The Women in Computer Science programme is a sustained programme running over 5 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 discussion groups, led by members of Women@CL, focusing on different topics in Computer Science and their experience of studying them.
- Be assigned a mentor from Women@CL, who is there for you if you have any questions about any aspect of 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 in at Corpus Christi 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.
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
This is no direct application process, instead you are nominated by teachers at your school. A maximum of 2 students can be nominated from each school. Nominations are open until Friday 19th January 2024.
Once nominations have closed, we will be in touch to let students and their teachers know whether they have received a place on the programme. Along with this, we will send along information about the welcome session, which will introduce students to the programme.
Contact us
If you have any questions about this programme, please contact outreach-admin@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
