Gateway Qualifications is delighted to have developed partnership agreements with universities to provide enhanced progression opportunities for Access to HE students and professional development and masterclasses for staff at approved providers.

Supporting students to achieve their goals

Gateway Qualifications has a long and successful history of widening participation and supporting students to achieve their life goals, whatever their circumstances.

In order to strengthen this priority, Gateway Qualifications has partnered with the University of East London (UEL) and the University of Suffolk (UoS) to offer progression routes and benefits for students to achieve their ambition of a higher education place in preparation for their chosen career.

We have collaborated with each university individually to develop a range of benefits for both students registered on a Gateway Qualifications Access to HE Diploma and the academic staff delivering these diplomas in order that the students’ journeys to their career of choice are fully supported and achievable.

Benefits for Access to HE students

The agreements offer a significant range of benefits for eligible students who apply to study at the University of East London or University of Suffolk:

  • Guaranteed offer or interview on an undergraduate degree programme (as set out in the subject map)
  • Access to independent information, advice and guidance services, bespoke workshops
  • Curriculum enrichment opportunities during their Access to HE course
  • Access to transition support events prior to starting their degree

Benefits for Access to HE teaching staff

  • Direct and planned progression routes for students applying to UEL or UoS
  • Professional development support for staff and a community of best practice from Gateway Qualifications and each university
  • Long term collaborative opportunities with to create, design and develop Access to HE Diplomas with identified progression routes to employment
University of East London (UEL)
About the University of East London

The University of East London has been pioneering futures since 1898: from the 2nd Industrial Revolution through to where we are now, the 4th. They are a careers-led university, dedicated to supporting our students to develop the skills, emotional intelligence and creativity needed to thrive in a constantly changing world.

University of East London website

The UEL Scholarship

The UEL Scholarship is designed to give Gateway Qualifications’ Access to HE students extra financial support as they embark on their studies at the university. The scheme will recognise the significant commitment and sacrifices that students make to realise their ambitions of going to university. Approved providers are asked to nominate up to two students that could benefit from the scholarship fund.

Five students will be chosen by Gateway Qualifications to each receive £1,000 payable in their first year of study at UEL.

Nominees must:

  1. Have demonstrated outstanding commitment to their Access to HE studies. This could be in the face of difficult and challenging personal circumstances or extra effort above and beyond that which would normally be required of a student.
  2. Demonstrate strong motivation in studying programmes offered at the University of East London
  3. Firmly accept the University of East London as their first choice through UCAS

Please note the college is responsible for notifying two nominees with a short explanation of why they would benefit from the scholarship to Sarah Doe, Access to HE Quality Manager sarah.doe@gatewayqualifications.org.uk by Thursday 30th June 2022. Five students will then be chosen by a nominated panel to each receive £1,000 payable in their first year of study at UEL.

Upcoming UEL CPD events

We are delighted to confirm the dates of our programme of exciting professional development support sessions available for all Access to HE staff and students at recognised centres for 2021-22. These form part of our progression agreement with the University of East London (UEL).

These sessions are free to attend and exclusively for staff at Gateway Qualifications approved Access to HE Centres. Staff at approved centres will be sent details of how to join a session nearer the time.

All sessions will start at 15.30 on the day, so make sure that you keep a free spot in your diary to attend and don’t forget to share with your Access to HE colleagues too.

Masterclasses for Access to HE practitioners

Below are details of the events for staff at Centres approved to deliver Gateway Qualifications Access to HE Diplomas:

  • Study skills for higher education – 1 December 2021

Discover innovative and interesting ways you can support your students and the skills they need to progress in higher education.

  • Mental health and wellbeing – 26 January 2022

Focusing on how you can support your students, recognising the challenges, understanding the impact, as well as caring for your own mental wellbeing.

  • Coaching for tutoring – 2 March 2022

Designed to help you coach students and support them during the final months of their Access to HE Diploma; how to use questioning to challenge students to make positive outcomes.

Curriculum enrichment opportunities for students

We are also pleased to confirm below, a number of events specifically for your Access to HE students. These will be supportive and informative sessions to ensure they are fully prepared for progression to higher education.

  • Study skills for higher education – 8 December 2021

Discover innovative and interesting techniques that will develop the key skills required to progress in higher education.

  • Mental health and wellbeing – 19 January 2022

Focussing on how to manage mental health and wellbeing and techniques to employ at critical points of an Access to HE Diploma.

Spread the word

We’ve collaborated with UEL to produce flyers Centres can use to explain the benefits to their staff and students. Please download, print, and share them. There is space for you to add appropriate contact details if you want to use the student flyer in your own promotion of Access to HE.

Centre Guide – Enhanced Progression Opportunities for Access to HE Students – Gateway Qualifications

Student Flyer – Guaranteed offer of interview for Access to HE Students – Gateway Qualifications

University of Suffolk (UoS)
About the University of Suffolk

The University of Suffolk is all about transformation – transforming individuals, the community, the region and beyond. They have absorbed the best traditions in higher education and aligned them with the modern world of employment and entrepreneurship. They are a distinctive, thriving academic community making a clear and immediate impact. Their purpose is to change lives – of individuals and communities, for the better.

University of Suffolk website 

Benefits for Centres
  • Recruitment opportunities as students recognise the advantages of an identified progression pathway to their career of choice
  • Promotion of the scheme marketed by both the University of Suffolk and Gateway Qualifications
  • Direct and planned progression routes for students, enhancing aspirations, attainment, and progression.
  • Access to specialist IAG, outreach and curriculum enrichment services from the University of Suffolk
  • Access to professional development support for staff and a community of best practice from Gateway Qualifications and the University of Suffolk
  • Collaboration with employers to create, design and enhance Access to HE Diplomas with identified progression routes to employment
Benefits for Students
  • Guaranteed offer or interview on many undergraduate degrees at the University of Suffolk
  • Clear entry requirements, including lower offers where possible
  • Clear progression route to the University of Suffolk
  • Access to the University of Suffolk’s information, advice and guidance services
  • Curriculum enrichment opportunities from the University of Suffolk during their course.
  • Transition support events
Subject specific academic workshops

The University of Suffolk’s subject-specific academic workshops gives prospective students the opportunity to learn more about the subject of their choice. Prospective students will benefit from attending academic workshops delivered by University of Suffolk academics together with hands-on or virtual practical experiences. They are given an insight into entry requirements of the subject area and have an opportunity to meet and question student ambassadors about student life.

Professional development support

Teaching staff at all recognised centres will have the opportunity to attend networking events and workshops aimed at practitioners, including guest invitations to the wide range of events that take place at the University of Suffolk throughout the year.

These events will provide the opportunity for discussion around subject matters, sector changes, widening participation and any other topics that emerge and would be pertinent. A detailed annual schedule of events will be published.

 

Spread the word

We’ve collaborated with UoS to produce leaflets to explain the benefits to their staff and students. Please download, print, and share.

Leaflet – Entry to the University of Suffolk – Partnership agreement with Gateway Qualifications