Homerton College Design Programme
The 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, Design and Natural Sciences, but applicants may also apply who are interested in other disciplines such as Medicine, Psychology, Maths, Geography, Education, Architecture and Economics. You must simply be keen to engage with the theme of the programme.
Applicants should register interest in the programme as a team of two, three or four. All participants will gain access to a selection of subject-specific and skills-based support from April to July 2025. We have designed the programme to be flexible to fit around school and examination commitments. Our sessions 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 participating teams who successfully submit a design proposal by the deadline will be put in the running to attend Homerton College's free, in-person Sustainability Student Conference in late August 2024.
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.
The programme will begin with a live online launch from 5-6pm on Thursday 24th April 2025. This will introduce you the programme, where to access the resources, and how to submit your design proposal. There will also be the opportunity to ask questions to the Homerton Outreach Team and one of our Admissions Tutors. You will then have access to our academic and skills-based resources from April to July. You will have to submit your design proposal by 12pm on Thursday 3rd July 2025 here. We will not be accepting late submissions.
To apply for this programme you must be:
- In Year 12 (England/ Wales), Year 13 (Northern Ireland), S5 Scotland, or equivalent
- On track to achieve at least AAA at A Level (or equivalent)
- 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
If you meet the criteria above, you can sign up for the programme here by 9am on Thursday 24th April 2025.
Participants will be able to select an environmental problem to design a sustainable solution for from an extensive range of topics that stretch between and across disciplines (e.g conservation, medicine, energy, recycling, economics or education etc.). The overall theme for this year is: "Building a Healthy and Sustainable World".
If you have any questions about the programme please email us: access@homerton.cam.ac.uk.
