#SpeakMore - What social mobility means to Santander Universities

‘Social mobility’ is a term we hear more and more about nowadays. But what exactly does it mean and why are people talking about it?

What is social mobility?

Social mobility refers to changes in a person or group’s social and economic situation during their lifetime. It looks at things like the level of education, type of job, and income people have. It’s one way we can see whether people from all backgrounds have an equal chance to progress.

Why does it matter?

The UK has one of the lowest rates of social mobility amongst developed countries. In fact, over the last few years things have got worse rather than better:

-?????????In some universities, more than a fifth of young students from the most disadvantaged social backgrounds dropped out in their first year.

-?????????Even among students with the same grades on the same course, those from disadvantaged backgrounds still go on to?earn less on average.

Social mobility matters, as when people prosper, society and the economy prosper too.

What are we doing to help?

We believe that educating people today will make us all more prosperous tomorrow. That’s why we’re committed to connecting anyone, anywhere with the skills to build a brighter future.

Santander Universities is the bank’s global flagship Corporate Social Responsibility initiative. We’ve provided more than €2bn of support to the Higher Education sector across the world over the past 25 years. Since 2007, universities across the UK have received more than ￡100 million of funding from us.

Last year we launched a new education and skills strategy. It aims to help people access the education and skills they need to fulfil their true potential.

The Santander Universities Scholars Programme

A key part of our new strategy is the Santander Universities Scholars programme. This is a multi-million-pound initiative to support 100 higher education students from across the UK. These students all identify with at least one of the Office for Student’s list of underrepresented groups. 83% of the scholars come from areas of low higher education participation, have a low household income or a low socioeconomic status, 46% are mature students and 26% classify themselves as disabled. ?

We provide each of them with ￡30,000 of funding across three academic years. We also give them a dedicated mentor and access to training and development opportunities. The programme aims to break down barriers for the students who are most likely to face challenges when attending higher education.

In honour of Social Mobility Day, we’re joining in their #SpeakMore campaign to raise awareness and shine a light on some of our amazing scholars.

University of East Anglia student, Peter Dewey says:

"The Santander Universities Scholars Programme has helped me at a time when I've faced health and financial challenges due to recent surgery. It has not only allowed me to continue my studies but has also eased the financial stress.

The support has made a significant difference, letting me focus on my recovery and academic commitment. It's more than just a scholarship - it's a lifeline that's helped me navigate this challenging period."

Yoka Zinga , a 英国威斯敏斯特大学 student, says:

"I was beginning to really struggle with meeting deadlines for assignments. I have a specific learning disability which means it can take me longer to process things. And I often didn’t have enough time to study since I also have to work, and I’m a single parent to a toddler. As a low-income household, it was a constant battle to maintain enough hours at work to be able to survive financially, without it affecting my university work.

The scholarship has given me some flexibility. I no longer have to worry as much about money, so I can give enough time to my studies. This has not only improved my grades, but it has also helped my mental health and self-esteem. I now feel a strong sense of self-belief that I’ll be able to finish my degree with a good result."

University of Northampton Student, Nicole Onyango Kolenyo is already thinking about her future:

"Being a 25-year-old mature student living independently and supporting myself since the age of 16 has never been easy. My degree is going well and I’m really enjoying it, but the work has been harder this year. I commute to Northampton and, until recently, I didn’t have a car. That added extra costs and stress. I’m serious about committing to my degree, so I didn’t want to add any further stress by starting a job too.

The financial help from this scholarship will help me find new things that stimulate my mind and help me grow. I’m considering using the funds to travel to European business seminars. This could both boost my education and help me network with the right people.

My pipe dream is to – eventually – have a career in finance within the music industry, but that’s a long way off in the future. But I have so many more avenues available to me, thanks to the Scholarship."

Brighter Futures. It Starts Here.

The Santander Universities Scholars Programme is just one of the many ways that we’re supporting people from all backgrounds, both in and outside of higher education, to achieve their full potential.

To stay up to date on the latest opportunities, training programmes and courses be sure to register for the Santander Scholarships platform.

Brighter futures really do start with Santander Universities.?

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Matt Hutnell , Director, Santander Universities UK