Events

Widening participation events

The Widening Participation (WP) team run events throughout the year specifically targeted at the needs of WP students. As WP students you will have questions and issues that others don’t. It could be you don’t know what university will be like or know anyone who’s been to university before. It could just be that you have a lot of things to think about such as managing money, caring responsibilities, or living on your own and don’t know where to start. We want to help with that.

You can always find us at the big university events, such as open days and offer holder days, staffing information stands and providing tailored information sessions to help you make your way through the journey to university.

We also run events and information sessions just for you and your parents, carers, teachers and advisers to help you work out what support is available to you.

Listed below are our current events – keep checking back throughout the year for more information. If you would like a specific information session or want us to come and speak at your school, college or colleague meeting just get in touch and we’ll help where we can – wp@hw.ac.uk.

How to make the most of offer holder days

Offer holder days – Edinburgh campus

At this year’s offer holder days on the 23 March and and 27 April there is a Widening Participation stand, staffed by WP team staff and student ambassadors. Somewhere you can chat to people who understand your situation and are happy to help no matter the question, big or small. You can find us in the main reception area behind the registration desk in the James Watt Centre or ask for Tracey and Joslyn at the registration desk and they’ll point you in the right direction. Or just look out for one of the Widening Participation (WP) ambassadors in blue t-shirts.

There’ll be short sessions providing practical advice on getting ready and what university is like. You can also meet our named contact for care experienced students, estranged students and student carers – Tracey Kerr - along with current students with these backgrounds.

If you’re not sure about why you should come to an offer holder day, or just wondering how to get to us, feel free to get in touch and we’ll help where we can – even if it’s just to provide directions. If you can’t come to an offer holder day then let us know that too and we’ll look at other ways we can help you - email us at wp@hw.ac.uk.

Book your place

Information for Teachers, Lecturers and Advisors

We are always happy to come and speak at your events in schools and colleges about the support available to widening access students as they think about university and when they become university students. We have a series of set talks on everything from course choice in S3-S6 through to what support is available throughout the UCAS application process but are also open to suggestions if there is anything specifically you would like us to cover. In addition, we can man a stand at any careers fairs and parents evenings you may run throughout the year. We even have talks designed specifically to help parents through every stage from S3 on through to destinations and routes post-high school.

We are also happy to talk to teachers, lecturers and advisors to train them in what support is available, how to write references and how to help students choose what they want to do and when. In addition, we can provide training on how to ‘read’ admissions’ across the Scottish university sector and what entry requirements can look like for widening access students.

If you would like to keep informed on what we have to offer then you can sign up to our teacher and advisor community – you’ll only hear from us when we have something useful to share. Email us at wp@hw.ac.uk to find out more.

Key information

Widening Participation team