Lancashire Scholars Programme

If you need help improving your university application, or if you're unsure if university is the right choice for you, we're here to help.

The Lancashire Scholars Programme will prepare you for the future. You can explore options and gain unique experiences to help you make informed choices. All whilst securing the knowledge and skills to impress universities and employers.

You'll choose a subject that you love and get an expert Student Mentor. They will offer advice and support to guide you through an independent research project. All our mentors are in their second year of university or above, with many studying at postgraduate level.

Any Year 12 or Year 13 student can join the programme, but places are prioritised for those who meet our Widening Participation criteria.

If you meet our Widening Participation criteria, you will be placed on the Scholars Plus pathway. This means upon completion you'll be eligible for a contextualised offer and £500 annual bursary if you study an undergraduate degree at the University of Lancashire in Preston, Burnley, or West Lakes campuses.

Some of our courses are exempt from the contextualised offer. Please see our contextual admissions page for more information. You may be placed on the Scholars Plus pathways but not be eligible for a contextualised offer – please see Widening Participation criteria below for more information. In order to be eligible for a contextualised offer, you must complete the Lancashire Scholars Programme before you apply to an undergraduate course with us, this means those who are in Year 13 when they complete the programme will not be eligible for a contextualised offer.

How can our Lancashire Scholars Programme help you

The programme takes part over several workshops and sessions. These will help you complete an independent research project on a topic of your choice. You'll write a 1,500 - 2,000 word essay for your project.

Academic exploration
Try out subjects that interest you. Enhance your current studies and develop study and research skills.
Get ready for university
Elevate your UCAS application and stand out in competitive courses. Experience university life.
Prepare for your career
Immerse yourself in new skills to impress future employers and prepare for your career.
Support and guidance
Bridge the gap between college and uni by meeting subject tutors and working with a Student Mentor.

When does it start and what does it include?

The programme will run from February to June. The workshops that you will need to attend are listed below. Virtual sessions will be delivered for Scholars based in the Midlands, with an in-person celebration event hosted at our Preston campus).

All sessions are organised with your current workload and commitments in mind. We try our best to be as accommodating as possible. We'll make each session as informative and accessible as we can. All on-campus sessions are in the evening at our Preston Campus where food will be provided.

What will the independent research project look like?

Your independent research project involves a 1,500-2,000 word written essay. The project will build your confidence and help you decide whether university study is for you.

It’s an opportunity to discover more about a topic you are passionate about. It's also a great talking point for personal statements and university interviews.

We understand that as a Year 12 or Year 13 student you have lots to juggle, which is why you will have several months to work on your project. The project will complement your current studies and fit around your commitments. Our aim is to show you how to work at a higher level to improve your current grades as well as your future prospects.

No one subject or topic is better than another. This is about exploring an area that is of genuine interest to you so that you can practise the skills needed for university and employment.

What subject can I choose?

You can choose any subject for your project topic. It may be based on your hobbies and interests or curiosity. You could choose a competitive field to give your application an edge (such as Medicine or Veterinary Medicine). Alternatively, selecting a topic related to your current studies could enhance your grades.

The Livesey Medicine Pathway (North West of England and the Midlands applicants only)

This pathway is open to students who meet the Widening Participation criteria and wish to apply for Medicine at university. You must be in Year 12 and studying A-levels including two science subjects, one of which is Chemistry.

Medicine is an extremely competitive course year-on-year and the application process for medicine courses is complex. It differs significantly from other university applications. To be successful, you must know the process and what is required of you in advance. Our medicine pathway offers extra sessions and guidance to help you stand out and excel in applications and interviews.

Universities want to accept students who understand the commitment they are taking on. They want to see:

A deep understanding of the course.
Your reasons for applying.
That you show the academic rigour necessary to succeed.
Any experiences that set you apart from others.

Two scholars from the Livesey Medicine Pathway will be awarded a Livesey Scholarship. The School of Medicine and Dentistry will choose these two scholars from someone who has:

Proven themselves to be an exemplary scholar on the Livesey Medicine Pathway. This means good attendance across all sessions and completion of assessed work to a high level.
Applied for MBBS at the University of Lancashire.
Achieved the two highest scores in the MBBS Multiple Mini Interview.
Live in the North West of England (Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire, Merseyside or Greater Manchester)
Live in the Midlands (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and the metropolitan county of West Midlands).

Becoming a medicine scholar will provide you with access to an academic from the School of Medicine and Dentistry and sample lessons. You'll also get a tour of the school facilities and get interview practise.

The Livesey Medicine Pathway will support you in creating a strong application for MBBS. You will be able to show that you can work as an undergraduate. You'll have a thorough understanding of medicine and firm reasons for applying. As well as this, you'll be able to show your determination and resilience after completing such a challenging course. For further information about MBBS scholarships, please view our MBBS scholarships page. The Livesey Scholarship is separate and distinct to other scholarships offered at the University of Lancashire.

How to apply for the Livesey Medicine Pathway:

To qualify for Livesey Medicine Pathway, you must:

Be studying for three A Levels including chemistry and one other science subject.
Have studied maths and English up to the age of 16 and can provide evidence of academic achievement.
Live in the North West of England or the Midlands

To apply for the Livesey Medicine Pathway, you need to complete the Lancashire Scholar application and select Medicine as your subject area of choice. In the personal statement section, include why you would like to be placed on this pathway and why you want to study medicine. The Widening Participation team will assess whether you meet the eligibility criteria. The School of Medicine and Dentistry will then review your application and pick students to join the medicine pathway.

If you select Medicine as your subject area and do not meet the Widening Participation eligibility criteria, you will be accepted onto the Lancashire Scholars Programme and placed on the Health subject stream.

How do I become a Scholar?

Applications are now open for our Lancashire Scholars Programme 2026.

To apply you must be a Year 12 or Year 13 student in September 2026 and live within travelling distance of Preston, Lancashire. All scholars will need to attend the on-campus sessions to complete the programme. Virtual sessions will be delivered for scholars based in the Midlands, with an in-person celebration event hosted at our Preston campus.

You should complete the application with a parent or carer. This is because there will be some questions about meeting the Widening Participation criteria. You do not have to meet the criteria to take part in the programme. However, those who do will be eligible for the bursary and contextualised offer upon completion.

Eligibility for contextual offers

If you complete the Lancashire Scholars Programme and meet at least one of the criteria below, you'll be eligible for a contextual offer. This means that your entry requirements could be reduced by 8 UCAS points if you choose to apply to here. See the criteria as follows:

Living in an area of low HE participation (we can check this for you using a measure called POLAR4 Q1)
Living in an area of deprivation (we can check this for you using the Indices of Multiple Deprivation Q1 or Q2)
Having experience of care (being looked after at any point in your life or being a care-leaver)
Being estranged from your family
Having caring responsibilities
Having a disability
Having Refugee or Asylum Seeker status
Being from a military family
Being from a Gypsy, Roma, Traveller or Boating community

Our contextual admissions policy applies to all UK students applying for an undergraduate course at our Preston, Burnley or Westlakes campuses. Please note that some courses are exempt from this offer.

Eligibility for Scholars Bursary

Any of those listed above or a household income under £30,000 per year.

The Livesey Medicine Scholarship

Each year, the University of Lancashire's School of Medicine offers up to two Livesey Scholarships. This amounts to a full fee waiver for the duration of the Medicine course (MBBS). The two Scholarships are awarded to those who:

Proven themselves to be an exemplary scholar on the Livesey Medicine Pathway. This means good attendance across all sessions and completion of assessed work to a high level.
Applied for MBBS at the University of Lancashire.
Achieved the two highest scores in the MBBS Multiple Mini Interview.
Live in the North West of England (Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire, Merseyside or Greater Manchester).
Live in the Midlands (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and the metropolitan county of West Midlands).

We know that Years 11 - 13 can be particularly difficult years for a young person. They experience many changes in a short period of time and have started to make important decisions about their future. Often, they must make these decisions without the information they need to make an informed choice. This is not their fault.

We know that parents and carers want to help in any way they can. However, this can be overwhelming when the world of Higher Education is always changing. It's also difficult if your child is choosing to go into a field where you have no personal experience.

Careers advisors in schools and colleges do a fantastic job at sharing information about courses and careers. However, there is only so much a young person can understand from a document or bit of text. They can make the most of job descriptions and university websites to build up an idea of what options are open to them. But real knowledge comes with experiencing the opportunity first hand.

Our Scholars Programme gives young people the opportunity to experience university life. They will learn about different subjects, qualifications, and the subtle differences between courses. This will help them better understand what it is they are signing up to.

We know how much pressure they are already under. This means we provide sessions and information in a time and manner that suits them. The evening sessions are interactive, and discussion based. They encourage communication with our students, academics, and fellow young people. Alongside skills for academia, we also tune into professional practice and conduct. This will help them build the necessary attributes to thrive in employment as well as education.

Our Scholars Programme is not to promote the University of Lancashire but to promote local talent to flourish anywhere that suits them. We do not push our scholars to attend the University of Lancashire or even to attend university. We simply provide information and access to unique experiences for their age group. This helps them think about which route is best for them.

All our Scholars leave the programme with a thorough understanding of what it is like to study at university. They will have expert information on their area of interest. Also, they will increase their confidence in communicating with a variety of people. The experience is a terrific talking point for personal statements and interviews. It may give them an edge on future applications that ask for experience when they haven’t had a chance to work yet.

Become a scholar

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Lancashire Scholars Programme

How can our Lancashire Scholars Programme help you

When does it start and what does it include?

What will the independent research project look like?

What subject can I choose?

The Livesey Medicine Pathway (North West of England and the Midlands applicants only)

How do I become a Scholar?

Opening hours

Lancashire Scholars Programme

How can our Lancashire Scholars Programme help you

Academic exploration

Get ready for university

Prepare for your career

Support and guidance

When does it start and what does it include?

What will the independent research project look like?

What subject can I choose?

The Livesey Medicine Pathway (North West of England and the Midlands applicants only)

How do I become a Scholar?

Widening Participation criteria

Information for parents and carers

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