I am contacting you with regards to the University of Manchester’s Manchester Access Programme (MAP) as we will soon be recruiting for our 2015 cohort of MAP students and we would like to request your help in spreading the word to any eligible students or teachers you may come into contact with through your own activities.

The Manchester Access Programme (MAP) is The University of Manchester’s flagship widening participation scheme for local post-16 students who meet specific academic and background criteria. The aim of the programme is to support entry to The University of Manchester, or another research-intensive university, through the completion of a portfolio of work and participation in a number of events which demonstrate specific knowledge and skills. At Manchester we want to recruit students who will be successful at the University regardless of their educational and social background. In view of this, we have developed the Manchester Access Programme to target and support talented students from backgrounds currently under-represented in higher education.

The main benefits of MAP include:

• A differential offer of 40 UCAS points towards a course at The University of Manchester.
• A scholarship (currently £1000 a year) for the duration of the student’s undergraduate study at The University of Manchester. (This in addition to any other financial support).
• A supported admissions process which includes support with personal statements, interviews and an early decision on the student’s application to The University of Manchester.

Other benefits include, increased knowledge of university and the application process and the development of academic and transferable skills.

Essential criteria: To be considered for the Manchester Access Programme a student must meet all of the following Essential Criteria:

• Be in Year 12 (lower sixth) and resident in Greater Manchester and studying at a state-maintained post 16 institution or studying at a state-maintained institution in Greater Manchester;
• Have attended a state high school (i.e. did not have to pay for their education);
• Be studying a two-year Level 3 qualification;
• Have at least 8 A* to C grades at GCSE (or equivalent, eg GNVQ, BTEC Certificate) including English Language and Mathematics and a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades A*/A or B.
• Their parents/carers did not attend university and have not obtained an undergraduate degree or equivalent level qualification in the UK or abroad.

If a student meets all the essential criteria, their application is then considered against the following Priority Criteria:

• Their home postcode is defined as in a ‘disadvantaged’ or ‘low participation’ neighbourhood;
• They have experience of Local Authority Care;
• They are in receipt of a 16-19 bursary from their current institution;
• They have received Free School Meals (FSM) at whilst in Secondary School.
• They have took part in The University of Manchester’s flagship pre 16 initiative Gateways
• They have attended a Secondary school where the Key Stage 4 performance is lower than the national average.
• They are currently attending an institution where Key Stage 5 performance is lower than the national average.

There are two separate application routes and different application forms depending upon which subject area a student is interested in pursuing at university.

• The first route is for applicants who are interested in studying Medicine, Dentistry or Pharmacy at university. (Students are advised to look carefully at the GCSE entry requirements should they decide to apply to one of these subject strands.)
• The second route is for applicants who are interested in studying any other course at university.

For further information on the eligibility criteria for MAP, the benefits of the programme and MAP activities you can visit: www.manchester.ac.uk/undergraduate/map 

Application Process
The MAP online application form is available on the MAP website and the deadline for applications is Monday 15 December 2014.

Please do not hesitate to contact me email: jamie.bytheway@manchester.ac.uk or tel: + 44 (0)161 275 2214 if you have any questions or require further information. We can provide hard copies of the brochure attached if required and also attend events to speak about the programme if appropriate dependent on staff availability.

Posted by Jamie Bytheway,  Student Recruitment and Widening Participation Coordinator (MAP)| Directorate for the Student Experience, The University of Manchester