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AWPO works with current UCL postgraduate students as Taster Presenters to create and deliver one-off taster sessions to underrepresented students.
Become an Access and Widening Participation Taster Presenter!
The Access and Widening Participation Office (AWPO) run a Taster Presenter scheme, where current UCL postgraduate students create and deliver one-off taster sessions to students from years 6 to 12 across a range of events online, on campus and at schools.
Applications are now open!
Before applying, please read the AWPO Taster Presenter Job Description 2025-26 and see our AWPO Taster Presenter Application Guidance 2025-26 document for support with what to include in your application.
Applications close at 09:00AM on Monday 1st December 2025.
- What do AWPO Taster Presenters do?
AWPO Taster Presenters are trained and paid to create interactive, accessible and engaging taster sessions based on their current academic research interests, or another area of expert specialism.
The audience for taster sessions are UK state school students, ranging between the ages of 9-17. AWPO Taster Presenters will be booked to deliver sessions during events hosted in schools, online or in-person on the UCL campuses, across different projects throughout AWPO.
Taster presenters will be paid to create two taster sessions – one appropriate for Year 11 - Year 12, and one appropriate and adaptable for Year 6 – Year 10. The topic of the taster sessions should offer clear links to the school curriculum for younger learners and extend older students’ learning beyond their school curriculum. Sessions should also provide clear links to UCL course options and any other relevant areas of academic enquiry on offer at UCL.
- Who can apply to be a Taster Presenter?
UCL postgraduate students who will be studying during 2025-26 and who will be on the UCL campus can apply to be Taster Presenters. This includes PhD students, Master's students and students in final year of a four-year undergraduate Masters course, such as MEng, for example.
Please note that this role isn’t open to UCL alumni, students attending other institutions or inter-collegiate and study abroad students taking modules at UCL.
We are keen to hear from applicants who are considerate to the needs of cohorts who might not traditionally enter higher education and who are interested in furthering their academic experiences.
- How much will I be paid?
This is a paid work opportunity at grade 6, spinal point 22. As of October 2025, this is currently £19.14p/h (with additional holiday pay). This may, however, change if UCL's salary scales do. For the most up to date information see UCL's Salary Scales webpage.
- What is the application process?
To apply for the scheme, complete the application form above.
For support with what to include in your application, see the AWPO Taster Presenter Job Description 2025-26 and our AWPO Taster Presenter Application Guidance 2025-26 document.
Interviews for shortlisted candidates will be on the week commencing Monday 8th December 2025.
Compulsory training for successful candidates will be held sometimed during the week commencing Monday 12th January 2026.
- What does the UCL Access and Widening Participation Office do?
UCL's Access and Widening Participation Office (AWPO) organises events and activities for young people from backgrounds that are underrepresented at university. We work with students from non-selective state schools and lower-income families. We also work with teachers, parents, and other supporters, and with groups of students with additional barriers such as disabled students, care-experienced, estranged students, black students, mature students, and forced migrants.
For more information about our activities, see our Learners and Who we work with webpages.
- How else does the Access and Widening Participation Office work with current UCL students?
See our Work With Us webpage for information on all of the Access and Widening Participation Office's work opportunities for current UCL students.