The Sutton Trust Summer School Programme offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in university life. Students will develop the confidence and skills needed to choose where to apply and what to study, be competitive applicants wherever that is, and find support with a network of like-minded peers.

Students will apply to one of their 13 top-tier UK university partners where they will take part in:

• Social activities

• Taster academic sessions

• Application skills workshops

Alongside the in-person programme, every student will have access to long-term support with university applications via their online portal STO.

All costs including travel, accommodation, food and activities are covered by the Trust and their partners which means it is completely free of charge for students to attend.

Who can apply?

To apply for the programme, students must:

• Attend, and have always attended, a state-funded, non-fee-paying school/college

• Be in Year 12 at the start of the programme.

They prioritise students based on a range of social mobility criteria including eligibility for free school meals, and the context of their school and neighbourhood.

Destination STEM: Research Placements and Experiences (Formerly Nuffield) 

It is important to stress that you must meet the eligibility criteria for the programme:

The students will need to be in Year 12, have 5 GCSEs Grade B or above and be studying 1 or more A Levels in a science, technology, engineering, economics, geography, geology, social sciences (inc. psychology), computer, statistics or maths subject.

You need to be at least one of the below to qualify for the programme:
 

• Combined family income of less than £40,000

• Currently, or in the last 6 years, ever been entitled to receive free school meals

• Currently, or ever lived, in local authority care

• First in your immediate family (not including siblings) to participate in higher education

• In receipt of EMA

You can double-check your eligibility via an automated questionnaire when registering and apply here: Research Placements - Students

The new system guides you automatically through the process, from registration to selecting your own placements. The placement selection process will be competitive, as

this year, placement providers will be selecting their own students based on the

applications, so students are urged to fill their applications out to a high standard and be mindful about being flexible by appealing to a variety of placements.

There is a Rail careers event on 11th February at Cardiff University involving employers such as Transport for Wales, Network Rail, CAF (train manufacturer) and others including engineering firms and consultancies. See the attached flyer. 

LEDLET is a charitable trust aimed at students who live in or have a connection to Wales, who have an interest in law and who do not have any direct connections to the law or a legal career. LEDLET, in partnership with Legal Wales, offers the opportunity to apply for a week’s worth of experience in July each year where they can gain an insight into what a career in the legal profession might look like. This includes talks from judges, barristers, solicitors, legal executives, university law professors and others. 

The scheme has been running since 2013 and LEDLET has seen students come through the scheme and go on to attend university, including Oxford, Cambridge, Cardiff, Exeter, and others – with many alumni now embarking on exciting legal careers in London and Cardiff.

This year they will be offering 10 students the opportunity to spend a week in London and another 10 students to spend a week in Cardiff. The schemes are run in parallel and take place during the same week in July (28 July – 1 August 2025).

The applications for this year’s Summer Scheme are now open and will close on 9 February 2025. The application forms are all online and can be found on our website. For ease, here is the link: Apply Here

To apply students must:

1. complete the Student Application Form 

2. ask a parent/guardian to complete the Parent/Guardian Consent Form 

3. ask a teacher to complete the Teacher Consent Form 

All three forms must be completed by the deadline of 9 February 2025.

STEMaccess Free Webinar Careers Series (taking place next week)

This event is showcasing the opportunities a biology degree can unlock. From ground-breaking research to impactful healthcare careers, they aim to help students envision the pathways that await them if they complete a Biology degree. You will hear from two expert speakers who will share their journeys and provide valuable insights into studying and working in the field of biology:

• Kyle Greenland: A doctoral researcher at Imperial College London, Kyle will discuss what day-to-day life in research looks like, offering an insider's view of academic and research careers.

• Karina Shah: A seasoned healthcare consultant with a wealth of experience across the healthcare sector, Karina will explore how a biology degree can lead to diverse and meaningful roles in healthcare. She’ll also share tips on developing transferable skills and transitioning into industry.

Event Details:

 Date: Wednesday, 29th January: Time: 5:30 PM GMT:  Where: Zoom Webinar

This free webinar is an excellent opportunity for you to explore different interests and gain inspiration for your future careers.

Register here: https://www.stemaccess.co.uk/spotlight-on-biology

The Medical Schools Council acknowledges virtual work experience as an equal alternative to in-person shadowing based on a discovery report conducted by Health Education England. Students interested in medicine to participate in a FREE National NHS Virtual Work Experience programme. They offer a variety of medical specialties, with a focus this month on palliative care. This enables students to gain a well-rounded perspective of working within the NHS.

Developed in collaboration with Birmingham Universities Hospitals Trust, this Virtual Work Experience has proven to be transformative for thousands of secondary school students over the past year. It also provides a strong foundation of knowledge for students who are preparing to undertake future in-person placements. They have designed a 6-month medical e-learning work experience programme, focusing on one specialty each month, allowing students to set their own pace of learning. From structured teaching to direct interaction with doctors and healthcare professionals, their programme ensures students not only observe procedures but also gain a broader understanding of roles within the medical field.

Covering everything from confidentiality and ethics workshops delivered by the GMC to clinical procedures, the virtual work experience provides a crucial overview, thereby enhancing students’ UCAS applications.

Signing up is easy –  just fill out the online application form:

In2STEM is a programme offered by In2ScienceUK which empowers young people to achieve their potential in STEM. The 2025 programme is free and matches Year 12 students from low socioeconomic backgrounds with STEM professionals. The experience provides students with the skills, knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their future. 

The programme consists of:

• A one or two week in-person work experience placement

• Online skills, employability and careers workshops

• Public engagement competitions

• Student inductions and celebration events

• A bursary to cover travel and lunch costs

Interested students can apply by filling in the Application Form by 2nd February 2025. Students must meet the eligibility criteria in order to be shortlisted.  

Programme activities will take place between 21st July - 22nd August 2025. Students will be provided with a bursary to cover travel to any in-person events, travel to their work placement and lunches.

Find out more and apply here. 

UEA offer a comprehensive programme of online taster lectures, open to all

Taster days are a great way to see if you like a subject and it can help with your UCAS application next year. Register here

There’s a fantastic opportunity with the organisation tutor2u who are offering a new Free Online Course for all Sixth Form students. The course includes a mix of videos, engaging activities and resource downloads and covers:

• An overview of the options for students beyond their time in sixth form

• Finding out more – suggested research links

• Advice on how to make strong applications to higher education institutions

• How to complete an effective personal statement

• Specialist higher education applications (including Oxbridge, medicine etc)

• All about apprenticeships

• Gap years

• Student finances – a practical guide

Use the link here to register: Studentshttps://ondemand.tutor2u.net/students/beyond-sixth-form-skills-booster

Speakers for Schools has a range of work experience opportunities, just be aware some are aimed at students in England - especially the Healthcare ones which relate to NHS England. Use the link here to see whether there’s anything relevant to you. 

Gresham College has a series of lectures by different Professors. January’s lectures include:

The Value of Public Space Professor Liza Fior, Tue, 28 Jan 2025

Green Immunity – How Do Plants Fight Infection? Professor Robin May, Wed, 29 Jan 2025

General advice

Discover Uni is a government-funded facility which has data on nearly every university and their courses. You can find the entry data of students who joined a degree course and the percentage of those students who entered with particular grades - if you have the same grades then your chances are higher than if you have lower grades.try the website here: Discover Uni. 

Many universities have got upcoming Open Days so make sure you have a look at the places you think you may want to study at. I’ve just put the links for our most popular destinations’ Open Days below as well as the Open Days calendar. 

To make sure you understand the grades you might need for courses you’re interested in and confirm entry requirements please use the following website: https://www.whatuni.com/ Ask your LC to look at courses with you if you’re not sure whether you might need specific subjects/grades for a course you are considering.

Cardiff University is inviting Year 12 pupils interested in studying Medicine or Dentistry at university to apply for a 4-day residential summer school. This program offers a fantastic opportunity to practice clinical skills, meet current university students, and prepare for Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs). Find out more information and apply now.

They also have their ‘Discover Cardiff’ webinar series: this is an ongoing webinar series aimed at students looking to apply to university. Students are welcome to attend as many sessions as they like with new topics regularly being added to the schedule.

USW 

Chiropractic Taster Day at University of South Wales - a taster day for those interested in Chiropractic Studies at USW’s Trefforest Campus on Wednesday 5th February 2025. Click here to book. 

Swansea University’s Masterclass Webinars are Back for the Spring Term.

Their Spring Term Masterclass Series will be taking place between 10-13 February,18:00 - 19:00. These webinars are delivered on current topics by lecturers who are experts in their fields. They give you an idea of the topical developments taking place within subjects you may be interested in studying and can help to support course choice.

Their registration page is live, featuring10 subject sessions including:-

• Accounting and Finance

• Engineering (Civil and Mechanical)

• Healthcare

• Law

• Biosciences and Biomedical Sciences

• Psychology and more…

Register for their Masterclasses here

2025 Open Days

The next on-campus events are Saturday 15 February and Saturday 22 March.

These open days are great for both early researchers in year 12, and year 13 students who have submitted their UCAS application but haven’t had a chance to visit us yet or are questioning their choices on their application form. You will have the opportunity to:-

• Find out about more about courses

• Speak to staff and current students studying their chosen subjects

• Take a campus tour of the campus and department facilities

Book onto an Open Day now

Aberystwyth University is accepting applications for their summer residential programme Access All Access All Aber 2025 which will be taking place July 1st – 5th. Click here to apply for Access All Aber

What is Access All Aber?

Access All Aber is a fantastic opportunity; the programme includes:

• FREE en-suite accommodation

• FREE return transport from school

• FREE meals – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner every day

• FREE Sports Centre access during your stay

• 3 Subject Session of your choice

• Campus and Facilities tours

• General guidance sessions about student finance and the UCAS process

• Loads of different social sessions

• Attend the University’s Open Day on Saturday 5th July

Eligibility

Access All Aber is a Widening Participation Summer residential programme. To be eligible to take part in AAA, students must be –

• Domiciled in Wales

• In Year 12

• Fulfil one or more of our WP eligibility criteria – more information on their website here.

Leeds University Leeds Futures is a free programme which runs throughout Year 12 and into autumn of Year 13. This programme is a great opportunity to experience lectures and seminars, discover the campus and meet like minded people. Leeds Futures runs across a range of subjects: Arts and Humanities, STEM, Environment, and Politics. Find your subject and apply now.  

University of Sheffield Summer Schools (Applications open soon)

The Access to Sheffield offer includes two national summer schools that allow students to come onto campus and experience university life. The Access to Sheffield Summer School focuses on preparing students for university life and developing the essential skills needed for higher education. The Sutton Trust Summer School offers subject specific strands which allow students to experience university level study in their chosen subject. Register your interest now. 

Durham University Summer Schools (Applications open soon) 

Durham University will be hosting three Summer Schools for Year 12 students in the summer of 2025, and applications for these will close on the 28th January 2025. Discover more about the Supported Progression, Space to Explore Potential (STEP) and Sutton Trust Summer Schools now, and keep an eye out for when applications open!

Queen Mary (London) Futures Programme (Applications open)

Taking place at Queen Mary's Mile End campus this Spring term, the Queen Mary Futures programme provides eligible Year 12 students with an opportunity to: explore science, engineering, humanities and social science subjects; develop academic skills; and benefit from specialist information, advice and guidance about career opportunities with different Queen Mary courses. Eligible students can apply for this 4-week programme of after-school activities via the Queen Mary Futures website. Applications close on Sunday 9th February 2025.

Bangor University has a good series of free online lectures from The School of History, Law and Social Science. These lectures are tailored for students thinking about studying at University. Designed to give you a taste of what it's like to study at University level, they are a great way to get to know a subject area better and get a taste of what's to come as well as add to your supercurriculars.

Use the link here to register and book. 

Cambridge University

Here are some super curricular opportunities from Cambridge; they are for all students, not just prospective Cambridge applicants.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

You might also want to check out the advice given on the ‘Better uni choices’ site which has some helpful tips on how to get the best out of attending Open Days. 

Aspire is a collection of free careers, university and further education resources. It is designed to give state-educated students the tools and knowledge they need to make more informed decisions about their future. Their ‘guide’ is a free resource, full of information and guidance, designed to inform you and help you navigate the range of careers and further education out there. Access the online version of the Guide, alongside other resources, on the Aspire website

Please sign up for Uptree here and then check out all the opportunities they have: https://schools.uptree.co/opportunities/  and also the different events they have on offer https://schools.uptree.co/events/ 

Network 75 

PwC has more information for potential accountants, business management or technology students interested in degree apprenticeships with them. Use the link  here to find out more