National Access Summer School
The National Access Summer School (NASS) is a four-day residential programme for Year 12 students across England and Wales (excluding the West Midlands region).
The programme offers an insight into the university experience, including taster lectures covering various academic subjects, a chance to live in university accommodation, and exciting new social experiences.
Applications for NASS 2024 are closed.
We encourage you to explore our programme information and consider applying in 2025 if you are studying at one of our partner institutions. Your head of sixth form will be able to confirm if your school is a P2B partner school. If your school is not a partner school but you think it may be eligible, please email nass@contacts.bham.ac.uk for more information.
Is your school in the West Midlands region? Have a look at our Academic Enrichment Programme instead.
Benefits of taking part in the National Access Summer School
If you complete the programme and apply to the University of Birmingham, you will:
- Receive a Pathways to Birmingham offer which is typically a reduction of up to two A level grades (e.g. BBB rather than AAB)
- Be guaranteed interviews for Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Physiotherapy, and Pharmacy
- Be eligible for financial support
By participating in the National Access Summer School, you will also benefit from:
- First-hand experience of academic learning at a research-led institution
- Experience of living in university accommodation and socialising with like-minded students
- Support from current undergraduates via e-mentoring
- Support with the decision-making process
- An invitation to attend an enhanced induction day before the start of the academic year (Kick Off Day)
- Becoming a Birmingham Scholar when you start your degree
The National Access Summer School is suitable for Year 12 students in England and Wales (excluding the West Midlands) who have a strong commitment to study at the University of Birmingham and who are studying relevant qualifications for accessing degree programmes here. You must meet the Pathways to Birmingham criteria.
In addition to this, you must have achieved the minimum academic requirements for the university; please check the University of Birmingham course pages for more information. There are separate academic criteria for Medicine and Dentistry applicants.
Due to the competitive nature of this programme, applications will be selected based on the socio-economic criteria listed for the Pathways to Birmingham programmes, and potentially on academic grades in line with our entry requirements.
If you are a Realising Opportunities student hosted by a university other than Birmingham, you may apply for the summer school if your home postcode is in a POLAR 4 Quintile 1 area.
Are you a teacher or adviser supporting a NASS applicant?
NASS applicants must be studying at one of our partner institutions and have a nominated teacher to support their application. Read our Pathways to Birmingham (P2B) coordinators guidance for more information.