Are you in year 12 at either sixth form or college and wondering whether university is the right path for you in the future? Check out this Step-Up Masterclass!
What is the Step-Up Masterclass?
The Step-Up Masterclass programme is run by Cardiff University.
It is a fantastic opportunity for you to experience university life and learning. You will have the opportunity to talk with and learn from academic tutors and current university students who have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share.
As part of the programme, you will have the opportunity to develop your subject knowledge and research skills by choosing one of the following areas of study:
- Health and Wellbeing
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Languages, Literacy and Communication
- Mathematics and Numeracy
- Science and Technology
When is the masterclass?
Sessions will be led on Zoom by experienced academic tutors and will run weekly from 23rd February – 6th April. After this, the team will continue supporting you until you apply for university if that’s what you’d like to do.
Who can apply for Step-Up?
The programme is specifically tailored towards students who meet certain Widening Participation criteria. In order to become a member of the programme, students must identify with one of the following groups:
- live in an area of socio-economic deprivation (Communities First, Low Participation Neighbourhoods or eligible for Free School Meals)
- first in family to attend higher education
- asylum seeker
- young people with Autism Spectrum Conditions
- estranged students
- experience of being in care
- young people with caring responsibilities.
There are no entry grade requirements for accessing the programme, but applicants should be studying at Key Stage 5 level.
What are the perks of being involved?
High attendance and commitment to the Step-up programme could make you eligible for a number of exclusive benefits, including:
- Taking part in specially designed academic short courses, designed to prepare students for studying in a university environment.
- Exclusive invitations to tailored events, such as open day briefings and personal statement workshops.
- You may be eligible for contextual offers or interviews for healthcare courses.
- Exclusive access to a Year 12 residential summer festival.
- You will be allocated an academic tutor.
- Meet current university students who were previously part of the programme.
For those students who go on to apply to Cardiff University having completed the Step Up programme, Cardiff University will offer a guaranteed interview for Healthcare subjects, subject to meeting the entry requirements, and various bursaries that are available subject to household income.
How can I get involved?
You can express interest in the project here and a member of the Cardiff University outreach team will be in touch with you in the coming weeks. You can also email outreach@cardiff.ac.uk if you have any questions.
As the sessions start on 23rd February, it is recommended that you sign up by 18th February.
Related Information
Not sure about what you’d like to do in the future? Check out TheSprout’s Education and Jobs and Training information pages for support with your next steps.