Athena Swan in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Advance HE's Athena Swan Charter was established in 2005 to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in higher education and research.

In 2015 the Charter was expanded to recognise work undertaken in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law, and in professional and support roles, and for trans and non-binary staff and students. The charter now recognises work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly, and not just barriers to progression that affect women.

In 2016 the University was recognised with an institutional Silver award. As a Faculty, all four of our institutes have received individual awards, including two Gold awards! In 2024, the Faculty became the first Russell Group institution to achieve an Athena Swan Award specifically recognising the contributions of its Professional Technical and Operations (PTO) staff.

Gold award

Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology - view the ISMIB Athena Swan application - awarded Gold (PDF 3.8MB)

Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences

Silver award

Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences 

Institute of Population Health

Bronze award

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences - Professional, Technical and Operations staff