Realising Opportunities - Realising Opportunities Scholarship

What Realising Opportunities gives you

“Realising Opportunities” (RO) is a two-year funding programme. It helps you gain admission to leading research-intensive universities in the United Kingdom – that is, universities where lecturers are actively engaged in research and maintain close links with industry. The main benefit is a reduced entry offer: at most partner universities, you can gain admission with A-level grades that are typically two grades below the standard offer. Furthermore, your application will receive special consideration via UCAS, the central UK university application system. Furthermore, you will receive an induction event at a host university, a skills module on analysis, critical thinking and research, an online course on study skills, as well as events at the partner universities, for which travel costs may be covered. Current students and staff will support you online. The programme is run by several research-intensive UK universities, including Birmingham, Bristol, Essex, Exeter and Leeds. It runs from January of the year 12 to December of the year 13, i.e. for approximately two years.

Who can apply

• School year: You are a student in your 12 academic year (first year) in England.
• Your school: You are attending a state-funded school or university that takes part in the RO programme.
• Grades so far: You must have at least five GCSE qualifications with grades A*–B (9–6), including at least a grade C (4) in English and Maths.
• Fee status: At the time of your application to the university, you are a domestic or EU student, or you expect to be one.
• Background (at least two): At least two of the following apply to you: You live in a region where few people go to university or which is considered disadvantaged; neither of your parents has been to university; you receive, or are eligible for, a 16-19 grant, discretionary grants or the Pupil Premium; you currently receive, or have received in the last six years, free school meals; or you attend a school whose performance is below the national average.
• Care or caring: Alternatively, you live in a local authority care home, have experience of such a home, or are a young care worker.
• Field of study: Open to all disciplines, in more than 6,000 courses.

How to apply

The application period begins in the autumn of 12 via an online system. Your school or sixth-form college will receive an application code which you can use to access the system. Please therefore ask your tutor or the head of the sixth form. The application period has now closed. Please check back later for information about the next round.

How realistic are your chances?

RO is deliberately selective. You need good GCSE grades, must meet the criteria for under-represented background groups, and only pupils at participating schools can apply. The pool of eligible candidates is therefore smaller than for an open scholarship. If you clearly meet the academic requirements and at least two of the background criteria, and your school is a partner, your chances are good. Keep an eye out for the application window in the autumn of 12, as applications are not accepted throughout the year. Please note that RO does not pay out a cash grant.