The Women in Computer Science programme is a sustained programme running over six months that gives female and non-binary students in Year 12 (S5 in Scotland/Year 13 in Northern Ireland) an insight into what studying Computer Science at university is like. It doesn’t require any previous experience studying Computer Science and would also be well suited to those with an interest in Mathematics. It is run by the University of Cambridge Department of Computer Science and Technology in partnership with our Women@CL network, which supports women and non-binary people in this Department.
During this programme you will:
- Take part in the Women in Computer Science Seminar series. This is a series of weekly seminars, taking place on four Tuesday evenings (5-6pm) in February - March 2025. These sessions are led by members of Women@CL and focus on different topics in Computer Science and their experience of studying them.
- Note: These sessions are also open to students who are not taking part in the rest of the programme.
- Be assigned a mentor, who is a current student at the Department and is there for you if you have any questions about studying Computer Science at university.
- Conduct your own research project with the help of your mentor. This project can be in any area of Computer Science that you’re interested in, and is a great opportunity to discover an area that you find fascinating!
- Celebrate the completion of your project by attending a one night residential at Robinson College in Cambridge!
This programme is completely free, however we don’t provide travel to and from Cambridge. If you feel that travel expenses may prevent you from attending the residential, please get in touch as there is some financial support available.
If you'd like to learn more about what the experience was like for students in last year's programme, please see this article.
Eligibility
The eligibility criteria are as follows:
- You identify as a women or as non-binary
- You attend a school that does not charge fees
- You are in Year 12 (England/Wales) / S5 (Scotland) / Y13 (Northern Ireland)
- You must be studying for any of the following:
- A Level Mathematics
- International Baccalaureate Higher Level Mathematics 'Analysis and Approaches'
- Scottish Higher in Maths with the intention to study Advanced Highers in Maths
- An equivalent qualification
- You meet one or more of our widening-participation criteria (see below)
Application
If you’d like to be considered for a place on the full programme (described above), you can apply here. You must name a teacher at your current school to act as your reference. The deadline for applications is the end of Sunday 26 January 2025.
Places will be allocated to students who demonstrate active engagement in Women in Computer Science seminar series by attending and participating in discussions.
If you’d like to take part in the seminars, but are not eligible or would prefer not to be considered for the full programme. You can sign up to attend the seminars on this page.
Contact us
If you have any questions about this programme, please contact outreach-coordinator@cst.cam.ac.uk.
Widening-participation criteria
The aim of widening-participation (WP) is to make sure that students from under-represented groups are supported in accessing higher education. For this programme you will meet the WP requirement if you satisfy any of the following criteria:
- Are care experienced
- Have been eligible for Free School Meals (at any point in the last six years)
- Are, or have been, an asylum seeker or refugee
- Have significant caring responsibilities
- Are estranged from close family members
- Would be in the first generation in your immediate family to go to university
- Live in an area of low progression to higher education (POLAR4)
- Live in an area of high deprivation (IMD)
- Attend a low-performing sixth form
- Attend/attended a low-performing GCSE school
- Are from an under-represented ethnic group, these include:
- Black African and Black Caribbean
- Pakistani and Bangladeshi
- Gypsy, Roma and Traveller
- Are from any background or region of the UK which is under-represented at the University of Cambridge
- Have had any other personal circumstances that have disrupted your education
