The University of Bradford has been ranked first in England on the Social Mobility Index (SMI) for the third year running.

The SMI ranking, produced by the Higher Education Policy Institute, is a way of ranking universities based on the impact they have on people’s social mobility.

The University was ranked top in 2021, 2022 and again in 2023.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Shirley Congdon, pictured above, said: “I am delighted the University of Bradford has been ranked first nationally in the 2023 Social Mobility Index. This is testament to our core ambition to make a difference for our students, the city, and society in general.

“At Bradford, the principle of equality of opportunity is at the heart of who we are, what we do, how and why we do it. We take tremendous pride in placing inclusion front and centre in our mission, vision, and values. We are fiercely committed to widening access to higher education through our approach to recruitment and admissions.”

“Moreover, our graduate outcomes stand out not only because of the ‘designed-in’ approach the University takes to student employability, but because of the expertise and dedication of our Careers and Employability Service in supporting students throughout their journey. 

“It is this whole-system approach that underpins our success in delivering social mobility for our students, a systems model to inclusion as a means of accelerating equality for all, making our diversity count, and enabling everyone to achieve their full potential.” 

We are fiercely committed to widening access to higher education through our approach to recruitment and admissions.

The SMI combines data relating to access, continuation and graduate outcomes. This year, for the first time, the full ranking table has been published. 

The story of care leaver Aimee Brannan, pictured below, epitomises the University’s approach to social mobility. She graduated with a degree in criminology in 2023, after “scraping through her GCSEs” and having a difficult childhood – read her story here.

Professor David Phoenix, Vice-Chancellor of LSBU, who compiles the Index for HEPI, said: “While numerous studies demonstrate that your personal circumstances and where you grow up have a strong bearing on your likelihood of achieving upward mobility, the 2023 Higher Education Social Mobility Index shows that your background does not have to determine your future.

“Universities of all types, up and down the country, are countering expectations by consistently delivering improved economic prosperity for some of our most disadvantaged students.

“The Government has repeatedly expressed its desire to tackle the regional inequalities holding communities back. One of the simplest ways they could do this is by celebrating the success of these institutions in breaking through international norms and ensuring that, in a climate of ever-dwindling resources, we don’t let a lack of finance inadvertently reinforce the glass ceiling and stifle this incredible pipeline of talent.”

The 2023 Higher Education Social Mobility Index shows that your background does not have to determine your future

Nick Hillman, Director of the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), said: “The Social Mobility Index is now in its third year and it has rapidly become one of the most impactful things HEPI does. League tables are controversial and have pros and cons but they are not going to disappear, so it is illuminating to think about different methodologies and to measure things typically excluded.

“The fact that some relatively new and less prestigious institutions beat Oxbridge reminds us of the different contributions made by different institutions. Above all, the Index confirms our higher education sector has strength in breadth.  We hear common complaints that there are too many universities and too many students, but this Index provides yet more evidence that higher education institutions of all types transform people’s lives.”