The Christ's Natural Sciences Taster Day is an annual event giving participants opportunity to explore what it is like to study Natural Sciences at Christ's and Cambridge, including talks, Q&As and sample academic sessions from our Natural Sciences academics and current students at Christ's, and explore the college of Charles Darwin!
| Applications are now closed for this event (no exceptions) > If you are currently in Year 11 (England & Wales), S4 (Scotland), Y12 (Northern Ireland), please register interest if you think you'd be interested in this opportunity next year - we will send you an email when applications open. |
This event will next take place on Wednesday 18th March 2026.
Our Natural Sciences Taster Day is a hybrid event, so you can attend sessions either in person or online, and you can indicate your preference when applying for a place. Please make sure you read all sections of this page before you apply for a place on the event.
Please note that whilst we hope to accommodate all interested people who are eligible for this event, we do expect it to be popular, and as such may not be able to accommodate everyone who wishes to travel to Cambridge due to the limited capacity of the physical space. Therefore, we may only be able to offer some students the opportunity to attend online, and they will be informed of other ways in which to visit us on an alternative date if they wish to do so.
Places are for students only. There are no sessions for parents/carers or others who may choose to travel with you to Cambridge.
Updates for those who have applied:
If you applied shortly before we closed applications on Fri 13 March, we are currently considering your application and will be in touch as soon as possible. Don't worry if you're not heard yet!
Event Programme
The 2025 programme ran as follows. Details of the 2026 programme will be available nearer the time but will be roughly the same.
09:45-10:15 | In-person: arrival at Christ's, registration and get seated. Online: login!
10:15-11:00 | Welcome and introductory talk and Q&A with Director of Studies
11:00-12:00 | Academic Short Talks
12:00-13:30 | In-person: lunch in Hall and tour of college with a current student. Online: live virtual tour with a current student, plus a break.
13:30-14:30 | Parallel Academic Talks (three options, attend one)
14:30-15:15 | Student Life Panel
15:15-15:30 | Short break
15:30-16:30 | Academic Session (everyone)
16:30-17:00 | After Cambridge: Careers with a degree in Natural Sciences
17:00-17:15 | End Session/ Plenary
17:15 | End of Event
Sessions will be delivered by a range of current Christ's Natural Sciences Fellows and students, providing insights into the breadth of options available in the Natural Sciences tripos.
In Person or Online
The programme has been designed to allow as full a participation as possible regardless of the form of attendance, and those online will have equal opportunity to ask questions as those in the room.
Online Attendees
Sessions are streamed online via Zoom. Online attendees are able to ask questions and join in any polls and discussion alongside the in-person attendees. You will not need a camera or microphone to participate, but we would recommend joining on a computer or laptop rather than a smartphone where possible.
A virtual tour option is available on the day for those joining online, and further information is provided about how you can visit Christ's at another time whether as part of other open days, or on a date that suits you.
In-Person Attendees
Those visiting in-person are responsible for getting themselves to Cambridge. Below you can find travel information and a map of the college. For students travelling a very long way, limited accommodation may be available at Christ's on the night before the visit day on a first come, first served basis. Students who are in local authority care, or eligible for government-funded free school meals are eligible to financial support with travel costs to Cambridge. Please note that any student who wants to be considered for an in-person place (before the 20 Feb deadline) will be considered equally - we don't prioritise based on distance or who lives closest to Cambridge.
How to get to Christ's | Cambridge University map | Printable map of Cambridge | Christ's College map
Am I Eligible?
To be eligible for this event, you must meet the following criteria (a) through (d):
(a) School: You are currently studying at a UK school, and would be eligible for Home (UK) Fee Status when at university (i.e. you would not be classed as an international student)
(b) Age: You are currently in Year 12 England/Wales, Year 13 Northern Ireland or S5 in Scotland; OR you are currently in your final year of school and will be applying to university on a gap year (i.e. you have not applied for university this year for 2025 entry, but will be applying for 2026 entry)
(c) Current Qualifications: You currently study one of the following combinations of subjects at either A-Level, Scottish Higher, or at Higher Level in the International Baccalaureate (Mathematics should be the IB HL Analysis and Approaches option):
Mathematics, Chemistry and then either (or both of) Biology or Physics (as required for Biological Natural Sciences applicants at Christ's)
Mathematics, plus two further subjects from Chemistry, Physics or Further Maths (as required for Physical Natural Sciences applicants at Christ's).
Core Maths does not meet the Mathematics requirement.
(d) GCSE/National 5 Attainment:
GCSE: you have achieved at least 999988 (or 6A* if still using letter grades) in your GCSEs, including Mathematics and Sciences subjects amongst these 8/9/A* grades.
If you have a combination of letter and number-graded GCSEs, this should be at least 6 subjects including maths and sciences at A*/8/9, and including 4 of those at A* or 9).
Scotland - National 5: a majority of As including As in all Maths and Sciences subjects
If you're not sure if you meet the criteria, please email us at admissions@christs.cam.ac.uk with which thing you're confused about.
How to Apply
| Applications are now closed for this event (no exceptions) |
Applications must be made by the individual student.
Those offered a place will be expected to be available on the day, including those attending online - sessions will only be available live as they will be joining with the in-person attendees (there will not be recordings).
In the event that we are oversubscribed (either for in-person places, or overall) for this taster day, priority will be given to students who: are care-experienced (including experience in local authority or foster care, and kinship care); who are refugees, asylum seekers or forced migrants; who are currently eligible for government-funded free school meals; who have been eligible for government-funded free school meals in the previous 6 years; receive the 16-19 bursary (England) or Education Maintenance Allowance (rest of UK); young carers; attend a school that does not charge fees; whose home address is within the bottom 40% of postcodes on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation measure.
Even if you do not meet any of the priority criteria outlined above, please still apply if you meet the core eligibility criteria, as we have a large online capacity in addition to in-person places and have been able to accommodate all eligible interested people at least online for similar events to this.
FAQs
None so far, but we'll add questions as we get them!
