WCAN for universities

We bring you the students your access plan is trying to reach.

Outreach days, applicant support and employer exposure for girls and young women from underrepresented backgrounds, with Black women at the heart. We work in schools and on campus, and run everything with your widening participation team.

Book a 20-minute call See what we run

WCAN member smiling in a professional setting

8,000+

applications to our programmes every year

16,000+

women in our network, with Black women at its heart

80+

employer partnerships, from global banks to Magic Circle firms

Employers we work with

students at a single Step into Imperial day, with KPMG, EY, Goldman Sachs and Accenture in the room.

Universities have commissioned this before.

Imperial College London's widening participation team brought us in to run Step into Imperial, a full day on campus for girls from underrepresented backgrounds considering the university. UCL commissioned Envision to grow applications from Black girls, then brought us back to put employers in front of its widening participation students.

Both came to us for the same reason. We already work in schools and reach young women your outreach struggles to find, and we run the whole thing.

What we run for universities

Three programmes, booked on their own or as one year-round partnership.

Before they apply

Step into your university

A full day on your campus for up to 80 Year 12 students who meet your criteria. You run a taster lecture and a tour. We run the careers workshop, a student and alumni panel and a session with one of our employer partners.

When: February half-term, Easter or summer
Fee: On enquiry

While they apply

The applicant programme

For the students from your day who are serious about applying. Application clinics before the UCAS deadlines, mentoring from your current undergraduates, an evening for parents and carers, and a return visit for your open day.

When: September to January, one application cycle
Fee: On enquiry

Once they're with you

Employer exposure

For your current widening participation students. Firms from our network in law, finance, consulting and tech come to campus or host your students in their offices, with application clinics timed to their deadlines.

When: Any term
Fee: On enquiry

You bring the campus. We do the rest.

What you provide

The venue and lunch
A taster lecture or campus tour
Your attendee criteria
A named contact in your team

What we deliver

Finding students who meet your criteria, through our network and partner schools
Planning the day, speakers and panellists
Every workshop and all materials
All communication with students and families
Evaluation and the report afterwards

Evidence you can use in your access and participation plan.

Every programme ends with a report to your team.

Reach

Who attended, measured against your criteria.

Change

Before and after measures of confidence and intention to apply.

Voice

What students said, in their own words.

Outcomes

With consent, who went on to apply, receive an offer and enrol.

Built around your recruitment year

Spring and summer
Plan
Agree criteria, dates and targets for the year ahead.
July
Summer day
Step into your university for students about to start Year 13.
September to October
Applications open
Clinics and mentoring for your applicants.
January
Open day
Applicants come back to see you again.
February half-term
Spring day
Step into your university for the next Year 12 cohort.
Easter
Report
The year's evaluation lands with your team.

For careers services

Invite WCAN to your careers fair.

We bring opportunities from our partner firms across law, finance, consulting and tech, sign students up to the Deadline List and our events, and connect them with our campus ambassadors and societies at your university.

Invite us to your fair

Book a 20-minute call

Tell us what you're working towards and we'll come back within two working days with dates and a costed plan.

Prefer email? partnerships@wcan.uk