African principles are helping Black students in the UK into PhD study.

The Aspire programme uses African philosophies such as ubuntu and omoluabi to provide culturally grounded mentorship, and across three cohorts it supported 59 Black students with 15 progressing into fully funded PhD places.

Across the UK, Black students remain underrepresented in doctoral programmes, and researchers have explored alternative approaches to improve access. In 2021 the Accomplished Study Programme in Research Excellence (Aspire) was launched, led by Sheffield Hallam University in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University and Advance HE. The programme offers personalised mentorship that combines academic development and wellbeing support and works with final-year undergraduates, master's students and graduates. It draws explicitly on African philosophies of community and character to shape mentoring relationships. Programme details: - Aspire was launched in 2021 by Sheffield Hallam University with Manchester Metropolitan University and the higher education charity Advance HE. - The programme provides six-month, personalised mentorship, pairing each participant with a Black academic mentor who offers guidance on academic expectations, funding and supervisor approaches. - It is informed by African principles including ubuntu (community and mutual support) and omoluabi (good character and responsibility), which shape how mentoring and peer support are offered. - A Talk About Race Forum is part of the programme, providing a structured space for participants to discuss experiences such as microaggressions and feelings of belonging. - Across three cohorts, 59 Black students were supported and 15 of those progressed into fully funded PhD programmes at UK universities. Summary: The programme presents a model that integrates cultural knowledge, emotional support and academic guidance to help Black students consider and enter doctoral study. Wider institutional adoption and longer-term outcomes are undetermined at this time.