Award-winning summer school open for applications
ARU’s residential programme is aiming to break down barriers to higher education
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is offering summer school places for people who face barriers in accessing university, as part of its mission to help widen participation in higher education.
ARU’s multi award-winning annual residential summer school, which has run since 2022, gives students who are statistically the least likely to progress to higher education the chance to experience what university is really like.
Through programmes in Medicine, Business, Law and Performing Arts, participants take part in hands‑on academic sessions, explore student life, and gain support from dedicated staff and student mentors. The aim is to help young people build confidence, belonging and a clearer understanding of their future options.
The new Performing Arts pathway launching this year is open to actors, singers and dancers, as well as those interested in technical theatre and backstage, offering insight into creative and performance‑based course options within higher education.
ARU’s summer school was recently shortlisted for the NEON Widening Access Initiative (Outreach) Award. It offers participants an opportunity to spend a week living in university accommodation, allowing social time to explore the campus and the surroundings with fellow students.
The scheme is aimed at people from a widening participation background, which incorporates several criteria, including being from areas of low university participation, being in receipt of free school meals, being potentially the first in their family to progress to higher education, having a parent in the Armed Forces, or have experience of living in care.
The summer school, which has previously won the Bronze Heist Award for Best Widening Participation Initiative and Best Values-Led Content at the Higher Education Professional Marketing Awards, runs in Cambridge from 28 June until 2 July, and in Chelmsford from 5-9 July.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, but anyone interested is encouraged to apply as soon as possible. To read more about the summer school or apply, visit https://www.aru.ac.uk/schools-and-colleges/amplify-your-summer