Reaching out
Published 14 August 2012
The University of Brighton is committing more than £7m to supporting students who might otherwise be unable to enjoy the benefits of higher education because of their financial backgrounds.
The announcement comes as students are about to receive A-level results and consider their options in higher education.
The £7m support includes a range of bursaries, scholarships and fee waivers worth thousands of pounds per student and are designed to open the university door to those who previously could not afford to attend.
In addition, the university is holding a series of drop-in advice sessions this month (August) at schools and colleges across Sussex to help A-level students make the right choice for their higher education courses.
Professor Stuart Laing, University of Brighton Deputy Vice-Chancellor, said: "This can be a confusing time in terms of the raft of changes that the government has introduced, including increased fees. Some students, undoubtedly, will have found these changes difficult to understand and we empathise with them.
"Our primary concern is the welfare and well-being of students and our priority is ensuring that applicants are equipped with all the information they need to make the right choice for them and their families.
"Choosing the right university is a big decision and I understand this can be a stressful time. Our session advisers, many of them current students, will be on hand to offer information and individual advice. They will answer questions on all aspects of applications and the university experience including choosing the right subject and course, enjoying university sport and social amenities and facilities, opportunities for volunteering, getting to grips with student finance and applying for funding."
Professor Laing said the university was also strengthening ties with local schools and colleges with a new programme "Compact", starting next month (September). He said: "This is aimed at providing additional support to local students who may be considering higher education options available at the university. We will continue providing all local students with guarantees of offers onto most programmes but we hope to identify more non-traditional students and offer them additional support. The initiative is aimed at students entering Year 12 this autumn and considering progression to university in 2014."
Drop-in application advice sessions
The drop-in advice sessions for Sussex students wanting to go to university this autumn, and their families, will be held from 16 to 21 August at Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College in Hove, Worthing College, Parkwood Sixth Form College in Hastings, Bexhill College, South Coast College Hastings, Central Sussex College in Haywards Heath, Sussex Downs College at Lewes Sixth Form College, Varndean College in Brighton, and Sussex Downs College in Eastbourne.
University Clearing information days
These Clearing information days are being held at the University of Brighton's Grand Parade campus in central Brighton, and at the University of Brighton in Hastings.
For times and days go to www.brighton.ac.uk/myfuture.
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