Widening Participation
Realise your potential
If you want to study at university then we’ll do our absolute best to help you succeed regardless of your circumstances.
The University of Stirling is committed to enabling students from all backgrounds to achieve their full potential. We believe that everyone has the potential to succeed and actively encourage applications from non-traditional groups. The Widening Participation staff support a wide range of different students who can be considered as coming from a widening participation background.
We work with students, and their parents, guardians and advisers, to help find the right route into university for them. There are a number of different options available depending on your background and what you want to study. Use the links below to find out more about what we can do for you.
Coming from college?
College students make up a significant part of the student population at Stirling.
Mature students
Mature students have a wealth of valuable life and work experience that universities appreciate.
Care experienced young people
Our advisers are here to provide information, advice and guidance to anyone interested in applying to university.
Young and adult carers
We realise that the issues carers face can sometimes make the thought of coming to university daunting, but we're here to help make sure you're able to make the most of your time here.
Contextualised Admissions at Stirling
We select students based on both ability and potential. We don’t just look at grades – we look at the information provided across the application form to assess the potential of each student. There are certain circumstances we would give extra consideration to, including:
- your school is part of the Schools for Higher Education Programme (SHEP)
- you have experience of being in care
- you are a young adult carer
- you come from a priority postcode
If you're not sure if your school is a member of the Schools for Higher Education Programme, then just get in touch and we'll let you know. Email us at realiseyourpotential@stir.ac.uk.
Shumela, 35, left school at the age of 14 with no formal qualifications and initially assumed that was the end of her academic journey.
“I always assumed an academic career was out of the question because of my lack of education. The University’s Access program significantly changed that and, once I had completed it, I chose to stay at Stirling for the duration of my undergraduate degree."
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Tracey Kerr
Widening Participation Manager
International and Student Recruitment
2C3, Cottrell Building, Stirling, FK9 4LA
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