Asian Access

Asian Access is a new residential programme, one of several designed to support talented students from less advantaged and underrepresented backgrounds who have the potential to succeed at Durham.

This programme is aimed at students from UK neighbourhoods with low overall progression rates to higher education or high levels of financial, economic or social deprivation, who are also of Asian heritage or descent. Although there has been some growth in the proportion of UK students from Asian backgrounds at Durham University in recent years, it remains below the sector average.

Find out more about our work on widening access and participation

Students must meet published criteria to apply successfully to the Asian Access programme, including demonstrating high academic achievement and potential and coming from neighbourhoods with low university progression rates.

Contextual offers, which are standard practice in the higher education sector and shown to help underrepresented students access university, are awarded to eligible students on all our access programmes who successfully complete their academic programme.

Applications for Asian Access closed on Sunday 19 April 2026.

Why should I apply to Asian Access?

Receive a guaranteed, alternative offer (typically two grades lower) from Durham University upon successful completion. Subject-specific eligibility criteria apply.
Stay at one of our colleges, with catering, accommodation and transportation costs covered.
Experience academic subject and social taster sessions that reflect student life at Durham.
Engage with key information, advice and guidance for your transition from sixth form to university.
Connect, share and learn from the lived experience of Asian heritage peers and current Durham University students.

Pilot summer school (17-19 August 2026)

For this year's pilot summer school, we are offering the following academic subjects:

Biosciences
Psychology
Finance
Law
Politics

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Check your eligibility

As places on Asian Access are limited and highly sought after, we use our eligibility and selection criteria to help us identify those applicants who we feel will most benefit from the programme.

Check our eligibility criteria

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Choose your subject

For some subjects, you will need to meet specific requirements, such as A-levels or equivalent in your subject area, which also applies when applying for university through UCAS in Year 13. We will consider these when allocating subject strands.

Find out more about subject requirements