Warwick University to lower A-Level requirements for disadvantaged students

Warwick University have revealed today that they will be spending 10 million pounds in order to increase access to education for disadvantaged students.

The programme, called Warwick Scholars, could see the lowering of A-Level requirements by up to four grades. This is in a hope to widen access to education for students who may face social, educational or economic barriers to Higher Education.

The programme could see students with BBB at A-Level having a place on the Economics course, which traditionally accepts students at an A*AA level.

The programme is targeting students from disadvantaged backgrounds and those under-represented in Higher Education, within a 30-mile radius of Warwick University. Student will, however need to be academically eligible with reference to their GCSE results profile.

Warwick scholars, will also financially assist students by offering a 50 per cent tuition fee discount per year, and a means-tested bursary of £2,000. This could equate to a financial package worth up to £19,500 for a three year undergraduate degree.

Stuart Croft, Vice Chancellor explained: “Students from less advantaged backgrounds and less successful schools simply can’t get to a place like Warwick, so we’re trying to calibrate what works.”

“We have traditionally used a two-grade reduction and that has worked to some extent but quite clearly the feedback is that four grades would make an enormous difference, so we are going down that road and doing this in a very careful, evidenced way.”

The first cohort of students to take place in the programme will attend the enrol in the University in 2020.