
Our friendly teams work together to deliver our activities and are here to answer any queries you may have.
General Enquiries: wp@lancaster.ac.uk
Lancaster Access Programme: lap@lancaster.ac.uk
Lancaster Success Programme: studentsuccess@lancaster.ac.uk
Realising Opportunities: realisingopportunities@lancaster.ac.uk
GROW Your Future: careersprojects@lancaster.ac.uk
