Widening Participation: apply for departmental funding

The UCL Widening Participation (WP) team are pleased to announce this year's funding opportunities for UCL departments are open.

The WP team is now inviting proposals from departments to run local versions of UCL's most successful outreach programmes, Year 12 Summer Schools and Summer Challenge.

Summer Challenge (funding available: circa £1300)

Summer Challenge courses run for six taught sessions of two hours (5-7pm) on weekday evenings. At the end of the course, every student will hand in a 1,500 word essay on a related research topic of their choice. Tutors will support students with their projects throughout the programme, and students have access to UCL libraries during Summer Challenge. Tutors (usually a doctoral or post-doctoral researcher) develop and teach the five week programme, with the aid of an (optional) undergraduate helper. Tutors are paid for preparation, delivery, and marking/providing feedback for completed projects.

In 2014/15, 43% of Summer Challenge students went on to make an application to undergraduate study at UCL.

Year 12 Summer Schools (funding available: circa £6,000)

Year 12 Summer Schools are one of UCL's most successful WP projects. They aim to give students a deeper understanding of a subject area and introduce the department to a cohort of enthusiastic and able students from target backgrounds. Successful Summer Schools use a variety of sessions, including lectures, seminars, practical sessions and visits where appropriate. There should be an engaging theme that would appeal to Year 12 students.

In 2014/15, 43% of summer school students went on to make an application to undergraduate study at UCL.

Long Term Initiatives (funding available: up to £15,000)

We are interested in hearing from departments who are looking to develop a long-term initiative with a WP focus. These could include initiatives such as setting up a virtual platform for teachers and/or prospective students; setting up a project of working in schools on a regular basis; a long-term engagement project based at UCL; a series of taster days, etc. We are happy to talk through any ideas you have, and give feedback on ways these may be developed/implemented to successfully engage the audience.

Attracting students from UCL's Widening Participation target groups

The WP team will advertise Summer Schools and Summer Challenge courses, and will select a cohort of academically able students from target backgrounds. UCL's target groups are students who:

· Would be the first generation in their family to go to university

· Are from lower socio-economic groups (NS-SEC 4-8)

· Are from neighbourhoods with low progression to higher education

· Are entitled to free school meals

· Are from an ethnic background underrepresented at UCL

· Have a disability

· Are in local authority care

· Are a young carer

· Are a white, working-class male

· Are from a travelling family background

Members from the team will meet with departments to discuss any local priorities for WP (for example, increasing the number of women applying for engineering programmes).

How to apply

The deadline for applications is Friday 11 November 2016.

Application forms and guidance notes can be found here: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/widening-participation/staff/dept-funding

For further information, please contact Melissa Mead (Senior Access Officer, Communications and Planning) Tel: 020 3108 7435, (ext. 57435) Email: m.mead@ucl.ac.uk

Melissa Mead (Senior Access Officer, Communications and Planning). Widening Participation and UK Undergraduate Recruitment, UCL Student and Registry Services