STEM Futures
STEM Futures is a national outreach programme designed for individual learners in Year 12 / Year 1. It provides students with the opportunity to learn more about a subject area they are interested in pursuing at university, whilst developing their study skills and careers awareness.
Students enrolling on the programme will attend a variety of STEM-related activities alongside receiving advice and guidance on practical matters such as UCAS applications, accommodation choices and student finance.
Sessions will run online after school/ college with at least one opportunity to visit our campus for a taster day.
What is included in the STEM futures programme?
STEM futures will cover a range of subject areas, giving you insight into the fields of Biology, Chemistry, and Chemical and Process Engineering. As well as the subject taster sessions you will have access to personal statement and application support, and opportunities to meet, both online and face to face, current students studying STEM courses.
Learn how scientists work together to unpick complex problems. Understand how collaboration across STEM subjects leads to creative solutions, in areas such as disease diagnosis, and the development and delivery of treatment.
The Futures programme will run from Spring in Year 12 to Autumn in Year 13.
Year 12
Spring Term
Tuesday 21 February, 4:30 – 5:30pm: Launch Session – programme overview, introduction to STEM at Leeds and student panel; overcoming barriers and challenges in STEM
Tuesday 28th February, 5:00 – 6:00pm: Discovery in the Biomedical Sciences
In this workshop, you will be taken through an interactive case study about a patient and see how Biomedical Science underpins each stage of their journey. How is a diagnosis made? How do we discover the mechanisms underlying a disease? Can any of those mechanisms be targeted by medicines?
Tuesday 14th March, 5:00 – 6:00pm: Development in the Chemical Sciences
We will look at the role of a chemist in the discovery and development of pharmaceuticals and learn how these skills apply to other areas of chemistry and materials science.
Tuesday 21st March, 5:00 – 6:00pm: Engineering Better Medicines
In this session we explore how scientists and engineers work together, with a focus on the synthesis of pharmaceuticals using the continuous flow method and considerations for drug delivery. We’ll also explore routes into engineering.
Tuesday 18th April: On-Campus Taster Day, 9.30-15.00
Summer Term
For the sessions below, participants choose one of the two dates for each session.
20th or 22nd June, 4:30 – 5:30pm: Choosing a Course and University:
Explores the tools and methods available for prospective students to make informed decisions about their university and course options.
The session will include a Q&A.
27th or 29th June, 4.30 – 5.30pm: Student Finance:
An introduction to student finance including fees, loans and scholarships. The session will also cover tips on how to budget and what costs to expect at university.
The session will include a Q&A.
Year 13
Autumn Term
September: Personal Statements and Meet the Admissions Team Online Session
October: Study/Revision Skills Online Session
November: Access to Leeds Online Session
December: STEM Futures Graduation
Eligibility Criteria
We are committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to students from all backgrounds, recognising that some groups are under-represented on university courses and in certain areas of STEM.
Students applying to STEM Futures must meet the following criteria:
- Year 12 / first year college student.
- GCSE English Language at grade 4 and Mathematics at grade 6 or equivalent qualification
- Studying at least two STEM A-Levels, including Biology, Chemistry or Maths
- Able to commit to joining the online sessions on the programme.
If our Futures programme is over subscribed, priority will be given to students who meet one or more of the following criteria:
- your parents / carers did not go to university
- you are eligible for free school meals or from a household with an annual income of £25,000 or below
- you live in an area with low progression to higher education (use our online postcode checker)
- you attend a school achieving below the national average at GCSE (Attainment 8 score)
- you live or grew up in public care
- your studies have been disrupted by circumstances in your personal, social or domestic life. (Except in extreme circumstances, disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic will not be considered)
- you are from an ethnic group under-represented in STEM education