What is the Fair Access Programme?
The UCAS Fair Access Programme was launched in October 2021 to build on our existing work to support widening access and participation, and to add further value to the work already underway across the sector.
The Fair Access Programme aims to:
- transform the sector’s understanding of students, through new questions, data, and insight
- connect HE and outreach providers to the hardest-to-reach students, earlier
- help the sector understand what works in WP
- help bring schools, colleges, and universities closer together
- remove barriers and inspire students
These objectives were shaped by the views of over 100 stakeholders across the UK through a national consultation to understand where UCAS could best support the sector – including universities, colleges, schools, charitable organisations, and outreach providers.
Although the consultation has ended, the conversation continues: we are always keen to hear ideas – big and small – about how UCAS can help to support widening access and participation. Please share your thoughts with us at access@ucas.ac.uk.
Free school meals fee waiver
As an independent charity, UCAS has an important role to play in supporting the most disadvantaged applicants to access higher education. The entry rate to higher education of applicants receiving free school meals is at its lowest level since 2019. Our aim is to open more doors to accessing higher education for disadvantaged students.
Personal statements 2026 entry onwards
- Why do you want to study this course or subject?
- How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
- What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
Upcoming UCAS events
| 29 October 2024 |
Webinar: How to support your care experienced students – The Careers Circle/UCAS During National Care Leavers' Week, The Careers Circle and UCAS are pleased to provide careers professionals with training, insight and resources to support you when working with looked after and care-experienced students. |
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| 4 November 2024 |
UCAS International Adviser Live: How to support students with individual needs Find out how to support international disabled students through their application and encourage them to share their support needs. We will also share the latest guidance on completing the education section and take your questions on 2025 applications. |
| 4 November 2024 |
UCAS Adviser Live: How to support students with individual needs (online) Recognising National Care Leavers' Week and The Fostering Network’s #TickTheBox campaign, this will focus on how to support students with care experience through making an application, as well as more information about completing the education section and your questions on 2025 applications. |
| 25 – 26 February 2025 |
UCAS Teacher and Adviser Conference 2025, Birmingham More information and a booking link will follow shortly – watch this space. |
Upcoming non-UCAS events
Find out where we will be speaking about our work to support widening access and participation.
| 7 November 2024 |
UUK Access, participation and student success conference 2024, London and online (limited access) In partnership with UCAS, UUK is hosting its annual conference on access, participation and student success, bringing together leading experts to discuss current and future challenges for the sector. |
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| 13 November 2024 |
Service Children’s Progression (SCiP) Alliance Conference 2024, Cardiff This year’s theme is ‘inspiring impact’. UCAS will be sharing findings from the first two years of new data about applicants from UKAF families. |
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14 November 2024 (online 17:00 – 19:00) |
Webinar: Supporting autistic students transitioning from achool/college to University This webinar, run by LondonConnect, is aimed at all teachers in mainstream schools supporting young autistic people applying to higher education. |
| 21 November 2024 |
HEAT Conference 2024, Newcastle An opportunity for teachers and advisers to gain up-to-date information on progression to further and higher education, with a particular focus on underrepresented groups. UCAS will be providing an update on work to support fair access, including new tools and resources. |
UCAS data and insight reports
Next Steps
The Next Steps series offers a snapshot of UCAS applicants who are about to take their next steps, combining survey data and UCAS application data to explore:
- applicants’ experiences in education to date
- their decision-making journey – how they research their choices, who supports them, and, completing the UCAS application
- what they are looking forward to or worried about in HE
- intersectionality – and hidden challenges
- patterns in applicant preferences and behaviours
To date, these reports have covered the experiences of: care-experienced students, disabled students, LGBT+ students, and nursing applicants. We also have a report looking at student mental health.
Where Next
The Where Next? series also brings together UCAS data with student surveys to understand students’ pathways through HE and apprenticeships, exploring:
- mindset and motivations
- influences and influencers
- aspirations and worries
- patterns in applications and acceptances
- forecasts for the future
Data snapshots coming soon...
These snapshots will highlight key data and information about underrepresented groups in higher education.
Outreach Connection Service
UCAS’ Outreach Connection Service is for providers and third-party providers to showcase their opportunities and be the go-to, single source of truth place for UK teachers and advisers, offering an efficient and timesaving online tool for them to support disadvantaged and underrepresented students to higher education.
Outreach providers can register to join here
Advisers have access through the adviser portal.
Keep in touch
If you have any thoughts on how UCAS can support widening access and participation across higher education and apprenticeships, please get in touch. We’re also happy to answer any questions you may have about the Fair Access Programme and products and services that support widening access and participation.
Email us at access@ucas.ac.uk