Higher Education Widening Participation
In September 2012, the Minister launched Access to Success, setting out the strategic approach to widening participation in higher education in Northern Ireland. The strategy focused on increasing participation among under‑represented groups, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds and individuals with learning difficulties and disabilities.
Building on this, the Department undertook a review of Widening Participation in Higher Education to ensure the policy remains fit for purpose in a changing social and economic context. As part of this, the Department launched a public consultation on 22 January 2026, which closed on 16 April 2026, seeking views from stakeholders across the sector on how widening participation should evolve.
The review reflects a shift from a primary focus on access towards a whole‑journey approach, supporting learners to access, progress through, and succeed in higher education, and achieve positive outcomes.
Widening participation continues to be a core Departmental priority, with the aim of ensuring that higher education is accessible to all those who have the ability to benefit from it, regardless of background. The Department is progressing a refreshed approach based on greater collaboration, improved use of data, flexible targeting, and a stronger focus on outcomes.
As part of this, the existing Widening Access and Participation Plans (WAPPs), introduced in 2013, are being reviewed. WAPPs brought together institutional commitments on access, student support and outreach activity. Going forward, these will transition to a revised Access, Participation and Outcomes Plan (APOP) framework, in line with consultation feedback, to further embed a whole‑journey, outcomes‑focused approach across the sector.
This will be supported by continued collaboration with the tertiary education sector, the voluntary and community sector, business and employers, and those with lived experience, to shape policy proposals and support the implementation of a revised APOP framework.
To access the latest published WAPP for each HE institution, please visit their website.
Further Education Colleges:
- Belfast Metropolitan College (BMC)
- Northern Regional College (NRC)
- North West Regional College (NWRC)
- South Eastern Regional College (SERC)
- Southern Regional College (SRC)
- South West College (SWC)
Universities: