Office for Fair Access approves University’s plans

In 2012/13 it will spend £5.5 million on financial assistance - this will help to support almost one-third of new Home/EU undergraduate students. It will also spend £1.15 million on outreach activities. By 2015 the amount spent on financial assistance will have almost doubled to more than £10.3 million.

Simon Wright, Head of Student Services commented “We are pleased that our plans to significantly increase our support for students from lower income households have been approved by OFFA. We have always been advocates of the widening participation agenda and hope that this will encourage students from a wide range of backgrounds to apply to Exeter.”

Announcing OFFA’s decisions, Sir Graeme Davies, Director of Fair Access said ‘These Agreements represent a considerable commitment by universities and colleges to improving access for students who are under-represented in higher education and where appropriate, improving retention and student success.’

OFFA states that universities and colleges nationwide are increasing their spending on access to £602 million a year by 2015/2016.