Link Area Access Programme
Are you in Year 12, at a school in the King's College Link Area, and considering making an application to a competitive university? This programme will support you.
On this page
Applications for the 2027 programme are now open! Please see below for the eligibility criteria and details of how to apply.
What's involved?
Through a series of online sessions and an in-person stay in Cambridge, this programme will enable you to get your questions answered, clarify a few myths, and make an informed decision about the university to which you might like to apply and the subjects which you want to study. Overall, the programme should build your confidence to help you make a competitive application to a university of your choice, while helping you to form aspirations for the future. While this programme will include some specific details about the Cambridge application process if, after this programme, you decide that Cambridge isn't for you, the programme will still help provide you with the confidence you need to make a competitive application to another university.
The 2027 programme will be as follows:
| Date | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| end of January | Weekly tutoring begins | Ten weeks of tutoring to support participants with their studies |
| 4th March | Introduction to Cambridge (Online) | An session to introduce Cambridge and the collegiate system, and address common myths and misconceptions about the University |
| 11th March | Applying to Cambridge (Online) | An introduction to the Cambridge (and Oxford) admissions process |
| 18th March | Super Curriculars and Personal Statements | Advice on how to engage with super curricular activities, and personal statement tips |
| 30th - 31st March | Overnight stay in Cambridge | An opportunity to visit King’s College and experience college life with an overnight stay, with a range of academic sessions helping you to further develop your academic skills. Current students will be on hand to answer any questions and participants will experience a night in College accommodation. |
Tutoring
As part of this programme, we are able to provide participants with tutoring for ten weeks to support their A Level studies in a subject of their choice. Participants will receive one hour of tutoring per week in small groups.
How much does it cost?
This programme is free to attend, and the in-person stay will include accommodation and meals. Support with travel costs is available to those participants eligible for Free School Meals. Students who are not eligible for Free School Meals but for whom cost would be a barrier to participation are encouraged to get in touch, as some financial assistance may be available on a discretionary basis.
Where will the event take place?
The programme will take place online, ending with an in-person stay at King's College, Cambridge.
Eligibility criteria and selection
To be eligible for this programme, you must be:
- At a state school (non-fee paying) within the King's College Link Area in the North East of England. This includes schools in Darlington, Durham, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton-on-Tees, East Yorkshire, Kingston-upon-Hull, and York. If you are unsure if your school is included, please do get in touch.
- In Year 12
- Be studying for academic qualifications* such as A Levels, or International Baccalaureate (IB)
- Predicted / on track for AAA or higher at A Level (or equivalent at IB)
*Please note that Applied A Levels, Level 3 Diplomas/Certificates (such as Criminology), and BTECs are generally not suitable qualifications for applying to Cambridge and therefore will not be accepted as suitable qualifications for this programme (unless you are also studying three A Levels alongside these). You can find out more about entry requirements for Cambridge here. This programme is not suitable for students considering the Foundation Year.
We hope to offer this programme to as many people as possible; however, in the event of oversubscription, we will prioritise students to whom the following applies, in order of priority (in accordance to the King's College Widening Participation Strategy):
- Care-Experienced Students or Forced Migrants
- Young Carers
- Estranged Students
- Eligible for Free School Meals
- From an Underrepresented Ethnic Group
- Living in IMD quintile 1 or 2
- No parents with background of higher education
How to apply
Applications for this year's programme are now open! You can apply using the application form here. The deadline for applications is 12:00 pm midday on Monday 4th January 2027. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered.
Please note that the application form asks for the details of a teacher who can provide a reference to support your application, so ensure you allow sufficient time for your chosen teacher to also complete the reference form. The deadline for submission of teacher references is 1:00 pm on Thursday 7th January 2027. It is the applicant's responsibility to check that their teacher has received the reference form. Applications without a valid teacher reference will not be considered.
If you are selected, we will then send you confirmation and permission forms to confirm acceptance of your place. Decisions will be communicated following the deadline for teacher references.
