Welcome to Realising Opportunities

Realising Opportunities (RO) will close in July 2027 and will not be recruiting any new students.

Realising Opportunities is a higher education access programme which has been running since 2009. In that time, Realising Opportunities has supported over 16,400 students, across 17 cohorts, through partnerships with 20 high tariff universities, including 14 Russell Group institutions.    

With regret, the current Realising Opportunities Partnership of nine universities has taken the difficult decision to close the programme in July 2027. The decision has not been taken lightly. A gradual reduction in the participating institutions over several years has created increasing financial challenges and pressures.  The Partnership feel now is the right time to bring the programme to a close, ensuring a positive and impactful legacy for both the partnership and the many students who have benefited from the opportunities it has provided.    

Read our full statement of closure.

Why is Realising Opportunities closing?  

The  Partner universities of Realising Opportunities have collectively agreed that the current collaboration agreement will conclude in July 2027 and will not be renewed.  

A gradual reduction in the participating institutions over several years has created increasing financial challenges and pressures for the Partnership. This is combined with the changing HE landscape, as well as the programme meeting its initial aims.   

Why is this decision being made now?  

The current collaboration agreement ends in July 2027. Following discussions between Partner institutions, it was agreed that Realising Opportunities would conclude at the end of this agreement. Making the decision now provides time to communicate clearly with stakeholders, support current participants and ensure an impactful legacy can be created, for both the Partnership and the many students who have benefited from the programme. 

Read our full list of FAQs.