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STEM SMART is a free programme supporting Year 12 to 13 (or equivalent) state school students from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds in the UK and NI to raise their attainment in STEM subjects.
On the programme students receive weekly work and tuition to help them master their STEM subjects that they are studying at school and to complement the teaching that they receive in school. We also aim to develop their confidence to apply to engineering, computer science, or physical, biological or behavioural sciences subjects at top universities.
To take part, students must meet our eligibility criteria. There is alternative support for students from all school types through other programmes such as the Isaac Science mentoring scheme and Senior Physics Challenge.
Programme content
- Starts in the January of Year 12 (or equivalent).
- Activities run over 16 months, with 3 programme phases.
- Weekly online assignments during the school term.
- Online tutorials and mentoring during the school term:
- Maths tutorials are 1 hour per week
- tutorials for other subjects are half an hour per week
- Students spend around 1 hour per subject per week attempting their weekly assignments.
- A 4-day residential takes place in Cambridge in August during the school holidays.
Phase 1: Consolidating knowledge and building problem solving skills
11 January 2027 – 11 July 2027 (online launch 9 January 2027)
In this phase, students will:
- attend our online welcome event
- be set work each week in each subject they are following on the programme. This will complement their school studies
- join weekly online large group tutorials in each subject that they study to go over the work
- meet their mentor, a current Cambridge student, online every 2 weeks
Progression to Phase 2
All students progress to Phase 2.
Students who have demonstrated the most active engagement in Phase 1 are given extra opportunities. We measure engagement by:
- how much work they have attempted each week across their subjects
- their attendance in tutorials
- their attendance at mentoring sessions
The extra opportunities are a 4-day residential in Cambridge and smaller group tutorials in Phase 2 with subject specialists. These opportunities are more intensive, so it is vital that they are well prepared.
Phase 2: Preparing to apply to competitive universities
13 September 2027 – 12 December 2027
In this phase, students continue to be set weekly work and take part in weekly tutorials for every subject they are engaging with.
Some students can also attend a 4-day residential programme in Cambridge. This will take place in the week from 22 –28 August 2027. There is no cost to take part in the residential (travel costs are reimbursed).
At the end of this stage, we award certificates for commitment to STEM SMART and the extra work that students have been doing over and above their school work. We will also advise them on how to describe their engagement in the STEM SMART programme in their UCAS personal statement.
Phase 3: Securing strong exam performance and achievement
10 January 2028 – 6 May 2028
The focus in this phase is the finish line. We'll work with students to practise and consolidate learning across their science and maths subjects. This will help them to secure the best possible grades in their public exams and meet any university offer they have.
Apply to take part in STEM SMART
Applications for STEM SMART open on the 1 September 2026. Applications should be made by the student intending to take part in the programme.
To apply for the programme:
- Check that you meet the eligibility criteria
Complete the online registration form (opening 1 September) by 31 October
You will need to provide the name of a contact teacher at your school, college or other educational institution. We may contact them to help us provide you with co-ordinated support during the programme or to confirm your examination results to date.
- Students who are accepted will need to complete a survey by the 26 November. This is so we can tailor subject specific content and workload for the programme to the cohort.
We will contact all applicants by 20 November to tell them whether they've got a place on the programme.
Eligibility criteria
STEM SMART is a widening participation initiative from the University of Cambridge in association with Isaac Science. It works specifically with students who have experienced educational disadvantage or belong to a group that is less likely to progress to university.
To take part in the programme students must meet the eligibility criteria.
If a student is not 100% sure whether they are eligible, they should apply anyway. We do not want students to miss out on this opportunity.
This programme is for students who are:
- considering applying to university courses in:
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Physical Sciences (eg physics, chemistry, earth sciences, materials science)
- Biological or behavioural sciences (eg plant sciences, pharmacology, physiology, evolution and behaviour, biochemistry, psychology and behavioural sciences)
- studying A Levels (or equivalent) in maths and sciences
They must also meet the academic and non-academic criteria.
Students interested in biomedical courses such as veterinary medicine are welcome to apply to this programme but should note that STEM SMART focuses only on subject specific support and will not provide the broader experiences required by many medical degree programmes.
Academic criteria
Applicants should have attended a non-fee paying school (state school) from the age of 14 and currently attend a non-fee paying school in the UK or Northern Ireland or be a self-studying student who will be 21 years or over when starting university.
Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Eligible students will normally meet all the following academic criteria.
- Have achieved at least a grade 7 (A) in GCSE Maths.
- Have achieved either:
- at least grades 66 (BB) in double Science GCSE
- grade 6 (B) in two separate sciences from Physics, Chemistry and Biology
Be studying or have studied Maths and at least one more subject from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science and Further Maths at A Level or equivalent.
Students from Scotland
Eligible students should meet all the following criteria.
- Have achieved an A grade in National 5 Mathematics.
- Have achieved at least a B grade in 2 separate sciences from Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
- Be taking Mathematics at Higher
Plan to take Mathematics at Advanced Higher along with at least one from Chemistry, Physics, Biology or Computer Science.
Mature students
If you are a student who will be 21 or over when starting university and are unsure about whether you are eligible, contact ug-admissions@wolfson.cam.ac.uk for advice.
If you are going to a University Open Day, we recommend that you discuss this programme with an admissions tutor from one of the mature colleges.
Non-academic criteria
Applicants must also meet one or more of the following, in addition to the academic criteria.
- Are resident in areas with less advantaged socio-economic characteristics (IMD deciles 1, 2, 3 or 4); You can check your IMD index of your home address on the IMD postcode checker website.
- Have been eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
- Have been eligible for, or in receipt of, the 16-19 bursary
- Have been a pupil premium student
- Have been in the care of their local authority for more than 3 months at any point
- Attend a school or college whose performance places it in the lowest 2 quintiles for average QCA points per A level student (or equivalent). This is as identified by the Department for Education or has performed poorly in an inspection in the past four years.
- Look up school performance details (16-18 examination data). For a school or college to be in the lowest two quintiles in 2024, the Average 16-18 Results would be lower than 31.78 points.
- Inspection report for schools/colleges in England. To qualify, their school/college would be rated ‘Requires improvement’, ‘Inadequate’ or ‘Special Measures’.
- Inspection report for schools/colleges in Wales. To qualify, their school/college would be rated ‘Adequate and needs improvement’ or ‘Unsatisfactory and needs urgent improvement’.
- Inspection report for schools/colleges in Scotland. To qualify, their school/college would be rated ‘Weak’ or ‘Unsatisfactory’.
- Inspection report for schools/colleges in Northern Ireland. To qualify, their school/college would be rated ‘Inadequate’ or ‘Unsatisfactory’.
- Are an asylum seeker or have refugee status.
- The University defines a refugee as someone whose claim for asylum has been recognised and they have been granted official ‘refugee’ status. They will also be eligible under this criterion if they have been granted humanitarian protection which has resulted in permission to stay in the UK for humanitarian reasons.
- An asylum seeker is defined as someone who is in the process of seeking asylum, or the decision is still pending.
- Have significant caring responsibilities.
- This is someone who regularly provides practical support and assistance for a family member who is disabled, physically or mentally unwell or who misuses substances.
- Are estranged from close family members (parents/carers)
- Estrangement means that they were completing all or part of their secondary education without the support of a family network. This usually means having had no contact at all with their parent(s) or carer(s) for at least 12 months and that this is unlikely to change.
- They would not qualify under this criterion if they live separately from their parents but communicate with them. Also, they would not qualify if have recently fallen out with them or their parents do not support their decision to study at university. These are challenging circumstances but are not classed as estrangement.
- Have had significant disruption to their education. Disruption caused by COVID-19 will not be considered. Examples of disruption include:
- Medical or health issues (including mental health). Particularly those that have resulted in long or extended periods of absence from school or college(more than 6 weeks in the last 3 years)
- Bereavement of a close family member (e.g. parent or carer) whilst in secondary education
- Becoming a parent while in education
- Becoming homeless while in education
- Moving schools 2 or more times whilst in secondary education
- a gap of more than one year. For example leaving school at 16 but returning to complete Level 3 qualifications after several years of work
Additional criteria
We will also consider (according to availability on the programme) students who would be in the first generation in their immediate family to go to university. This means neither parents or carers nor grandparents went to university.