Sutton Trust Summer Schools

Our summer schools are free subject-specific residential courses. They are open to Year 12 students at state-maintained schools in the UK.

Run in partnership with the Sutton Trust, the programme offers:

• online information, advice and guidance
• a 5-day summer school
• an insight into what it is like to study at Cambridge, including academic teaching and social life

What the summer schools offer

For 2026, we will run a 5-day, subject-specific residential in Cambridge.

Subject exploration

During the day you will join your chosen department, where you’ll be taught by world-leading experts in your subject. They’ll guide you through new areas of study, introducing you to the depth and breadth of a Cambridge undergraduate course.

Timetables vary, depending on the subject you are studying. You might:

• undertake your own research project
• participate in seminars or lectures
• experience Cambridge’s supervisions (specialised, small-group teaching)

Discover student life

It’s not all work. You will have the opportunity to explore Cambridge with your Summer School friends, and we’ll put on a host of activities for you. In previous years this has included:

• going on a punt tour of the River Cam
• meeting current Cambridge students and alumni
• enjoying a ‘Formal Hall’ dinner

Aims of the programme

The summer schools support Year 12 and 13 students from under-represented backgrounds.

By the end of the Summer School, we hope that you will leave inspired by your subject, with new knowledge and skills for your final year of school. We hope, too, that you’ll be able to make an informed decision about what you want to do next, whatever subject, university or route you’re considering.

The main aims of the Summer School are to develop your:

• confidence and resilience about life at the University of Cambridge
• study skills through highly challenging mock supervisions and team activities
• understanding of specific subject knowledge through working with Cambridge academics

The main aims of the programme are linked to the Become, Practise and Understand pillars of the Network for Evaluating and Researching University Participation Interventions framework.

Apply to take part

Applications for the 2026 Summer School are now closed. Check back in January 2027 for information about the 2027 Summer Schools.

Applications are not processed on a first-come-first-serve basis, so do not rush your application.

Before you apply, check the eligibility criteria on the Sutton Trust website.

How we consider applications

The Sutton Trust Summer Schools are extremely competitive. We aim to ensure that places go to those who will take the most away from the experience.

You are more likely to be awarded a place on the programme if you meet 1 or more of the following criteria: 

• Care Experienced
• Refugee or Asylum Seeker
• Eligible for Free School Meals at any time in the past 6 years
• Caring Responsibility
• Home Post Code (IMD Q1 or 2)

We do take other factors into account. Check the Sutton Trust website for more information.

Minimum academic requirements

The Summer School is an academically challenging week. It is designed for students who are thinking about applying to Cambridge or a similar type of university. This means that we will consider your GCSE results and your current KS5 courses.

Find out about the academic entry requirements for your subject (Sutton Trust website)

Attendance at the Summer School

It is essential that participants take part in the entirety of the event. Students who have holidays or commitments which overlap with the Summer School they hope to take part in will not be permitted to attend.

If you are attending multiple events at the University or its Colleges, you may find that some of the content is repeated.

If you're not selected

We have a limited number of places on our Summer Schools. This means that, even if you would make an excellent candidate, we may not be able to offer you a place.

If you aren't selected for a Summer School, this shouldn't put you off applying to the University. The selection criteria for Summer Schools is different to that for entry to a Cambridge course.

If you want to get a taste of what studying at Cambridge might be like, you could book to attend a Subject Masterclass or Cambridge Open Day. You could also join an event hosted by one of our Colleges or Departments.