De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) has recorded one of the largest improvements in the country for student social mobility, according to a major new index. 

The 2025 English Social Mobility Index ranks universities based on how effectively they support disadvantaged students through higher education and into positive outcomes. It combines measures of access, continuation and graduate success to provide a comprehensive picture of performance across the student lifecycle.  

The latest results show that DMU has made significant progress compared with previous years, placing it among the most improved institutions nationally, moving from 63rd nationally, to 40th this year. The uplift reflects gains across multiple areas, including widening participation, student retention and progression into skilled employment or further study. 

DMU’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Katie Normington, said: “Our goal at DMU, is to provide opportunities for people to transform their lives, no matter where they come from. 

“This table, and our improvement within it, shows that we are doing this; that our graduates are leaving university not just with a qualification but with the skills, confidence and experience to enter the career they want.” 

The index, published by the Higher Education Policy Institute, acts as a benchmark for how well universities deliver on their civic mission, particularly in supporting students from underrepresented and lower-income backgrounds.  

The HEPI report comes at a time when social mobility remains a central issue in UK higher education policy, with growing scrutiny on how effectively universities support disadvantaged students not just to access higher education, but to succeed within it and beyond. 

For DMU, the latest results represent both recognition of recent progress. Last year, the university leapt up 33 places in the national rankings for the number of students going on to secure highly skilled employment, according to graduate outcomes data, released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). 

Posted on Wednesday 25 March 2026