Each year in collaboration with King's College, Cambridge we host a programme for Year 12 students who attend UK state schools to find out more about the University of Cambridge, student life and explore a variety of subjects through academic sessions.
What's involved?
The programme will contain a range of academic sessions demonstrating the range of subjects on offer at the University of Cambridge, allowing students to both explore subjects familiar to them as well as those which will be new and perhaps more niche!
There are two streams to the programme: Arts & Humanities, and Sciences and Maths.
Dates & Times
The programme will involve weekly online sessions, culminating in an overnight stay in Cambridge. This event is free to attend, and the in-person stay will include accommodation and meals. Travel costs are not included, but students for whom this would be a barrier to participation are encouraged to get in touch, as some financial assistance may be available.
- Tuesday 1st March (online)
- Tuesday 8th March (online)
- Tuesday 15th March (online)
- Tuesday 22nd March (online)
- Monday 28th March – Tuesday 29th March: overnight stay in Cambridge including further sessions, opportunities to meet undergraduates and admissions staff
All online sessions start at 5pm and last for approximately 1 hour. Students must attend the online sessions in order to attend the in-person component.
Some example sessions from 2021 included:
- Thinking like an Anthropologist... about Somali Love Songs
- Vision-based AI in Social Signal Processing (Computer Science)
- God and the barbarians: a 'dark age' for Theology?
- Symmetry: An Elegant Perspective of the Molecular World (Chemistry)
Who can nominate students?
This programme requires a teacher to nominate students for a place, rather than students completing applications themselves. Each school can nominate a maximum of two students per stream (four in total).
Please see below for eligibility criteria relating to school eligibility and academic requirements.
Nominating Students - Eligibility Criteria & Selection
There are two parts to being eligible - one relating to the school(s) attended by the student, and academic criteria. Students must meet all of the academic criteria and one of the school-related criteria.
School Eligibility Criteria
This programme is open to all schools or colleges in the UK that do not charge fees. In order to be eligible for this programme, students must meet one of the following:
- Currently attend a school or college that has had fewer than 5 successful applications to Oxford or Cambridge in the previous 5 years (2017-2021 entry to university). By successful applications, this means students who met offers received from Oxford or Cambridge.
- AND/OR attended a GCSE school with lower average attainment:
-
England: mean ‘sum of best 8 GCSE score’ of below 40 (out of a maximum of 64). Click here to check the score for your school (PDF). Schools listed alphabetically – please double check the LAESTAB number in cases of schools with the same or similar names.
- Wales: Capped 9 score of below 340. Schools can be checked here: https://mylocalschool.gov.wales/?lang=en
- Northern Ireland: Please get in touch directly
- Scotland: N/A (we expect most schools to meet the above criteria on Oxbridge progression in any case)
-
Please get in touch if you wish to query or clarify if your school or college, or the student’s previous GCSE school, meets the above criteria as we will be very happy to check for you.
Academic Eligibility Criteria
As well as meeting the above criteria relating to the school(s) attended by the student, nominees should also meet the following academic criteria:
- they have achieved at least 5 GCSEs at grades 7,8 or 9, or A or A*, or at least 4 A grades in National 5 (Scotland)
- For the Arts and Humanities stream: students must be on track to achieved at least A*AA at A-Level or 776 at Higher Level in the International Baccalaureate, or A grades in Scottish Highers
- For the Sciences and Maths stream: Students must be on track to achieve at least A*A*A at A-Level, 776 at Higher Level in the International Baccalaureate, or A grades in Scottish Highers, AND must be studying at least three - any combination - of the following subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Maths, Further Maths.
*For IB students, these subjects must be at Higher Level and Maths must be 'Analysis and Approaches'.
Please note that Applied A-Levels and BTECs are generally not suitable qualifications for applying to Cambridge and therefore will not be accepted as suitable qualifications for this programme (if the student does not also study 3 A-Levels alongside these). You can find out more about entry requirements for Cambridge here.
Schools are encouraged to select their most academically able students - those that they think could apply to Oxbridge and other top universities. Places for this event are limited and we anticipate that we will receive more nominations than we have places; selection will be made primarily on academic grounds, but widening participation criteria will also be considered, where relevant.
Teachers must obtain consent from the student(s) they nominate to do so, as you will need to provide information on their behalf. You must also check that the student would be able and willing to attend the event at the times and dates described above, if selected.
Teachers are also advised to consult with other staff members at their school to avoid duplication!
How to Nominate
Nominations are now OPEN. To nominate a student, please complete this form: Christ's-King's Nomination Form
NB: separate forms need to completed for each nomination.
All nominations must be received no later than 5pm on Friday 11 February 2022.
Get in Touch
If you have questions about this programme or need to check eligibility, please email Ellie at access@christs.cam.ac.uk.
If you are a current Year 12 student and aren't sure if your school is eligible it is generally best to ask your school directly, but you can also email us with the name and postcode of your school or college, and we will be able to advise.