What is Study Higher?

Study Higher is a collaborative partnership of higher education providers in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Swindon. The partnership is led by Oxford Brookes University and includes the University of Oxford, Buckinghamshire New University and the University of Reading. Study Higher provides outreach events and activities to students across the regions as part of the Office for Students’ (OfS) Uni Connect programme

What is Uni Connect?

The Uni Connect programme was set up in 2017 to support the government’s social mobility goals to increase the number of young people from underrepresented groups going to higher education. The programme aims to ensure that young learners (aged 12-19) are equipped with impartial information to help them make an informed choice about progressing to higher education.

How does Study Higher operate?

Study Higher delivers on the Uni Connect goals by working with secondary school students, schools and colleges in areas of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Swindon where learners are less likely to progress to higher education. We deliver a number of outreach programmes including bespoke projects for young carers (Young carers on tour), service pupils (Future focus), care experienced students (Future pathways) and Black African/Caribbean/mixed or South Asian students (Pioneers). 

We provide impartial information, advice and guidance through a range of events, taster days, mentoring sessions and other activities to ensure learners are aware of all the options available to them in higher education and to help them make the best future choice for them.

We work very closely with our partner higher education institutions as well as local authorities and other organisations to make sure that our offer is high-quality, relevant, and reaches the right students. For more information about our partners click here.

Our History

Study Higher was established in 2011 by Buckinghamshire New University, Oxford Brookes University and the University of Oxford with the aim of preserving the legacy of Aimhigher MKOB. The University of Reading joined the partnership in 2014 along with six further education colleges.

In January 2017 Study Higher was successful in its bid for funding to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), now known as the Office for Students (OfS), as part of their National Collaborative Outreach Programme (NCOP), now known as Uni Connect, and as a result expanded again.

Visit the ‘Our Partners’ page to find out more.