Uni Connect

Uni Connect brings together 29 partnerships of universities, colleges and other local partners to offer activities, advice and information on the benefits and realities of going to university or college.

The programme supports our strategic goal that students’ access to higher education is not limited by their background, location or characteristics.

Uni Connect's impact

Over 1.5 million young people from underrepresented groups have engaged with the Uni Connect programme since 2017. In 2022-23, the partnerships worked with 2,079 schools and colleges.

Evidence shows that the programme is having a positive impact:

'Students who took part in an intensive Uni Connect outreach package were up to 1.29 times or 29 per cent more likely to enter higher education than a matched group of peers who received minimal outreach.' (HEAT, Contextualised HE Entry Track Impact Report)

'Students eligible for free school meals engaging in Uni Connect intensive outreach were up to 48 per cent more likely to progress to higher education compared to matched peers.' (HEAT, Contextualised HE Entry Track Impact Report)

'Between 2017/18 and 2022/23, almost half of the outreach activities recorded on the national Higher Education Access Tracker were delivered by, or in partnership with, Uni Connect partnerships.' (HEAT, Uni Connect Higher Education Track Impact Report)

Read more about how we're evaluating Uni Connect