About the Experience Week
Every February half term, NUSTEM coordinates an “Experience Week” for a limited number of Y12 students from local schools. We deliberately run this week in February as our own university students are on campus and our participants can have a better experience of what life at university is really like.
During a typical Experience Week, participants will:
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- Attend a first year university lecture of undergraduate programmes;
- Interview an academic researcher or postgraduate student;
- Create and showcase a research poster;
- Visit laboratories, specialist facilities and get a guided tour of our campus;
- Experience student life at university.
By the end of the week participants will have developed their ability to interpret academic research, problem solving and collaborative group work.
Y12 students
19 to 23 Feb 2024
How and when to apply to the Experience Week
Application for the Experience Week often open during the autumn and close just before Christmas. Below you can find more details regarding the process.
READ before applying
Here are few tips and things to consider before applying:
- The Experience Week was designed for Y12 students from local schools with a genuine interest in understanding what it’s like to study Physics, Mathematics or Chemistry at University level.
- The Experience Week will take place from the 19th to 23th of February 2024.
- Make sure to provide us with an email address you check on a regular basis, as this is the only way we’ll have to get in touch with you.
- Provide us with the correct email address of your teacher, as this is the only way we’ll have to contact them to ask them to act as your referee.
- It is your responsibility to notify your teacher that you are using them as your referee.
- You can apply for any strands (Physics, Mathematics or Chemistry) of the Experience Week.
- You should write one application for each strand you apply for.
- If are accepted in one strand, you will not be allowed to swap strands, sorry.
- This is a non-residential week. Regrettably we are not able to cover for travel or accommodation costs.
- Application deadline: 15th December 2023.
APPLY here
If you prefer a different application format (for example .pdf or .doc file, large print or braille) please get in touch with Dr. Antonio Portas at antonio.portas@northumbria.ac.uk
How is my application assessed ?
Your application will be assessed against the following assessment matrix
- Applications are ranked according to their scores and offers are made to applicants with the highest scores.
- The number of places per strand depends on several factors (e.g. staff & research projects available, room capacity).
- On average, we offer 14 to 16 places per strand . In case of a tie we will also take into consideration the reference provided by the applicant’s teacher.
- Remaining applicants are kept on a “waiting list,” and will be offered a place in case of any drop-outs.
Any queries regarding the assessment of applications should be sent to Dr. Antonio Portas at antonio.portas@northumbria.ac.uk
What happens NEXT?
- You will get a confirmation from this website acknowledging your application!
- Deadline for applications is 15th of December 2023. We may have mentioned that already.
- We will contact your referee during the week of 18th of December 2023. Please make sure that you notify them.
- We will inform you of the outcome of your application no later than 12th of January 2024.
- Between 12th of January 2024 and 19th of February 2024, successful applications will receive additional information regarding the Experience Week.
If you have any questions regarding your application, please email contact Dr. Antonio Portas on antonio.portas@northumbria.ac.uk
Feedback from participants
“The experience week was an insightful and very much enjoyable experience, which took my interest and passion for physics to another level. I would recommend this week to anyone who is thinking about studying Physics post sixth form because it’s a really fun opportunity to meet like-minded people and know what it’s like to be a uni student. ”
“The whole experience was exciting and new, it gave me a whole new understanding of what research is like and what mathematics is truly like. ”
“This experience week is a very commendable asset to anyone who plans to study mathematics or physics. You really get to know what student life is like.”
Research posters created in previous editions
