Peterhouse Applicant Support Scheme (PASS)
What is PASS?
PASS is an online programme, designed to support students in making an application to competitive UK universities, including Cambridge and Oxford. The programme covers each part of the application process - from choosing a course to preparing for an interview - through a series of online webinars and workshops, email newsletters, and interactive challenges. Each academic year, PASS takes place in two phases:
Phase I will take place this year between April - July 2025 of Year 12 and covers aspects of university applications including course choice, super-curricular exploration, revision strategies and personal statements
Phase II will take place this year between late August - November 2025 of Year 13 and covers aspects more specific to Oxford and Cambridge, such as admissions assessments and interview preparation
Please see the registration form for students linked here.
The deadline for registering for PASS25 is 23:59, 20 March 2025.
Please see the schedule for Phase I below. All webinars will take place from 5-6pm.
Session 1 – 15th April: Choosing a Course
- What is important to you when choosing a course and university? What motivates you to apply for the course(s) that your considering? Answering these questions will help you to reflect on your decisions, research your options, and prepare to express your passions in your Personal Statement.
Session 2 – 29th April: Supercurricular Activities
- Highly-selective universities are looking for you to explore the subject beyond the A Level curriculum. But what counts as 'supercurricular activity', and how can you make the most of it? Join our webinar to find out.
Session 3 – 13th May: Meta-Cognitive Revision and Wellbeing Q+A
As the end of the academic year approaches, it's time to start thinking about any upcoming assessments or mock exams, and get on top of revision for Year 13. Research shows that students who develop meta-cognitive skills are likely to have academic success.
But you can't use meta-cognitive skills without taking care of your wellbeing! Join us for a Q&A with Peterhouse students on how they managed their welfare while at school and once they started university.
Session 4 – 10th June: Personal Statements
- So far you've thought about which course you want to study and why, and you've engaged critically with some super-curricular activity. You've started to use meta-cognitive strategies to make the most of your learning. Now it's time to start putting all this together. Attend our Personal Statements webinar to get our top tips on writing a personal statement.
Session 5 – 8th July: Making a Competitive Application
- Before the summer holidays, take some time to reflect on your preparation for the application process so far. What are you doing well, and where could you improve? Join our 'Making A Competitive Application' webinar, and complete the Independent Challenge to find out.
Phase II
This part of the programme focuses on supporting students who are considering applying to to Oxford and Cambridge. Anyone on Phase I is automatically guaranteed a place on Phase II and will have received an email with how to continue - there is no expectation for students to continue if they feel the programme will no longer be relevant to them. We also welcome new sign ups. Applications for Phase II will open in due course.
Who can take part?
The scheme is open to any state school student who will be entering Year 13 (England & Wales) / S6 (Scotland) / Year 14 (Northern Ireland) in September 2025, and who either lives or attends a school in our Link Areas of Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Hillingdon, and linked Cambridgeshire schools. In particular, this programme is aimed at students on track to achieve at least 3 As at A-Level, or equivalent.
We also offer places to students from outside our Link Areas. If the programme is over-subscribed, we will prioritise applicants who
- Have at any time been under the care of a Local Authority.
- Are currently eligible for Free School Meals, or who have been eligible for Free School Meals in the last 6 years.
- Have home postcodes in areas with low local participation in Higher Education (POLAR4 quintiles 1 and 2).
- Have home postcodes in areas of high socio-economic deprivation (IMD quintiles 1 and 2).
- Are from an ethnic background currently under-represented at the University of Cambridge (Black African, Black Caribbean, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Arab, Roma, Gypsy or Traveller)
- Are or have been a refugee or asylum seeker
and - Are not on a programme of similar aims run by a different college at Cambridge
Student Experience
For interviews with former PASS participants, who are both now studying at Peterhouse, please see here and here! These interview cover the skills you will gain from PASS, why you should take part, and some advice to anyone thinking of applying to university.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the programme, please contact us at slo@pet.cam.ac.uk. We look forward to receiving your application!