University of Bolton riding high in England social mobility index

The University of Bolton has been placed 14th in England for improving students' social mobility.

The English Higher Education Social Mobility Index measures the change in a person's socio-economic situation as a result of attending a university.

Rather than focusing on graduate salaries, the league table looks at how their life chances have improved.

Bolton is 14th out of a total of 101 institutions in England named on the index.

Professor George E Holmes DL, President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Bolton, said the university was committed, as a Widening Participation institution, to offering people from all backgrounds the opportunity to change their lives for the better.

He said: "Social mobility is hugely important, and it is an area we focus heavily on at Bolton.

"Many of our students are the first generation of their families to get the opportunity to go to university, and it is wonderful to see them improve their life chances, regardless of what background they are from or what stage they are at in their lives.

"Widening access is very important to us, and then when students do come to Bolton, they can be assured of a gold standard experience and the very best in teaching, as well as the support they may need while studying at university."

The index, now in its third year, has previously only published the top 20 institutions, but this year has released its results in full.

The Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) publishes the index.

The University of Bolton was recently named 30th in the UK in the Guardian Best Universities Guide and achieved a gold TEF (Teaching Education Framework) rating for student experience, as well as an overall Silver TEF rating.

See the full list of universities in the English Higher Education Social Mobility Index