Applications for The Homerton College Design Programme are now closed. Applications will re-open in early 2024.
Some feedback from our participants…
98% would ‘strongly recommend’ or 'recommend' the programme to future Year 12 (or equivalent) students
“I really enjoyed the programme and think it's a great initiative!”
“What a fantastic opportunity!”
Aimed at students in Year 12 (or equivalent) during the 2022-2023 academic year, Homerton College Design Programme is intended to equip participants with key skills that are considered highly desirable by university admissions tutors such as communication, problem-solving and research design. The programme is primarily designed for students who are interested in Engineering and Natural Sciences, but applicants may also apply who are interested in other disciplines such as Medicine, Psychology, Maths, Geography, Education, Architecture and Economics. We also welcome Applicants who are thinking about studying Cambridge’s new Design programme. You must simply be keen to engage with the theme of the programme which is always related to sustainability.
Participants should sign up to the programme as a team of two, three or four. All participants will gain access to a selection of subject-specific and skills-based webinar workshops from May to July. We have designed the programme to be flexible to fit around school and examination commitments. Our workshops will provide the support needed to design a sustainable solution to an environmental problem of the assembled team's choosing. Designs may consider any discipline but we expect that most designs will focus on conservation, medicine, energy, recycling, economics or education. In the past, students have designed devices, buildings, educational programmes, gardening strategies, apps and charities; there really are no limits.
All programme participants who submit an abstract and video presentation by the deadline will be invited to attend Homerton College’s free Sustainability Student Conference. This event will be hybrid, enabling participants to attend sessions online if they cannot attend in-person.
Prizes and awards will be given to the most impressive entries to the Design Programme. Travel bursaries will be available for those in need who would be travelling to the Sustainability Student Conference via public transport.
Programme participants who currently attend a UK state school and achieve ‘Highly Commended’ for their submission will be invited to attend a free residential visit at Homerton, as well as being invited to Homerton College’s Sustainability Student Conference.
To apply for this programme you must be:
• In Year 12 (or equivalent)
• Thinking of applying to Cambridge (or another competitive university). The programme is primarily designed for students who are interested in Engineering and Natural Sciences, but applicants may also apply who are interested in other disciplines such as Medicine, Psychology, Maths, Geography, Education, Architecture and Economics. We also welcome applicants who are thinking about studying Cambridge’s new Design Tripos
• On track to achieve the University of Cambridge entrance requirements
• Able to assemble a team of two, three or four people from your school
• Interested in designing a solution to a real-world environmental or health problem
Please note that we have a capacity limit for the Design programme; if we receive a high volume of applications we will prioritise applications from students who meet our widening participation criteria outlined below. Students who meet one or more of these criteria may also be eligible for extra support and guidance through the programme:
- Current state school student
- No parental history of higher education
- Currently or previously living under local authority care
- Eligible for Free School Meals (currently, or in the previous six years)
- IMD deciles 1-3
- Low school/college progression rates to higher education
- Disability/extenuating circumstances which have affected study
- Ethnicity: students who identify as from a racially marginalised group
- Young carers
- POLAR 4 classification 1 or 2
If you have any questions about the programme please email us: access@homerton.cam.ac.uk.
Students - keep an eye on this page, or follow our Admissions and Outreach Twitter account and Outreach Instagram page to be notified of updates to the Design Programme.
Teachers and HE Advisors – subscribe to our teacher newsletter to be notified of updates to the Design Programme, as well as other Access and Outreach activities being run by Homerton College.
