News
News
University of Leeds and University of Nottingham join the mA*ths Online Programmes network, as Year 12 applications open at all five hubs
The Hg Foundation is pleased to welcome the University of Leeds and University of Nottingham to the mA*ths Online Programmes network. This is the third expansion for the network, supported by Purposeful Ventures, with both universities selected through a competitive tender process in Spring 2026. They will launch their first Year 12 mA*ths cohorts in January 2027, joining Imperial College London, The University of Manchester and the University of Warwick.
The latest expansion continues to support greater national reach for the programmes, as they have grown into a regional hub model – thanks to a collaboration with Imperial College London and Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI). The addition of the two new universities will create a further 1000 places across the programmes’ strands over the next three years. The current university partners of the mA*ths network are:
· Imperial College London – Greater London and South East
· The University of Manchester – North West
· University of Warwick – West Midlands and Northamptonshire
· University of Nottingham – East Midlands
· University of Leeds – Yorkshire and the Humber
Year 12 Applications Now Open
All five universities are now recruiting Year 12 students for cohorts starting in January 2027. Due to the regional model, all universities mainly recruit from their own region; students based in an area without a hub or the programme strand they require, should apply to any university they can travel to for the in-person sessions.
All applications close on Tuesday 24th November 2026.
Further information and links to the universities’ application forms can be found on The Hg Foundation’s mA*ths Online Programmes webpage.
The Programmes
The mA*ths and Further mA*ths Online Programmes support A Level students from underrepresented backgrounds to achieve top grades and progress into STEM degrees at competitive universities. They each have a separate Year 12 and Year 13 programme, consisting of:
Online Courses exploring some of the trickier topics in the curriculum
Online Mentoring from current undergraduate students
In-person Masterclasses hosted by the university at the start and end of the programme.
An ongoing impact evaluation of the programmes is being undertaken by FFT Education Datalab, following an earlier analysis which found that participants achieved half a grade higher at A Level than matched comparison students.
This is an exciting time for the mA*ths Online Programmes and we’re delighted to welcome the University of Leeds and University of Nottingham to the network. Growing the programmes to five regional hubs shows the value of collaboration – bringing together partners with a shared ambition to reach students in every part of the country. With 1,000 additional places being created over the next three years, many more A Level students from underrepresented backgrounds will be able to access valuable support.
At the University of Leeds, we are committed to raising aspirations and creating opportunities for young people across our region. We’re excited to join the mA*ths Online Programmes network, supporting talented students from underrepresented backgrounds to fulfil their potential in A Level Mathematics and progress to competitive STEM degree courses. With mathematics playing a crucial role in many fields, including AI, this partnership will help more young people see where maths can take them and equip them to shape the future.
We are delighted to be joining the mA*ths Online Programmes network and to extend this impactful programme to students across the East Midlands. At the University of Nottingham, we are committed to creating opportunities for learners from all backgrounds to succeed. We are excited to welcome our first Year 12 cohort in 2027 and to support them in developing the mathematical confidence and subject knowledge they need to take their next steps towards ambitious futures in STEM.
About The Hg Foundation:
The rapid advance of AI is reshaping job opportunities, especially at entry level, which affects the education and skills that will be most valued in future. The Hg Foundation helps underrepresented groups to navigate this period of change and seize new tech-enabled opportunities through education and employment programmes in the UK, Europe and North America. We work across the talent pipeline, from helping young people with their studies and career choices to supporting adults into high-quality employment. (www.thehgfoundation.com)
About Imperial College London:
We are Imperial – a world-leading university for science, technology, engineering, medicine and business (STEMB), where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact. (http://www.imperial.ac.uk)
About The University of Manchester:
The University of Manchester is the first and most eminent of England’s civic universities. As a centre of teaching excellence, world-class research, outstanding student experience, and social responsibility, with a long history of work to widen access to higher education, we are the most targeted university by the UK’s leading graduate employers (The Graduate Market, High Fliers Research, 2026). (www.manchester.ac.uk)
About the University of Warwick:
Founded in 1965, the University of Warwick is a world-leading institution known for its commitment to era-defining innovation across research and education. A connected ecosystem of staff, students and alumni, the University fosters transformative learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and bold industry partnerships across state-of-the-art facilities in the UK and global satellite hubs. Here, spirited thinkers push boundaries, experiment and challenge convention to create a better world. (www.warwick.ac.uk)
About the University of Leeds:
The University of Leeds is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK, with more than 37,000 students from about 140 different countries. We are renowned globally for the quality of our teaching and research. We are a values-driven university, and we harness our expertise in research and education to help shape a better future for humanity, working through collaboration to tackle inequalities, achieve societal impact and drive change. (www.leeds.ac.uk)
About the University of Nottingham:
Ranked among the world’s top 100 universities (QS World University Rankings 2027), the University of Nottingham combines research excellence with an outstanding student experience. Built on a legacy of innovation and discovery, we empower students, staff and partners to create positive change and shape the future locally and globally. (www.nottingham.ac.uk)
About Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI):
MEI is an educational charity that transforms lives through maths education. MEI works with schools, colleges and teachers to provide students with the best possible maths learning experiences, providing educational support and tools to inspire and develop mathematical proficiency and foster opportunities for all. (www.mei.org.uk)
About Purposeful Ventures:
Purposeful Ventures partners with social entrepreneurs and philanthropists to improve the education and well-being of young people from their earliest years. We do this by selecting, accelerating and, where we find a gap, incubating organisations which tackle particular issues. Together, we test and scale effective solutions and influence system change. (www.purposefulventures.org)
About FFT Education DataLab:
FFT Education Datalab produces independent, cutting-edge research on education policy and practice. They are expert analysts of education data and use these skills to produce impactful reports, visualisations and policy recommendations. (www.ffteducationdatalab.org.uk)
