Access and Participation

Contextualised data is information and data used by universities and colleges, to assess an applicant’s prior attainment and potential, in the context of their individual circumstances. The aim is to form a more complete picture of the applicant. It includes educational, geo-demographic and socio-economic background data, such as historic data about an applicant’s school or college. Contextual information relates to individual applicant circumstances, such as if they have been in care, or are involved in widening participation activities.

At LSME, we have a proud culture of promoting and facilitating access to higher education for targeted under-represented groups in society.  LSME’s Access and Participation Plan aims to remove barriers to Higher Education and raise their aspiration to succeed in life. LSME is keen on encouraging disadvantaged young people from the backgrounds of white British, ethnic minorities including Black, Asians, Africans and Caribbean, refugees/asylum seekers, care leavers, disabled individuals and individuals with poor socioeconomic backgrounds, to progress to university or meaningful employment, with an understanding that the disadvantaged individuals do not have the same opportunity to meet our entry requirements.

ELIGIBILITY FOR A CONTEXTUAL OFFER

The eligibility to a contextual offer is made using the information provided on the LSME Application for Admission Form, Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form and LSME APP Referral Form. Each application is reviewed holistically after a discussion with the applicant during the interview to determine whether they fit into any of the following:

• Live in an area of low participation in higher education by OfS Postcode Tool as POLAR4 Quintile 1 or 2,
• Live in an area of disadvantage – IMD Polar Quintile 1 or 2 by Postcode Tool,
• Have experience of being in care (Care Leaver),
• Is a Refugee/Asylum Seeker,
• Is a young person (18+) who is no longer in the education system and who is not working or being trained for work (NEET),
• Is a young person (18+) with special needs such as learning difficulties, mental health issues and/or mild physical disabilities and any unseen disability,
• Is a disadvantaged young person from the backgrounds of white British, Black ethnic minorities, Asian under-represented groups and Caribbean diaspora,
• Has a household income below £25,000, and
• Have not met the standard entry requirements for their course, e.g. lower grades, failed initial assessment.

As part of our contextualised admissions policy for applicants, LSME aims to identify the applicant’s total talent and potential and look beyond grades in their application. These eligible candidates will undertake our initial assessment test and be offered admission to our Foundation year programme, if they do not meet our entry requirement.   Furthermore, LSME offers bursaries and scholarships to the eligible AP Foundation Year students through an assessment process.

SUPPORT FOR APPLICANTS

LSME welcomes applications from individuals whose academic qualifications do not meet the entry requirements but meet the eligibility criteria for the contextual offer. LSME Admissions and the Access and Participation (AP) Team will provide the best advice to the potential applicants (AP students). Furthermore, they will encourage the potential applicants to complete all the relevant forms (Admission Form, Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form and LSME APP Referral Form) in full, as it is critical to assessing the eligibility for the support provided. In addition, both teams will make sure that potential applicants are informed about disability and mental health support as well as the potential financial support they might be entitled to. Moreover, potential applicants, based on a contextual confirmation decision, will have access to the same support services as all other students and the Academic Team will be dedicated to supporting the students’ learning requirements and development.

Definitions

A Bursary is financial support provided by the College to eligible students which they are not required to pay back. A scholarship is a grant or payment made to support a student’s education, awarded based eligibility criteria aimed at improving access to higher education. At LSME, our scholarships generally reduce the amount of tuition fee payable and may be aimed at diminishing the financial burden on students who intend to obtain a qualification but have limited means due to their social circumstances. Self-funded students with a good track record of academic achievements and professional recognitions may also be eligible for LSME scholarships.

LSME Bursaries and Scholarships are discretionary and provided only to eligible students. Bursaries do not affect your student finance through SLC. Some may receive both the Bursary and Scholarship. Students may receive this Bursary for one year and it may continue for each year of their course depending on their eligibility. Bursaries and scholarships and their terms and conditions are subject to change.

For students who are recruited via our Access and Participation outreach projects, we use the details submitted during the admission process to assess their entitlement for the LSME Bursary and Scholarship. Hence these students do not need to apply for them. If a student is eligible, we inform them via email shortly after they start their course to receive the awards detailed below which are paid in three instalments. The first instalment will be paid in the first term.

Three award areas are as follows:

1. Discretionary Scholarships

There are two types of scholarships awarded in this category.

• Discounted Tuition Fee
  A student in receipt of this scholarship should satisfy our Access and Participation (AP) eligibility criteria. They must be UK-domiciled full-time student to receive a 50% discount on Tuition fee for our BSc or HND Programmes. This scholarship will be administered by the SLC. This scholarship could also be accessed by self-funded students with excellent academic standing.
• LSME Foundation Year Scholarship
  This discretionary full scholarship is also awarded to students who are AP eligible, UK-domiciled and full-time students registered on our Foundation Year programme. These scholarships are administered directly by LSME or through the SLC. The details of the AP eligibility can be found in the section on Bursary and Scholarships for Access and Participation (AP) Eligible Students.

2. LSME Discretional Minimum Bursary

AP eligible students are supported with an annual Bursary, irrespective of the programme they  are enrolled in. It is received by all eligible students and support the purchase of stationery and transport cost to and from the College. This Bursary is administered by the SLC.

3. LSME Discretional Means Tested Bursary or Hardship Fund

Students who are AP eligible are entitled to a one-off hardship fund in an academic year. It is means-tested and will also be subject to the nature of the hardship and the circumstances. Students who are not AP eligible may also be offered this hardship fund under certain circumstances. This Bursary is administered by LSME directly or through SLC.

Bursary and Scholarships for Access and Participation (AP) Eligible Students

1. NEET Category (For all Bursaries and Scholarships)

Admitted from the Jobcentre or partnership referral organisations or through our external outreach programmes as Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) and have joined LSME on a Foundation Year programme having undergone a success contextual admission process.  A full scholarship is awarded to the student during the Foundation Year of their studies.

• Young people (Preferably White British male)
• Household income of <£25,000 per annum.
• Lives in deprived areas with low participation in higher education (Polar 4, Quintiles 1 or 2)

2. Disabled Students (For Discretional Minimum Bursary only)

• Cognitive impairment such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia
• Mild to moderate physical disabilities
• Sensory disabilities including hearing and visual impairment
• Chronic unseen disabilities

3. Asylum Seekers and Care Leavers (For Discretional Minimum Bursary only)

• Household income of <£25,000 per annum.
• Lives in deprived areas with low participation in higher education (Polar 4, Quintiles 1 or 2 or IMD Quintiles 1 or 2)

4. Other Mature Students Particularly Black Caribbean Learners and Asians (For Discretional Minimum Bursary only)

• Household income of <£25,000 per annum.
• Lives in deprived areas with low participation in higher education (Polar 4, Quintiles 1 or 2)

The legal definition of a care leaver comes from The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, which states that a Care Leaver is someone who has been in the care of the Local Authority for a period of 13 weeks or more spanning their 16^th birthday. A Care Leaver is a young person who at any stage in their life has been or is currently in care and/or is from a looked-after background.

Through our LSME-NTLTL project, LSME aims to provide Care Leavers (18+) with academic support in a Foundation Year and facilitate their progression to higher education. LSME recognises that spending time in care can have an impact on the opportunities and outcomes for Care Leavers, and therefore LSME APP and Admissions Teams will provide pre-entry and on-course support to students who spent any time in care.

Care Leavers are encouraged to start a Foundation Year with us on Business Management or Health and Social Care and the following information will give you an idea of how the programme will help you:

• Foundation Year is an optional year at Level 4, which is a great opportunity if you are considering higher education as an option but may face academic barriers,
• Successful completion of Foundation Year will meet the entry requirement for a full degree course
• Foundation Year is a good start, if you feel you are not yet ready for degree level study
• Foundation Year is for you if you are returning to study and feel you need some help to get up to speed with the demands of learning before embarking on a degree course
• Foundation Year is a great way to build your skills, knowledge and confidence to prepare you for a degree course
• Foundation Year will help you remove academic gaps and improve literacy skills
• By starting a Foundation course, you will get the chance to experience University/College style teaching as well as you will gain practical experience to help you progress to undergraduate degree courses
• You are invited to visit our campus and seek some pre-entry advice from our Admissions Team
• If you feel that you need any help with your studies or your mental health or wellbeing once starting your course, our Access and Participation Team will be here to help you throughout your course.

LSME welcomes applications from refugees and asylum seekers. Several challenges prevent many young refugees and asylum seekers from accessing university or Higher Education. They need support to access the education system and learn to be part of and become a productive member of the community.

The three major challenges faced by refugees or asylum seeker students include; financial, information, advice and guidance, and health and wellbeing. They are unable to access student finance or any other locally available finances. Their unfamiliarity with the UK Higher Education system and ways to access education puts them at a greater disadvantage. Having left their friends and family behind, settling into a new culture and dealing with language barriers, they are likely to experience emotional and mental health concerns. Hence, under the LSME AP outreach projects aim to extend support to refugee and asylum seeking young people to access higher education, through our foundation and degree programmes.

LSME Access and Participation Team together with Admissions Team will ensure that the following support is offered to refugee and asylum seekers to help them reach higher education (HE):

• Provide clear and accurate information about refugees’ and asylum seekers’ eligibility for courses and financial support,
• Organise open days for refugees and asylum seekers to visit campus and ask questions (pre-entry support),
• Ensure that the availability of scholarships and bursaries for refugees and asylum seekers,
• Apply Contextual Admissions Policy for the admission process to widen participation for refugees and asylum seekers,
• Recognise individual circumstances and respond in flexible ways to recognise their potential
• Regular interactions and follow up to ensure attainment and progression.