Manchester Metropolitan University has reached a significant milestone in its widening participation work, raising an initial £2 million for its First Generation Scholarship programme and supporting more than 1,000 scholars to date.
The fund aims to remove financial barriers for students who would be the first in their family to attend university, whilst also offering practical support that helps students stay, succeed and move into meaningful work.
This is a practical win for social mobility.
The scholarship provides not only bursaries but also tailored mentoring, careers coaching and connections to employers, which together reduce the risk that cost or lack of guidance will derail a student’s course.
Universities that combine cash support with these kinds of services tend to see higher retention and stronger progression into jobs, apprenticeships and further study. Manchester Met’s result is a clear example of that approach in action.
Local impact matters as much as headline figures though.
The programme has supported students from a wide range of neighbourhoods and backgrounds, and many of the scholars stay in Greater Manchester to work after graduating. That matters to local employers and to civic leaders who want talent pipelines that feed regional growth. By focusing on students who face the steepest barriers, the scholarship helps spread the economic benefits of higher education more widely across communities.
For funders and partners the lesson is straightforward.
Targeted, sustained investment in students works best when it’s paired with practical services that help students navigate university life and the job market. Corporate partners and local philanthropists can amplify their impact by supporting elements such as mentoring, paid internships and careers workshops alongside bursaries. Those combined contributions make the difference between a student getting a place and a student finishing a degree and moving into work.
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