Close
Envision UCL is a programme of three in-person events exclusively for students of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage in Year 10, who are interested in learning more about university
Applications for this year's Envision UCL programme are now closed. If you would like to be notified when applications for the next edition open, likely in Spring 2027, register your interest now.
Are you in Year 10 and of Black heritage? Do you want to find out more about your options after secondary school? Are you interested in attending university? Then Envision UCL is for you!
What is Envision UCL?
Envision UCL is an exciting opportunity for Year 10 students of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage who want to explore what university could be like. It's your chance to step onto a world-leading university campus, meet new people, build confidence, and start shaping your future—before you even finish your GCSEs.
Designed to inform, inspire, and empower, across the programme you'll take part in interactive sessions to help you understand how university works, while also supporting you to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to succeed beyond school.
The core Envision programme consists of three in-person events, hosted on Saturdays on UCL's Bloomsbury campus in central London. All events are free to attend and a packed lunch will be provided. There will also be an online information session for parents and carers.
Programme dates & location
| Event | Format | Date & Time |
|---|---|---|
| Launch event | Online | Wednesday 29 April, 5–6:30pm |
| Event 1: Identity | In person | Saturday 9 May, 9:30am–3:30pm |
| Event 2: Making Decisions | In person | Saturday 6 June, 9:30am–3:30pm |
| Parents & carers session | Online | Tuesday 16 June, 6–7:30pm |
| Event 3: Setting Goals | In person | Saturday 4 July, 9:30am–3:30pm |
Location for in-person days: UCL Bloomsbury Campus (Central London)
Please note: we expect successful applicants to attend all three in-person events, so please only apply if you are confident that you can complete all elements of the programme.
Why attend?
By taking part in Envision you will:
- Experience what university learning and life are really like
- Take part in interactive workshops and group activities
- Build confidence in speaking up, working in groups and sharing ideas
- Gain practical skills and knowledge to help you plan your future
- Meet inspiring UCL students of Black heritage and gain authentic insights into university life
- Start seeing yourself as someone who belongs at university
- Visit the campus and find out more about UCL
And it is FREE to attend!
- Who can take part?
To be eligible for Envision, you must be:
- From a Black African, Black Caribbean, Mixed Black (e.g. White and Black Caribbean), or other Black background;
- Currently in Year 10 in England and Wales, S3 in Scotland and Y11 in Northern Ireland;
- Attending a UK state school.
Participants for this programme will be selected using the shortlisting criteria found on the Who we work with webpage to prioritise young people from the least represented groups. You will be awarded points based on the number of criteria that you meet. Applicants with the highest numbers of points will be offered the places available on the programme.
As they are underrepresented across our activities, priority will also be given to males and those from a Black Caribbean background.
- FAQs
When is the deadline to apply?
The deadline to apply for Envision UCL is 10am on Monday, 13 April 2026. 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 Envision 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.
What happens at an Envision UCL event?
Envision events typically run from 10am until 3pm and feature a mixture of icebreaker tasks, group activities, Q&A sessions and presentations. Each event will have a 45-minute lunch break and couple of other short breaks. The events will take place in different locations throughout the UCL Bloomsbury campus in central London. Attendees at each event will be placed into groups with around 5-7 other young people and there are typically around 70 attendees in total at each event.
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.
If you have any further questions about the Envision programme, please see above for details about the drop-in sessions we will be hosting.
Do I have to attend with a parent or carer?
Parents and carers will be invited and encouraged to attend some elements of the programme, but this is optional and you do not need to be accompanied in order to attend. We will also be running an online event specifically for parents and carers.
I have a disability or additional support needs, how will I be supported on the programme?
We are committed to ensuring that our activities are as accessible as possible and we try our best to meet the needs of our programme participants. In the application form you will be asked to share details of any disability, support needs or adjustments that you would like us to be aware of. Ahead of the programme start, we may get in touch with you to set up a conversation about how best we can accommodate your needs. You can also get in touch with the team ahead of submitting an application if you have any questions about the support we can offer.
I have a question that isn't listed here
If you have any questions about the Envision programme, please get in touch with the team by email on wp.pre16@ucl.ac.uk.
- Highlights from Envision 2025
Last year we had a fantastic cohort of 70 young people take part in the Envision UCL programme and it was a great success. Please see below for some highlights and quotes from past participants:
- 90% of students said they enjoyed taking part and felt it was worth taking part.
- Over 85% reported an increased confidence in themselves and their future after completing the programme.
- 81% of participants said they knew what studying at university would be like after taking part in Envision, compared to only 32% prior to the programme.
- 90% of parents and carers said they felt knowledgeable about the university application process, compared to 49% prior to the programme.
- Two-thirds of the cohort attended all elements of the programme, demonstrating how engaging it was.
"Taking part in Envision helped me believe that I'm capable of more than I thought." (Envision UCL 2025 participant)
"Before Envision, university felt like something that wasn't really for people like me. Now I can actually see myself there." (Envision 2025 participant)
"My favourite part was the campus tour, as it gave me an idea of what going to UCL would be like" (Envision UCL 2025 participant)
"As a parent it was really touching to hear the journeys of the Student Ambassadors. It was inspiring and I know it was something my daughter needed to hear." (Parent/carer of Envision 2025 participant)You can read a case study about a past edition of the Envision programme in the news section of our website.
