Access, Participation and Equality of Opportunity

Our Commitment

We are committed to providing fair access to higher education and supporting all students to succeed, regardless of their background, personal circumstances or protected characteristics.

We believe that higher education should be accessible to individuals with the ability and motivation to benefit from study. We aim to create an inclusive learning environment in which students are supported to achieve their academic and professional goals.

Access

We seek to ensure that our admissions processes are fair, transparent and free from unlawful discrimination. We welcome applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds and are committed to promoting equality of opportunity throughout the student journey.

Admissions decisions are based on applicants’ ability to meet the academic and professional requirements of their chosen programme. We consider individual circumstances where appropriate and provide clear information to support applicants in making informed decisions about study.

Participation and Student Success

We are committed to supporting students throughout their studies to maximise retention, progression, achievement and successful completion.

Equality of Opportunity

We are committed to advancing equality of opportunity and fostering an environment in which all students are treated with dignity, fairness and respect.

We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, victimisation or bullying on any grounds protected by the Equality Act 2010.

We seek to identify and address barriers that may disadvantage individuals or groups and take reasonable steps to ensure that all students can participate fully in academic and student life.

Our Approach to Supporting Participation

Clear & Accessible Information

Providing clear and accessible information before and during study.

High-Quality Teaching

Delivering high-quality teaching and learning opportunities.

Academic Guidance

Offering academic guidance and support.

Monitoring Progress

Monitoring student engagement and progression.

Identifying Barriers

Identifying and responding to barriers that may affect student success.

Inclusive Environment

Promoting an inclusive and respectful learning environment.

Support for Disabled Students

We are committed to supporting disabled students and applicants through the provision of reasonable adjustments where appropriate.

Students are encouraged to disclose any disability, learning difference, health condition or support needed so that suitable arrangements can be considered. Reasonable adjustments may include adjustments to teaching, learning materials, assessment arrangements or other aspects of study, subject to academic and professional requirements.

Further information is available in our Reasonable Adjustments Policy.

Student Support Commitments

We are committed to providing appropriate support to help students succeed in their studies. Support may include:

Academic advice and guidance

Personal and pastoral support

Study skills development

Assessment support

Signposting to specialist services where appropriate

Support for wellbeing and welfare concerns

Students are encouraged to seek support at an early stage if they encounter difficulties that may affect their studies.

Monitoring and Review

We regularly review our approach to access, participation, student support and equality of opportunity to ensure that our policies and practices remain effective.

As part of this process, we consider:

This statement is reviewed annually by the senior leadership team and updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, regulation, and institutional practice.