The Homerton College Essay Programme

Challenge your thinking by participating in Homerton College's essay programme

Applications for The Homerton College Essay Programme are now open!

Submit your application by 1st May 2024

Some feedback from our participants…

“This was the first ever essay competition I enjoyed and actually completed. I believe this was because of how student orientated the programme was as this made it less intimidating.”

“The programme was set up perfectly, with the ideal amount of help without being spoon fed as to be allowed enough room to explore the topics in depth.”

“I found it incredibly helpful in building my essay planning and writing skills.”

Aimed at students in Year 12 England/ Wales, Year 13 Northern Ireland, S5 Scotland (or equivalent), the Homerton College Essay Programme is intended to equip participants with key skills that are considered highly desirable by university admissions tutors such as critical reading, research design and essay writing. Cross-curricular and multidisciplinary, we welcome applications from interested students studying any combination of subjects who are keen to engage with the annual theme of the programme 'Building a Sustainable and Healthy World'.

This programme is delivered as a collaborative project between current Homerton students and the Homerton College Admissions Team.

On the programme you will have access to a selection of subject-specific and skills-based webinars from May to July. We have designed the programme to be flexible to fit around school and examination commitments. Our webinars will provide you with the grounding to devise and produce your own essay in response to a choice of questions related to the programme's theme.

Participants will be able to select a question to answer from an extensive range with topics that stretch between and across disciplines. Examples of previous essay questions include ‘There is no Planet B. Discuss’, ‘Is Sustainable Development an Oxymoron?’ and ‘Is the only way to build a sustainable future through scientific innovation?’.

All programme participants who submit an essay on one of the set questions by the deadline and:
a) achieve Highly Commended for their entry and/or 
b) have always attended a UK state school
will be invited to attend Homerton College's free Sustainability Student Conference on Friday 23rd August 2024. This event is hybrid, enabling participants to attend sessions online if they cannot attend in-person. 

Prizes and Awards will be given to the most impressive entries to the Essay Programme. Travel bursaries will be available for those in need who would be travelling to the Sustainability Student Conference via public transport.

Programme participants who have always attended a UK state school and achieve ‘Highly Commended’ for their essay will be invited to attend a free residential visit at Homerton from Thursday 22nd- Saturday 24th August 2024, as well as being invited to Homerton College’s Sustainability Student Conference on Friday 23rd August 2024.

To apply for this programme you must be:

  • In Year 12 (England/Wales)/ S5 (Scotland)/ Year 13 (Northern Ireland), or equivalent
  • On track to achieve at least AAA at A Level (or equivalent)
  • Interested in planning and writing your own essay themed on Sustainability and/or Health

Please note that we have a capacity limit for the Essay programme; if we receive a high volume of applications we will prioritise applications from students who meet our widening participation criteria outlined below. Students who meet one or more of these criteria may also be eligible for extra support and guidance through the programme:

• Currently and/or have always attended a UK state school student

• No parental history of higher education

• Currently or previously living under local authority care and estranged students

• Eligible for Free School Meals (currently, or in the previous six years)

• IMD deciles 1-2

• Low school/college progression rates to higher education and/or Cambridge

• Disability/extenuating circumstances which have affected study

• Ethnicity: students who identify as Black British, British Bangladeshi, and British Pakistani

• Caring responsibilities

• POLAR4 classification 1 or 2

If you have any questions about the programme please email us: access@homerton.cam.ac.uk.

Submit your application here by the deadline of 1st May 2024

Students - keep an eye on this page, or follow our Admissions and Outreach Twitter account and Outreach Instagram page to be notified of updates to the Essay Programme.

Teachers and HE Advisors – subscribe to our teacher newsletter to be notified of updates to the Essay Programme, as well as other Access and Outreach activities being run by Homerton College.

Poster for Essay programme

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