Widening participation and outreach
Widening participation
We work with local schools and colleges on outreach activities to promote economics, providing the opportunity for students to learn about the subject, and the future career opportunities it could lead to.
Learn more about outreach and widening participation at Bristol.
At Bristol we encourage applications from all backgrounds because we believe in a student community that reflects our society.
A contextual offer is a grade reduction below the standard entry requirements and is made to those from backgrounds who, generally, are less likely to study here. Once here, data shows that our contextual offer students achieve above average academically.
Some student applying to study with us from September 2025 for 2026 entry may be considered for a guaranteed offer or a guaranteed interview, if they meet certain specific criteria.
The School of Economics supports a number of the University's local and national outreach programmes and summer schools providing A level students the opportunity to experience life at university, including:
Get in touch
For more information on widening participation, please contact:
- Jennifer Goldsworthy, Faculty Engagement Officer (Social Sciences and Law): FSSL-Outreach@bristol.ac.uk
- Dr Zahra Siddique, Widening Participation Lead for the School of Economics: Zahra.Siddique@bristol.ac.uk.
Other outreach activities
Discover Economics
Our economics outreach programme, Discover Economics, provides students the opportunity to find out what economics is about and what it's like to study economics at university.
We run an exciting programme of events with schools, ranging from half-day taster sessions to week-long summer programmes that include taster lectures, interactive group activities, industry guest speakers and the opportunity to meet current students and academics from the School of Economics.
Economics is an exciting subject that enables young people to question and explore the world they are living in. Yet, many don’t study economics at school and may be unsure what it’s really about. Our in-school sessions provide economics tasters and information on degrees, apprenticeships and careers.
Our one-off, in-school sessions are aimed at GCSE or A level students (year 10 or 12) who are not currently studying economics. The sessions offer economics content (on topics including panic-buying, the cost-of-living crisis, education and inequality) together with information on university, apprenticeships and career opportunities.
The approx. one-hour sessions are delivered by University of Bristol economics students, either in regular lessons or as a standalone careers event, and can be scheduled at any time during the academic year. They can be linked to the curriculum in maths, business studies or geography; they can also help meet Gatsby benchmarks.
Get in touch
For more information on Discover Economics, please contact:
- Professor Sarah Smith: Sarah.Smith@bristol.ac.uk.