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The Discover UCL Summer School is an exciting opportunity exclusively for deaf and hard of hearing students in Years 11 and 12.
Quick Facts
- The summer school is exclusively for deaf and hard of hearing students.
- The summer school is free to attend.
- The summer school will be delivered in a hybrid way - Day 1 will be online, Days 2 and 3 will take place on the UCL campus.
- There are 15 spaces available for students in Years 11 and 12.
About the programme
The Discover UCL Summer School is an exciting opportunity exclusively for deaf and hard of hearing students in Years 11-12 to find out more about university.
Applications are now open and the application form can be accessed via the button below. The deadline to apply is 10am on Tuesday 10 June 2025.
The summer school will consist of sessions focusing on applying to, preparing for and thriving at university. Topics covered will include how to choose a degree, navigating the UCAS process and funding university study. During the programme you’ll have the opportunity to tour the UCL campus, engage with current students and get help to identify the support available for deaf and hard of hearing students.
Most importantly, the entire summer school is specifically designed with the perspective of deaf and hard of hearing students in mind, so if you have any questions or concerns about your future as a university student, then Discover UCL is for you.
UCL will provide specialised communication support including BSL interpreters and live captioning for the duration of the summer school. Due to the high level of support provided, only fifteen places are available.
The programme is delivered in collaboration with Manjula Patrick, Associate Professor and inclusive education lead at the UCL Arena Centre, and the UCL Deafness Cognition and Language Research Centre (DCAL).
Discover UCL 2025 programme dates
The summer school will take place between Tuesday 22 – Thursday 24 July 2025. Day 1 of the programme will be online, while Days 2 and 3 will take place in person on the UCL campus in central London. If awarded a place on the programme, you will be provided with a full timetable nearer the time.
Applications will close at 10am on Tuesday 10 June 2025.
- Who can take part?
The Discover UCL Summer School is open to deaf and hard of hearing students currently studying at a UK state school or college who are:
- EITHER currently in Year 11 and likely to achieve at least five GCSEs at grades 9-5; OR
- Currently in Year 12, have achieved at least five GCSEs at grades 9-5 and are likely to achieve a minimum of BBB at A level or at least 34 points at IB. This includes the equivalent grades in other UK qualifications including the Scottish Advanced Highers and Welsh Baccalaureate.
In the application form you will be asked to provide the contact details of a teacher at your school or college who we can contact to verify that you meet the eligibility criteria for the programme. Please make sure you have spoken to your teacher about this before applying. For full details of our targeting criteria please see our Who we work with page.
- FAQs
When is the deadline to apply?
Applications will close at 10am on Tuesday 10 June 2025. Any applications received after this time will not be seen.
I don't live in London, can UCL help with travel costs?
If you are awarded a place on Discover but the cost of travel would be a barrier to you attending, and you meet the criteria of our travel support fund, we will fund or part fund your travel to and from the UCL campus so that you can take part in the programme. The travel support fund will remain active whilst funds are available. To be eligible for travel support, you must be attending a state school, live outside of a London Borough and meet one or more of the criteria listed in our participant travel policy.
Is there a dress code?
There is no dress code but as you will be going outside at several points during each event, for example during the campus tour, you are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing that is appropriate for the weather on the day.
Do I have to attend with a parent or carer?
Parents, carers or other family members are more than welcome to drop you off at UCL, but they will not be allowed to stay during the programme.
- Highlights from Discover 2024
- 100% of participants said they enjoyed taking part in the programme and that their communication needs were met throughout
- 80% of participants said they felt very confident in their ability to attend university as a deaf or hard of hearing student after taking part in Discover, compared to only 40% before
- 100% of participants said they felt confident in accessing support services at university after taking part in the programme, compared with only 40% before
“I enjoyed the sessions on choosing my course and applying to uni, as it has helped me clear up some things I was previously unsure of, and clarified things which I have not been taught at sixth form.
“My favourite parts were the campus tour as everything we were shown was very interesting and informative and I had fun coming up with my own idea for a society.
“I really enjoyed speaking to deaf people who are in the world of work as I was able to gain an insight into how my future may look like.