Meet Melissa Jacobi, Head of Access, Student Development and Success at The University of Manchester. Melissa leads work to ensure equitable access to higher education and positive outcomes for students from all backgrounds, spanning the full student lifecycle from widening participation and transition through to belonging, development and long-term success.

In this video, Melissa shares insights into some of the team’s recent work, including the continued success of the Manchester Access Programme, which supported 200 local Year 12 students to progress to university this year. The programme’s updated eligibility criteria now reflects sector best practice and new contextual admissions policies, enabling a fairer, evidence based assessment process and reaching more under-represented learners.

Looking ahead, Melissa discusses the delivery of the new Access and Participation Plan and the relaunch of our Stellify Award in 2026, both of which will further embed social responsibility at the heart of the student experience and support Manchester 2035’s ambition to ensure every student feels they matter and are equipped to thrive.