Improving access to higher education

Our Access and Participation Plan

Aston University has demonstrated a long standing sustained commitment to access, success and employability for its students. Since our founding as an institution in 1895, we have continued to challenge ourselves to provide initiatives which address gaps at access, support student success and enhance graduate outcomes.

We are a positive exemplar for widening access, retention and employability. We believe that we truly transform lives. Aston University’s 2030 Strategy is structured around our key beneficiaries which include our students, businesses and organisations, and the wider Birmingham and West Midlands region.

The University is also focused on continuous improvement; where we have identified gaps in achievement we are determined to ensure that Aston provides all students with the support to benefit from an education at our institution.

Access and Participation Plan 2025/26 to 2028/29

Track the progress

Access

Objective	Activity	Progress
To ensure that students that are in receipt of FSM and those from IMD Q1-2 continue to access Aston at a high rate through to 2028-29.	1.1 Aspire to Aston	In progress
	1.2 Pathways to the Professions Programmes	In progress. Initial evaluation is published here. Further evaluation in progress and initial results to be presented here.
	1.3 Offer Holder Day travel bursary	In progress
	1.4 Villa Vision	In progress. Previous evaluation available here. Further evaluation in progress.
	1.5 Level Up Literacy	In progress
	1.6 Subject specific tutoring in English or Maths	In progress
To ensure equality of opportunity around access for students who declare a disability by 2028-29.	2.1 Contextual offer strategy	Enhanced approach is in progress. Evaluation is in progress. Initial results to be presented here.
	2.2 Disabled Students Commitment	Aston University is now a signatory to this (find out more here). Actions and evaluation in progress.

Success

Objective	Activity	Progress
To ensure that Black and Asian students have equal opportunity to attain a degree award that reflects their academic capabilities by 2028-29.	3.1 Co-created mentoring activities (peer and professional)	In progress. Previous evaluation here. Further evaluation in progress.
	3.2: Co-created expansion of existing peer-assisted learning programmes to support Black students, mature learners, and learners with disabilities	In progress. Previous evaluation here. Further evaluation in progress.
	3.3 Early transition diagnostics and support to pick up additional needs early – data informed interventions	In progress – not yet evaluated.
	3.4 Support inclusive learning and teaching practice by building staff expertise in Universal Design for Learning, ensuring all staff have Blackboard (virtual learning environment) training	In progress – not yet evaluated.
To ensure that students who declare a disability, particularly those with social or communication impairments, have equal opportunity to attain a degree award that reflects their academic capabilities by 2028-29.	4.1 Estates to consider inclusive by design in building new projects	Ongoing (e.g. see here).
	4.2 Academic support programme developed (group teaching) for students with additional needs and neurodivergence. Staff awareness raised.	In progress
To ensure that students who report a mental health condition have equal opportunity to complete their degree by 2028-29.	5.1 Continue to invest in proactive counselling and mental health support	Ongoing
	5.2 Introduction of buddy system to students joining at L4 who declare a mental health or social and communicative disability.	In progress
	5.3 Review and enhancement of personal tutoring system	In progress
	5.5 Wellbeing for all: programmes of events and support for all	Ongoing (e.g. AstonMakers, Astonbury).
To ensure that students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds have equal opportunity to continue their course by 2028-29.	6.1 Provide £500 to students with household income <£42,875 in year 1	Revised scholarships started 2025-6. Previous evaluation available here.
	6.2 Provide £1,250 per year to care leavers, children from a military family, refugees, young carers and estranged students	Association of Scholarships with the number of care leavers studying at Aston
	6.3 Create fund (that has fewer restrictions than hardship fund) for colleges to use specifically for Equality Diversity and Inclusion, widening participation and wellbeing purposes.	Scheduled to start from 2026-7.

Progression

Objective	Activity	Progress
To ensure that students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds have equal opportunity to progress to good graduate outcomes by 2028-29.	7.1 Final Year Outreach Programme for students that have not undertaken work experience	Not started
	7.2 Embed Power Skills modules in undergraduate courses	Power Skills launched. Evaluation to follow.
	7.3 Provide £1,250 to placement year students with household income <£42,875, those taking unpaid placement year	Scholarship is long running. Previous evaluation can be found e.g. here.
To ensure that Black students have equal opportunity to progress to progress to good graduate outcomes by 2028-29.	8.1 Black students mentoring programme	In progress
	8.2 Our Careers and Placement team will develop a new Inclusive Employer Pathway seeking to engage exclusively with employers committed to diversity and inclusion	In progress