Bridge the Gap
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Use the buttons below to find the information you need about Bridge the Gap.
Eligibility
For definitions of any of the criteria listed below, or to look up eligibility for criteria based on where you live or study, visit our elibility criteria and checker.
- Attend a state funded school or college currently involved in the programme or living in or studying at a state funded school or college in Barking and Dagenham, Hackney, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets or Waltham Forest.
- Be in year 12
- You should be academically able (i.e., you should have achieved achieved a minimum of 777666 GCSE grades, including Biology, Chemistry, English Language or English Literature and Mathematics. The Science Double Award may substitute all sciences at GCSE.)
- You should be studying two sciences at A Level:
- First A Level - Chemistry or Biology
- Second A Level – A further science subject from (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, or Maths)
- Third A Level - Any A level subject with the exception of Critical Thinking and General Studies. Further Maths is not accepted if Maths is taken as your second A level.
- If A level Maths and Further Maths are offered in the same sitting, Further Maths will not be counted towards the minimum A Level requirement.
- General studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted subjects.
- Have Home fee status, or expect to have Home fee status when applying to higher education.
You must meet:
- One priority criterion, or
- Two standard criteria
See our Eligibility Criteria page for full details of the widening participation criteria we use.
If the programme is oversubscribed:
Eligible applicants will be prioritised based on the criteria met.
Overview and Schedule
An overview of the programme is provided below, any dates or activites listed are subject to change.
We recognise the importance of introducing careers and university options to students at a young age, so we have some opportunities for your students that may have yet to consider medicine, dentistry and the alternatives but have the potential to progress to careers in these fields.
We are in the process of developing some in-school sessions for year 9 – 11 students that can be delivered in your school.
On some of our conference style campus visits there are opportunities to find out more about medicine/dentistry, visit here for more information. Note details are not yet confirmed for these visits but we hope to publish these soon.
Through a programme of activities in year 12 and 13, we aim to help students interested in medicine or dentistry become more prepared for and successful in, higher education.
- Year 12: The focus of the programme is to prepare students for the medicine or dentistry application process, the programme will build on their existing experiences and knowledge to improve their understanding of medicine and dentistry to ensure that students prepare the strongest application that they can.
- Year 13: The programme will continue to support students on their application journey whether they are intending to apply for medicine, dentistry or an alternative course.
Please note, this programme specifically aims to work with students from specific non-selective/non-fee paying schools/boroughs, and priority will be given to those students in targeted areas. Before applying, please ensure you read the eligibility criteria and that you understand the expectations of the programme. If you have any questions, please email us.
Year 12 Events for 2026-27
These are the approximate dates that we are hoping to run the events, subject to confirming room availability for the in-person events.
- Launch (End of January TBC)
- Taster Event 1 (Half Term – in-person, 1:00 – 4:00 pm on Wednesday 18 February, TBC)
- Taster Event 2 (Online, 5:00 – 6:30 pm March, date TBC)
- Taster Event 3 (In-person, 4:30 – 6:30 pm April, date TBC but after the Easter holidays)
- Taster Event 4 (Online, 5:00 – 6:30 pm on June, date TBC)
- Taster Event 5 (In-person, July, date TBC)
How to apply
- Ensure you have checked that you meet the eligibility criteria outlined above
- Ensure that you have included your parent or carer, and your designated teacher or school contact, email addresses. We ask for a teacher or staff contact so we can verify that students' details are correct, including eligibility criteria and grades. We ask for parent/carer information so that we can inform parents and carers that their young person will take part in the programme and to gain their consent for students to participate.
- Submit your application, using the online form found here.
Applications close on Friday 13th November 2026 at 23:55.
Additional Information
Students who participate in the Bridge the Gap programme are expected to attend the events throughout the programme.
As part of the programme in year 12 students will be required to complete a 600 word reflective assignment on their experiences of the programme. You would also be expected to attend at least four of the five events in year 12 and meet the year 13 attendance requirements.
Active participation is a key expectation, and students are required to approach all sessions with commitment, punctuality, and a willingness to contribute. Participants must also abide by the programme’s Code of Conduct, which you will receive upon acceptance, to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all. Please note that places are limited, and continued participation depends on meeting the attendance and engagement requirements. Students who fail to do so may not be able to continue with the programme or access the benefits attached to successful completion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my application be considered if I do not study or live in one of the target boroughs?
No, I am afraid this programme is only for students who live or study in one of the target boroughs. We will be running a Medicine and Dentistry strand for the Spring QM Futures programme that welcomes applications from students with up to a 90-minute commute to Queen Mary. There are no targeted boroughs for this programme.
Do Bridge the Gap sessions take place online or in-person?
There will be a mixture of in-person and online activities throughout the programme.
What sessions take place at the events?
There will be a mixture of sessions throughout the programme that could include interactive workshops, taster lectures, Q&As, and more. The details of the events will be confirmed with selected students nearer to the event dates.
Are any of the Bridge the Gap sessions recorded for online viewing?
The online events will be recorded but the in-person events will not be recorded.
Can I claim travel expenses for the programme?
Yes!
Students who take part in the programme can claim travel expenses to cover the cost of their return journey to Queen Mary’s campuses for each day they attend.
Most students will be able to claim travelling expenses after each event. However, students who are currently, or have previously lived in local authority care, or are permanently estranged from both parents, are eligible to claim their anticipated travelling expenses in advance.
More information about how to claim travel expenses will be communicated to programme participants in a timely way. However, any questions related to claiming travelling expenses can be emailed to: outreach-programmes@qmul.ac.uk.
Note: Receipts (including screenshots) for relevant journeys must be submitted alongside travel expense claims in order for them to be considered. To facilitate this, it is advisable that students who plan to travel on Transport for London (TfL) services have set-up an online account, where they will be able to access up to 8 weeks of their linked Oyster card journeys (and up to a year of their linked contactless bank card journeys).
Will I be guaranteed a contextual offer if I take part in the programme?
Yes, for medicine or dentistry at Queen Mary, upon successful completion of the programme which includes meeting the year 12 and year 13 attendance requirements and completing the reflective assignment in year 12. You would also need to meet the minimum entry requirements for medicine or dentistry. The details of these requirements will be communicated to selected students at the launch of the programme.
How can I get in touch with any other questions?
If you would like to discuss anything further with a member of the Bridge the Gap team, please email: outreach-programmes@qmul.ac.uk