Widening Participation in Postgraduate Study – case studies

In Spring 2023 the NEON Widening Participation in Postgraduate Study Network launched a project to collate and publish case studies showcasing the great ongoing work to implement the strategy blueprint – widening access and enhancing experiences in postgraduate study. The first wave of these case studies were launched in Autumn 2023 and can be accessed here: 

• Transitions and Transformations: The Black Researchers Project
  In January 2022, the University of Essex launched an innovative 4-year project to support underrepresented Black researchers as they journey from undergraduate to doctoral study and into academic career.
• Contextual Admissions at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
  A new contextual admissions system has been launched by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) to improve access for underrepresented student groups to postgraduate courses.
• Data Science MSc Scholarships for Under-Represented Groups
  The Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (LIDA) successfully secured OfS funding to create 18 scholarships for home-based students from underrepresented groups undertaking a data science related MSc, with the aim of making the UK Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science workforce more representative.
• The ‘Get Into Masters’ Initiative
  The University of Winchester delivered the ‘Get into Masters Study’ initiative to help undergraduates make an informed choice about postgraduate study.
• Supporting Students into Postgraduate Study via Access Postgrad
  Increasing participation of undergraduate students from non-traditional backgrounds in postgraduate study through the Access Postgrad scheme at the University of Bristol.
• Equity in Doctoral Education through Partnership and Innovation (EDEPI)
  Nottingham Trent, Sheffield Hallam, and Liverpool John Moores Universities are challenging recruitment practices that create barriers for groups underrepresented in doctoral education.
• Applicant Mentoring and Guaranteed Interview Scheme in the Nottingham Doctoral Training Partnership
  The Nottingham Doctoral Training Partnership introduced applicant mentoring and a guaranteed interview scheme to increase participation from ethnically-minoritised groups.
• Navigating Life as a Postgraduate Researcher in the UK
  As part of the NEON on course success sub-group of the Postgraduate Diversity Working Group, a QAA-funded Collaborative Enhancement Project considering how we define, measure, and support success for PGR was launched.
• Transition Support for PhD Students at the University of Nottingham
  In response to feedback, Postgraduate Research (PGR) Welfare Officers, Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Officers, and Academics collaborated to design and deliver a targeted training session on ‘the research leap’ as part of the induction programme for PGR students in the BBSRC DTP.
• The Plus Programme: Adding Value to the Leeds Postgraduate Experience
  The University of Leeds Plus Programme has been working with underrepresented students since 2014 and addresses the needs of these students transitioning to – and progressing from – postgraduate education in a variety of ways.
• Summer Research Experience Internships
  The University of Cambridge is increasing postgraduate diversity through Summer Research Internships, with both schemes aiming to enhance diversity in UK academia by facilitating research experience to offer participants tangible benefits.

If you would be interested in contributing a case study for any work you are involved in, please fill in this short form here and we will be in touch with more details in due course.

In July 2022, the Working Group launched a strategy blueprint and pledge of intent to work collaboratively to bring about positive change, for more information, please click here.

This Working Group is organised by the University of Leeds.