Applicants' FAQs

Also see General FAQs and Teachers FAQs.

• How will this scheme help me in the future? Will it work in my favour if I apply to this university to do a degree?
• Can I apply to more than one of the schemes?
• I'm involved in another scheme sponsored by the Sutton Trust. Does this mean I can't apply to the Summer Schools?
• I thought the University of Oxford offered the Sutton Trust Summer School, but I don't see them listed on the application form. Are they still part of the scheme?
• I'm not in year 12 or equivalent. Can I still apply?
• I'm an international student studying at a UK college. Am I eligible for the scheme?
• I go to an independent school. Why can't I apply?
• I don't fulfil all of the eligibility criteria. Is this a problem?
• What does my teacher have to do?
• Will my chances of success be greater the earlier I get my application in?
• I've realised I've made a mistake on my form but I've already submitted it. Can I change it?
• My circumstances have changed since I've submitted my form e.g. I'm no longer on EMA, my parent has a new job. Will this affect my application? Can I change the details?
• I've missed the deadline. Is there any chance I could still get an application in?
• I've selected my educational institution on the application form, but a message has appeared to say that this school is not eligible for the scheme. What do I do?
• I go to a state school or college and want to apply, but my teacher says because of the high performance of my school I'm unlikely to be accepted. What should I do?
• My school is not listed on the application system. What should I do?
• What does 'first generation to attend university mean?
• My qualifications are not listed on the form (e.g. International Baccalaureate), How do I provide this information on the application form?
• When will I hear if I have been successful?
• I've been accepted, but now I can't attend when the school is running. Can I attend a summer school at one of the other universities?
  

How will this scheme help me in the future? Will it work in my favour if I apply to this university to do a degree?

This programme is designed to give you a taste of what university is like, the opportunities that are available, and the assistance on offer to help you make your university applications in Year 13 or equivalent. While there are no guarantees in terms of admissions, between one quarter and one third of summer school students receive offers from the universities where they attended a summer school, and most of the remainder go on to other research-led universities.

Likewise, just because you have not been successful in getting on to a summer school at the university does not mean you won't be accepted for an undergraduate place when making your full UCAS choices.

Can I apply to more than one of the schemes?

In order to give everyone a fair chance, please only apply to one summer school - applications made to more than one summer school may result in the rejection of all applications.

I'm involved in another scheme sponsored by the Sutton Trust. Does this mean I can't apply to the Summer Schools?

If you are involved in another Sutton Trust supported scheme, such as Reach for Excellence or one of the Academic Enrichment Programmes, you can still apply to one of the summer schools in this scheme (Bristol, Cambridge, St Andrews and Nottingham). Please check there are no clashing dates though.

You can, however, only apply to one of the Sutton Trust Summer School schemes (Bristol, Cambridge, St Andrews and Nottingham), applications for which are online via UCAS. Students who make multiple applications to these summer schools may find that all of their applications are rejected.

I thought the University of Oxford offered the Sutton Trust Summer School, but I don't see them listed on the application form. Are they still part of the scheme?

The University of Oxford now runs its own summer school programme and is no longer part of the Sutton Trust scheme. Details of the Oxford summer schools can be found at www.ox.ac.uk/uniq

I'm not in year 12 or equivalent. Can I still apply?

No, the programme is designed to provide maximum support to students studying in Year 12 (or equivalent). The content of the programmes is pitched at this level, and students at lower or higher levels of study will find that the material covered by the summer schools is not appropriate for them.

I'm an international student studying at a UK college. Am I eligible for the scheme?

No, this particular scheme is specifically for students at UK schools and colleges and classed as having home (UK) status. If you entered the UK primarily for educational purposes, you are not eligible for this scheme. Many UK universities offer summer school programmes for prospective international students, and you should contact the International Offices of your preferred universities for details of activities you might be eligible for.

If you are not sure whether you are classed as a home (UK) student, please contact the Sutton Trust Summer School coordination team on 0115 951 6531 or at summer-school@nottingham.ac.uk.

I go to an independent school. Why can't I apply?

Our programme is designed to support those with the potential to excel but who have had little assistance and limited opportunity. The Sutton Trust Summer School scheme is therefore only open to students in Year 12 (or equivalent) from UK state-funded schools and colleges, with priority given to those in schools in challenging contexts. As such, we cannot accept applications from students in private/independent schools, including those who receive scholarships or bursaries.

I don't fulfil all of the eligibility criteria. Is this a problem?

No, but priority will be given to those who meet all or most of the criteria (which can be found here). Please note you can only apply if you are in Year 12 (or equivalent) at a state- funded school or college.

What does my teacher have to do?

You will need a teacher from your school or college to complete the online Teachers' Confirmation Form. They can get all of the details on how to do this on our Information for Teachers page.

Please keep your teacher informed and direct them to the ST website - www.suttontrust.com.

Will my chances of success be greater the earlier I get my application in?

All applications must be submitted by 12th March 2010 (Teachers' Confirmation Forms by 22nd March 2010). No decisions will be made until after this date.

I've realised I've made a mistake on my form but I've already submitted it. Can I change it?

It may be possible to change it. Please contact UCAS's Sutton Trust customer support team on 01242 223714 or at suttontrust@ucas.ac.uk.

My circumstances have changed since I've submitted my form e.g. I'm no longer on EMA, my parent has a new job. Will this affect my application? Can I change the details?

If your details change before the closing date please contact UCAS's Sutton Trust customer support team so that your application form can be amended. After the closing date - but before places have been allocated - please contact the summer school team at the university to which you applied with any significant changes in circumstances:

University of Bristol - 0117 928 8862 or wp-office@bristol.ac.uk
University of Cambridge - 01223 764 025 or www.suttontrust@cao.cam.ac.uk
University of Nottingham - 0115 846 7717 or summer-school@nottingham.ac.uk
University of St Andrews - jf61@st-andrews.ac.uk

I've missed the deadline. Is there any chance I could still get an application in?

The summer schools are extremely popular and heavily over subscribed, and therefore we cannot accept any forms from students after the closing date. Furthermore, it is not possible to submit applications after the deadline has lapsed, as the online application system will have closed.

I've selected my educational institution on the application form, but a message has appeared to say that this school is not eligible for the scheme. What do I do?

Only students from UK state-funded schools and colleges are able to apply for the scheme, and therefore if you are from an independent/ private institution your school will be listed as ineligible.

If your school or college is state-funded and is still listed as ineligible, please contact UCAS's Sutton Trust customer support team on 01242 223714 or at suttontrust@ucas.ac.uk.

I go to a state school or college and want to apply, but my teacher says because of the high performance of my school I'm unlikely to be accepted. What should I do?

All other things being equal, priority will be given to applicants who are in schools and colleges with low rates of progression to higher education and low exam scores. However, if you are in a high performing state school or college, but meet some of the demographic criteria (for example, you are eligible for EMA, your parents did not attend university and you have five or more A/A*s at GCSE) then it might be worth you making an application. Please note that the summer schools are heavily oversubscribed, so there are no guarantees.

My school is not listed on the application system. What should I do?

All state-funded schools and colleges are eligible for the summer schools scheme and should be listed. Please contact UCAS's Sutton Trust customer support team on 01242 223714 or at suttontrust@ucas.ac.uk to get your schools added to the list. Pupils at independent schools are not eligible for the scheme.

What does 'first generation to attend university mean?

You count as first generation to attend university, even if the following have attended university:

• brothers or sisters
• husband, wife or partner
• biological parents, if you have been adopted
• a parent with whom you have had no contact during your secondary and post-16 education (or longer)
• foster parents
• care workers
• uncles, aunts and other members of your extended family.

You do not count as first generation if the following have attended university:

• parents
• step parents, a parent's unmarried partner living in the household and adoptive parents who throughout the three year period prior to the start of your university course have been living in the same household as you.

'Attending university' means completing a university degree course or equivalent e.g. BA, Bsc or higher.

A person is counted as having attended university,

• regardless of whether the study is in the UK or overseas, and at a university, polytechnic or higher education college
• regardless of when the study took place: it could be at any time up until the point of application, and includes study as a mature student
• regardless of how s/he is studying: the study could be by distance learning or e-learning or involve attending lectures and classes.

My qualifications are not listed on the form (e.g. International Baccalaureate), How do I provide this information on the application form?

If you are studying alternative qualifications at post-16, please tick the 'Alternative Qualifications' box on the application form. The teacher who verifies your application will need to provide information about the qualification/s you are studying for in the 'Further Details' section of the Teachers' Confirmation Form.

If you completed qualifications other than GCSEs at pre-16, please indicate the subjects you studied using the drop down boxes on the application form. The teacher who verifies your application will need to clarify the qualification/s you have completed using the 'Further Details' section of the Teachers' Confirmation Form.

When will I hear if I have been successful?

Applicants to the Bristol, Nottingham and St Andrews Sutton Trust Summer Schools will be notified of their application status by 30 April 2010. Applicants to the Sutton Trust Summer Schools at Cambridge will receive their decisions by 28 May 2010.

I've been accepted, but now I can't attend when the school is running. Can I attend a summer school at one of the other universities?

Each host university makes its own decisions on which pupils to accept. If you cannot make one summer school, it is unlikely that there will be a spare place for you on another. However, you may want to contact the relevant summer school coordinator to check:

University of Bristol - 0117 928 8862 or wp-office@bristol.ac.uk
University of Cambridge - 01223 764 025 or www.suttontrust@cao.cam.ac.uk
University of Nottingham - 0115 846 7717 or summer-school@nottingham.ac.uk
University of St Andrews - jf61@st-andrews.ac.uk

Wherever possible, please check the dates before you apply.

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