Description

Students who take part in Smart Start Week will be invited to apply for Smarter Futures. This is a two-year support programme which consists of opportunities throughout Year 13 and into university (for those students choosing this route). More details are in the table below.

To join Smart Start Week or Smart Applications, students must attend one of our Smart Choices information sessions. There are six Smart Choices sessions which run between 14 March – 11 April.

We have two sets of criteria for our Smart Start programme. Applicants must:

be in Year 12 and have always attended a state-funded or non-fee paying school; and
be a UK national or EU national with settled status in the UK by the time they apply for university
Applicants must also meet at least one of the following additional criteria. Students who meet more than one additional criteria are more likely to receive a place on either programme.

come from a household where no parent or guardian has attended university
receive, or have previously received free school meals, Pupil Premium, Education Maintenance Allowance or a 16 to 19 Bursary Fund
be or have been in local authority care
be or have been a full-time or part-time young carer
come to the UK as a refugee or asylum seeker
be attending a school or college with:
below average A-Level or Scottish Highers points score, and/or
a low rate of progression to higher education