University's access agreement for 2012-13 approved

The Office for Fair Access (OFFA) has approved the University’s Access Agreement for 2012-13.

The decision paves the way for a comprehensive package of financial support for students to be made available, and a doubling of investment in outreach activities to £16m to help bright students from disadvantaged backgrounds to study at Leeds.

Approval has also been given for the University to charge tuition fees of £9k for full-time home/EU new entrants from 2012-13.

Under the Access Agreement, it is expected that one in three undergraduate students will be eligible for financial support while studying. Key elements of the agreement include:

Financial support for students

  • Students with a household income up to £25,000 will be able to choose between a £3,000 fee waiver, cash award or accommodation discount, meaning they can access financial assistance in the form best suited to their needs. Those from households with an income of between £25,001 and £42,600 will be entitled to financial support on a sliding scale.
  • Students most in need will be entitled to support up to the value of £6,000 in year one and support up to the value of £3,000 in years two and three.

Outreach

Under the University's education engagement strategy, we work with bright students from all backgrounds to encourage them to study at Leeds. Our successful widening participation and outreach activities include:

  • Access to Leeds, an alternative admissions scheme that allows us to identify applicants who have the potential to succeed at university but whose academic grades may not reflect their talents. The scheme has been operating since 2003 and has been highly successful in helping ensure we recruit the brightest and best young people to Leeds, regardless of their background.
  • We work with around 41,000 young people from 250 schools and colleges to raise aspirations and achievement. In addition, we collaborate with around 1200 adults based in community settings or in further education colleges to raise awareness of higher education and the University of Leeds. Each year, around 600 parents and 200 teachers/careers advisors learn about higher education through parents' sessions and Information, Advice and Guidance conferences and seminars.

More details of the financial support package are available in the Your finances 2012 section of the University's website.

A package of briefing materials has been prepared to help staff describe Leeds and explain fees and financial support arrangements for 2012 to prospective undergraduates and their parents.

Read OFFA's announcement

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