OnDemand: The Supporting Disadvantaged Students in Higher Education Conference 2026
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2026 Overview
Persistent inequalities continue to shape who enters, progresses through and succeeds in higher education in the UK. Although undergraduate acceptances have risen in 2025, growth remains below expectations, and the divide between disadvantaged students and their peers is still striking. Young people who were eligible for free school meals continue to enter higher education at far lower rates, and access to the most selective universities is even more uneven. At the same time, financial pressures on institutions and students are intensifying, increasing the urgency of creating stable student-centred systems of support.
- Acceptances of UK undergraduate students through UCAS have grown by 3.1 per cent in 2025 compared with the same point in 2024, though this remains below the sector’s forecast growth of 4.1 per cent (Office for Students, 2025)
- Only 28.9% of pupils who were eligible for free school meals at age 15 entered higher education by age 19 in 2023/24 compared to 49% for non-eligible pupils (Department for Education, 2025)
- 4% of disadvantaged pupils progressed to “high tariff” higher-education providers by age 19 below the 15.1% for their peers from more advantaged backgrounds (Department for Education, 2025)
The Supporting Disadvantaged Students in Higher Education Conference 2026 explored the latest research, policies and updates shaping equality and access in higher education. Hear from leading organisations and practitioners on widening participation, supporting student wellbeing, improving retention and strengthening routes into higher education across all regions.
2026 Agenda
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Nathan Belgrave, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Manager, University of Manchester
Keynote: Highlighting the Key Challenges Facing Disadvantaged Students in Higher Education
- Discussing institutional financial stress and its implications by presenting the latest data
- Safeguarding student-centred support by maintaining funding for services so disadvantaged students are not disproportionately harmed by institutional difficulties
- Promoting equality and access in long-term financial planning, encouraging institutions to rethink and adapt their business models
- Ensuring senior managers prioritise student wellbeing during change to ensure support for vulnerable students is not compromised
Ellie Rowley, Policy and Strategy Manager, UCAS
Keynote: Key Aims for Widening Participation in Higher Education
- Recognising inequality by analysing how regional disparities shape educational and opportunities for disadvantaged students, and considering how universities can respond through local partnerships
- Expanding routes to success beyond traditional university pathways by strengthening links between higher education, further education, and employers to create credible progression options
- Ensuring social mobility is in institutional strategy by using local labour-market data and collaboration to ensure universities contribute to regional opportunity and economic growth
- Building systems of support and connection by promoting employer community partnerships that broaden disadvantaged students’ access to opportunities
Alun Francis, Chair, Social Mobility Commission
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Keynote: Regional Disparities and Access to Top Universities
- Developing awareness of how regional background shapes higher-education opportunity and participation between areas such as the North East and coastal towns
- Supporting targeted action in low-participation regions by strengthening local pathways into HE and increasing work with schools and communities
- Tackling regional equality into national widening-participation policy by adopting commitments which aim to narrow the gap between the highest and lowest-participation areas
- Encouraging collaboration between universities, local authorities and employers to expand opportunity for students whose educational prospects are limited by geography
Jon Datta, Head of University Access and Digital, Sutton Trust
Case Study: Erasmus+: Expanding Access to International Opportunities
- Exploring how the Erasmus+ programme can widen access to international study and work placements for students and staff where overseas opportunities were not as accessible
- Considering the barriers that can prevent participation abroad, including financial pressures, accommodation and uncertainty around access
- Discussing how institutions can prepare for future participation in Erasmus+ by improving awareness of opportunities among students and staff with fewer opportunities
- Sharing examples of emerging across the sector aimed at making international mobility more accessible and responsive to the needs of disadvantaged participants
Gillian Cowell, Head of Gender and Inclusion, British Council
Case Study: Strategies for Addressing the Awarding Gap between BAME and White Students
- Moving away from the attainment gap and understanding the experiences of ethnic minorities in higher education that may lead to the awarding gap
- Practical strategies for closing the awarding gap: Policy, curriculum changes, and pedagogical approaches
- Best practice examples from higher education institutions closing the awarding gap
- Creating inclusive student communities that welcome diverse cultures and ethnicities
Dr Gideon Sappor, Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy, UCL Institute of Education
Questions and Answers
Lunch Break
Case Study: Interventions to Address the Access Gap into Selective Universities
- Why does access matter? Is University still relevant?
- What interventions work?
- What is the student experience? Hear from one of our alumn
Sam Davies, Director of Fundraising and Communications, The Access Project
Ras.I Martin, Founder & CEO Fireside 123 and The Access Project alumnus
Case Study: Improving Access: Reasonable Adjustments in Higher Education
- Identifying the barriers disabled students continue to face when navigating university life, including inaccessible learning environments
- Outlining how reasonable adjustments function as a legal and practical tool to remove disadvantage, ensuring students can participate in teaching and assessment on equal terms
- Improving institutional processes so students receive timely assessments and support from the point of application through to graduation
- Ensuring disabled students’ voices are in decision-making so policies and learning environments reflect lived experience
Harriet Cannon, Director National Association of Disability Practitioners and Disability Advisory Team Manager, University of Leeds
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Keynote: An Alternative Pathway for The Care-Experienced
- National Stats – The big gap for care-experienced & care-leavers
- The development of a module to help support the transferable life skills necessary to help reduce this gap
- The benefits of this module and who was targeted
- Findings of the initial run
Dr Aman Asif-Malik, Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology, University of Northampton
Case Study: Supporting Attainment of Students in Higher Education
- Examining how regional inequalities shape barriers to higher education differently across the UK, including accommodation pressures in cities and limited local provision in rural areas
- Exploring why targeted, locally responsive approaches may be more effective than one-size-fits-all widening participation strategies
- Discussing how universities can work with the government and voluntary sector to develop support systems that reflect regional social and economic realities
- Considering the national policy implications of region-based approaches, including how government and institutions can ensure disadvantaged students receive effective support regardless of geography
Professor Antony Moss, Pro Vice Chancellor (Education & Student Experience), London South Bank University
Questions and Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Nathan Belgrave, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Manager, University of Manchester
Conference Close
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2026 Speakers
Nathan Belgrave
Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Manager,
University of Manchester
Dr Gideon Sappor
Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy
UCL Institute of Education
Alun Francis
Chair
Social Mobility Commission
Ellie Rowley
Policy and Strategy Manager
UCAS
Sam Davies
Director of Fundraising and Communications
The Access Project
Jon Datta
Head of University Access & Digital
The Sutton Trust
Professor Antony Mos
Pro Vice Chancellor (Education & Student Experience)
London South Bank University
Dr Aman Asif-Malik
Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology
University of Northampton
Testimonials
This has been my first Government Event to attend and was easy to access and very insightful
This was an insightful event with knowledgeable guest speakers
This conference was an exceptionally well-organised and structured event, highlighted by the outstanding contributions of its speakers
Informative and confidence raising; made me feel better able to address challenges at my own work and support the contributions of colleagues
