A2 Level

Although most university outreach activities are aimed at AS students, there are still several for A2 students and those taking a gap year. Even if you have been offered your dream degree course at a top university and you don't feel that you need to take advantage of any more of these opportunities, they are still worthwhile doing. Firstly, if your exams don't go to plan and you end up taking an unexpected gap year you'll have something new to put on your UCAS form. Secondly, while at university you may wish to apply for internships and work experience - having another STEM summer camp to talk about can't be a bad thing! Thirdly, they tend to be a lot of fun!
For a full list of A2 STEM opportunities, click on the '4 A2 Level' tab above.

NPL Academy 2016

The National Physical Laboratory, Teddington (just south of London) is offering a week long NPL Academy in from the 11th - 15th July for GCSE and A level students interested in finding out more about physics careers. Selected students will have the opportunity to tour their lab, take part in team activities, build and launch water rockets, and work on a NPL project for the week.

Typically there are 30-35 students on the programme, and so there is a lot of competition for places. However, despite this the application form isn't too complicated - the only question requiring preparation is 'Please state why you would like to be considered for a place in the NPL Academy (500 words)'. Since this is the only opportunity for you to sell yourself, make sure you really point out your strengths, any previous physics projects and experiences you had enjoyed, your career aspirations, and what in particular about the academy you find interesting (such as the opportunity to work on a real project).

This is a fantastic opportunity to find out more about research at a leading laboratory, and would be great to mention on a college or university application for subjects such as Physics, Engineering or Maths.

For more details and to apply, visit their website. The deadline for applications is the 31st January 2016.

Free Taster days at top London Universities

FREE Taster Courses at top London universities! Courses available include those for Engineering, Maths, Arts & Science, Astronomy, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Dentistry, Healthcare, ICT, Materials, Medicine, Physics, Science, Veterinary Medicine, and loads more! Places filled up very quickly last year - particularly for competitive courses such as Medicine - so book your place NOW!
These taster days are very informative and aim to inspire AS students (some are also available for A2 students taking gap years) to study each subject at university. Students tend to listen to a talk or two about the subject, followed by workshop sessions or other activities.
Taster days are being held on several weekends between January and July 2016, and additional courses may be running in Autumn (with a later application deadline).
For more information and to apply, visit their website.
Applications open on the 7th January, and the 'equal consideration' deadline for applications is the 13th January 2016 at 11am.

I attended a taster day on Medical Engineering at QMUL in 2012. It was very interesting and useful - we first had a lecture on what Medical Engineers do and the structure of the course at QMUL, followed by several workshops, including one on redesigning mobility aids and another more hands-on session on building an exoskeleton-based arm support. I really enjoyed the day, and learnt more about what the course is about and what kind of careers it would lead into. We also had the opportunity to talk to current students about the course and university, which was helpful. Although I decided not to apply for a degree in Medical Engineering, realising that I was more interested in Medical Physics, it was still worth mentioning on my UCAS form and I felt that I learnt a lot.
Kate Prescott, participant 2012

London International Youth Science Forum 2016

The London International Youth Science Forum is a two week residential event for young scientists (aged 17-21) from across the world, taking place between the 27th July and the 10th August 2016. Participants will have opportunities to attend talks and demonstrations; visit industrial sites, research centres and universities; and take part in a varied social programme.
The cost of attending LIYSF is £1,695 per student - however participants are encouraged to find sponsorship to help with these costs. An additional CERN visit is available at an additional cost. The application form is very simple - you only need to find a referee to confirm your enthusiasm for science and taking part in the programme.
Students must:

• Have a good understanding of written and spoken English
• Be studying science and have achieved or preparing to take exams for university entrance

For more information and to apply, visit their website.

International Astronomical Youth Camp

The International Astronomical Youth Camp is a three week residential astronomy camp held in Germany from the 24th July to 13th August 2016 for those aged 16-24. Participants have the opportunity to carry out their own mini research project as part of a small team, take part in a range of social activities, and meet like-minded people from around the world.

You could learn about photographing the night sky, how to construct devices to aid astronomy, and all about atmospheric science, or discover the history of astronomy and the mysteries of the sun, or even put your programming skills to the test! There's something going on at IAYC for every young scientist or astronomer.

The application form is fairly simple, and should be sent by the 10th April. Applications sent after this date will still be considered if spaces are left, but there is a late application participation fee - so get your application off now!

The fee is 690 euros (not including transport costs) or 750 euros for late applications.

For more information and to apply, visit their website.

Applications for the European Space Camp 2016 NOW OPEN!

 Having been very privileged to be a participant in 2013, I hope that many of you will apply to take part in the European Space Camp 2016. Held on the Andoya Rocket Range in Norway for one week in July, participants will be able to experience all aspects of a real rocket campaign, including preparing the rocket, telemetry and launching their own sounding rocket. Additionally, they will have lectures from world experts, build model rockets, take part in a range of social activities, and see demonstrations on topics such as different types of rocket engines.

For me, it was an absolutely fantastic experience - I made many new friends from around the world (although it says 'European' Space Camp, anyone from any country can apply), learnt all about Space Science and Rocket Physics from experts in their fields, and had countless unique experiences such as being the Principal Investigator for a real rocket launch and swimming in the freezing cold Arctic Ocean.
The application process is a little more complex than for some of the other summer camps, reflecting how competitive it is to get in. You will need an up to date CV (make sure you highlight previous STEM summer camps, masterclasses, work experience, academic achievements and awards, competitions and any examples of where you have promoted STEM subjects or shown teamwork and leadership skills); reference from your school (I just asked my tutor to modify my UCAS reference, but if you are now a university student you may need a more up to date reference); and your GCSE/AS/A level certificates (whichever is most recent). Additionally, there are several questions on the online application form - make sure you give yourself plenty of time to plan your answers rather than applying the day before the deadline like me!
Katie Prescott (participant 2013)
 To apply, you need to be aged 17-20 on the 31st December 2016, be interested in Space and Rocket Physics and be fluent in English.
The deadline for applications is the 1st April 2016, but don't leave it to the last minute! Apply now online at their website.

Chemistry World Science Communication Competition 2016

Write an article (800 words) on the theme of "Public Attitudes to Chemistry" to win up to £500, have your work published in an edition of the Chemistry World magazine, and be involved in a 'special assignment' with Chemistry World and AkzoNobel.

The competition is open to students, post-grads and early career scientists anywhere in the world - excluding professional science writers.

There are two rounds to the competition - the first of which requires sending in your article, while the second involves an artistic/ creative presentation of your topic to an audience in March.

The deadline for submitting your article is the 8th January 2016.

For more information, visit their website.

Maths Inspiration Lecture shows!

Maths Inspiration is touring England and Wales, holding great shows near you to inspire students aged 15-17 to continue studying Maths. They generally compose of three lectures on fascinating topics such as 'Adventures in the Fourth Dimension', 'Maths of TV Game Shows' and 'Bouncing Bombs and Boomerangs', designed to give you an insight into exciting real world and theoretical applications of maths.

The events are being run throughout the year - for Autumn 2014 events, click here.

For every ten students booked, schools get a free teacher place - so encourage your school to run a school trip!

British Science Festival

The annual British Science Festival will take place this year in Swansea from the 6th - 9th September 2016. Open to science enthusiasts of all ages, there are a huge range of talks, workshops and general science fun on offer - and events are very cheap or even free to attend! Some events are very popular and require pre-booking - so check out the programme on their website now!

I attended the British Science Festival in 2013 in Newcastle as part of their student bursary programme. It was an absolutely fantastic week - I was inspired by a huge range of scientists, as well as making many new friends. For more information on what I got up to last year, see the Blog section of this website.

AstroCamp!!!

AstroCamp is a star party in the Brecon Beacons which happens twice a year - the next camp is the 7th - 10th May 2015. Anyone interested in astronomy is welcome, you do not need to be an expert or have any expensive equipment. There is a great social scene too so you can chat to other enthusiastic people and enjoy the atmosphere.
For more information and to book tickets, visit their website.

Open University - Young Applicants in Schools Scheme (YASS)

The Open University is offering the opportunity for students in Scotland (students in the rest of the UK can also take individual modules but not as part of the YASS program) to take short first-year university level modules in a wide range of subjects - including STEM subjects! This is a great opportunity to develop a better understanding of studying your subject at university, show your passion and commitment to university on your UCAS personal statement, and help bridge the gap between A levels and your degree. Additionally, if you chose to study your degree with the Open University, your modules can count towards your degree - thus reducing your workload and cost in the future.

The Scottish Funding council will fund the program for the next two years, and some schools are offering funding to cover or contribute towards the cost - check if your school does or would consider supporting you financially. Alternatively, they are very reasonably priced and so you may be able to pay for it yourself.

Some of the awesome modules on offer include Galaxies, Stars and Planets, Inside Nuclear Energy, and Understanding the Frozen Planet.

For more information and to enrol upon a program, visit their website.

Renishaw Gap Year Placement

Renishaw, a leading metrology and spectroscopy company, is looking for pre-university students planning on studying Physics, Mathematics or certain Engineering disciplines the following year. Placements could involve working in research, design or manufacturing, and you would also have the opportunity to discover more about potential careers in the Engineering sector. Additionally, there may be opportunities for sponsorship through your degree and a place on their graduate scheme.
The placements are all being held at their Gloucester sites, and participants are required to have their own transport as well as permission to work in the UK.
It is not stated on their website whether or not the placement is paid or covers travel expenses - therefore I would recommend contacting them to discuss what they would offer, since there is a question on 'expected salary' in their application form.
For more information and to apply, visit their website.

Wide range of free public STEM lectures at Imperial

Imperial College, London, is offering a wide range of usually free STEM (and related subjects) lectures for the public. These are often presented by experts in each topic, and would be great to mention on a college or university application as well as being interesting and informative.
Places are generally limited and offered on a first come first served basis, so make sure you remember to register in advance!
For more information and to book, visit their website.

Cambridge Chemistry Challenge

Every year, the online Cambridge Chemistry Challenge takes place from November to June. Each month, a new set of cryptic Chemistry quiz questions is released and Chemistry enthusiasts worldwide of all ages compete to answer the questions as quickly as possible. There are monthly and overall leaderboards, and the competition is surprisingly fierce! It is a great fun competition requiring not only good chemistry knowledge but also good Googling skills and ability to spot subtle clues in the questions! If you need any hints, there's usually a popular Student Room thread but make sure you have go at the questions yourself first!
There's also a popular Lower Sixth paper, which is sat in schools in June each year - if your school doesn't already do it, ask! This is a great thing to add to your UCAS form, and the top scorers will be invited to attend a residential camp at the University of Cambridge at the end of August! For past papers, have a look on the downloads page of their website.
To sign up for this years online competition or look at past quiz questions, visit their website.
I have taken part in the online competition for the last two years, and it has been good fun! The questions don't just test your Chemistry ability but also general knowledge - for example one question required you to recognise pictures of famous chemists while another involved calculating the minimum mass of carbon that would be required to coat the surface of the Earth in a single graphene sheet! Some people take it more seriously than others and stay up all night to complete the questions as soon as they are launched (midnight), but most of us wait until the next morning! You have a whole month to complete each set of questions, but the longer you leave it the lower your score. 
I did the Lower Sixth paper last year, and it was surprisingly challenging! It is similar to the Maths Challenges and Chemistry Olympiads in that it is a fun competition requiring you to really understand the subject and apply your knowledge to very unfamiliar situations. Even if you don't achieve a Gold award, it's still good to mention your participation on your UCAS form as it shows an interest in the subject outside of your A level qualification. The residential camp also sounds amazing!
Katie Prescott (participant 2012-13)

Liverpool Physics Outreach Events

The University of Liverpool is offering a huge range of outreach events for school groups of all ages. These include various workshops and summer schools. Some can be booked by individual students whereas others require a teacher to book, usually for a class of students. Those which can be booked on an individual basis include the AS Nuclear Physics Masterclass series of workshops and a Women in Physics event in June/ July each year. If you are interested in the other events they run, ask your teacher if they would be interested in running a school trip!
For more information and to book events, visit their website.

Imperial College, London - Materials Laboratory Sessions

Think you may be interested in Materials Science and studying a module on it in Physics, Chemistry or Design Technology at A level? Speak to your teacher about arranging a Materials Laboratory Session at Imperial College London. A wide variety of experiments are available, including materials testing of metals and investigating the resistance of superconductors at different temperatures!
For more information, see their website.

Physics Work Experience Placements at the University of Surrey for students in year 10 or above

If you are a student in year 10 or above and interested in studying Physics at university, apply now for a week-long work experience placement at the Physics Department of the University of Surrey.
Work experience is a great way to find out more about potential careers and applications of a subject you really enjoy at school as well as showing your enthusiasm and dedication to a subject you wish to continue studying further at college or university. Work experience students at the University of Surrey can expect to complete an experiment in the university's laboratories with their high-tech equipment, find out what it is like to study physics at university, explore other areas within the university, and give a presentation of their results.
For more information and to apply, visit their website. The deadline for applications is the 30th November 2014.
If you live too far away from the University of Surrey, check out the websites of local universities to see if they are offering similar work experience programmes.

Maths Club at the University of Liverpool for all GCSE and A level students interested in Maths!

The University of Liverpool organises a free maths club for students in year 10 or above which aims to explore maths beyond the curriculum. They have monthly meetings, usually on the last Saturday of each month, from September to April inclusive. Each session consists of two interactive presentations, with plenty of opportunities to try questions and participate, and runs from 10 am to 12:30 pm - including a refreshment break and optional light lunch afterwards. The presentations are run by university staff, postgraduate students or external guest speakers, and previous talks include those as diverse as codes, matrices, fractals and knot theory!

This is a fantastic way to widen your knowledge of maths and discover more about maths in the real world, as well as being an excellent way to show your enjoyment and commitment to maths on your sixth form college or university application.
For more information and to join, visit their website.

Science and Society Lectures at the University of Liverpool

The University of Liverpool is offering free lectures on Science and Society for anyone to attend! Examples of lectures coming up soon are 'Why should the UK invest in fundamental discoveries such as the Higgs particle?' and 'women in science', by expert scientists. These lectures not only address some key issues about science and its role in society, but if you are think of applying for a STEM degree they would be great to mention on your UCAS application!
For more details and to book, visit their website.

Year in Industry Scheme

If you are in the last year of A levels (or equivalent) and are taking a gap year or are an undergraduate student, have a look at the Year in Industry Scheme. They offer 9-12 month placements in STEM companies - excellent for your CV or UCAS form!

They have recently partnered with leading travel companies BUNAC, Coral Cay Conservation, Raleigh International, Coral Cay Conservation and Projects Abroad to offer the 'YINI Combo' where you can combine a placement with travel abroad. Participants also take an accredited management training course and have the option of completing a maths qualification provided by Loughborough University.
Not only is this a fantastic experience, but you also get PAID!!! Additionally, a quarter of participants are sponsored through their degree and even more are offered holiday work.
For more information, see their website.