She Talks Science STEP Summer School

Applications are welcomed from women and non-binary students who meet all of the following criteria:

• at the time of application, are in Y12 (England and Wales), Y13 (Northern Ireland), or S5 (Scotland);

• if doing A Levels, plan to complete A Levels in Maths and Further Maths (it is fine if study of Further Maths will not commence until the second year of A Level study);

• if doing IB, are studying Higher Level Maths;

• if doing Scottish Highers, are studying at least Higher Mathematics, and plan to study Advanced Higher Mathematics if available;

• are strongly considering applying to study mathematics at the University of Cambridge or other institutions requiring STEP. 

This year's residential will take place from 26th - 28th August 2026.

We ask that students only take up a place if they can commit to the full programme.

To complete an application form, click here

To apply to attend the She Talks Science STEP summer school, you must submit an online application by 12pm on Friday 24th April 2026. Then, the Murray Edwards College Access and Student Recruitment Team will contact the teacher you have listed in your application for a reference and some further information. 

Once the application window has closed, all applications will be carefully assessed and confirmation emails will be sent out on Monday 1st June 2026.

If you have not received an update by 5pm on Monday 1st June, please check your spam folder before emailing Murray Edwards College (outreach@murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk) so we will clarify the status of your application.

This year's residential will take place from 26th - 28th August 2026.

To complete an application form, click here

We judge applications on academic merit in mathematics.

As there are only 40 places available on the summer school, we unfortunately cannot accept all applicants. 

In the case that two students have indistinguishable academic profiles and there is not space to admit both of them, we will prioritise students from groups that are underrepresented at the University of Cambridge.

This year's residential will take place from 26th - 28th August 2026.

To complete an application form, click here

Most of the summer school time is spent completing maths problems. The core sessions of the summer school are - 

• Four STEP workshops - these will involve some instruction to the whole cohort and then some small group work, where, tutors help students to build confidence and develop methods to work through problems. Each workshop lasts for an hour and a half. 

• Supervisions - a tutor leads one or two students at a time to turn the ideas they came up with in the STEP workshop into full solutions. As well as developing problem solving, the supervisions give some insight into how mathematics is taught at Cambridge.

Additionally there will be -

• A chance to explore a Cambridge College - as part of the residential, students will receive a tour of Murray Edwards College delivered by current students. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn more about what it is like to live and study at Cambridge.

• An enrichment talk - a session delivered by a prominent maths academic. Previous speakers include Dame Athene Donald, Professor Holly Krieger, and  the late Dr Vicky Neale.

• A tour of the Centre for  Mathematical Sciences - students will get the chance to visit and learn more about the main teaching and learning space of the Cambridge Department for Mathematics.

• Admissions talk - this will be given by a college admissions tutor and mathematics director of studies. This will outline the admissions process at the University and is an opportunity for students to ask questions. 

• Social activities - alongside opportunities to continue your studies, activities will be organised in the evenings to give students the chance to explore the city and attend a formal dinner.

This year's residential will take place from 26th - 28th August 2026.

To complete an application form, click here

This is an example timetable for the She Talks Science STEP Summer School (subject to change):

We ask that students only take up a place if they can commit to the full programme.

To complete an application form, click here