Stories from our Access to Birmingham programme

Oliver Wilkins (LLB Law, 2023), Future Trainee Solicitor at Squire Patton Boggs

How did the Access to Birmingham programme impact you?

Before I learned about the Access to Birmingham (A2B) programme, I didn’t seriously consider going to university. Coming from a low socioeconomic background, I didn’t see higher education as an achievable goal. It wasn’t discussed in my family, and the idea of university seemed distant. However, with the encouragement of my A-level law teacher who introduced me to the A2B scheme, everything changed. A2B offered not only the chance to enter the University of Birmingham despite not meeting the usual grade requirements (I achieved AAB at A-level instead of AAA) but also provided crucial financial support. The grant I received meant I could study without needing to work part-time, allowing me to focus fully on my degree and complete my studies without added financial stress. Without this support, I might have had to delay or forgo my university ambitions due to financial constraints.

What were the highlights of your University experience?

One of the most memorable moments during my time at the University of Birmingham was definitely my graduation. It felt surreal because I never thought I’d get to this point and holding that first-class degree in my hands was an incredible accomplishment. It felt like a pivotal moment where my entire future was suddenly wide open. Another highlight of my university experience was the friendships I made. I grew up in Birmingham and had always known about the University of Birmingham, but never thought I’d be able to attend. Getting to go to the university I admired for so long and meeting amazing people from all over the world was an eye-opening experience. One of the highlights of my life was being able to travel to the Netherlands to attend the wedding of friends I made during my time at university.

Tell us about your career journey since graduation. In what ways did A2B/the University help you to get to where you are now?

Since graduating from the University of Birmingham, my career has evolved in exciting ways. I am now a future trainee solicitor at Squire Patton Boggs, an international law firm. This role was made possible not only through my academic achievements at Birmingham but also through the guidance and support I received from the University and the A2B programme. The programme helped me access university, which provided the foundation for my law degree and subsequent success. After my undergraduate studies, I pursued a master's at BPP University and the Solicitors Qualifying Exam. The education I received at Birmingham and the connections I built through the University played a vital role in my job search and in preparing me for my future career as a solicitor.

Looking back, the Access to Birmingham programme truly changed my life. It provided me with the support, encouragement, and financial resources I needed to pursue my dreams when I didn’t think they were possible. I went from not knowing what I would do after A-levels to being on track for a successful career in law. The programme gave me the confidence to not only aim for university but to thrive in an environment that I once thought was beyond my reach. My time at the University of Birmingham opened my eyes to so much more than just academics; it introduced me to a diverse group of people from all over the world and gave me lifelong friendships and experiences. I’ll forever be grateful for the opportunities the Access to Birmingham programme gave me.

Arooj Nila (BNurs, 2018), Account Manager at Vantive    

How did the Access to Birmingham programme impact you?

Coming from an immigrant background, the A2B scheme at the University of Birmingham was life-changing. It gave me a sense of belonging in a space that could easily have felt out of reach. Through its support and belief in my potential, A2B helped me turn barriers into opportunities and gave me the confidence to dream bigger.

The programme not only provided me with tailored guidance and additional resources, but it also helped to bridge the gap between my personal circumstances and the academic expectations of university life. A2B empowered me to overcome barriers often faced by first-generation university students. It gave me the confidence, preparation, and encouragement I needed to thrive in an environment that can sometimes feel unfamiliar to those from underrepresented backgrounds.

What were the highlights of your University experience?

I loved the computer cluster! Although I spent a huge amount of time in there, often stressed and panicking over last-minute assignments, the most memorable moments are there with my friends.

Since graduating, my career journey has been one of growth, resilience, and continuous learning. I stepped into the nursing field at Queen Elizabeth Hospital with confidence, equipped not just with knowledge, but with the belief that I belonged—a belief that A2B and the University of Birmingham helped instil in me.

Tell us about your career journey since graduation. In what ways did A2B/the University help you to get to where you are now?

After 3 years of being a Band 5 nurse, COVID hit and I was one of the many nurses that volunteered to work in ITU. Post-COVID, I felt ready to develop into a Band 6 role, which I did successfully for 2 years. Having worked in the NHS for 5 years (and slightly burnt out post-COVID), I decided to change my career path by joining the medical technology industry. Although I continue to maintain my NMC registration, I am now very much enjoying the corporate lifestyle—something I never thought I would say considering I have a nursing degree!

Salwa Ali (LLB Law, 2022), Trainee Solicitor, Gowling WLG

How did the Access to Birmingham programme impact you?

Access to Birmingham meant that I was able to receive an offer with reduced entry requirements. Whilst I ended up meeting my original offer, having the reduction meant I was able to manage my stress better when studying. This is particularly important as students from low socioeconomic backgrounds often face additional stressors in life—for example, having financial stress.

Once I started at the University, I received financial support through the programme as I had met my original entry requirements. This meant that the financial stress was alleviated; I was able to spend more time on building my skills through extracurricular activities, including a summer boot camp, pro bono, and giving back through mentoring, rather than having to work alongside studying.

This led to me achieving a First Class and a training contract in my final year.

What were the highlights of your University experience?

The most memorable moment of the programme was the launch day.

I was able to meet with people from similar backgrounds, which helped me fit in at university. Prior to this, I was nervous about starting university alone.

I met some great people and we are still friends to this day!

Tell us about your career journey since graduation. In what ways did A2B/the University help you to get to where you are now?

I received my training contract in my final year of university with Gowling WLG. The firm had partnered with the University to hold an event for students. This allowed me to speak with Graduate Recruitment and current trainees to gain insights into the process, which really helped my application.

I also used the University’s career services to practise my interview skills and received really useful feedback that boosted my confidence before my training contract interview.

I am now in my final year of training, due to qualify in August 2025. I have been fortunate enough to experience a range of practice areas, including real estate, corporate, litigation, and even a secondment to the firm’s Dubai office!

Judah Chandra (BA Social Policy with a Year Abroad 2016), Employability and Placements Officer at the University of Leeds

How did the Access to Birmingham programme impact you?

The A2B programme was transformative. Before university, the chance to undertake a research project on campus gave me an invaluable early taste of academic life. Knowing that better grades could lead to scholarship support, despite a challenging home environment with little encouragement, spurred me on. I surpassed my predicted grades significantly, achieving an A* and two A's.

During my time at Birmingham, the financial support was crucial. The £1,200 A2B bursary and the HSBC scholarship, which covered my tuition fees, meant I could graduate debt-free. This significantly reduced stress, allowing me to focus on my studies and engage with university life. Guidance from A2B staff, particularly Anne Snell who encouraged me to become a Student Ambassador, was pivotal. This role provided flexible work and inspired me. Thanks to this support, I was also able to undertake a year abroad in Denmark, with my reduced fees covered and the bursary continuing.

What were the highlights of your University experience?

The highlights were numerous: growing in independence, connecting with people from diverse backgrounds, and the incredible funded opportunities to visit China, India, Denmark, and Mexico. These experiences broadened my perspective from national to global.

However, the most profound highlight, as I mentioned in my 2019 article A2B: The Ripple Effect, was the positive impact on my family, especially my younger brother. Inspired by my journey, he pursued optometry, became a student ambassador himself, undertook a placement in Denmark, and is now a specialised optometrist with a passion for global eye health, volunteering internationally and planning a PhD. My family visiting me in Denmark, their first time on a plane in years, was also a cherished, horizon-expanding experience for them.

Tell us about your career journey since graduation. In what ways did A2B/the University help you to get to where you are now?

My degree in Social Policy, with its focus on education policies, ignited a passion that has shaped my career. I worked on education projects at Doncaster Council, then in schools organising programmes and mentoring. Since February 2022, I've been an Employability and Placements Officer at the University of Leeds, supporting students and creating opportunities with employers echoing the ripple effect I value.

The University of Birmingham's Career Service was instrumental; a session during my final year and their Graduate Career Guide possibly sparked my interest in careers advice. My A2B Student Ambassador role, internships, and travel experiences gave me a strong CV. Crucially, A2B instilled confidence and aspiration; people believed in me when I didn't always believe in myself, and that has been fundamental to my journey.

I am immensely grateful for the A2B scheme and the dedicated professionals who have driven it for 25 years. Its impact extends beyond individuals to entire families. Reflecting on my journey from an 18-year-old starting university in 2012, it's been incredible.

My recent year-long career break, travelling to connect with my late father's heritage in East Africa and India, further highlighted the openness to exploration and self-challenge nurtured by my university experiences. Much like the A2B scheme itself, these experiences shape who you become and stay with you. The memories and lessons are far more than just souvenirs; they are part of me.

Niamh Wilson (BSc Psychology, 2021), Commercial Manager at Meadowbank Tree Services Ltd

How did the Access to Birmingham programme impact you?

Before the life-changing event of me getting my offer from the University of Birmingham, I was lucky enough to be a part of the Pathways to Birmingham local Summer School in Year 12. This week was absolutely incredible—I can honestly say it was one of the best, most mindset-altering weeks of my life at the time. I got so enthused about the future, and the motivation I got from being surrounded by like-minded peers and current students was something I would have never experienced if not for the Summer School. Even down to staying away from home in the University halls—for some, that was their first taste of not living at home—and gave a lot of us the exact thrill we needed to ensure this would become our reality. The friends I made at the Summer School, and my mentor I then went on to have afterwards, are people I still see as integral parts of my life.

During my three years at the University of Birmingham, I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said that being an A2B student was my favourite part of my uni experience. There was a sense of community and family between the P2B students and a special relationship with the staff who were a part of our journey. It makes sense that a lot of us went straight into becoming ambassadors and working on behalf of the University, trying to replicate the experience we had the privilege of experiencing. Being an ambassador was such a full circle for me—attending the Summer Schools as a current student and being able to pass the energy and knowledge I had gained through being an attendee myself was something beautiful.

Just before I began my A-Levels, my mum unfortunately suffered a stroke, and as you can imagine, this changed my world overnight. I went from being a daughter to being a carer. Along with the physical effects of the stroke—which, with rehabilitation, thankfully came back—the thing I mourned the most was the character, memories, and personality, which unfortunately never returned. Navigating this change during the most important time in my educational life was beyond difficult; however, having experienced this and also having attended the Summer School, it helped set my sights on pursuing a greater and more in-depth knowledge around the neuroscience and psychology of brain injuries—something I went on to choose and study during my course at the state-of-the-art Centre of Brain Health on campus. I was fortunate enough to also receive the A2B bursary during my time at UoB. This money massively helped me to be able to travel to and from university at any time I needed to be at home. I genuinely don't think I'd have been able to move into halls and have the 'full experience' in my first year if it wasn't for the security of the bursary I received. The ability to get back to Bromsgrove at the drop of a hat if my mum needed me was something that the bursary money enabled me to be able to do—something I am still extremely grateful for to this day.

What were the highlights of your University experience?

There were so many highlights of my time at university, far too many to list. However, a standout experience for me was a particular student I mentored during a Year 10 Local Summer School, who really proved the success and importance of the P2B programme. From the first day he arrived, I knew I had my work cut out to bring him out of his shell and get him enthused and excited for the upcoming few days. After speaking with him, he told me he felt as if he shouldn't be there and didn't understand why his schoolteacher had signed him up to attend. When I asked about this, he went on to tell me he was from an area where knife crime and postcode wars were the norm for him and how he'd recently lost a close friend to this. This was devastating to hear from such a young person and helped me understand how out of the real world being at a Russell Group university must have seemed for him- something he'd admitted he'd never even considered.

It wasn't until the second day, when attending a Social Policy lecture, that I think it was world-changing for him. The lecture was surrounding knife crime, and the political, social, and economic effects of it. Well, this was something my mentee had first-hand experience with, and seeing him light up, participate in a confident and deeply passionate way was extremely moving. He spoke with maturity far past his peers and was able to offer insights into parts others were fortunate enough not to consider. After the lecture, he was beaming with a smile and told me that he had no idea that this was something which he could study- and something he proved to be extremely good at. From this point, he threw himself into the experience and attended the activities with positivity and excitement. Upon leaving the Summer School, he told me how much it had impacted his mindset and wanted to go on to study Social Policy at university. I followed up with the team over the next year to hear how he was getting on, and to my delight, I was told that his grades had done a 180, and he was doing really well in his studies.

This was a standout highlight for me because it really showed me just how powerful this programme is for disadvantaged young people who may have had no one to advocate, teach, or believe in them. I truly hope he went on to change his path, but I full-heartedly believe that the Summer School and the P2B programmes are essential in making that an opportunity.

Tell us about your career journey since graduation. In what ways did A2B/the University help you to get to where you are now?

Since graduation in 2021, I have jumped straight into full-time employment and am now in the process of taking over my dad's business.

I feel like having attended university, and especially being a part of the A2B programme, gave me the confidence and tools to be a part of a demanding, stressful, and senior role at a young age. When I was an A2B ambassador, I had the privilege of being able to do a lot of public speaking—in front of donors, alumni, and also prospective students (which, needless to say, talking to a group of 15-year-olds is far more nerve-wracking). However, what this taught me is the ability to be clear and confident in my speaking- something which now I'm working became so useful in every aspect of my working life. I work in an extremely male-dominated industry, and so the self-confidence that I gained talking at not only these big events, but also during one-on-one networking sessions at events such as Lambeth Palace, I feel, gave me tools that a student who was not through a P2B route would not have gained.

During my final year of my degree, I was also extremely privileged to have an alumni mentor, Paul. With weekly meetings, Paul and I would spend the time talking about the future, discussing current events, psychology, and his path to success running his own business in the solar industry. He offered me so much support during this difficult year, and with the lack of stability and structure that COVID-19 presented to uni students across the country, Paul's meetings were one of the only fixed and dependable things; this was invaluable to me. The mentoring programme that alumni offers most certainly helps shape us in our final year. I do believe that the life lessons and knowledge Paul passed on to me were an honour to receive from somebody I would typically have never met without the scheme.

All of this, I truly and wholeheartedly believe moulded me into the person I am today, and I like to believe that I am a strong, smart young woman, navigating a challenging role, but with the wisdom and confidence infused in me by alumni, staff at the university, and my fellow A2B family. The A2B programme will always be the defining moment that gave me a higher education, and I cannot express how truly grateful I am that it still exists.

Thomas Burden (MSci Chemistry, 2019), Drug Discovery & Development Manager at Imperial College London

How did the Access to Birmingham programme impact you?

Before completing my A-Levels, my parents worked hard to save money to help me afford university. Facing financial difficulties, I also took on part-time jobs at a motorway service station. With only two years to save after leaving high school, I quickly realised that attending university would bring serious financial challenges. It was during this time that representatives from the University of Birmingham visited Stourbridge and introduced the A2B scheme. I applied and was fortunate enough to be accepted, which opened the door for me to attend university-becoming the first in my family, across all generations, to do so. I felt incredibly grateful for the support, which continued throughout each year of my studies and ultimately enabled me to achieve my dream of completing my degree.

What were the highlights of your university experience?

The A2B programme provided me with an invaluable introduction to university life. As part of the experience, I attended a second-year thermodynamics lecture and received hands-on training in practical experiments alongside academic staff-all before I had even officially enrolled. This early exposure gave me a crucial insight into what to expect from my chosen degree, helping to prepare me for the challenges ahead.

Being part of the A2B scheme also allowed me to build connections with supportive academics within the department, which ultimately led to securing my first summer placement in a real chemistry research group.

Tell us about your career journey since graduation.

Since graduating from the University of Birmingham, I have continued my academic journey by completing a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of York. Through my PhD, I developed the skills and expertise necessary to pursue a career in drug discovery. I am now a Drug Discovery and Development Manager at Imperial College London, where I focus on designing and synthesising small molecule inhibitors targeting diseases that impact the developing world.

Manmohanjit Sandhu (BSc Biomedical Sciences 2023; MSc Biomedical Innovation 2024), Director and Co-founder at TargEye

How did the Access to Birmingham programme impact you?
The Access to Birmingham (A2B) programme played a transformative role in my academic and personal journey. Before starting university, A2B provided me with crucial insight into the expectations and demands of higher education. As someone from a background where university pathways weren’t always clearly defined, the programme gave me the confidence, structure, and guidance to believe in my own potential.

During my time at the University of Birmingham, A2B continued to provide a strong foundation through academic preparation and financial support. The financial bursary helped ease the pressures of part-time work, allowing me to fully engage with my studies and take on extracurricular opportunities such as Events Coordinator for the Sikh Society, which enriched my experience. Without this support, I may not have had the bandwidth to pursue leadership roles or develop the key skills that would later form the foundation of my career.

Today, as the Director and Co-founder of a MedTech startup, TargEye, I can directly trace my journey back to the opportunities and belief that A2B instilled in me. It didn't just open the door to higher education-it enabled me to walk through it with purpose. I’m deeply grateful for the support I received, and I’m passionate about encouraging others from similar backgrounds to pursue higher education. I try to do this by sharing my story, offering guidance where I can, and championing the importance of widening access to education.

What were the highlights of your university experience?

The highlights of my university experience were deeply rooted in the academic culture and vibrant community at the University of Birmingham. I was constantly inspired by the intellectual environment-surrounded by ambitious, curious individuals who created a culture of growth that made learning both exciting and meaningful.

One particularly memorable aspect of my time at Birmingham was completing my dissertation projects for both of my degrees. Each project challenged me to think critically, work independently, and explore complex subject matter in depth. These experiences not only strengthened my research and analytical skills but also gave me the confidence to tackle complex problems independently-a mindset that has been invaluable in my professional journey.

Beyond academics, I also had the opportunity to serve as Events Coordinator for the Sikh Society. This was one of the most enjoyable and enriching parts of my university life. From organising educational events and speaker panels to social events that brought students together, the role allowed me to build connections across the university, celebrate our proud, rich identity, and foster a sense of community-all while developing my leadership, communication, and project management skills.

The Access to Birmingham programme was key in helping me step into this environment with confidence, and I’m incredibly grateful for the doors it helped open.

Tell us about your career journey since graduation. In what ways did A2B/the University help you to get to where you are now?

Since graduating, I’ve co-founded TargEye, a MedTech startup where I now serve as Director. Our mission is to empower patients through innovative solutions that improve healthcare outcomes. At TargEye, we are developing technology that addresses key gaps in optical care, with the aim of giving patients greater independence and control over their own health. Building a company from the ground up has been both challenging and deeply fulfilling. It has allowed me to channel my academic background into something that has real-world impact.

The Access to Birmingham (A2B) programme played a significant role in laying the foundation for this journey. A2B gave me the confidence and support to pursue higher education in the first place—something that might have felt out of reach otherwise. It helped me navigate the transition into university life, and more importantly, it made me feel like I truly belonged in that academic environment.

During my studies at the University of Birmingham, I developed a mindset of intellectual openness and ambition that shaped my approach to learning and problem-solving. The A2B programme played an important early role in helping me build the confidence to make the most of university life. That foundation, combined with the experiences and skills I developed throughout my degree, helped me take the step into entrepreneurship. I’m incredibly grateful for the programme’s support and the opportunities it helped open along the way.

Reena Littlehales (BA Drama and English Literature with Year Abroad 2016), Student Recruitment and Access Officer at Keele University

Tell us how the Access to Birmingham programme impacted you?

I owe my participation in the A2B and AEP (Academic Enrichment Programme) to a Careers Adviser at my sixth form who encouraged me to consider taking part to further explore my next steps. My mom was unemployed and was pushing me to go into work to support the family financially and university was considered too much of a cost especially as the £9000 fee was coming in the year I would start.

In all honesty, when I first got a place on AEP, I saw it as just a week away from home, but it became a life-changing experience. I hadn't really considered university and what it would mean for me - I liked learning but didn't understand the point of a degree until that summer school. Meeting people like myself from other areas of the city, talking to students with aspirations to do more and attending academic sessions that piqued my interest was amazing. At first, I thought I wouldn't fit in (I'd previously been to an Oxford taster day and was really put off HE) and I wasn't clever enough for a top university like Birmingham.

My favourite memory on AEP was my academic taster in English with Professor Deborah Longworth. It was fascinating, great to get involved and pushed me to realise I could do well at uni. The A2B assignment was also the same - I found it useful to develop my study skills and get a head start on what university study was like. It was an experience that with hindsight I know I took for granted and didn't make the most of at the time. But during my first year, I leant back on the writing skills and knowing that I could succeed as I had passed the A2B module (marked by an academic prior) and got a place on the course. I was fortunate to meet my offer grades and received the financial support from A2B, in first year I used this to travel to my part-time job, in second year it was a contribution to my off-campus house down payment, in third year it helped to fund some of the travel on my year abroad and in final year I used the money to fund moving to Reading for my first job at the University of Reading.

My opportunity to study abroad was pushed by my personal tutor (Caroline Radcliffe) who felt that I needed to see what life away from Birmingham was like to push myself further and I attribute that to the success and confidence I have had in my career post-university. It would not have been possible without the extra A2B funding for a student like myself whose mom could not provide any financial support to my HE journey.

What were the highlights of your University experience?

My most memorable time at university was being a Student Ambassador - I was incredibly inspired by those who worked with me on my A2B and AEP journey (Beth P notably) and I was determined to give back to other students like myself. I wanted them to realise the opportunities they could have if they pushed themselves that little bit further especially as many students are unaware how their pre-16 choices can impact their later education options.

Over my four years I worked on a wide range of events from A2B, AEP, Year 10 Summer Schools, Open Days and even was able to develop my admin skills supporting the team over summer in the office. In addition, it helped me to earn money to support myself whilst studying and led to forming some of the best friendships of my time at university.

Working on the A2B days on campus were a great opportunity to support academic developments of students which aren’t always clear at school/sixth form and I enjoyed helping other students prepare for their essays and understand how the programme was a real stepping stone to success for their university journey. I was fortunate to work with hundreds of students just like myself and even mentor some to their places at UoB or other universities and I have never been more excited to see some of the same students progressing through their journey which then inspired my career path following graduation. I was a supervisor on the Year 10 summer school and this gave me a multitude of skills which helped me progress into my career.

Tell us about your career journey since graduation. In what ways did A2B/the University help you to get to where you are now?

As mentioned, throughout university, I had many opportunities to present and talk to students like me and I found a real value in shaping the perspectives of students. It was important to challenge perceptions and be a role model to younger students who were not aware of their prospects because they didn’t think university was for people like them or they were limited in their scope of what types of courses and universities were available to them.

I actively pursued roles working in Recruitment, Access and Outreach after graduation and was keen to use my Study Abroad experience to be out of my comfort zone and applied for roles all over the country. My first role at the University of Reading was varied and allowed me to train Student Ambassadors, run a project sending students into their old schools to deliver student life talks and contribute to UoR’s equivalent A2B programme (Reading Scholars). Whilst there I began volunteering for HELOA which is a higher education charity dedicated to ensuring that professionals working in Recruitment, Outreach and Access are working to help students make informed decisions about their futures – I began organising and delivering conferences introducing practitioners to the sector and designed to remind them the importance of our roles as advisers to young people especially those from under-represented backgrounds in Higher Education.

I then moved to work at University of Leicester in the Pre-16 Outreach team and this was due to my recognition that more needs to be done at younger years to ensure that students recognise the importance of GCSE’s and Level 3 choices – I met too many students who had the ability to succeed at university but were not on the pathway due to low GSCE grades or misinformation. This role also allowed me to work more with parents and supporters and shape their knowledge about Higher Education – again recognising that whilst they are a key element of young people’s decision making they are rarely included in access programmes. Enjoying the wider work, I moved to Edge Hill University to further develop work with families and communities and improve their understanding of university of its opportunities. There I developed a programme aimed at working closely with students from an ethnic minority background designed to increase their university engagements and breadth of research. For HELOA I had moved up to running all of the association conferences across the UK, including the flagship National Conference.

During the pandemic, with face-to-face delivery no longer possible I started researching more theory and was inspired to undertake my MA in Education and Social Justice. Keen to work and study, I moved to a part-time role at University of Gloucestershire working with schools and colleges in the West Midlands – again aiming to be a role model for those who could be challenged to look beyond their comfort zone. In my MA, I focused on widening participation and higher education and looked at the experiences of working-class students and my dissertation looked at the lack of ethnic minority students progressing into Postgraduate study. During this period, I loved studying but missed working with young people so upon completion, I looked for a role where I was working more in schools and colleges again leading to my current role at Keele University. Once in role at Keele, I was keen to engage in more strategic work and ran for the role of UK Chair of HELOA. In this role, I lead the whole charity, managing a team of volunteers, being a representative of practitioners across the sector including sitting on the UCAS Council and delivering sessions at a multitude of HE Conferences.

Honestly, none of the above would have been possible without the experiences I had ay UoB or on the A2B programme – it’s tough to articulate but everything I did at UoB showed me I could do and be more than I ever thought and each time I faced a barrier, I often thought back to challenges I overcame during study or leaned on my closest friends for support and to help me think of solutions to problems in new and creative ways.

From a personal perspective, like many other students, university was an incredibly transformative experience for me. I grew so much as an individual and was able to take chances and risks in my life that challenged me and my perceptions of what I could do. I also owe my time on the A2B and AEP programmes to meeting some of the most important people in my life, notably my husband Michael and a large group of our closest friends were A2B and AEP participants – many of whom we are very close with, attending each other’s weddings, camping each summer and celebrating the New Year with for the past 10 years. I am so grateful to all of the staff I worked with over my time at UoB, they shaped who I am and the successes I have achieved in my personal and professional life and I know I am just one of thousands who have been able to do so much more thanks to the A2B programme.

Jamie Woodhouse (BA Politics and International Relations, 2025), Audit Associate at PwC UK

How did the Access to Birmingham programme impact you?

A2B was a great introduction to life at university, and it made me realise the opportunities available to me by coming to a prestigious university. The £1500 scholarship has made a huge difference and definitely reduced financial pressure during my studies.

What were the highlights of your University experience?

One very special experience was the Common Purpose Global Futures Programme in Hong Kong, which I did in 2023. That was a huge opportunity for me—I’d never been to Asia and I’d never been away from home for that long before. Whilst it was a huge culture shock, it was one of the most amazing and memorable experiences of my life.

Tell us about your career journey since graduation. In what ways did A2B/the University help you to get to where you are now?

I'm starting my first graduate role in September 2025, but the programme allowed me to realise the opportunities that are available by coming to university. I know I haven't technically graduated yet, but I completed A2B in 2025. It's been such an amazing time, and being able to work on the A2B programme with future students has been a privilege for me as well.

2023 Economics graduate and DLA Piper Future Trainee Solicitor

How did the Access to Birmingham programme impact you?

The online course that I participated in before I became a student at the university helped me with making the transition from school to university and I felt more confident when beginning my course.

The financial support greatly impacted my time at university as it meant I did not have to worry about getting a part-time job whilst studying, and instead, I used my free time to participate in insight schemes and internships. These helped me discover the career I wanted to go into.

Tell us about your career journey since graduation. In what ways did A2B/the University help you to get to where you are now?

I studied BSc Economics at university but, after doing various work experience in different sectors, I realised that I was passionate about commercial law and so I have gone into this. I am now studying for the Solicitor's Qualifying Exams before I begin working at a law firm and hopefully qualify as a solicitor in the new few years.