Widening participation

From our very beginnings in 1826, UCL was founded to be open to all, irrespective of religion, race and background.

Nearly 200 years later, UCL continues to be at the forefront with its work on social mobility and education. UCL has one of the largest widening participation operations in the country, led by our Access and Widening Participation Office. Our work is innovative, evidence-led and shapes national direction, working at all levels from primary through to mature students returning to education.

UCL is the largest on-site provider of education at university level in the UK, with around 51,000 students across all levels of study. Entry to undergraduate study at UCL is competitive and 38% of students enter with A levels, or equivalent qualifications, of AAA or higher. In 2023/24, a third of UK undergraduate students entered through Access UCL, our contextual offer scheme. 

Our UCL Access and Participation Plan for 2025/26 – 2028/29 sets out how we intend to encourage and support students to apply to UCL, and how we will bring about institutional change to address retention and attainment gaps. We measure our performance and have set our key areas of improvements in line with the Equality of Opportunity Risk Register provided by the Office for Students.

The work of the UCL Access and Widening Participation team is underpinned by evidence - through our dedicated research, policy and evaluation team - to ensure that activity, practice and policy are impactful and fit for purpose.