Description

Smart Start is our award-winning skills development programme for Year 12, or equivalent students. All participants must meet our eligibility criteria. The programme has been developed in partnership with charity Causeway Education.

There are two ways students can take part:
Smart Start Week – An in-person programme at our London office.
Smart Applications – A virtual programme made up of 8 live webinars.

Students who take part in Smart Start Week will be invited to apply for Smarter Futures. This is a two-year support programme which consists of opportunities throughout Year 13 and into university (for those students choosing this route). More details are in the table below. To join Smart Start Week or Smart Applications, students must attend one of our Smart Choices information sessions.

Prospective Smart Start Week and Smart Applications applicants must first register for, and attend, an in-person or virtual Smart Choices session in March 2024. There, they will learn about the two programmes and how to apply – further details can be found on this page. Applications are now open, please register to attend a Smart Choices event.

Eligibility:
We have two sets of criteria for our Smart Start programme. Applicants must:
be in Year 12 and have always attended a state-funded or non-fee paying school; and
be a UK national or EU national with settled status in the UK by the time they apply for university
Applicants must also meet at least one of the following additional criteria. Students who meet more than one additional criteria are more likely to receive a place on either programme.
come from a household where no parent or guardian has attended university.
receive, or have previously received free school meals, Pupil Premium, Education Maintenance Allowance or a 16 to 19 Bursary Fund.
be or have been in local authority care
be or have been a full-time or part-time young carer
come to the UK as a refugee or asylum seeker
come from a household where a parent or carer has served in the regular armed forces” before the point about school or college
be attending a school or college with:
– below average A-Level or Scottish Highers points score, and/or
– a low rate of progression to higher education