°×С½ãÂÛ̳

While the proportion of Black students in °×С½ãÂÛ̳’s UK undergraduate population is representative at a national level, it is not reflective of the number of Black young people in London, from where most of our students is drawn.

Increasing the number of students of Black heritage studying at °×С½ãÂÛ̳ is a key priority for access and widening participation work at °×С½ãÂÛ̳, so that we can ensure that our student body is reflective of the communities it serves.

There are several dedicated activities that are run specifically with and for students of Black heritage. The aim of these activities is to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of higher education, encourage them to see themselves as future university students and, longer term, for the attendees to consider higher education, particularly applying for and studying at °×С½ãÂÛ̳.

One of our flagship initiatives is Envision °×С½ãÂÛ̳, a sustained engagement programme for Year 10 students of Black heritage, who are considering higher education.

Run for the first time in its current format in the past academic year, Envision °×С½ãÂÛ̳’s core programme consisted of three Saturday events that took place in person at °×С½ãÂÛ̳’s Bloomsbury campus, with a fantastic cohort of 65 young people from across the country participating.

The programme included tailored workshops and advice sessions explaining all there is to know about higher education and what happens during the application process. Each of the events was supported by a group of current °×С½ãÂÛ̳ students, also of Black heritage, who shared their experiences and offered useful insights into life as a student.

There were also external speakers and events, including a motivational workshop with , which was all about exploring your own unique identity and using this to focus on your future decisions. In another session, participants were joined by two °×С½ãÂÛ̳ alumni, both Black women, who talked about their journeys to university and how their careers have developed since.

°×С½ãÂÛ̳’s own African and Caribbean Society (ACS) ran a session that highlighted the thriving social scene for Black students at °×С½ãÂÛ̳ and showcased the support on offer at a societal level, from forming lasting friendships to networking and volunteering opportunities.

The Envision °×С½ãÂÛ̳ programme will be running again this year with a provisional start date in April 2025. Applications will open in the Spring, but if you would like to be notified when this happens, please email us on wp.pre16@ucl.ac.uk.