An umbrella review of widening participation in higher education: Strategies, challenges, and research gaps

Abstract Despite ongoing efforts to promote widening participation (WP) in higher education (HE), significant disparities persist in students' access to and success in HE. Students from various intersecting groups remain underrepresented, less likely to complete HE studies, and less likely to achieve high grades compared with peers from groups such as second‐generation and socio‐economically advantaged backgrounds. Synthesising existing research is essential for developing a unified understanding of WP approaches and their impacts. This article presents findings from an umbrella review aimed at consolidating evidence to inform future research and policy directions. Following PRISMA guidelines and employing a systematic review methodology, this umbrella review analyses 48 review studies published between 2012 and 2024. While the importance of equity in education is widely acknowledged, WP research remains uneven across different student groups. Effective WP strategies, including mentorship, summer schools, and experiential learning, show promise but depend on addressing issues such as accessibility and financial constraints. The umbrella review highlights a critical gap in WP activity and research targeting younger student cohorts, and on the influence of integrated support services on students' academic outcomes once they are in HE. The study calls for further investigation into the long‐term effects of WP interventions and the scalability of specialised programmes. Despite some limitations—notably, that the evidence presented in the included reviews predominantly comes from the UK, US, and Australian contexts—this umbrella review provides valuable insights for future research and policy development.