UCL Outreach

Funding is available for projects to support the recruitment and retention of students from under-represented groups.

In its Access Agreement, UCL has committed to ambitious intake targets for students who are under-represented at UCL.

The Outreach Office seeks applications to fund activities that address recruitment and awareness-raising of students from groups that are particularly under-represented; whether at UCL or in the department, degree programme or subject area.

Details of the projects which were funded last year are available online.

Two streams of funding are available.

Stream A (£500 - £3,000)

Funding for short or one-off projects, to be completed in one academic year.

For example: a series of UCAS masterclasses for students from target schools.

Stream B (£3,001 - £15,000)

Funding for larger scale or longer term projects or projects which require a significant capital expenditure.

For example: A residential Summer School targeted at students from low participation neighbourhoods across the UK.

Please note that The Outreach Office is unable to fund the following:

• Activities which form part of standard interview days or open days for applicants or offer holders;
• Paid-for advertisements in the press or online;
• Activities where participants are required to contribute to the cost.

Departments are asked to provide the following supporting information in the application form:

• A description of the project, its aims, expected outcomes and details of how participants will be targeted;

• A timeline giving key dates for delivery of the project and its outcomes;

• An itemised draft budget for the project, to include staff costs and the costs of development, materials and any other costs associated with the project.

At the end of the academic year departments are required to submit a report on the initiative. The report should include:

• A description of the activities undertaken;
• An evaluation of the initiative to assess how well the original aims were met;
• Contact details and contextual data of participants (see attached guidelines targeting and tracking participants);
• An itemised account of expenditure incurred.

Any department wishing to continue its existing funded activities must submit a new application and should provide detailed evidence of successful outcomes.  Please note that you should ensure that applications submitted have been discussed within the department and have the support of the Head of Department. 

Please visit the Guidelines webpage, which we hope will be useful to you when writing your application.

How to apply

Please complete the application form.

Completed applications should be submitted to Lucie March by Friday, 14 October 2011.

Email: l.march@ucl.ac.uk

Fax: 020 7679 3001 (Please mark for the attention of Lucie March)

Internal post: Lucie March, Outreach Office, Registry and Academic Services, Room 22, 1^st Floor, South Wing, UCL

Please visit the Guidelines section, containing information which we hope will be useful to you when writing your application.

A proportion of the departmental initiatives funding is set aside for departments to run subject-specific Year 12 Summer Schools. To apply for a grant to run a subject specific Summer School, please complete the shorter application form.

The Summer School should be aimed at gifted students from under-represented backgrounds, who might otherwise not apply to UCL. Participation should provide students with:

• a breadth and depth of study in the subject area which will enhance and exceed their A Level studies;
• an awareness of how to make a successful application;
• knowledge of the skills required to study successfully at degree level.

The grant will include provision to pay a PhD student to coordinate all aspects of the Summer School, while the Outreach Office will provide guidance on the recruitment and selection of participants, organisational aspects and monitoring and evaluation of the project.

We will consider bids up to a maximum of £6000 to run a Year 12 Summer School. Further guidance about the department-led Year 12 Summer Schools, including a sample budget, is available to download.

Please also view the guidance notes for all departmental initiatives.

The resources below have been put together to assist departments in running a Year 12 Summer School as part of the Outreach departmental initiatives scheme.

If you have any questions, please contact Lucie March, Senior Outreach Officer: l.march@ucl.ac.uk