Queen Mary Futures

Important

Please note that:

• For your application to be competitive, you should currently be studying subjects and qualifications that would make you eligible for study of your preferred subject at Queen Mary. A summary of subject strand eligibility can be found, below.

Queen Mary Futures - Summary of Subject Strand Criteria [PDF 89KB]

• Certain subject strands may close early where there is particularly high demand, so you are encouraged to apply earlier to avoid disappointment.

Subject strands that students will be able to apply for so far include:  

Science and Engineering Subject Strands

1. Biological and Behavioural Sciences
2. Physical and Chemical Sciences
3. Engineering and Materials Science
4. Maths, Electronic Engineering & Computer Science
   

Medicine and Dentistry Subject Strand

1. Medicine and Dentistry

Humanities and Social Sciences Subject Strands

1. English, Drama, Languages & Film
2. History, Politics and International Relations (NEW)
3. Business, Finance and the Social Sciences (NEW - to include elements of Business and Management, Geography, Environmental Science and Global Development)
4. Law

Students will receive: 

• Expert insight in to several subject areas that align with your preferred Higher Education pathway

• Opportunities to develop key academic skills that are associated with success at university

• Enhanced careers information, advice and guidance, including contributions from Queen Mary Alumni

• Certification to recognise your successful completion of the Queen Mary Futures programme

For your application to be competitive, you should meet the following academic criteria:

• Attend a non-selective state school in the UK
• Have achieved at least AAABBB or 777666 from six GCSE subjects, including at least B/6 in English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology (or Human Biology)
• If taking 3 A levels, should be studying Chemistry or Biology and one other science subject (including Maths). Please note that some equivalent qualifications are accepted, however BTEC qualifications are not. More details can be found here.
• Should not be re-sitting a post-16 study year

In addition to the above, you must meet at least one of the following additional criteria:

• Are disabled and in receipt of, or entitled to, personal independence payments or disability living allowance †
• Has lived in local authority care for a period of at least 13 weeks †
• Are in receipt of, or entitled to, free school meals/16-19 bursary/pupil premium funding †
• Attend one of Queen Mary's sponsored academy schools †*
• Are estranged from your family, living independently or living with friends †
• Are a refugee or asylum seeker †
• Are from Gypsy, Roma, or Traveler backgrounds †
• Live in an area of high deprivation or with high levels of socio-economic disadvantage ** 
• Neither parent has attended higher education in the UK or abroad

† These criteria will be weighted highest when applications are assessed for eligibility

*Queen Mary's sponsored academy schools are Royal Greenwich Trust School, St Paul's Way Trust School and Drapers' Academy. Please note that places per school may be capped.

**Qualifying neighbourhoods are defined as:

1. Home postcodes in IMD deciles 1, 2, 3 and 4. You can check your IMD decile here. 
2. Home postcodes in Acorn groups L, M, N, O, P or Q. We will check your Acorn categorisation when we assess your application. More information about Acorn can be found here.

If you're unsure of your neighbourhood status, we encourage you to submit an application so that we can check on your behalf.

For your application to be competitive, you must meet the specific eligibility criteria for your chosen subject strand.

You must also:

• Attend a non-selective state school in the UK
• Have achieved a minimum of 5 A*-B or 5-9 GCSE grades, with at least a 5 in English and Maths

In addition to the above, you must meet at least one of the following additional criteria:

• Are disabled and in receipt of, or entitled to, personal independence payments or disability living allowance †
• Has lived in local authority care for a period of at least 13 weeks †
• Are in receipt of, or entitled to, free school meals/16-19 bursary/pupil premium funding †
• Attend one of Queen Mary's sponsored academy schools †*
• Are estranged from your family, living independently or living with friends †
• Are a refugee or asylum seeker †
• Are from Gypsy, Roma, or Traveler backgrounds †
• Live in an area of high deprivation or with high levels of socio-economic disadvantage ** 
• Neither parent has attended higher education in the UK or abroad

† These criteria will be weighted highest when applications are assessed for eligibility

*Queen Mary's sponsored academy schools are Royal Greenwich Trust School, St Paul's Way Trust School and Drapers' Academy. Please note that places per school may be capped.

**Qualifying neighbourhoods are defined as:

1. Home postcodes in IMD deciles 1, 2, 3 and 4. You can check your IMD decile here. 
2. Home postcodes in Acorn groups L, M, N, O, P or Q. We will check your Acorn categorisation when we assess your application. More information about Acorn can be found here.

If you're unsure of your neighbourhood status, we encourage you to submit an application so that we can check on your behalf.

Applications for the Queen Mary Futures are open!

To apply for the programme, please carefully complete the below application form.

Queen Mary Futures Application Form - Autumn 2023/24

If you have submitted an application, please also remember that a teacher declaration is required to verify the information you have included with your application. This should be submitted before the programme begins in November.

More information about how to submit a teacher declaration found can be found here.

Students who participate in the Queen Mary Futures programme are expected to attend for the duration of the 4-week programme in November 2023, and to complete the online careers module.

Attendance at a celebration event in Summer 2024 is strongly encouraged, but optional. 

Do Queen Mary Futures sessions take place online or in-person?

Scheduled programme sessions will run in-person at Queen Mary's Whitechapel (Medicine and Dentistry only) and Mile End campuses (all other subjects), unless otherwise stated.

If accepted, when will I receive my timetable of activities?

The programme timetable is usually sent to successful applicants the week before the programme is due to start.

Are any Queen Mary Futures sessions recorded for online viewing?

Certain sessions will be video recorded using Queen Mary's in-built classroom recording technology, meaning students can watch certain sessions on-demand and can also watch sessions related to subject strands other than their own. 

Recordings typically focus on a presenter at the front of a classroom; however, it is possible that images of students may also be captured from time-to-time. Recordings are only shared with Queen Mary Futures students and relevant members of Queen Mary staff, and will only be shared more widely with the permission of those featured in relevant recordings.

When you submit your application, you will be asked to confirm that you understand and are happy to proceed on the basis of the recording arrangements described above. However, if you would like to discuss this further with a member of the team, please email: outreach-programmes@qmul.ac.uk

Can I claim support with the costs of travelling to and from the Queen Mary Futures programme?

Students who are in receipt of (or entitled to) free school meals, a 16-19 bursary and/or pupil premium funding can claim financial support for the full amount of their costs of travelling to and from the Queen Mary Futures programme.

However, it is important to be aware that:

• Any financial support would be provided following the conclusion of the programme as reimbursement, and as such, students seeking this support would be expected to cover their own up-front travelling costs.
• Students may only claim reimbursement for standard class travel on public transport (bus, rail, metro, tube), and we are unable to reimburse guest tickets.
• Receipts (including screenshots of journeys that are recorded online) must be submitted alongside travel expense claims in order for them to be considered. 

More information about how to claim travel expenses will be communicated to eligible programme participants ahead of the start of the Autumn programme, in November. However, any questions related to claiming travelling expenses can be emailed to: outreach-programmes@qmul.ac.uk.

Can my parent/carer wait for me on campus until my Queen Mary Futures sessions finish?

Parents/carers are welcome to wait for Queen Mary Futures participants by remaining in outdoor sections of Queen Mary's campuses (some outdoor seating is available), or in any of Queen Mary's retail outlets (e.g. Ground Café at the Mile End campus) if they are open. However, it isn't possible for parents/carers to wait for participants within their scheduled sessions, in any of Queen Mary's buildings that are designated for teaching, or in any other Queen Mary building that is not typically open to the general public. 

How can I get in touch with any other questions?

If you would like to discuss anything further with a member of the Queen Mary Futures team, please email: outreach-programmes@qmul.ac.uk