Reduced Inequalities – Reduce inequality within and among countries

Ulster University is committed to fostering an inclusive academic community. The Asylum Seekers' Scholarship offers multiple undergraduate and postgraduate students registered as asylum seekers in Northern Ireland full tuition fee waivers. Additionally, recipients receive a £500 annual grant to assist with travel and course-related costs. These initiatives aim to alleviate financial barriers and support individuals in accessing higher education. Ulster University also includes asylum seekers and refugees in the Widening Access and Participation Plan, demonstrating a commitment to supporting underrepresented groups in higher education.

Find out more about scholarships

Ulster University’s Widening Access and Participation Plan 2023/24 reaffirms its commitment to improving social mobility and educational inclusion.

Ulster University’s Widening Access and Participation (WAP) Plan 2023/24 outlines specific criteria to support students from underrepresented backgrounds. These criteria include:

Low-income backgrounds
Care leavers
Asylum seekers
First-generation higher education entrants
Mature students
Disabled students
Students from areas with low higher education participation rates

In 2023/24, 37.9 % of undergraduates qualified under WAP criteria across Belfast, Coleraine and Derry~Londonderry. The plan delivered targeted financial support, including Access, Care Leavers’, Travel, Emergency Carer’s and Accommodation bursaries, plus laptops via the Technology Fund, and community scholarships. It also supported student retention through peer mentoring, online study aids, and faculty-led success initiatives; and enhanced monitoring with data-driven research projects and interactive dashboards. Through ongoing outreach, partnerships, and continuous improvement, Ulster is building on these foundations with expanded initiatives planned for 2024/25.

We received an Autism Award from Autism NI in recognition of our work supporting students with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD).  AccessAbility Advisors provide a range of services and resources to help all students with disabilities.

Race Equality is one of the dimensions of diversity that we prioritise, it is our aim to ensure that the lives of all of our staff and students are enriched by their experience of different cultures, beliefs and values during their time with us.

The Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Network represents an important aspect of Ulster, not least in its inclusion of colleagues and students from multicultural backgrounds but also in its drive to encourage and cultivate growth.

The LGBT+ Staff Network was formally launched in February 2021.  We welcome staff and PhD researchers who identity as LGBT+ and those who are allies. The Network is a vehicle to promote and enhance equality and inclusion across all genders and sexualities at Ulster.

The Staff DisAbility Network provides a supportive and welcoming environment for like-minded people to consider disability matters, in confidence.

The Students' Union is committed to promoting and enhancing equality and inclusion across all genders and sexualities in our community.