TASO Ethnicity Awarding Gap

About this project

This project explores approaches to addressing the gap in 2:1 and 1st class degrees being awarded to white students in comparison to students from other ethnicity groups. 

Despite increased attention over recent years, this gap remains significant across the sector.

The team, led by Dr Sally Andrews, will review Access and Participation Plans (APPs), explore Higher Education Provider (HEP) websites, and consult with stakeholders to develop a thorough understanding of the experiences and approaches of those working to address the situation. The team will discuss and refine emerging findings with an expert reference group of leading academics and practitioners across the sector. The project will create a typology or classification of interventions and a report outlining the learnings from the project.

 Project activity

The project will involve three distinct phases: 

  • Review of Access and Participation Plans (APPs), HEP websites and submissions to the Race Equality Charter to produce the initial typology. 
  • Stakeholder interviews and focus groups to gain further understanding of institutional infrastructure, attitudes, and approaches. 
  • Refinement of the typology and key themes by an Expert Reference Group, set up as part of the project.

TASO will use the findings as a foundation for future work in this area to supporting better evaluation and an understanding of what works.

Data Privacy Notice for project participants

Lead researcher

Dr Sally Andrews

Pedagogic Projects Dev Manager

Sally’s passion is in developing an evidence-base of what works (and doesn’t work) in Higher Education. Her main interest is developing university systems and pedagogies to support students from diverse, non-traditional, and minoritised backgrounds.

Sally's profile
in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021