Places at Oxford and Cambridge Student Conferences fill up fast

The Conferences, which take place in March and April, are free and each year attract a total of more than 10,000 pupils and teachers.

Held in six different venues, such as football stadiums and racecourses, the events are targeted at Year 12 pupils beginning to research their higher education options. They offer the opportunity to learn more about the courses on offer at Oxford and Cambridge, student life at the two universities, and how to make an application. First held around 10 years ago, the events are now an established part of the calendar for schools and colleges.

The Conferences to be held in Leicester, Manchester and London are already full, but there are places still available at the events based in Edinburgh, Newcastle and Cheltenham.

More than 70 current Cambridge undergraduates have signed up to take part and will talk to pupils informally about life at Cambridge, allaying fears and dispelling myths. Many will be returning to venues close to their home areas and former schools. Some will have attended the events themselves just two or three years ago.

Xina Moss, Schools Liaison Officer at Cambridge Admissions Officer (CAO) said: “Our undergraduates are a huge asset as pupils can identify with them and feel confident about asking questions and sharing any concerns. It's great that so many Cambridge students have come forward to help.”

This year's Oxford and Cambridge Student Conferences take place at the following venues and dates:

Walkers Stadium, Leicester, 3 March
Emirates Stadium, London, 10 March
Corn Exchange, Edinburgh, 18 March
St James's Park, Newcastle, 19 March
Old Trafford, Manchester, 20 March
Cheltenham Racecourse, 4 April

More information, including the online booking form, can be found at the Oxford and Cambridge Student Conferences website (see sidebar).