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University-wide Access Schemes

STEM SMART

Peterhouse is one of the Cambridge Colleges participating in the third year of the STEM SMART programme. In August 2023, we enjoyed hosting the second cohort of STEM SMART residential students at the College for a busy programme of events, and are looking forward to the 2024 version of the programme.

STEM SMART (Subject Mastery and Attainment Raising Tuition) is a widening participation initiative from the University of Cambridge in association with Isaac Physics, which provides free, complementary teaching and support to UK (non-fee paying) students who:

  • have either experienced educational disadvantage or belong to a group that is statistically less likely to progress to higher education and
  • are considering applying to Engineering, Computer Science, Physical Sciences (eg physics, chemistry, earth sciences, materials science) or Biological Sciences (eg plant sciences, pharmacology, physiology, evolution and behaviour, biochemistry) courses at university and are studying A Levels (or equivalent) in maths and science.

Applications for the 2024 STEM SMART programme are now open, and will close on the 31st October, 2023. 

HE+

HE+ is a collaborative programme between the University of Cambridge and its Colleges, working together with groups of state schools and colleges in 19 regions of the UK. It has been running for over 10 years and has worked with approximately 30,000 students over the course of that time. The programme is a sustained year-long initiative running from the Autumn or Spring Term of Year 12 through to the Autumn term of Year 13. It provides access to super-curricular activities, designed to stretch and challenge students academically, as well as providing a comprehensive programme of information, advice and guidance sessions, and study skills support.

Under the University's Area Links Scheme, Peterhouse works with two HE+ consortia; Nottingham North and Nottingham Central. Year 12 students from these consortia visited Peterhouse either in February or June/July, 2023 on our HE+ Visit Days. These consisted of a range of academic taster sessions, a tour of the College with our student ambassadors (PetReps), a Q&A, and time to explore the city of Cambridge and its Colleges. 

 if you are a teacher or school leader interested in becoming involved with the HE+ programme please see the HE+ website or email the HE+ Team on heplus@admin.cam.ac.uk.

ClickCambridge

The outreach team at Peterhouse are involved in delivering the ClickCambridge programme. ClickCambridge is an online programme, run collaboratively by a group of Cambridge Colleges, which aims to equip students with the information and skills needed to apply to selective universities. The programme is for UK-domiciled Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Arab (BPA)/mixed BPA students who are in Year 12 (England and Wales), S5 (Scotland) or Year 13 (Northern Ireland). 

ClickCambridge consists of a range of monthly online sessions taking place across Year 12, which address various aspects of university applications and the student experience. There are also opportunities for participants to develop key study skills and extend their subject-specific knowledge. Throughout the programme, both potential applicants and parents/guardians have plenty of chances to ask questions. 

The ClickCambridge programme has now finished for 2022-2023, but please see the website to watch recordings of the sessions that have taken place this year. Applications for the 2023-2024 programme will open later this academic year.