Whilst your summer school may be over, this is but the beginning! On this page we will post a variety of things to support you across the year including:

  • Updates on emails we have sent you (like the previous participants page) - so you know what you should have received
  • Online session schedule/dates
  • FAQs (so please keep sending your questions to us through the year)
  • Useful resources - we get similar emails of people looking for different things, so we thought we'd start collating those here to help.
Updates Box

26/04/2024 | Reminder for the next couple of webinars sent out.

06/03/2024 | the dates for the return leg stay at Murray Edwards are confirmed as Wednesday 28th August until Thursday 29th August (one-night stay). An email has also been circulated to confirm this.

16/01/2024 | Sessions for 2024 are now confirmed - see below, and check your emails for registration links (sent after 4pm). 

12/01/2024 | Happy New Year! We've been making some updates and added another section on this page: Subject Taster Opportunities. The full timetable for online sessions from us this year will also be published shortly, and the links will be sent to you via email.

PS - In2STEM work placements application deadline has been extended to 28 January!

09/11/2023 | Things have been added in the WorkExp and Competitons sections - check them out!

 

Online Sessions

Upcoming Sessions:

Links to register for the sessions you wish to attend have been emailed to you.

Date Session Who
17:30-18:30, 19 February Study Skills & Revision - Arts/Essay subjects Maria
17:30-18:30, 20 February Study Skills & Revision - Sciences/Mathematics subjects Ellie
17:30-18:30, 25 March Personal Statements - Arts Maria
11:00-12:00, 4 April Personal Statements - Sciences Ellie
17:00-18:30, 29 April Budgeting, Accommodation and Financial Support at University Ellie
17:30-18:30, 28 May Making the Most of Open Days & College Choice Ellie
TBC Admissions Assessments Ellie (Sciences) and Maria (Arts)
TBC Interviews Ellie (Sciences) and Maria (Arts)

 

Previous Sessions:

24/10/2023 | Session 1: Supercurricular: Exploring Your Subject and Preparing for Competitive Applications. Temporary recording access until end of November - please check your emails! 

1-2-1 Requests

Don't forget you can reach out to us with your questions any time! You have our emails and can reach out to any of us whenever. 

On top of this, you can also make a request for a short call/chat too - we know sometimes this is easier just to talk through a few things for 15-20 minutes instead (or less!). If this is something you think could be helpful whether it's some questions about applications, courses or universities more generally, complete this request form - this will ping us to let us know you've made a request and one of us will be in touch to find a suitable time/date. 

 

Subject Taster Opportunities

There are a lot of free online opportunities to find out more about various subjects - we'd encourage you to make use of these and wherever possible, attend live, because you typically benefit more from being able to participate and ask questions. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you'll get to watching the recording, more often than not you won't(!). 

Remember the below are highlights, not everything so please check the upcoming events page for everything else. You can still make use of stuff other colleges run even if 

 

Link Subject(s) Dates Notes
Subject Masterclasses Various,  they're being updated all the time! Currently 5 in-person and 11 online ones available for booking.  Year-round - worth checking back regularly. This is £12.50 for online, £20 in-person to cover running costs. Funded places available if you meet the criteria (click here).
Murray Edwards Subject Webinars Various May-June Arts stuff is further down the page, scroll!
Pembroke Subject Tasters Various 4th June onwards Free!
Caius Explore All subjects Deadline 26 July Guided supercurricular exploration project
Homerton Subject Focus Sessions All subjects May-July  

 

Cambridge Info Sessions

Whilst we won't be running specific admissions information (as this was something covered in the summer school, plus a number of you are likely to get a bit bored of the repetition), there are plenty of opportunities to get this information. Please see the following:

What & When Type/Location Notes

Cambridge for Beginners

Ongoing

Webinar, online Repeated through the year, if you miss it. Aimed at people with no information, so it will cover from the very basics upwards.

 

Work & Research Experiences Placements

It is not necessary for most subjects to find work experience but we appreciate that many of you will still be keen to get some and that it can help you to better understand different career options, particularly relating to the sciences. We hope the below will be useful to have a look through what sorts of things are out there. Please note eligibility criteria can apply and you'll need to check that first before making applications.

Remember: you don't have to include these in university applications, or have to do something relevant to your course for it to be beneficial for you. This is as much about you exploring post-university options and careers, and can be a valuable exercise/experience regardless to better your understanding of what is out there.

*NB: not endorsing any of these specifically, but thought they look like they might be useful (and, free).

Name & Link Summary Dates
Nuffield Research Placements

Research Placements - 2 week collaborations with a STEM-related knowledge expert on a live research question or area of development. While producing a scientific or technical report and poster, this opportunity ensures that students contribute meaningfully to the host organisation's current work.

Experience Placements - 5-day explorations with industry experts to indetify essential skills needed for employment in STEM sectors. While producing a workbook and reflective report, students gain insight into working in professional environments as well as knowledge of the challenges for different sectors, in turn preparing them for employment.

OPEN NOW. Dates of placement typically in school holidays. Unsure of deadline to apply, still seems to be open as of late April.
Virtual Work Experience

Various companies and opportunities available here. Worth an explore. 

Some have set dates, others are on-demand.
Speakers for Schools Virtual Work Experience and Insight Days

Featuring placements from hundreds of companies and employers in a range of industries.

Year-round. Probably worth checking back every so often to see new things added.
Forage - Virtual Work Experience and Job Simulation 

Includes banking and law sectors, amongst others!

Double check the level the placement is pitched at - you're looking for 'school level' rather than 'university level' programs. 

On demand. 
EDT (Engineering Development Trust)

*Note - this is one of the few things that have a financial cost, but is a legitimate opportunity. Remember that it's not about spending ££ but your reflections on it - free stuff is just as valuable. 

There are limited bursary places available. Get in touch with them directly for more info.

Residential Insight into University (£440-£550). 3-4 nights.

Virtual Insight into University (£95). 30 hours to complete at own pace.

EDT Year in Industry Placements - for school leavers i.e. something for a gap year. (Free)

Residential Insight into University deadline: 31 January 2024. Still seems open for some courses?

Events: dates vary depending on university location, but fall in the summer 2024.

Virtual Insight into University: opens 4 March 2024 (you can register interest).

 

Competitions and Essay Prizes

Looking to get your claws into something a little more challenging, or have a go at something different? Why not check out these competitions and prizes. No expectation, and it doesn't matter if you are successful in winning anything - it's all about having a go, learning new skills and trying your hand at something new. 

Lots of competitions don't open quite this early. We'll update as things come up.

NB if it says Year 12 that is in England/Wales - Year 13 in Northern Ireland and S5 in Scotland are the equivalent year groups and eligible to participate. I do try to remind people to list all year group equivalents... 

Name Subject Area(s) Closing Date Notes
Armstrong Arts & Humanities Competition All arts/humanities 3 May at 6pm  
Peterhouse Kelvin Biological Sciences Essay Competition Biological Sciences 29 April at midnight  
Newnham College Woolf Essay Prize Literature, history, society and culture 9am, 8th July Women only
Queens' College Estelle Prize for English English Literature 5pm 19th July  
St John's Poster Competition All 5 August Theme: Silver
Trinity College Essay Prizes English, Languages and Cultures, Linguistics, Philosophy, Politics 12pm 31 May for Philosophy; 12pm on 1 August for others.  

 

FAQs

No questions yet!