Advancing Access x The Sutton Trust

Exploring pathways to Medicine (February 2026)

Exploring Pathways to Law (February 2026)

Why should your students do a Degree Apprenticeship?

Degree apprenticeships are reshaping how students access high-value careers - combining academic rigour, paid employment and strong graduate outcomes, particularly for students who may not see traditional university routes as accessible.

Exploring future paths with students - university courses and alternative pathways (January 2026)

Contextual admissions - key updates on supporting your students (January 2026)

How can Russell Group universities address students' concerns around employability?

Recent research from UCAS (2025) finds that for current students aged 16-18, their biggest concern is employability. How do Russell Group universities address these concerns?

A guide to university contextual admissions policies

“Students are so much more than their grades” - a phrase that is becoming more widely recognised, and rightly so. It is this notion that provides the foundation for contextual admissions policies, and cements why we need them.

Oxbridge Interviews (November 2025)

UCAS: Supporting Fair Access (July 2025)

Your guide to TMUA, ESAT and TARA (July 2025)

Preparing students for Admissions Tests and Interviews (July 2025)

Supporting students with Degree Apprenticeships (July 2025)

Supporting Supercurricular Learning (July 2025)

Breaking barriers to the Russell Group (July 2025)

Pathways to Medicine (July 2025)

Keynote Presentation - Supporting students with Personal Statements (July 2025)

Medicine and Healthcare Interviews (October 2025)

New University Admissions Test: TARA (The Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions)

UAT-UK, a joint venture between The University of Cambridge and Imperial College London, will be delivering a new non-subject specific admissions test, for 2026 entry and beyond.

Do you know a care experienced student? Tell them about #TicktheBox

This National Care Leavers’ Month, The Fostering Network is urging all care-experienced young people to #TickTheBox on their UCAS forms, to let universities know they’ve spent time in care. And this year, we’re calling on teachers to help spread the word.

Making Informed Choices at 16 - Activity for Students

Personal Statement Catch-up (October 2025)

Degree Apprenticeships vs University Degree - Activity for Students

Writing effective UCAS references

It’s the beginning of the academic year again, and time to start thinking about UCAS applications! This blog will guide you through the process and provide some top tips on how to write an effective reference.

Support available at university for SEND students

This article will explore what support is available for SEND students, and how you can help your students to understand what’s on offer.

What research says about writing effective UCAS personal statements

This article aims to summarise three recent studies on the UCAS personal statement, providing a range of practical insights for teachers, advisors and applicants.

What can Year 1/Year 12 students do over the summer to prepare for writing their personal statements?

Personal statements have changed for students applying to university for 2026 entry and beyond. So, what will this look like, and what can students do over their summer holiday to best prepare for writing their statement?

Preparing for Clearing - Activity for Students

Preparing for your Personal Statement - Activity for Students

How universities can support your pre-16 students

For pre-16 students, higher education can feel like a long way off - and they’re not wrong! But introducing them to the idea of higher education as early as possible (often before they’ve even considered it) can provide significant value.

How Russell Group universities support students with parenting responsibilities - and how you can too

75% of student parents say that higher education has been positive for themselves and their families - but this group faces significant barriers to accessing university. This article discusses how teachers and advisers can best support student parents, and highlights the resources available at Russell Group universities.

How to make the most of Higher Education Fairs

Supporting students with new Personal Statement guidance

Personal Statement Marking Checklist

How the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) drives social mobility and university success

This article examines research which highlights the emerging impact of the EPQ on progression to higher education (HE) and university success, with particularly promising findings for underrepresented and marginalised students.

How to prepare your students for Medicine Interviews (MMIs)

The thought of an interview can be daunting for many students. The thought of multiple interviews can seem a lot worse.

Supporting your students with Law Course interviews

University interviews can be daunting for students, especially when it’s their first time applying for a competitive course like Law.

Working in Partnership to Diversify Our Student Body: Collaboration with the University of Exeter and The Elephant Group (TEG)

As representatives of the University of Exeter, we were excited to present at the Neon conference on our partnership with The Elephant Group (TEG) to diversify our student body.

UCAS Update: Key Changes for Teachers and Advisers to Support Students in 2025 and Beyond

As educators and advisers, keeping up with the latest developments in the university application process is essential to effectively guide students.

Richard

Richard, an Economics and Finance student at the University of York, discusses how he chose his GCSEs and A-levels, his study motivations, and offers advice on selecting qualifications.

Daniyel

Daniyel, a Law student at King’s College London, shares how he chose his subjects and offers advice on qualifications and personal statements.

Orin

Orin, studied Law at the University of Oxford, shares how her GCSEs influenced her A-level choices and decision to attend university. She also offers advice on selecting qualifications.

Josh

Josh, a Computer Science student at the University of Newcastle, shares how he chose his A-levels, offers advice on university applications, and reflects on valuable lessons for future students.

Mayowa

Mayowa studies English Literature at King's College London. She shares her university application journey, her enjoyment of university life, and valuable advice for choosing a course and university.

Mayowa

Mayowa, studying English Literature at King's College London, discusses her GCSE and A-Level subject choices, offering advice for students on making informed decisions.

Sarah

Sarah, a Biochemistry graduate from Birmingham, discusses how university aided her transition to employment and shares valuable insights for choosing the right career path.

Samra

Samra, a Medicine student at the University of Liverpool, shares how she chose her course, the value of her work experience, and advice on overcoming barriers. She also offers tips for applying to study medicine.

Jackson

Jackson, a Theatre and Performance Studies student at the University of Bristol, shares his insights on choosing qualifications, the significance of enjoying your subjects, and how bursaries and scholarships influenced his university decision.

Eireann

Eireann, an English and Education graduate from Cambridge, shares how a summer school helped her decide on university and her course. She also offers advice on selecting the right university.

Gemma

Gemma, a Communication and Media student at the University of Leeds, explains how an access course helped her and shares thoughts on university as a path for everyone.

Amy

Amy, an English Language graduate from the University of Glasgow, shares how she chose her university course, why she selected Glasgow, and her experience with scholarships.

Billie-Jo

Billie-Joe, studying Social Work and Geography at Queen's University Belfast, shares how she chose her GCSE subjects, what she enjoyed in A-Level, and offers advice for subject consideration.

Billie-Jo

Billie-Joe discusses her university life, sharing advice for care leavers, her motivation for studying social work, extracurricular involvement, and the benefits she gained as a student.

Hamid

Hamid studies Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at LSE. He discusses his career aspirations, factors influencing his course choice, and how summer schools shaped his university decision.

Billie-Jo

Billie-Joe, studying Social Work and Geography at Queen's University Belfast, shares his university selection process, reasons for choosing Belfast, and helpful advice for others.

Bishoy

Bishoy shares his journey in choosing a university and course, highlighting the significance of aligning his degree with career goals and evaluating different options.

Sophie

Sophie discusses her journey to studying Law at Sheffield, covering her decision-making process, considerations for open days, and advice on personal statements.

Fatima

Fatima, studying Dentistry at Cardiff University, shares her journey, emphasising diverse work experiences, teacher support during applications, and the benefits of attending a Russell Group University.

Khima

Khima, a Law student at the University of Edinburgh, shares how he chose his A-Levels and how his dream job influenced those decisions.

Sophie

Sophie, a law student at Sheffield, shares her experiences with GCSEs and offers valuable advice for selecting A-Level subjects based on her personal choices.

Saif

Saif, a graduate in Accounting and Finance from Manchester, discusses choosing a university and course, highlighting the benefits of access schemes in decision-making.

Saif

Saif, a graduate in Accounting and Finance from Manchester, shares how his degree aided his career at Enterprise and offers tips for securing a graduate job.

Bishoy

Bishoy, studying Aerospace Engineering at Southampton, reflects on his university experience, highlighting the skills gained and what he enjoyed most about student life.

Onome

Onome, a Chemical Engineering graduate from Imperial College London, discusses his summer school experience, course highlights, and what mattered when applying for jobs after his masters.

Khima

Khima discusses his motivation for studying law at Edinburgh, highlights the city's appeal, and shares tips for open days.

Habiba

Habiba, studying Maths at Queen Mary University, discusses her course selection factors, extracurricular activities, and shares valuable advice for choosing the right university.

Richard

Richard, an Economics and Finance student at the University of York, shares his university life experience, highlighting extracurricular activities and how they prepared him for future employment.

Nathan

Nathan, an English student at Exeter, shares why he chose his course, the benefits of a gap year, and offers advice on selecting a university subject.

Matt

Matt, a Linguistics student at UCL, shares how he chose his GCSE subjects, the skills that supported his studies, and offers advice for selecting subjects.

Saif

Saif, a graduate in Accounting and Finance from Manchester, shares insights on making subject choices, emphasising how his GCSE experience influenced his A-Level decisions.

Jess

Jess discusses her Sociology experience at Durham, highlighting involvement opportunities, the benefits of university, and advice for those considering applying to higher education.

Gemma

Gemma, a Communication and Media student at the University of Leeds, shares her experiences navigating university life with a disability and the opportunities she found.

Nathan

Nathan, an English student at the University of Exeter, discusses challenges he faced transitioning to A-levels and shares insights that helped him realise he could attend university.

Habiba

Habiba, studying Maths at Queen Mary University, shares how her future plans influenced her GCSE choices and offers valuable advice for making subject selections.

Fatima

Fatima, studying Dentistry at Cardiff University, shares her insights on excelling in studies, the A-Level transition, and the importance of keeping her subject choices open for future opportunities.

Khima

In this case study, Khima, a Law student at the University of Edinburgh, talks about how getting involved in extra-curricular activities made her university experience even better.

Amy

Amy, an English Language graduate from the University of Glasgow, offers advice on subject choices, succeeding at highers, overcoming challenges, and her decision to pursue a postgraduate course.

How important are admissions tests and why do universities use them?

This year, Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge established a joint venture to deliver two admissions tests.

Supporting LGBTQ+ students to progress to selective universities

This article will discuss different barriers which LGBTQ+ students may face, and tools we can effectively use to dismantle these barriers.

Should you be helping your students to use Chat GPT for their UCAS Personal Statements?

We know students are using Chat GPT for their Personal Statements, right?

Updates and Upcoming Events

Within this blog, you will find an introduction to the new Advancing Access team, information on how Advancing Access can support you as well as upcoming opportunities to get involved in!

Are Degree Apprenticeships a modern choice for students?

Degree apprenticeships continue to rise in popularity and appeal across all industry sectors.

What impact will the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan have on universities and our students?

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan aims to drastically increase the number of education and training places available in healthcare professions.

How do I help my students apply to university?

Receiving and responding to university offers

Students are bound to feel the pressure when they receive offers and the choice is in their hands.

What accommodation is available for university students and how much does it cost?

With housing shortages, rising prices and varying application processes, it’s no wonder that students find the prospect of arranging accommodation at university daunting.

What changes are UCAS making to references and personal statements?

You may have seen reports in the media recently that UCAS are planning on making changes to the undergraduate application process.

What are Access and Participation Plans?

You may have heard different universities talk about their ‘Access and Participation Plans’ (or APPs).

Building confidence to help students prepare for university interviews

With the right preparation, students can approach university interviews with confidence and turn what might be a daunting experience into an enjoyable one.

What is Oxplore and how can your students make use of it?

In October 2017 the University of Oxford made its first foray into digital outreach with the launch of Oxplore.org.

Having conversations with parents and carers about Higher Education

You will be familiar with talking to parents and carers of students to support attainment and learning.

Helping students to prepare for admissions tests

Admissions tests allow students to be academically stretched and assessed and enable universities to distinguish those individuals with the most ability.

Teacher and adviser reflection - helping students make the right choices for post-16 study

Researching post-16 study options - activity for students

Teacher and adviser reflection - understanding admissions processes

A guide to the new UCAS questions for 2023 entry onwards

You may have heard by now that there are some new questions on the UCAS application for students applying to enter HE from 2023 onwards.

Super-curricular activity guide

Making effective use of destinations data

How well is your school or college doing in terms of the proportion of students who progress to HE.

How should we be measuring disadvantage?

The reality of working in education is that resources are limited and must be targeted.

Applying to Law courses in Scotland

Are you supporting students who may be interested in studying law in Scotland?

Why should your students study humanities and social sciences?

The study of humans, especially in an ever changing world, has been an intriguing area for many years and has always been of immense value – now perhaps even more than ever before.

What are super-curricular activities - and how can your students use them?

Super-curricular activities can include anything your students do outside of the curriculum related to the subject(s) they are interested in.

Will Russell Group universities accept T levels?

The Government is currently in the process of reforming level 3 qualifications in England and new T Level qualifications are seen as the centrepiece of these reforms.

Russell Group bursary guide

Supporting Black students to progress to selective universities

In the UK, there is a growing desire to ‘level-up’ or widen participation of young people accessing higher education.

Do disadvantaged students really have lower higher education aspirations?

Recently there has been a lot of discussion around disadvantaged pupils and specifically the low attainment of white working class students.

Supporting mature students to apply to university

Prospective mature students who are considering making Higher Education applications face various issues to navigate.

Supporting students with disabilities to access Higher Education

Supporting students with disabilities to access university may feel overwhelming - the processes are different to those in schools or colleges.

Supporting estranged students to progress to competitive universities

An estranged student, according to the charity Stand Alone, is a young person who is, or will be, “studying without the support and approval of a family network.”

Go Abroad: Who, Where, When, Why, How?

With the Turing Scheme coming in this year, new opportunities for students from all backgrounds to have an international adventure are emerging.

Supporting students without family contact

Lack of family support during adolescent years can cause serious challenges with practical matters such as accessing funding and accommodation.

How to ensure students make the most of the support available at university

As a disabled student from a single-parent, low-income household, taking advantage of all the university support available to me was imperative to enable me to make the most of HE.

Exam grades for summer 2021 in England and the impact on students applying to HE

Last year, the government saw a backlash from students, teachers and parents as their commissioned exam grade algorithm came under criticism.

Can students studying vocational qualifications progress to competitive universities?

Even in 2021, there are still myths surrounding post-16 vocational qualifications and the possibility for students to progress from these qualifications onto higher education (HE).

How much does university really cost?

There are a large number of misconceptions about the true cost of university. Some of these misconceptions overestimate the cost, while others underestimate it.

Exploring Foundation Years at highly selective universities and supporting applicants

Foundation Years are increasingly common at universities in the UK. The University of Cambridge recently announced the launch of its first and existing programmes.

Bucking the trend - supporting more disadvantaged students to progress to university

Even in such politically polarised times there’s one thing which politicians of all stripes can agree on: action is needed to enable more disadvantaged students to progress to the UK’s top universities.

What is Clearing Plus and how can your students make use of it?

Following on from last year’s ‘self-release’ function, UCAS have released a new feature called Clearing Plus which will be available from early July until the end of August.

How can I best support students applying for 2021 entry to make decisions on universities and courses?

It’s that time of year when we would normally be rolling out the well-practised routine of HE Fairs, UCAS Exhibitions and Open Days for students applying for university entry in 2021.

Why subject choice could be the key to increasing participation in higher education

As a working class minority ethnic undergraduate student, I noticed the lack of representation on my ancient history course, but it wasn’t until I started my role as a Widening Participation Graduate Intern.

Supporting service children in their progression to Higher Education

‘Service children’ or children from ‘military families’ are the terms used to refer to children in schools or colleges with a parent or parents who currently serve in the armed forces or have served in the last six years.

What sources of financial support are available for students at age 16?

The percentage of 16-17 year olds recorded in education and training within England, as at March 2019, was 93%.

Moving beyond the insurance myth: supporting your students to choose the university that’s right for them

As the January 15 UCAS deadline has passed and universities across the country are busy processing offers.

What types of outreach activities and programmes can my students take part in?

Over the last five years there has been a spike in university outreach activities and programmes available for secondary schools and colleges to partake in.

Supporting looked after Children to progress to University

With as little as 12% of care leavers entering higher education we should all be looking at ways in which we can support looked after children (LaC) from an early age.

Supporting your students to get the most out of HE/UCAS fairs and undergraduate open days

Choosing which path to pursue after sixth form or college can be a stressful time for students.

How my experiences of a Widening Participation Programme helped me transition into university life

Taking part in a Widening Participation programme was one of the best things I decided to do over the summer of 2017.

Discover 'Discover Uni'

The Office for Students has launched a new website for prospective students called Discover Uni.

Student account of her journey to Higher Education

Students usually begin the process of applying for university in the last two years of school and teachers play a key role in supporting this process.

pConfessions of a Clearing call handler

As someone who has answered hundreds of phone calls in the past from students on A level results day.

Changing the way students can access careers advice

Two new apps have been released by the Universities Minister in a bid to simplify the wealth of information surrounding university and career choices for students.

How Informed Choices can help support access to Russell Group universities

the Russell Group launched a new interactive website to host its Informed Choices guide.

Access to the Professions: Inspiring and engaging students in secondary state schools

In this post, Anais Banag, a fourth-year law student at Edinburgh Law School, shares her experience of being involved with ‘Access to the Professions’.

Degree Apprenticeships at leading universities

One of the subjects we’ve been asked about most just recently is Degree Apprenticeships. What are they? Are they right for your students? And how do your students apply for them?

UKCAT is now called UCAT – has anything else changed?

The name of the test which many universities require applicants to take for their medical and dental degree programmes has changed from the UKCAT (United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test) to the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test).

The Hidden Benefits of Higher Education

When encouraging young people to pursue higher education, in whatever form that might be, we’re often faced with a barrage of questions asking how, and more importantly why, they should do so.

Which are the best sources of online information for you and your students?

We hope that you find our free Advancing Access resources useful. As we are not the only provider of higher education advice and information, we thought that we would present you with a summary of some of the best other sources.

What is POLAR and how does it differ from other measures of disadvantage?

If ever there’s a situation where universities and schools are talking a different language when it comes to a given topic, we see part of our job as being the interpreter.