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Access & Success Funding Application Guidance (2025–26)

Essential Information and Support for Funding Applicants

Introduction

The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) has been allocated an Access & Success Fund of £35,000 by the Central University Access & Success Team to support suitable projects and initiatives during the 2025–26 academic year. This funding is available on a competitive basis for projects that align with the University’s Access and Participation Plan 2025–28.

The fund is intended to encourage activity that promotes access, success, and progression for students from underrepresented groups, helping the University meet its targets for fair access and inclusive student outcomes. Please read through the entire document before applying to the fund.

Key Requirements and Deadlines

  • Funding available: £35,000 for the 2025–26 academic year.
  • Application deadline: Submit completed applications by 20/02/2026 (early submission advised; the panel will review applications periodically until the fund is fully allocated).
  • Project completion: All awarded funds must be spent by 31/07/2026. Unused funds will be reclaimed by the University and cannot be rolled over.
  • Eligible costs: Project expenses such as ambassador pay, room hire, catering, and resource purchasing. Salaried staff costs are not eligible.
  • Reporting obligations: Project leads are required to submit a report (see columns L to S in the example application template) and must prepare an evaluation plan and Theory of Change (support available).
  • HEAT logging: All relevant work must be logged on the Higher Education Access Tracker (HEAT); further guidance will be given to successful applicants.
  • Application submission: Please answer all questions on the MS form to submit your application. The MS form follows columns A-H in the example application template.
  • Panel review: The panel (Amal Al-Amin, Charles Walkden, Lauren Teasdale, Susan Ryles & Amrit Dhillon) will adjudicate applications in line with Access and Participation Plan priorities.
  • Project types: Awards may fund new or existing projects, or partially fund a project. Please state clearly if the application is for part-funding. If you have previously received funding for a project; reapplication is required.
  • Evidence for existing projects: Provide evidence of positive impact for previously run projects.

Funding Details and Objectives

Funding supports projects that address the following objectives:

  • Access: Activities that support pupils from underrepresented groups (e.g., those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, BAME backgrounds, or areas with low higher education participation) to access higher education. This includes engagement with schools and colleges.
  • Success: Initiatives to remove barriers faced by underrepresented students at university, helping them to continue and achieve in line with their peers. These activities are aimed at current students.
  • Progression: Support for underrepresented students to progress from higher education into employment or further study, focusing on transition and career-readiness.

Awards are split between projects aimed at access and those aimed at success/progression, in line with the University’s APP targets.

APP context

The APP lists 6 key objectives relating to home students; more detail can be found in the
University APP document linked above but these are summarised below:

  • Increase recruitment for socio-economically disadvantaged students: Raise the proportion of students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
  • Increase recruitment of Black-heritage students: Address the underrepresentation of ethnic minority groups among university entrants, with a specific focus on young Black undergraduate students
  • Increase recruitment for care-experienced students: Ensure students from disadvantaged backgrounds persist through their studies at a similar rate to their peers.
  • Bridge completion gap for disabled students: reduce the difference in completion rates between students with no declared disability and this who have declared a disability.
  • Reduce awarding gap for socio-economically disadvantaged students: Address disparities in degree classification outcomes for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
  • Reduce awarding gap by ethnicity: Close the awarding gap between Black and White students, and between Asian and White students.

The APP target groups are:

  • Students from lower socio-economic backgrounds
  • Students from areas with low participation in higher education
  • Care-experienced students
  • Students with disabilities
  • BAME students
  • Mature students

Support and Resources

  • Evaluation Guidance: The example template includes an ‘Evaluation Guidance’ tab with links to resources supporting event planning and impact evaluation.
  • M&E SharePoint: Access the FSE Monitoring & Evaluation SharePoint area for additional guidance or you can also check here for more support: Evaluation Framework
  • Example Application: The example application template contains an example to help guide first-time applicants.
  • Advice on Theories of Change and Evaluation: Support is available for preparing your plan and evaluation strategy. Please get in touch if you need assistance.
  • Contact: For queries or help, contact amal.al-amin@manchester.ac.uk or speak to a member of the panel

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who can apply for funding?

  • Any FSE staff member with a project supporting access, success, or progression for underrepresented groups, in line with the University’s Access and Participation Plan.

How do I apply for funding?

  • Complete all the questions in this form.

Can I apply for funding for multiple projects?

  • Yes – as long as each project aligns with the APP. Please note that you will need to submit individual applications per project.

Can I use funding for part of a larger project?

  • Yes this is encouraged, but please specify which part of the project the award would support and ensure clarity on funding sources.

If I’ve previously had funding for a project, will it automatically be renewed?

  • No, there is no automatic renewal

What costs are eligible?

  • Eligible costs can include ambassador pay, room hire, catering, and resources. Salaried staff costs cannot be covered.

When will I know if my application was successful?

  • The panel will meet periodically until all the fund has been allocated. The panel will aim to let you know whether or not your application was successful as soon as possible.

Once awarded, how long will I have to spend the money?

  • All money must be spent by the 31st July 2026. Unused funds will be reclaimed by the University and cannot be rolled over. If you realise you will be unable to spend your allocated money before the deadline, please let the panel know as soon as possible so they can consider how best to re-allocate the funds.

Is there a deadline for applications?

  • While there is no formal closing date, early submission (by 20/02/2026) is strongly encouraged as funds are allocated on a rolling basis until fully spent.

What reporting is required?

  • You must submit a report at project completion and ensure all relevant activity is logged on the Higher Education Access Tracker (HEAT). An evaluation plan and Theory of Change are also required. The panel will prompt you for this.

Where can I get help with the application?