UCL Horizons Summer Challenge The problem Students from our target under-represented backgrounds often lack the additional academic experiences and polished writing required for an impressive personal statement Transition to university study can be hard; they often lack independent research, writing and presentation skills Summer schools and taster days can give a flavour of university study, but rarely offer the opportunity to complete a substantial piece of assessed academic work

Our solution: the Year 12 Summer Challenge Details: Six-week evening courses in STEM & ASSH subjects 1,500 word essay and presentation Interactive, discussion based seminars Small groups of Access to UCL libraries Impact: Develops critical thinking, independent research, writing and presentation skills Impressive content for personal statements and interviews We aim to increase the number of high- quality applications made to UCL by these students, across all disciplines Student comments “Thank you for an educative, sophisticated, fun and enjoyable time at the Challenge. The way it was arranged was creative and different compared to other summer schools.” “I have thoroughly researched and explored a topic that I have never thought about before – it changed my perception of what it means to be human.” “I thoroughly enjoyed having open discussions with an expert in the field I am interested in, a perk I will never get at school.”

2012 Summer Challenge courses All created and taught by UCL postgraduates Medicine and Society The Amazing Brain Human Nature The Middle EastBritain and the World Shakespeare Updated

Some research projects chosen by Year 12s “Considering British arms sales to the Middle East, does Britain really care about human rights in the region?” “A man more sinned against than sinning.” Is Shylock the villain or the victim of The Merchant of Venice?” “What are allergies, why do they happen and why are they increasing in the UK population?” “Is memory in eyewitness testimony reliable?”

What next for Summer Challenge? Year 13 Personal Statement Clinic UCAS monitoring: 27 applied to UCL, four conditional offers and two interview invitations so far Impact on postgraduates: academics of the future Doubling number of courses in 2013 Summer Challenge toolkit for other HEIs - please speak to me today! Please vote for us!