Get SET for Oxbridge with Sidney’s two, brand new Residentials.

Sidney's Easter Tasters Logo
 

SET for STEM: 7-9th April 2025

SET for AHSS: 15th-17th April 2025 

 

Sidney's Easter Tasters (SET) are two new, two-night residentials happening this April. You can find the information about the programme, what it covers, the eligibility criteria, and how to apply below. Please read this page carefully and in full before starting your application!

The free Residentials are designed to encourage academically able students to explore their academic areas of interest more profoundly, while also deepening their understanding of Oxbridge through the sessions delivered throughout the Residential, as well as through the first-hand experience of staying in Sidney.

What do the Residentials involve?
  • Academic Sessions - Or "Taster" Sessions: A chance to experience what it might be like to study your subject of interest at University. You'll also have the chance to interact with global experts in your subject in small group environments.

  • Oxbridge Preparedness Sessions - These will cover things like super-curriculars, personal statements and the application process, demystifying how to make an application to a competitive-for-entry institution.

  • Q&As - You will also get the chance to have Q&As with our wonderful Student Ambassadors, giving you a chance to hear more about Sidney, and studying at Cambridge as a whole.

  • College Tours - Exactly what it says on the tin! A chance to see multiple Colleges, to give you a better sense of how they differ.

  • Masterclasses - A lecture-style talk, delivered by an academic, to supplement the academic sessions.

  • Socials and fun Cambridge Activities - Of course, we will be including lots of fun social activities, to make your time here both edifying and enjoyable.

     

How do I pick which one to apply for?

If you are unsure of which Taster to apply for, please see the diagram below for some guidance on how subjects will be split. 

Please note that the subjects below are based on those offered at Cambridge. Also, while we will try to offer tasters across as many subjects as possible, we will not be offering a session for every single individual subject: this is just to give you a sense of which of the two is best suited to your interests.

Picking Your Set
Eligibility to apply

Students must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible to apply for a place on one of Sidney's Easter Tasters

  • You are currently in Year 12 (England and Wales), Year 13 in Northern Ireland or S5 (Scotland)

  • You are studying academic qualifications*, at an institution that does not charge fees (to anyone).

    *academic qualifications are A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or Highers/Advanced Highers.

  • You received a majority of 9-6/A*-B grades at GCSE (or equivalent e.g. A grades in National 5s)

     

We will also be choosing applicants based on the Sidney Sussex and University of Cambridge Widening Participation Criteria, which include the following:

  • Having lived, or currently living, in local authority care
  • Being eligible, or having been eligible within the past six years, for free school meals
  • Being a refugee
  • Having caring responsibilities for a family member
  • Living in neighbourhoods with low overall progression rates to higher education
  • Having no parental history of higher education
  • Having a disability

 

For SET for AHSS, we will also be choosing applicants based on backgrounds typically underrepresented in AHSS fields, including those of BAME heritage.

 

How to Apply

Applications are now open!

Application Link for SET for STEM: https://cambridge.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cYJ6AVbRBWjM5Ke

Application Link for SET for AHSS: https://cambridge.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8vLKV3zPGbfXlie

The application deadline is Friday 7th February

Where can I get more information?

If you have any questions about this, or the programme in general, please contact Layo at slo@sid.cam.ac.uk in the first instance.