UCL Horizons Summer Challenge

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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

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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 8 -15
• 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.
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2012 Summer Challenge courses All created and
taught by UCL postgraduates
Medicine and Society The Amazing Brain
Human Nature
The Middle East Britain and the World
Shakespeare Updated
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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?

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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! ?