National strategy for access and student success

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The strategy has now been published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

Read the strategy

About the strategy

The strategy was developed following a request from ministers. Its main aim is to ensure that those with the ability to benefit from higher education have equal opportunity to participate and succeed regardless of background, age, ethnicity, disability or gender. 

The strategy explores the student life-cycle from access to higher education, through retention and student success and into progression to further study or into, or within, employment.

Overall, the strategy promotes greater strategic alignment and cohesion. Our ambition is to create an environment in which work to improve access, student success and progression can flourish.  

The strategy sets out to achieve this  by making the most of investment in widening participation, access and student success by universities, colleges, the Government, HEFCE and other organisations. 

How has the strategy been developed?

We have consulted with the higher education sector and analysed evidence of what works best to widen participation and ensure student success, both in the UK and abroad. 

Our conclusions, and recommendations on where the sector should focus its efforts, were presented to BIS ministers in October 2013. 

We submitted an interim report to ministers in January 2013. 

Page last updated 3 April 2014