Access and participation evaluation and impact
The University of Birmingham has embraced widening participation and fair access since its foundation. We are proud of our longstanding and pioneering approach to supporting access and participation in higher education.
In recent years, the University has provided not only outstanding initiatives to widen access and support participation and success, but has also invested in and is committed to evidence-based practice. This is set out in our Access and Participation Plan, which defines our commitment to widening participation and details our interventions in supporting key under-represented groups in higher education. This plan also outlines our approach to measuring progress and producing high-quality evidence-based evaluations.
Impact evaluation case studies
On this page, we bring together this widening access work and research and celebrate the impact of these initiatives through case studies and evaluative reports
Academic Enrichment Programme (AEP) Evaluation
Evaluating the impact of the AEP on widening access to selective universities: Application of the Theory of Change framework
Forward Thinking: Impact Evaluation
Multi-intervention outreach and mentoring analysis report: Impact evaluation of the University of Birmingham’s Forward Thinking programme
Forward Thinking: Local Evaluation
Multi-intervention outreach and mentoring evaluation report: Local evaluation of the University of Birmingham’s Forward Thinking programme
Journal article: Addressing the awarding gap, fostering belonging
By Polly Harper and Leanne BM Campbell
Read the articleIn the academic year 2020-21, the University of Birmingham launched the Birmingham Scholar programme as part of its Access and Participation Plan (University of Birmingham, 2019). This is a university-wide programme supporting undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds in achieving their full academic potential.
The article 'Addressing the awarding gap, fostering belonging: developing enhanced academic skills support for our Birmingham Scholars' explores the central role of our Academic Skills Centre team in supporting the Birmingham Scholar programme since its initiation.
P2B Annual Report 2024-25
Annual report on the Pathways to Birmingham (P2B) recruitment cycle for 2024-25, including data on applications, offers and entrants, as well as demographic data.
Outreach report 2023-24
A summary of the University of Birmingham’s Outreach and Access activity for 2023-2024, including data on outputs and outcomes.
My experience on the programme overall has been very rewarding and reassuring. Academically, I have learnt about how lectures and seminars work and how to be successful in my studies. Socially, the programme has given me a sense of stability in knowing that there are people on this programme who have similar situations to me and are determined to get where they want to be.
