The University of Cambridge is offering adults considering returning to education the chance to attend an arts and social sciences summer school giving them a taste of university life.

The four-day 'Going Further' summer school for mature students has been specifically designed to offer adults over 21 with no previous experience of higher education the chance to see what university is really like. It will take place from Thursday, 7 July to Sunday, 10 July.

The 30 participants will enjoy introductory-level lectures by University of Cambridge academics on a range of arts and social sciences subjects including Archaeology, English, History and Law. There will also be sessions on study skills and the opportunity to meet and socialise with current mature students and University of Cambridge admissions staff.

"Going Further provides a unique opportunity to experience student life," said co-ordinator Sue Long, a recent graduate from one of Cambridge's four mature student Colleges, now working for the Cambridge Admissions Office. "You don't need any prior knowledge to apply; you just need to be over 21 and thinking about returning to education."

Participants will stay in one of the four mature student Cambridge Colleges. All their costs, including return travel to Cambridge and food, will be covered by the University of Cambridge and the Sutton Trust education charity.

Places are open to anyone aged 21 or over who has not previously embarked on degree-level study and is considering applying to university or returning to education to do an Access to Higher Education course, A-levels or the equivalent. However, Going Further may not be suitable for students planning to follow some vocational courses.

To obtain an application form for the Going Further summer school contact the Cambridge Admissions Office on 01223 333308 or access@cao.cam.ac.uk. The closing date for applications is 20 May.

Cambridge is keen to encourage applications from adult learners and will be offering bursaries of up to £5,000 a year to mature students starting their degrees in 2006.

All 29 undergraduate Cambridge Colleges accept applications from mature students, and the four mature student Colleges - Hughes Hall, Lucy Cavendish College, St Edmund's College and Wolfson College - only admit undergraduates aged 21 or over at the start of their course.

The Cambridge Admissions Office (CAO) and the four mature student Colleges run an extensive programme of events encouraging adult learners to apply to university, and to Cambridge in particular.


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