Leeds Futures - STEM
Our national outreach programme, Leeds Futures - STEM, is designed to inform and inspire Year 12 students who are thinking about studying a STEM subject at university.
On the programme, you'll develop your knowledge of a range of STEM subjects through online academic taster workshops, delivered by academics at the University of Leeds. You can choose to enrol on the Sciences or the Engineering pathway, or attend sessions from both.
The programme also helps you to build essential study skills and supports you with your university applications, as well as providing insight into life as an undergraduate student and an understanding of the potential career paths available to you.
I would definitely recommend Leeds Futures because it builds confidence, helps the transition to uni, and gives you a real feel of what university is like
Natasha, Leeds Futures - STEM alumni 2023.
What's included in the Futures Programme?
Leeds Futures - STEM runs from March in Year 12, through to December of Year 13. A sample Futures Route Map is available here.
Across the Engineering and Sciences strands, there are eight academic taster workshops and lectures. These take place online in March and April, and are designed to provide valuable insights into a wide range of STEM subjects.
During the Easter holidays, we run a bespoke Futures Campus Day, where you'll visit the University of Leeds, take part in lectures, explore and work in the campus labs, and meet your fellow Futures coursemates.
After the Campus Day, the Progression to University sessions begin, where you'll receive practical guidance on the transition to higher education including writing your personal statement, navigating student finance, and applying for university accommodation.
The online sessions helped me choose what I wanted to study... I knew I wanted to do science, but I didn’t know exactly what. Leeds Futures really helped me decide. Being in the labs gave me a lot of confidence because I learned about the equipment we’d use in first year. It made everything seem less daunting and helped me feel comfortable going into uni.
Natasha, Leeds Futures - STEM alumni 2023
FAQs
When are the sessions?
Online academic workshops take place on Mondays, from 5pm to 6pm. Dates for 2027 will be confirmed in due course.
You will also be invited to a Campus Day in April, and a series of Progression to University workshops between May and December.
Joining details for the online sessions will be sent in March.
Am I eligible to apply?
To apply for Leeds Futures - STEM, you must meet the following criteria:
- In Year 12 / first year of college
- Achieved GCSE English Language at Grade 4 and GCSE Mathematics at Grade 6 (or equivalent qualification)
- Studying at least two STEM A-Levels, including at least one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Maths
- Able to commit to joining the online sessions on the programme
Additionally, priority may be given students who meet at least one of the following criteria:
- You are eligible to Free School Meals
- Your parents or carers did not go to university
- Your home postcode is in an area with low levels of participation in higher education
- You are from a household with a gross annual income of £25,000 or below
- You attended or attend a school which performed below the national average at GCSE (you can check your school's Attainment 8 score by entering your school's name on this website: https://www.find-school-performance-data.service.gov.uk/)
- Your personal circumstances have had a disruptive impact on your education (this could include caring responsibilities/being a young carer, a recent close family bereavement, living independently from your parents/carers, mental or physical health conditions, being from a military service family, refugee or asylum seeker status, or challenging personal, home or school circumstances)
- You are care experienced
Will I get to visit the University?
As part of the Leeds Futures – STEM programme, you are invited to attend a Campus Day in April.
Please note that if the event is oversubscribed, priority will be given to students who meet our contextual admissions criteria.
Will this help with my university applications?
The Leeds Futures - STEM programme will provide you with useful experience and knowledge to write about in your personal statement. You'll gather insights into a range of STEM subjects, and get to know the university admissions process.
What happens if I miss a session?
If you can't attend, please contact [email protected] so that we know not to expect you. We'll send you a recording of the session afterwards.
Where can I find the Code of Conduct?
All participants are required to sign our Code of Conduct prior to Leeds Futures - STEM starting. As a reminder, the Code of Conduct is below:
- I am happy to take part in this programme delivered online via the platforms explained in the communications.
- I will be responsible for my behaviour when participating in sessions and understand that if I behave in an inappropriate manner, I will be removed from the session and any future sessions.
- I will be responsible for the language I use, and only post comments / questions that I would feel comfortable knowing anyone could read.
- I will not deliberately share material that could be considered offensive, harmful, illegal, threatening or bullying. If I come across any such material, I will report it immediately to the STEM Outreach Team.
- I will remove any content that is deemed inappropriate if asked to.
- I will not take photographs or screenshot any of the sessions I take part in, and I understand this is for the safety of myself as the well as that of other participants and staff.
- I will not give out any personal information online, such as my full name, phone number, home or email address.
- I will not reveal my passwords or joining instructions for any of the sessions to anyone.
- I will ensure that I review my privacy settings to control what information I share.
- I will report other users interacting with me inappropriately.
- I will not arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone I meet online unless I have discussed this with my parents and the STEM Outreach Team and am accompanied by trusted adult.
- If I am concerned or upset about anything I see on the internet or any messages that receive, I know I can talk to my parent / carer / key worker and a member of the STEM Outreach Team.
- I understand that the comments / questions I share during online events will be monitored by the University of Leeds.
- I understand that these rules are designed to keep me safe and that if I choose not to follow them, the University of Leeds may contact my parents / carers / key workers and school / college.
CAMPUS ACTIVITIES:
The following requirements will be in place for any visits to the University of Leeds campus:
- You will not be permitted to bring or consume alcohol, cigarettes, illegal or intoxicating substances or bring or use weapons of any nature.
- You are required to attend all timetabled activities within your designated group unless there is a valid reason for non-attendance e.g. illness.
- You are required to follow any evacuation or emergency procedures as directed by Staff.
- You must not leave the site of the event without permission from a member of Staff.
- You are expected to comply with any reasonable instruction from University Staff. You understand that the University treats all forms of abuse, bullying, intimidation, sexist and racist behaviour very seriously.
- You must not engage in any anti-social behaviour or abuse of any kind towards other participants or staff. You / your parents / carers will be held responsible for any intentional damage to University property.
- Where staff have reason to believe that you have engaged in any serious incidents in breach of the above e.g. possession of alcohol, fighting, abuse etc. you will not be allowed to continue the event and arrangements will be made to remove you from site to your home. In that event, your parents / carers will be responsible for collection.
- Upon commencement of the event, staff may require you adhere to additional reasonable rules applying to the specific activities which you are to undertake. To ensure the health and safety, other participants and staff, you are expected to comply with such reasonable rules.