What is Widening Participation?
Some students who wish to progress to University face a number of barriers and obstacles. For example, if you come from a lower socio-economic background you are less likely to study at university than your more affluent peers. In addition, if you are disabled, come from a Black or Minority Ethnic (BME) background or you have grown up in care then you are less likely to end up in Higher Education (HE). Other barriers to HE include being the first in the family to consider University, finding the cost of study prohibitively expensive or taking vocational qualifications.
At the RVC, we are committed to attracting the best and brightest students no matter what background they come from. We want to ensure that applicants to the RVC, and to other universities, are not held back by the barriers mentioned above and that our student cohort reflects the diverse society we live in. This is why we provide activities, events and courses that help to widen participation not only here, but across HE in general.
The links to the left provide you with information regarding the different events we provide. If you would like to become involved in any of these, or would like us to tailor-make and event to suit your needs, then please get in touch using our contact details.
As a Higher Education Institute our Widening Participation aims are:
- to ensure that our commitment to equality of opportunity is reflected fully in the recruitment, admission, and subsequent support, both academic and non-academic, of students from all backgrounds;
- to make information about the veterinary and related professions, and about the requirements of entry to these professions, more widely available;
- to continue to facilitate the development of the profile of the veterinary and related professions so that they more closely reflect the communities that they serve;
- to make a positive contribution to the quality of education and student aspirations in the districts in which its campuses are located;
- to provide a national lead and focus in widening participation in the veterinary and related disciplines.
If you would like to visit the RVC, but do not come from a Widening Participation background, take a look at the Visit Us pages for information about tours, open days and other events.
For additional information about courses and careers in animal and veterinary education, visit the CAVE website: CAVE | Courses in Animal and Veterinary Education
For additional information about how to make the most of your personal statement, work experience and university interview (particularly if you come from a vocational background), please take a look at the So You Want to be a Vet website: So you want to be a vet?