Evaluation of the Postgraduate Support Scheme Pilot

Widening Access to Postgraduate Study and the Professions was one of 20 HEFCE-funded Postgraduate Support Scheme pilot projects. The University of Sheffield led a consortium of research intensive universities (Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Warwick and York), which investigated and piloted a range of innovative ways of attracting under-represented groups into postgraduate taught study. The project comprised scholarships; information, advice and guidance; academic innovation and a programme of research to better understand barriers to postgraduate progression. CFE were commissioned to carry out a two-phase evaluation of the pilot. As part of this we carried out secondary data analysis of postgraduate recruitment, a survey of successful and unsuccessful scholarship applicants and qualitative interviews with staff and stakeholders.

Key project contact

Rachel Moreton

Rachel is an experienced researcher and project manager. She joined the CFE team in 2012 after working as a freelance researcher and as a senior research officer for the Department for Communities and Local Government.

In her role at CFE, Rachel has led a diverse range of projects, many related to tackling disadvantage. This includes our nine-year national evaluation of the Big Lottery Fund’s ‘Supporting People with Multiple Needs’ initiative.