Widening participation and access

Our Outreach department works with over 250 schools and 25,000 pupils each year to raise aspirations and encourage students to make educated decisions about their future in higher education. The department delivers an extensive school visit programme of activities, working with students from Year 6 to Year 13.

Our long-standing Access to Birmingham (A2B) scheme continues to provide fair access for local students applying to the University. The Year 12 programme Routes to the Professions, and our pre-16 Forward Thinking programme, are also amongst our leading, most popular initiatives. Our support extends beyond the West Midlands; our Contextual Offer scheme provides alternative offers for candidates across the UK who meet the requisite criteria.

The University of Birmingham has published an Access and Participation Plan (APP) with the Office for Students (OfS) that defines our commitment to widening participation and lists our progress objectives in supporting key underrepresented groups in higher education. We aim to improve access, provide equal opportunities and enable progress through higher education. View the 2025-26 to 2028-29 University of Birmingham Access and Participation Plan (PDF - 2.10Mb). Alternatively, you can download and view a summary version of this plan (PDF - 288Kb).

The APP replaces previous Access Agreements, which remain in force for students who started, or start, their university course before September 2020. Previous Access Agreements, as well as our 2022-23 course fee information, are available to view using the following links:

• University of Birmingham Access and Participation Plan 2020-25 (PDF - 3.29Mb)
• University of Birmingham Access and Participation Plan 2019-20 (PDF - 750Kb) 
• View the impact report for the 20219-20 APP
• University of Birmingham Access Agreement 2018-19 (PDF - 971Kb)
• University of Birmingham Access Agreement 2017-18 (PDF - 963Kb)
• University of Birmingham Fee Summary 2025-26 (PDF - 33Kb)

Birmingham Scholar programme

Birmingham Scholar is the University of Birmingham’s flagship initiative supporting student success and progression within its Access and Participation Plan. It provides tailored support and exclusive opportunities and resources to help students from underrepresented backgrounds thrive during their studies and beyond.

Birmingham Scholar is an exclusive programme created for students who join the University through Pathways to Birmingham, Care Experienced routes, Realising Opportunities, the Postgraduate Access Scholarship, the Sanctuary Scholarship, or Black students from IMDQ1 neighbourhoods, in line with the University's Access and Participation Plan (2025–28).

There are currently over 3,000 students enrolled as Birmingham Scholars across the University.

The programme is structured around four key themes: Fun, Growth, Study, and Beyond. Together, these support Birmingham Scholars in building a strong sense of belonging, developing academically, and achieving their full potential during their time with us and beyond.

Evaluation and impact

In recent years, we have not only provided outstanding initiatives to widen access and support participation and success, but have also invested in and are committed to evidence-based practice.