The University of Brighton has pledged £8.5 million to help under-represented groups in the next financial year.

The university will spend the cash on waivers, bursaries and other forms of financial support for prospective and current students. The aim is to encourage learners from non-traditional backgrounds to apply to university and to help them progress to postgraduate education or graduate careers.

The funding package includes £3.6 million for bursaries to support students from financially-disadvantaged backgrounds. Approximately 2,000 new students will receive at least £1,000, and others with the lowest family income will be eligible for more. Professor Julian Crampton, the university’s vice-chancellor, said: “We and our partner colleges have a strong record of making higher education available to people from the entire spectrum of social and economic backgrounds in Sussex and beyond.” For more details about how you can apply visit www.brighton.ac.uk.