Overview
The Alternative Admissions Research Project (AARP): One of the most successful of the ADP's projects, AARP's main goal is to provide a means of access for educationally disadvantaged students whose school results do not necessarily reveal their potential to succeed in higher education. Over the past few years, many hundreds of these students have gained access who would not otherwise have been admitted to the institution on the basis of their school-leaving results; nevertheless, their graduation rate is substantially higher than that of comparable students who were accepted on the strength of their school results.
Language Development and the Writing Centre: Language Development staff offer specialised stand-alone or "adjunct" courses for students whose mother tongue is not English. The Writing Centre, part of the Language Development group, provides a service to students through individual writing consultations. In addition to providing assistance to students, these consultations perform a crucial diagnostic function. Based on trends and observed patterns in the consultations, curriculum needs are identified and curriculum interventions developed in partnership with regular academic staff.
The Numeracy Centre: The Numeracy Centre promotes students' access to and success in quantitatively demanding study programmes. The Centre currently offers quantitative literacy courses and other interventions in the Humanities, Law and Health Science faculties, assisting the university with ensuring that students and graduates are quantitatively literate in a manner that is appropriate for their course of study and intended role in the community.