Cosmos Engagement

We’re delighted to welcome University of Wolverhampton as a partner on the Hidden Drivers of Choice study.

With deep roots in its community, a highly diverse student population, and a strong focus on access, progression and outcomes, Wolverhampton demonstrates a clear commitment to understanding how lived experience shapes decisions about higher education.

A great partner to have, and we’re proud to have their support on this project.

We’re delighted to also welcome University of Hull as a partner on the Hidden Drivers of Choice study.

With a clear focus on addressing regional participation gaps and supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds, Hull brings an important commitment to understanding how place and lived experience shape decisions about higher education.

We’re proud to be working with them on this project.

We’re delighted to welcome Buckinghamshire New University as a partner on the Hidden Drivers of Choice study.

With a strong focus on career-focused education and supporting students from a wide range of backgrounds, BNU is committed to understanding how outcomes and lived experience influence decisions about higher education.

That’s why we’re proud to have them involved in the project.

Meet Miranda Arieh, our Specialist Trauma Consultant on the Hidden Drivers of Choice project.

For many students, the journey into higher education is shaped by more than grades or aspirations alone.

Significant experiences like bereavement, family responsibility, financial uncertainty, housing instability, and care experience do not sit separately from university choice. For many, they are central to it.

Miranda brings deep expertise, ensuring students feel heard and supported as they share their experiences. Trauma-informed practice sits at the heart of this project, both as a commitment to every participant and as the foundation for insight that reflects the reality of their decision-making.

We'll be hearing more from Miranda as the project develops. In the meantime:

Find out more about Miranda here: https://lnkd.in/etsZ6fzq
Explore the Hidden Drivers project: https://lnkd.in/e7ypKFKX

Introducing the Hidden Drivers of Choice National Study

We are proud to be working alongside three outstanding partner institutions:

University of Hull
Buckinghamshire New University
University of Wolverhampton

Together we are working to understand what underrepresented students really value when making decisions about higher education.

Each of these institutions is deeply committed to understanding and genuinely serving their students, with a shared belief that the more we understand about what underrepresented students actually need, the better higher education can become for everyone.

Full details of the project: https://cosmosltd.uk/hidden-drivers-of-choice-for-underrepresented-students/

Higher education is navigating a period of real change. Student demographics are shifting and the routes into university are more varied than ever.

But the experiences that shape whether a young person chooses to go, where they choose to go, and why, are also more complex than ever.

That is what 'Hidden Drivers of Choice' sets out to address. Our national study will uncover what underrepresented students really value when making decisions about their future.

Follow over the coming months as we introduce the study and insights as the research unfolds.

➡️ A new CPD partnership with NERUPI Network
➡️ A national research collaboration with leading UK universities
➡️ Year three supporting the University of Leeds Contextual Outreach Programme
➡️ Speaking at the UCAS Teachers & Advisers Conference

Learn how this can benefit your work in the latest edition of Cosmos Connects:

Exciting updates for 2026 - Cosmos Engagement Ltd The start of 2026 has been a whirlwind. We have already begun work on a number of new projects and initiatives, and while we can’t share everything just yet, here’s a snapshot of what’s coming up:

This year is already shaping up to be one of our most impactful yet.

New national research. New partnerships. Deeper questions about student choice, belonging and decision-making.

Our newsletter, Cosmos Connects, is where Co-founder Sarah Dirrane shares the thinking behind our work. Not just announcements, but the ideas, resources, questions and insights you can apply directly in your own practice.

Join the community here - https://cosmosltd.activehosted.com/f/3

Do you have responsibility for delivering or overseeing Access and Participation Plan activity?

In partnership with the NERUPI Network, we’re developing a new CPD course, Access & Participation Evaluation Essentials, designed to strengthen how evaluation is understood, embedded, and applied across APP delivery, supporting more consistent practice and higher-quality reporting.

The course is relevant for professional service, academic colleagues and anyone else involved in APP activity who want to build confidence, consistency, and rigour in evaluation practice.

Register your interest to be the first to hear when the first cohort begins 👉 https://cosmosltd.activehosted.com/f/25

A new CPD course is launching soon - Access & Participation Evaluation Essentials

We're excited to announce our partnership with NERUPI to develop a new course designed to strengthen evaluation practice across Access and Participation Plan (APP) activity.

The course is focused on helping professional service staff, academic colleagues, and anybody else involved in supporting APP activities

- Build confidence in evaluation and data quality
- Strengthen evaluation capacity across teams
- Develop a shared understanding of APP evaluation

More details coming soon. Register your interest and be the first to know when registration opens - https://cosmosltd.activehosted.com/f/25

Learn more 👇