We are an award-winning university access charity

The Brilliant Club works with schools and universities across the UK. We mobilise the PhD community to support students who are less advantaged to access the most competitive universities and succeed when they get there. 

Our Programmes

In pursuit of our mission, The Brilliant Club runs four core programmes, The Scholars Programme, Make your Mark, Join the Dots and Parent Power.

The Scholars Programme

Our PhD tutors deliver The Scholars Programme in schools across the UK; sharing their subject knowledge and passion for learning with students aged 8-18.

Make your Mark

Make your Mark has been created to boost attainment in core curriculum subjects for less advantaged year 10 students.

Join the Dots

Join the Dots brings together schools and colleges together with universities to support students who are most likely to face barriers during the transition to higher education.

Parent Power

Parent Power is driven by parents and carers tackling barriers to education and leading change in their communities, each chapter supported by an anchor institution and connected by a national network.

News

Keep up to date with the latest news and views from The Brilliant Club.

Mayors speak at Scholars Programme Graduation Events to celebrate students’ achievements

Lord Mayors of Oxford and Westminster and the Mayor of Cambridge visited our Scholars Programme graduations over the last few weeks to sing the praises of young Scholars, and celebrate the programme.

Read more
Our Year of Impact 2022/23

In our newly published Year of Impact report for the 2022/23 academic year, we share the wonderful work our Brilliant Club community has done in the pursuit of educational equality in the UK.

Read more

The Brilliant Club for you

Whether you are from a school or MAT, or a PhD student or postgraduate, there are many ways of getting involved with The Brilliant Club. 

Researchers

Are you a current PhD student or a PhD graduate? Explore the opportunities available to you here.

Schools

There are different ways for schools to partner with the charity through our programmes.

I definitely think my Brilliant Club experience was the most important factor in my eventual decision to apply to Keble College, Oxford, where I’ve now spent the happiest two years of my life studying English and Italian.

Evaluation

Impact icon

Our programmes have proven impact.

We have deep expertise in evaluating and reporting on impact.

We engage with and contribute to the research conversation.

Who makes it possible

The Brilliant Club has built strong relationships with supporters, schools, universities and PhD researchers. This support helps us work with less advantaged pupils across the UK on our programmes and special projects. We believe in the power of networks and the importance of working together in pursuit of our mission.

Supporters

Find out more about our valued supporters, and how to get involved.

Friends of The Brilliant Club

Our supporter network, providing opportunities for friends of the charity to come together.

Partner Institutions

The Brilliant Club partners with over 40 universities across the UK