Sustainable Urban Futures

About the Program

This residential is a fantastic way to learn how studying a whole variety of university degrees could empower you to make a difference to Sustainable Development. This is perfect if you are a high-achieving student, but don’t necessarily know what subject you want to do! 

Architecture, STEM, Design, Humanities and Social Sciences and more all welcome!

This residential will see you come together as part of a team, designing and building a temporary “home” based on informal settlement shelters. You will learn about different cultures and work within budgets, designing and innovating to make the shelter a comfortable, practical space to live and work. The final day you will take part in a mini-conference to show-off your creations, and hear inspiring talks from design, making and sustainable development role models. 

On this residential you will:

• Stay at Churchill College
• Participate in hands-on practical activities at colleges and departments, learn about lots of subjects 
• Attend taster lectures & mini-conference
• Meet current Cambridge students
• Learn about the university application process
• Gain an insight into living and studying in Cambridge

The residential is entirely free of charge, including accommodation, food, and all activities. We are also able to fully fund public transport costs for all participants.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should:

• Be in Year 12 (England, Wales, and Isle of Man); S5 (Scotland); or Year 13 (Northern Ireland) and aged 16 or over by the time of the residential.
• Attend a state-maintained school in the UK or the Isle of Man.
• Have the potential to achieve at least A*AA at A Level or at least 40 points in the IB (with 776 in Higher Level subjects).
• Have achieved a minimum of 5 A or A* grades at GCSE
• Be interested in studying at university.

Applicants should also meet one or more of the following:

• Be eligible for Free School Meals or Pupil Premium (currently or at any point in the last 6 years)
• Identify as a member of an ethnic group under-represented in UK higher education, including but not limited to Black African and Caribbean, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Arab, Chinese or other Asian background, mixed heritage, Gypsy, Roma or Irish Traveller
• Care leaver or Care experienced
• Young Carer
• Asylum Seeker or Refugee
• Long-term health condition or disability
• Meet whole-school eligibility criteria by attending a school on this PDF list. This list only covers the following areas: Cambridgeshire, Surrey, Sussex, Merton, Croydon, Sutton, South Wales. Applicants from across the UK are welcome to apply

We welcome individual or multiple applications from each school. If you are applying with a friend, write their name in the space on the application form. Your friend must also submit their own application and teacher reference independently. If you are the only person from your school, don’t worry, you will make loads of new friends here!

We anticipate that the residential will be oversubscribed and regret that we will not be able to offer a place to every applicant. The outcome of applications for this residential will have no influence on any future application to Churchill College or the University of Cambridge as a whole. We will assess applications based on applicants’ academic ability and potential, alongside factors including any educational disadvantage they have experienced.