Brookes Engage 2024/25

Coming soon...

A national outreach programme for students in Year 12 or the first year of college.

What is Brookes Engage?

A free subject based programme designed to support you in making decisions about your next steps after school or college through the following activities.

On campus ‘Conference Days’

Visit the campus to take part in an exciting range of activities and make use of our state of the art facilities. You’ll get to engage in your choice of subject sessions as well as benefiting from information, advice and guidance related to university applications and beyond.

Online content

You can choose what content to complete and complete it in your own time so that you can tailor your experience to what you are interested in or need more support with.

Mentoring from current Brookes students

Mentors will help you navigate the challenges of applying to university and will tell you all about student life and what it is like to be a student at Brookes. Your mentor is also able to support you with subject related questions, and will be at your Conference Days at Brookes. 

What’s in it for me?

“I loved the experience and it definitely helped me with stepping into uni life. I did actually get accepted into my firm choice of uni, I can’t stop smiling!”

Brookes Engage graduates, 2020

When does the programme start?

Brookes Engage students

Part 1 - Exploring your Options

The programme will start in December of year 12 with conference days taking place throughout November- March. Two of these will be on campus and one online and travel will be provided at no cost to you via a travel bursary. (Exact session dates are yet to be confirmed)

Part 2 - Transition to University

Once you return for Year 13, the programme will begin again in September with a range of support available for your UCAS application. In October you can visit campus again, with a special invite to the university Open Day. Any travel to campus, including the Open Day, will be provided at no cost to you via a travel bursary. 

What can I study?

Subject streams for Brookes Engage 2024/25 have yet to be confirmed. Please check back soon to find more information about the programme.

Below are the subject streams for last years programme which will give you an idea about the range of subjects you can explore during Brookes Engage.

Who can take part?

To be eligible to apply for Brookes Engage, you must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Be in the first year of a two-year Level 3 qualification (e.g. A Levels, BTEC, or equivalent)
  • Be studying at a non-selective state school or college in England
  • Have 5 GCSEs A*-C/ 4-9, including English and Maths (or expect to have 5 GCSEs including English and Maths by July 2024)
  • Live in England
  • Be aged 17 at the time of starting the programme

To be eligible to apply for Brookes Engage, you also need to meet at least one of the following criteria.

  • Currently eligible for free school meals or 6th form bursary
  • Currently live in local authority care, or have lived in care
  • Are a young carer (are under 18 and help to look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem)
  • Are of black or minority ethnic origin
  • Have official refugee status in the UK, or are an asylum seeker
  • Live in an area where progression to university is low. To find out whether this applies, please visit www.officeforstudents.org.uk/data-and-analysis/postcode-search/. Instructions on how to use: Type your postcode in the search box. Check the box marked ‘MSOA (used to calculate POLAR4 and TUNDRA)’ Look at the box on the right hand side of the map under the ‘POLAR4’ measure. If the number here is Quintile 1 or 2, you are eligible.
  • Live in an area of higher socio-economic disadvantage. To find out whether this applies, please visit http://imd-by-postcode.opendatacommunities.org/imd/2019. Instructions on how to use: Type your postcode into the search box. Download the Excel spreadsheet generated. If the number in the column labelled ‘Index of Multiple Deprivation Decile’ is 1-4, you are eligible.

Applications will also be considered from those who meet any of these other criteria:

  • Have a disability, mental health condition, or specific learning difficulty
  • Are of minority ethnic origin 
  • Have at least one parent/carer who has served in the armed forces at any time within the past six years
  • Are irreconcilably estranged from both birth parents
  • Are from a traveller family

How do i apply?

More information will be available in August and applications will open in September.

“Taking part in Brookes Engage has given me confidence the course I want to pursue is correct for me.”

Brookes Engage graduate, 2019

“Brookes Engage helped me open up to new people and make new friends. It's also boosted my confidence.”

Brookes Engage graduate, 2019

Contact us