Resources

Supercurricular activities help to explore and cultivate your interests, expand your subject knowledge, and develop subject-specific skills. 

What counts as supercurricular?

Supercurricular activities can be all sorts of things, so long as they are academic in nature and are relevant* to your chosen course. This might include: reading (books, journals, articles, the news); listening and watching (podcasts, lectures and talks); competitions or research (including past papers even if not having participated, EPQs); trips, conferences or visits (virtual or in person); experiences (including taster days or summer schools) and work experience (if it's relevant  work experience); or (free!) online courses. 

We don't expect you to have done one of everything above, nor is there a hierarchy of activities! It's just to show you how much can count. 

How much do I need to do?

There's no set expectation on how many things you have done, or how much time you have spent on them. Ultimately, when you're writing your university application you won't be writing out a list - you should be selecting a few of the things you have done and reflecting on them instead. For example: how has this helped develop your interest in the subject? Did it leave you wanting to engage with further similar material? What did you learn or get out of doing that activity? 

Around one or two hours per week of exploration throughout Year 12 (Year 13 Northern Ireland, S5 Scotland) in this way should be sufficient, though some activities you might find a bit more time-intensive, such as an online course or an in-person experience day or work placement. You should be reflecting on and thinking about anything you do - quality (and thinking!) over quantity. 

Places to start

Supercurriculars are not about who has certain connections or who can pay for certain experiences! It's about how you engage and reflect on the activities you have been able to do. Below you will find a variety of places to start from which cover all subject areas.

General suggestions: Improving Your Application section and suggested resources from Cambridge; HE Plus

Online talks: Gresham College, Reith Lectures (BBC), Royal Institution Christmas lectures, TED Talks

Podcasts: BBC Sounds, In Our Time (BBC), TED Podcasts, Stuff You Should Know, A Short History of... (BBC), The Great Women Artists, Philosophize This!

Free Online Courses: Future Learn (like this one on Exploring Law from Cambridge), EdX, Coursera, Khan Academy, CodeAcademy

We have also compiled a few suggestions at the bottom of each of our subject pages on the Christ's website - just look for the 'Helpful Resources' section. 

What if I'm not 100% on what I'm applying for yet?

You don't need to know what you want to apply for to get stuck into supercurricular exploration. In fact, these activities will help you make that decision! Allow yourself to explore anything (and we mean anything) that seems interesting to you, whether or not it's something you currently study. If you're enjoying it, keep exploring - and if not, perhaps it's not quite the right course or niche for you. Keeping an open mind is important as you may well discover something you hadn't known about before that is much better suited to you, or that you didn't think would be for you but actually is!

Use both topics from your current studies to explore beyond the syllabus, and have a look at what different university courses cover and perhaps find something introductory on the topic to see if it would be of interest to you or not.

Remember: these activities are not a box to tick for your university applications - and especially if you make an application to Cambridge, don't stop exploring once you've submitted your application!

Christ's College runs a series of regular webinars for potential applicants to Oxbridge and other highly-selective universities. The sessions have been designed to provide the core grounding any young person needs to work towards a competitive application, starting with their post-16 options through to understanding the application process and financing university.

Each session runs regularly - in other words, is repeated - throughout the year, so that students are able to attend no matter the stage in their application and research journey. By offering the same session multiple times through the year, no young person should miss out on information and guidance because they happened to look a little later than another. 

Webinars available:

Subject Matters: The Importance of Your Post-16 Subjects

Cambridge for Beginners

Christ's College: A Look at the Grounds & Facilities

Personal Statements & Competitive Applications

NEW FOR 2025: Student Finance Explained

Webinars last approximately an hour, usually with some additional time for questions where needed. Please note all sessions are live only - recordings are not circulated. Those who have  attended a session will receive a detailed follow-up email afterwards.

You can find out more about these sessions and their upcoming dates over on our dedicated Regular Webinars page.

There are many opportunities and ways in which you can visit the University and Christ's throughout the year!

Open Days

There are many opportunities to join an Open Day. These are fantastic opportunities to meet admissions staff, students and academics through organised talks, tours, or drop-in Q&A. 

The University-wide open days take place in July each year when departments and colleges are open. There is a colleges-only open day in September too (aimed at those about to apply). In addition to this, some departments offer their own open days (like Maths), and at Christ's we also organise open days in October and February as earlier opportunities to help potential applicants in thinking about their options.

School Groups

We run school visit days for schools wishing to arrange an organised visit for a group. 

If you will be in Cambridge with your school group and would simply like a tour of the college, please do get in touch with the date, time, age group and size of the group you have in mind. There is always the opportunity to do a self-guided tour at the very least!

Individual Visits

As well as booking to attend Open Days, prospective students are always welcome to have a look around the college on a date that suits them. This includes specific student-led tours or a self-guided visit as well as open days. Further information about visiting Christ's in these ways is available here. 

Virtual Visits

We appreciate it isn't always feasible to get to Cambridge for a visit, which is why we also offer virtual ways to get a feel too. This includes our regular webinar for Grounds and Facilities, the University of Cambridge Virtual Tour, and extensive facilities webpages on this website. Our October and February open days are run in hybrid format with key information sessions delivered online and in-person tours being optional. 

Alongside our all-subject open days, we also have a range of outreach and subject taster programmes as part of our commitment to widening participation. These events will have eligibility and prioritisation criteria, so you should check you meet the minimum eligibility criteria before applying. These events are open to students in any region of the United Kingdom. 

Taster Days and Series

We organise some one-day or multi-week hybrid subject taster opportunities to provide prospective students with an insight into what it might be like to pursue particular courses at a university level. In 2025, these will include:

Medicine Taster Day (Hybrid) | 29 January 2025

Natural Sciences Taster Day (Hybrid) | 25 March 2025

English Taster Series (Online with in-person visit) | TBC Spring 2025

Residentials and Summer Schools

Throughout the year Christ's offers students the opportunity to live in real undergraduate accommodation and get a taste of what it's like to live and study with us. These include:

Women in Maths | hosted in collaboration with Trinity College (dates: late March 2025)

World of Words | hosted in collaboration with King's College (dates: early April 2025)

Experience Christ's | dates: late August 2025

Click on the relevant event to find out more about what they entail, eligibility criteria, dates and to register interest for when applications open.

The University Upcoming Events page is regularly updated with opportunities, and these can be filtered by different categories. Christ's also uploads all upcoming events of ours here.

Most programmes or events at Cambridge will be free to attend, or with a small cost such as the Subject Masterclasses (£12.50), though there are funded places available for those who meet certain criteria. Travel costs may be covered for some events for students, usually those who meet particular criteria (for example, students in care or those in receipt of Free School Meals). Check individual events for further information, or get in touch with the organiser. 

We would also encourage students to consider opportunities that other universities provide too - there's no expectation to have participated in something with Cambridge specifically, and programs on offer elsewhere will be just as valuable in helping them to explore their interests and options. 

As with anything else, there's no expectation or requirement to have participated in these kinds of things. However, do consider it! You don't need to have won anything - but they can be good opportunities for you to practice using or applying your skills and knowledge in new, different ways than what you're used to in your school syllabus. 

Competitions and challenges such as olympiads also tend to have lots of past papers you can access for free - so even if you haven't participated or had the opportunity to do so, there's plenty you can have a go at in your own time. 

Examples of Olympiads: Maths | Chemistry Olympiad | Biology | Physics | Linguistics

Examples of essay prizes: Woolf Essay Prize | Fitzwilliam Essay Competition | Young Sociologist of the Year 

Other : Davidson Inventors Challenge | Cambridge Biology Challenge | Cambridge Chemistry Challenge | Foyle Young Poets Award

Different organisations and universities may run different opportunities through the year, so also don't feel like you must only look at Cambridge. 

It isn't necessary to have work or reserach experience or placements to apply to Cambridge in most subjects*, though we appreciate many students will still be keen to get some to help you better understand future options beyond school and university. 

*the exceptions where we would advise work experience at Cambridge are Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. See more below.

If you choose to do some work experience, remember that you don't have to include them in university applications, and you don't have to do something linked to what you're applying for at university in order for it to be beneficial to you! It's just as much about exploring your options and different careers - so you might work out now that a career in e.g. law, medicine or accounting is/isn't for you!

Do not pay for work experience

No university would ever expect you to pay for work or research experience placements, and you shouldn't! Work experience is just one way to demonstrate supercurricular engagement and exploration - there's plenty of other ways you can explore your interests through other supercurricular opportunities.

Example opportunities (general)

Please note many of these do have eligibility criteria, so you should check before applying. Deadlines are normally in the spring for placements in the summer. 

Nuffield Research Placements & Experiences | Aspiring Scientists Training Programme | in2STEM | PRIME network (Law) | BSMS Virtual Work Experience (Medicine) | Engineering Development Trust (including paid year-long placements for gap years!)**

**Note: some opportunities do charge a fee, but there are some bursary places, though we don't normally recommend paid-for opportunities. 

There are also options through online work experience or modules. The following sites are not an endorsement, but possibly worth a look (and free) so we're including them here for now.

Speakers for Schools | Forage | Springpod

Medicine

There is not fixed requirement for work experience but it is strongly recommended that you get some. Clinical settings are varied - not solely hospitals or GPs! - and experience can be paid or voluntary. The Medical Schools Council has a lot of helpful advice on work experience. 

You may want to have a look at your local NHS Trust's website as they often have a work experience section. You could also consider local nursing or care homes or hospices, or lok at sites such as the Royal Voluntary Service for ideas. 

Veterinary Medicine

We don't offer this course at Christ's, but you can find more guidance through the Vet school's site FAQs here. 

Should you choose to make an application to Cambridge, it's important to be organised and know your deadlines! Applying to Cambridge will entail some extra things you need to do compared to most other universities - this section cannot cover everything, but will make sure you know where to look to find out more.

Please note that the following pages will reflect the timelines/dates for those who applied in October 2024. Dates for those applying in October 2025 will be reflected in due course.

Application Timeline

Cambridge application timeline overview and How to Apply (Christ's) which has a timeline overview with additional guidance/advice. You may also want to read the general UCAS applying information. 

The deadline by which we must receive your UCAS application is 18:00 UK time on 15 October 2025 for those applying to start university in October 2026 (or 2027 for deferred entry). 

Admissions Tests

Many subjects have a written assessment. Some of these require you to book these in advance and take them at a test centre; others you don't need to do this, and some subjects do not have a test. See the Applying: Admissions Tests section for more details.

Additional Forms

To make a valid application, all applicants must also complete the My Cambridge Application form, which asks some questions that aren't on the UCAS form. The deadline for this is 18:00 on 22 October of the year you're applying; you only receive the link for this after we've got your UCAS form. 

Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to complete forms or upload documents such as: Extenuating Circumstances Form; a Disability/ Neurodiversity / Mental health conditions/ long-term health conditions form; a results breakdown if you've already completed your qualifications (e.g. applying on a gap year); Fee Status Questionnaire (Medicine). Some subjects may also require you to submit some examples of written work (from your school work), or a portfolio (Architecture and Design). 

If you are care-experienced, have been eligible for Free School Meals (but not necessarily claimed) or are a refugee, we'll also ask you to provide a document to prove this.

Interviews

Interviews usually take place in the first few weeks of December. At Christ's, we interview all candidates online. We have provided more detail and guidance on interviews in the next section!

Decisions

Click here for information about how we make decisions on applications. 

Click here for more on possible application outcomes.

August Reconsideration Pool

If you have applied to Cambridge, were interviewed but did not secure an offer and  you meet certain criteria, you could be eligible to be reconsidered for a place in August after receiving your exam results. Read more about August Reconsideration here.

Check if your subject has a test here. Make sure you check this again in mid-2025 in case of updates.

Pre-registration tests

Many courses have a test to sit as part of the application process. Some of these tests you must register for in advance, and have a test fee (because they are used by multiple universities): UCAT for Medicine, LNAT for Law, TMUA for Economics and Computer Science, and ESAT for Natural Sciences, Engineering and Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology (and Veterinary Medicine, but we don't offer this subject at Christ's). UK students who meet certain criteria can take these tests for free (but you need to apply for a voucher first!).

These tests normally open for booking in June-August, and close in September; the tests are taken at different times/dates - check for the one you would need to do. You will also need to take these tests at a test centre and take appropriate ID to show. Each has their own website with lots of further information and resources. Click the test name above.

College-registered assessments

Other subjects may have a written assessment, but you don't need to register to take them as you'll only do them if you're being invited to interview. Many of these are regardless of the college you apply to, but some you may only need to take if you apply to specific colleges. All details are available here for college-registered assessments. Make sure you check this again in mid-2025 in case of updates.

Interviews are an academic conversation about the subject you're interested in studying. You have to be interviewed before we can offer you a place, but not everyone is invited to interview. 

Whilst this part of the application process may be the final thing to do for you as an applicant, our application process is hollistic which means we're still going to be looking at all aspects of your application before making decisions - we don't forget everything else, or look at any single piece of information in isolation! Read more about what you could expect in a Cambridge interview.

Preparing for Interviews

First, don't stop reading around your subject once you have submitted your UCAS application! You should still be exploring, engaging with new material and ideas. 

As interviews are a conversation, it's helpful to practice talking about your thoughts and thinking process out loud. You might find a regular time to discuss something you've maybe read or watched, with a friend, family member or teacher adn get them to ask questions about it. For science and maths homework, you could practice talking out loud as to how you're solving the problem. 

Places like Oxplore can also be a fun resource to practice your critical thinking and discussion - it has a huge range of topics!

Resources

There's a lot of useful, free content online to help you get a better understanding of interviews, and to help you prepare. 

InsideUni brings together accounts from previous applicants about how they found their interviews. 

Sample videos can be helpful to see how an interview might go. Even if it's not your specific subject, they'll still give you a general sense. We've collated some links here.

All applicants can join the Applicant Webinar Series each autumn.

Note: Commerical Services

We're aware of private companies who offer 'tutoring' on our interviews and assessments for a fee. The University of Cambridge does not support or encourage any of these enterprises. The advice they provide cannot be verified and they do not have access to any information that is not freely available from us via this website, the University website and other University sources. 

The University of Cambridge has published a detailed page for teachers and advisers for writing the UCAS reference. This will be particularly helpful for schools or colleges who might not have a tradition of students progressing to Cambridge, as well as those from outside of the UK whose teachers might not have as much experience with writing references for UK universities. 

Teachers and advisers: also see the Support for Schools section.

I'm home-educated - what should I do?

At Christ's, we see applications every year from students from a whole range of educational backgrounds, including those who are home-educated! We've written a dedicated page for home-educated students including advice for the reference as well as other aspects of applying. Click here to read the home-educated applicants page.

There are many charity organisations that work to help young people from less advantaged backgrounds to progress to top universities. Whether you're a teacher or a student, you might like to have a look at these if you might meet their criteria (or know someone who might!). 

Sutton Trust provides a range of opportunities each year in partnership with universities and employers. This includes their Summer Schools programme, Pathways (Banking & Finance, Consulting, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine), Sutton Trust Online, and Access Apprenticeships. 

Project Access is a student-led charity supporting students to succeed at top universities. They have mentoring programmes for UK students and internationally. 

Zero Gravity supports students from less advantaged backgrounds and low-opporunity areas in progressing to top universities and careers. You can sign up as an individual student, or state schools can partner with them (over 500 so far!). 

Target Oxbridge supports students of Black African and Caribbean heritage, including those who are mixed race. There is a Year 10 (Y11 Northern Ireland, S4) and a Year 12 (Year 13 Northern Ireland, S5) programme. 

The Brilliant Club offers a range of programmes to support less advantaged students, such as the Scholars Programme which gets PhD researchers into schools. 

IntoUniversity have local learning centres around the country to support young people in disadvantaged neighbourhoods to attain their chosen aspiration, including further and higher education, employment and work-based training. 

SEO London (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity) is a charity delivering educational, training and mentoring support to young people from low socioeconomics and ethnic minority backgrounds. They run programmes for school students and university undergraduates. Note: includes in-person sessions, so best suited to those able to travel within/to London.

We know that the financial side of going to university can be a worry for many young people, but it needn't be with some understanding and preparation! 

From 2025, we'll be adding a Student Finance webinar to our set of regular webinars which will work through an explanation of how Student Finance works, what you might receive and how student loan repayments work, as well as the additional financial support you could receive if you study at Cambridge. We're currently working out dates, but return to our Regular Webinars page in January for further information and to sign up to a webinar! Parents, carers and other supporters are also welcome to this session.

Check your nation's support

Student finance is a devolved issue, meaning that each of England,Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own ways of organising how student loans work and how much you are entitled to. You would apply to the student finance company of the nation in which you live, not where you are attending university. These are:

Student Finance England

Student Finance Wales

Student Finance Northern Ireland

Student Awards Agency Scotland

Students in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man also have their own systems. 

External Resources

You might like to look at some of these websites to help get an understanding of how finance works, as sometimes the awarding agency website is not quite as clear! 

Save the Student (our personal favourite!) including: Student Finance overview and specifically on Maintenance Loans (the one that actually gets paid into your bank account for your living costs). There's a drop-down on this one for each home nation!

Money Saving Expert (for students in England)

Cambridge Bursary Scheme

Undergraduate home fee status (UK) students with a household income of under £62,215 per year are eligibile to receive a non-repayable bursary from the University, regardless of the course of study or college in Cambridge. You're automatically assessed for this, and the amount you receive is decided on a sliding scale based on your household income. Students living in a household with an income under £25,000 per year would receive £3,500 per year of study from the bursary scheme - you can get a sense of what you might be entitled to here. Students who have been eligible for government-funded Free School Meals (don't need to have claimed) will also receive an additional £1000 per year on top of whatever they qualify for from the bursary, and there are also additional scholarships and bursaries available if you qualify for the full bursary. 

Care-leavers and independent students are eligible for a higher rate of bursary (£5,600) and other additional support. See here for more information. 

All of this is in addition to student loan funding from the government.

Christ's Additional Support

In addition to the Cambridge bursary, Christ's can provide additional financial support to our students. This includes a top-up bursary for eligible students from Scotland and Northern Ireland, and our flexible grant scheme which is available to all undergraduates of up to £1200 during your degree. There are also separate grants for activities such as travel, summer research projects, sport, creative arts, humanities and hardship funding that all students can apply for during their studies. Read more here.

International Students

We have a dedicated section outling costs and available financial support at Christ's for international students here.