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Thinking about Cambridge?

As the most diverse College in Cambridge, Lucy Cavendish College is dedicated to supporting students from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds to apply to Cambridge and to achieve their full potential. Our exciting and extensive outreach programme aims to provide prospective applicants and their teachers/advisors with transparent and comprehensive information and advice about applying to Cambridge, and to raise attainment among high-achieving students from backgrounds that are disadvantaged or underrepresented at Cambridge.

Further information about events and opportunities for prospective applicants and their teachers/advisors to get involved with can be found below, and supplementary resources can be found on our prospective applicants webpage. 

Academic Attainment Programme 2024-26

The Academic Attainment Programme (AAP) is the College's flagship outreach programme, supporting 1000 high-achieving UK state school students to realise their full potential through a 2-year programme of subject-specific support tailored to their stage in the curriculum. 

In Year 12 (S5 - Scotland/Y13 - N.I) students participate in regular subject-specific enrichment classes with the aim of strengthening students' skills and knowledge and raising attainment and confidence in their current studies. Monthly Peer Discussion Groups also offer students the opportunity to continuously develop their oracy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. A range of additional subject taster sessions, alongside the completion of a Project, allow students to explore their subject interests further and think more seriously about possible degree choices. Throughout the year, students receive advice from our Admissions Team on making competitive applications to university.

In Year 13 (S6 - Scotland/Year 14 - N.I) students are offered more specialised admissions advice from the Team, as they submit UCAS applications, and prepare for university admissions assessments and interviews. In the final months leading up to their summer examinations, students receive subject-specific revision guidance from experts.

The AAP has a transformative impact on participants’ success in their current studies and applications to the most selective universities. Over the last two years, AAP applicants to the University of Cambridge have had an average offer rate of 38%, which is almost twice the standard University-wide average (21%). Furthermore, 95% of participants report feeling more confident in their A-Level studies and strengthened in their subject-specific knowledge.

The AAP 2024-26 has already begun and applications are now closed. Please look out for further information in the summer about applying for next year's programme. The AAP is open to high-achieving students who will be starting Year 12 (S5 - Scotland/Y13 - N.I.) in September 2024 at a UK non-fee-paying school.

Find out more and apply here

 

Other events for Prospective Applicants

Prospective Applicants

Throughout the year, we run a limited number of guided tours for prospective applicants. 

On your tour, you will be guided around the college grounds and facilities, including the library, the dining hall, and the café. Tours will be led by either a student ambassador or a member of the Admissions Team, and there will be opportunities to ask questions about the College and the University of Cambridge during the tour. College tours last approximately 30-45 minutes.

There are not any college tours currently scheduled, but information and updates about any upcoming prospective applicant College tours will be posted on this webpage and on our monthly prospective applicant newsletter, which you can sign-up for here. 

Prospective applicants also have the opportunity to visit the College each year on the July and September Open Days. 

 

Offer-Holders

Information about tours for offer-holder tours will be sent to students by our Admissions Team. 

 

Schools

We are able to accommodate a limited number of school visits throughout the year. If you are a teacher interested in booking a visit to Lucy Cavendish College with your students, please get in touch with Hayley at outreach@lucy.cam.ac.uk to enquire. 

The next Cambridge Open Days will be held in July 2025. More details will be released closer to the time. Please do drop by to chat with our admissions team and current students about life at Lucy and the application process! We will have an information stand for you to find out more, and frequent tours of the College campus guided by current students. 

Find out more about Lucy Cavendish College

Cambridge Open Days

 

Mailing Lists

We send out monthly newsletters to update you on exciting events, opportunities and resources from Lucy Cavendish College, the wider university, and beyond. 

Sign-up for our Student Mailing List here

Sign-up for our Teacher Mailing List here

You can also read our most recent newsletter here.

 

Social Media

You can follow us on Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram, or like the Lucy Cavendish page on Facebook.

Meet the Admissions Team

The Admissions Team will support you at every stage of your application, and are on hand to answer any questions you might have about applying to and studying at Lucy Cavendish College. Please don't hesitate to get in touch with us at outreach@lucy.cam.ac.uk.

Learn more

Resources for prospective applicants

Resources designed to help prospective applicants make a competitive application.

Prospective applicants

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