Upcoming Girton College Outreach Events
Join us for enriching masterclasses, immersive taster days, engaging talks, and exciting events. Experience hands-on learning, connect with like-minded individuals, and be inspired by thought-provoking discussions and activities.
These events provide a dynamic and supportive environment for personal and professional growth, whether you're a school student, teacher, or parent/supporter.
If you are a school in our Link Area hosting a HE/Careers Fair or a Parent's Evening and would like a representative from Girton to attend, please contact us on access@girton.cam.ac.uk.
Third Party Programmes or Initiatives
If your programme or charity would be interested in working with Girton College, please complete our short form for your request to be considered.
In-person events
Our next in-person event will be the University-wide Colleges Open day, Friday 11 September 2026.
You can find further information, including what is on offer at Girton, here.
NOW OPEN
We are thrilled to open our annual Languages and Culture Taster Day for this academic year (formerly MML Taster Day). Students will join us at Girton College to experience a day filled with wide-ranging activities, from admissions and subject talks, to workshops, to a tour of the college, and a Q&A with current students.
Who? Those in Y10, Y11, or Y12 (England/Wales) / S4, S5, or S6 (Scotland) / Y11, Y12, or Y13 (NI)
When? Wednesday 14 October 2026, 10-4
Where? Girton College, University of Cambridge
Deadline? Wednesday 30 September, 5pm (UK time).
Academic criteria applies. We are delighted to be able to fund travel to this Taster Day for students from state schools.
Please note nominations can be made by teachers only and you can nominate up to three students per school.
NOW OPEN - 'From Baroque to Blues and Beyond'
We are thrilled to open our annual Music Taster Day for this academic year. Students will join us at Girton College to experience a day filled with wide-ranging activities, from admissions and subject talks, to workshops, to a tour of the college, and a Q&A with current students.
Who? Those in Y11 or Y12 (England/Wales) / S5 or S6 (Scotland) / Y12 or Y13 (NI)
When? Thursday 15 October 2026, 10-4
Where? Girton College, University of Cambridge
Deadline? Wednesday 30 September, 5pm (UK time).
Academic criteria applies. We are delighted to be able to fund travel to this Taster Day for students from state schools.
Please note nominations can be made by teachers only and you can nominate up to three students per school.
Online events
Wider University events
All up-to-date information on events organised by the central University team and Colleges can be found here.
Cambridge Subject Masterclasses
Curious about university life and keen to explore your subject choices? Our Cambridge Subject Masterclasses are the perfect opportunity to go beyond the school curriculum and explore what it’s like to study your favourite subject at one of the world’s leading universities.
Masterclasses are designed for students in Year 12 (S5 for Scotland, Year 13 for NI, international grade 10 or 11, or equivalent) and mature students. Both UK and international students are welcome to attend.
Further information can be found on the webpage.
Cambridge Access Programme (Cambridge SU)
The Cambridge Access Programme is a university access initiative which is run by Cambridge Students' Union and delivered by current Cambridge students. Building on the foundation of the former Shadowing Scheme, it offers an opportunity for prospective students to gain authentic insights through online mentoring. The Programme is for home students in Year 12, in S5 in Scotland or Year 13 in Northern Ireland. The Programme is for students with little family history of attending University and/or who go to schools where few people progress to University. We also prioritise students who:
- Are eligible for free school meals
- Are refugees
- Have caring responsibilities
- Have been/are in local authority care
- Are estranged
Eligible students will be paired with current Cambridge students who are studying a subject they are interested in. They will also have access to myth-busting webinars about Cambridge University, focusing on seminars from underrepresented groups, led by current students and Cambridge SU.
The Programme is free for all participants and applications are open from 7th September to 12th of October 2026.
If you have any questions about this, feel free to get in touch via email: access@cambridgesu.co.uk
Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Davidson Inventors Challenge STEM innovation competition
Applications from Year 11 or 12 student teams in the UK for the annual Davidson Inventors Challenge (DIC) run by the University of Cambridge Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CEB) will open on 18 September 2026.
Interested students and schools are encouraged to join Info webinar: Friday 18 September 2026, 4-5 pm GM to find out more about the requirements to apply for this edition of the competition.
The Challenge, focused on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address global challenges in sustainability and healthcare, was launched by CEB in 2020 in honour to the late Emeritus Professor John Davidson. It is now a popular outreach and widening participation initiative heavily endorsed and supported by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE).
It involves identifying and selecting a challenge/problem to work on, and coming up with feasible, innovative, and sustainable solution with real world impact. Participating teams, supported be mentors, will be expected to write a report to demonstrate use of problem-solving and critical thinking skills and put basic process and product design abilities into practice.
Note: Students from state schools and underrepresented backgrounds are especially welcome and encouraged to apply. As part of the initial application, teams will be required to submit both a project outline and a teacher confirmation form. All entries will then be reviewed by our team of mentors, and a maximum of 100 proposals (2 max from the same school) will be selected to continue developing their proposed idea.
Christ's College
Considering Cambridge (Saturday 24 October)
This event is hybrid - there are options to attend in person or online, and either as a morning (10:00-13:00) or afternoon (14:00-17:00) session.
https://www.christs.cam.ac.uk/admissions/open-days-prospective-applicants/considering-cam
Considering Cambridge is an introductory event for students considering an application to Cambridge in 2027, for entry in October 2028 (or 2029 deferred entry). This is open to students from all backgrounds, schools and countries. Most attendees will have just started Year 12 England/Wales, Year 13 in Northern Ireland, S5 in Scotland, or an international equivalent. Gap year and home-educated students are also welcome.
The event will include talks from admissions staff and current students, and a tour of the college for in-person attendees.
In-person attendees are limited to one parent/supporter, due to space constraints. Attendees must be taking the required subjects at A-Level, IB Higher Level, Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers as required for their preferred course(s) at Christ's College. You can check these before booking on our Subject Pages.
Churchill College
Webinars for Prospective Students
Churchill College is holding free online live presentations and question and answer sessions for prospective students, covering aspects of the Cambridge admissions process.
The webinars run on Tuesday or Thursday evenings from 4.30 – 5.30pm via Zoom.
The webinars are aimed at prospective applicants in Years 11 – 13 (Y12-Y14 NI, S4-S6 Scotland) but teachers, parents and supporters are welcome to join as well.
See the full schedule on the website: College Tasters and Applicant Events - Churchill College
Live attendance is encouraged, as sessions are not recorded, nor are materials distributed afterwards.
To sign up, please complete the form linked here: Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The deadline to sign up is 9am on the day of the webinar you wish to attend. You will be sent the link for each webinar on the day the webinar is due to take place.
Fitzwilliam College
Student Voices (Monday 26 - Wednesday 28 October)
Student Voices is one of the main opportunities for Year 11 Students to get involved in our outreach events, particularly before the year becomes busy with exam prep!
It will include two webinars - one on Monday 26th October, one on Wednesday 28th October - which will cover key information and answer important questions about Higher Education, Cambridge and university preparation. The second session will be a Q+A panel with some current undergraduate students who are part of the college’s JCR (similar to a school council!).
When?
- Monday 26th October 17:00 - Introduction to Higher Education and Cambridge
- Wednesday 28th October 17:00 - Q+A with current students
Who?
This event is for any Year 11 (England and Wales), S4 (Scotland), Year 12 (NI) students currently attending a state-maintained school. We particularly encourage students from under-represented or marginalised backgrounds to attend. These could be if you…
- are care experienced or have caring responsibilities
- have been eligible for Free School Meals in the past six years
- are estranged from close family members
- live in an area of low progression to higher education
- live in an area of high deprivation
- are from an under-represented ethnic group
Find more information here: https://www.fitz.cam.ac.uk/event/student-voices-webinars
Lucy Cavendish College
Academic Attainment Programme (AAP)
Deadline to apply: 10am Tuesday 6th October 2026.
What is the AAP?
The AAP is designed to support 1,000 high-achieving students from Year 12 (S5 – Scotland/Year 13 – N.I) into Year 13 (S6 – Scotland/Year 14 – N.I).
Over two years, you will have the opportunity to develop skills and confidence through:
- Regular subject-specific tutoring from expert teachers in your core A-Level (IB/Highers and Advanced Highers) subjects.
- A range of taster sessions to explore your subject interests further and discover new degree opportunities.
- Peer discussion groups to build your oracy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
- Application guidance from the Lucy Cavendish and Pembroke Admissions Teams.
- Completing a Super-curricular Exploration Project to broaden your subject knowledge.
- Revision sessions designed to support you to achieve top grades in your A-Level (IB/Highers and Advanced Highers) study (in the second year).
Who is the AAP for?
You can apply for the AAP 2026-28 if you:
- Are currently in Year 12 in England or Wales, S5 in Scotland, or Year 13 in Northern Ireland
- Currently attend a UK state school
- Achieved at least 5 grades 8 or 9* at GCSE in England (A in National 5s in Scotland, A* in GCSEs in Wales and Northern Ireland)
Full criteria can be found here
Which subjects are included?
This year, the AAP is open to students interested in studying one of the following subject areas:
Arts and Humanities – e.g. English Literature, Modern Foreign Languages, Philosophy, and Architecture
Humanities and Social Sciences – e.g. Economics, History, Psychology, and Archaeology
Clinical Sciences – e.g. Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry
If you are interested in studying one of the following subject areas, please consider applying to the University of Cambridge’s very similar STEM SMART Programme:
Physical Sciences – e.g. Computer Science, Engineering and Chemistry
Life Sciences – e.g. Biology, Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences
How can I apply?
For more information about the AAP and to make an application, visit this website.
Application deadline: 10am on Tuesday 6th October
Robinson College
Robinson Unlocked: Monday 28 September - Wednesday 30 September
Deadline: Wednesday 9 September, 9am
This is a residential opportunity led by the Racial Equality Officers on the Robinson College Students' Association (RCSA). The event is made by current students for prospective students, supported by Robinson College. The event is aimed at Year 12 students from ethnic minority backgrounds who are interested in gaining an insight into the University of Cambridge!
The event will provide an opportunity for academically-able students to explore student life, university-level learning, as well as receive valuable information about making competitive university applications. Participants are supported by current students at Robinson College who were in their shoes not too long ago, as well as members of specialist academic staff at the University. The residential focuses on ensuring students from BME backgrounds feel supported in making decisions about their futures and can feel a sense of belonging at the University of Cambridge.
The event is free of charge and travel support is also available for eligible participants. For more information and eligibility criteria, please see the event website here!
