Parents & carers

How does the application process work?

There are two pathways available for students in year 10. Applications for the Year 10 In-School Tutoring Pathway open in the October of year 10, and applications for the Year 10 Residential Pathway open in the December of year 10. The application process for both is an online form. All information about the programme will be provided by the school, and the school will invite eligible participants to apply.

How does the school select which students to invite to take part?

We have a list of eligibility criteria and a guide for how many criteria a potential participant has to meet in order to be eligible for the programme. The school will invite students who meet the academic eligibility (i.e. predicted GCSEs) to apply; the remaining eligibility criteria is then assessed through the student’s application, which will require a contribution from you as the student’s parent / carer.

Students who meet at least one of the listed nine criteria, or who have experienced circumstances that may affect their exam performance and / or the likelihood of their going to university, are likely to be accepted onto the programme. In the event of the programme being oversubscribed, applicants will be prioritised based on their academic and overall eligibility, including any exceptional circumstances.

What benefits are there for starting the programme in year 10?

Starting the Exeter Scholars programme in year 10 means that participants can ensure they are making the best decisions for their future, and can be planning ahead for their future education and A Level (or equivalent) choices. By thinking about the possibility of university now, the participants will have a considerable amount of time to consider whether higher education is for them, explore the courses available at various universities, and assess what they could get out of university. Effectively, they would be getting a head start on the process of thinking about university and making decisions for their future. Participants who successfully complete the year 10–11 element of the programme are awarded the title of Junior Scholar. 

Additionally, we guarantee a place on the year 12 pathway to any participant who successfully completes the year 10 element (Junior Scholars). This guarantee of a place is on the condition that they meet the academic eligibility of the programme at the point of joining in year 12 (i.e. achieved GCSE grades instead of predicted GCSE grades). Continuing on the year 12 pathway then brings a range of benefits to students who apply to study at the University of Exeter. 

For more information about the benefits to participants at different stages of their Exeter Scholars journey, please visit the pathways overview.

Does the programme take time away from the participant’s current studies?

The year 10 participants will have been invited by the school to apply, and so the school itself will have taken this concern into consideration.

The Year 10 In-School Tutoring Pathway consists of in-school sessions, all of which are scheduled by and take place at the participant's school, and will therefore be at a time to suit the students. The Year 10 Residential Pathway will consist of a four-day residential to be held at the University of Exeter’s Streatham campus. This residential will be held in the Easter holidays, and so will not take time away from the participant’s current studies.

All activities completed in the programme have been designed with the participant’s current studies in mind, and will therefore complement rather than compete with them.

Can you tell me more about what staying at the University for the Year 10 Residential Pathway will involve?

The residential will consist of four days of activity with three overnight stays. During these four days, participants will explore the University of Exeter Streatham Campus, take part in both subject-specific activity sessions (subjects which they will choose at the point of application) and general activity sessions relating to higher education and student life, and can enjoy a variety of fun social activities.  

The costs are entirely covered by the University of Exeter, and the residentials are staffed by members of the Exeter Scholars team and University of Exeter Student Ambassadors.

Why do you not currently have any pathways starting in Year 11?

We do not currently have any South West pathways starting in year 11 because our year 10 pathway is designed to map onto year 10 and year 11.

Since year 11 is such an important year for students, with their GCSE exams, we are wary of providing too many activities during this time. We offer a number of live online Q&A forums which are designed to help with their current studies and exam revision, and with the A Level (or equivalent) and university decision-making process.

For more information about the programme for South West participants beginning in year 12, please see the information listed below.

How does the application process work?

Applications for this pathway are now closed.

The application consists of an online form, which sets out the eligibility criteria that applicants are required to meet in order to apply for a place on the programme. Any student studying at a school in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset, or Bristol is able to apply through our online form, provided that they meet the outlined eligibility criteria.

Should an applicant have submitted an application form and not have received a confirmation email, they should contact us to check that the application has been submitted successfully. Any appeals after the closing date relating to forms that have not been submitted will not necessarily result in the applicant being considered.

If the applicant is successful in gaining a place on the programme, they and a guest will be invited to attend the Exeter Scholars Student Conference. This is an opportunity for both participants and parents / carers to see the University, meet the other successful participants, find out more about what the programme will involve, and get answers to your questions. 

What should I do if I’m not sure whether the applicant meets the eligibility criteria?

We have a list of eligibility criteria and a guide for how many criteria a potential participant has to meet in order to be eligible for the programme.

We provide a postcode checker on our website so that you can check this aspect of the eligibility. The remainder of the answers should be known to both you and the prospective participant.

As of 2017, we now also include an ‘exceptional circumstances’ eligibility criterion. This criterion covers difficult family or individual circumstances that have affected the applicant’s performance in exams and possibly the likelihood of them going to university. We encourage you to use this box to include any information that may help the application.

If you are still at all unsure, please do get in touch with us.

Students who meet at least one of the listed seven criteria, or who have experienced circumstances that may affect their exam performance and / or the likelihood of their going to university, may be accepted onto the programme. In the event of the programme being oversubscribed, applicants will be prioritised based on their academic and overall eligibility, including any exceptional circumstances.

What happens if the applicant's application is unsuccessful?

The Exeter Scholars programme is a hugely popular programme with a high demand for places; unfortunately, as the number of applications grows, so too does the number of applicants that we regretfully cannot offer places to. In the event of the programme being oversubscribed, applicants will be prioritised based on their academic and overall eligibility, including any exceptional circumstances.

If the applicant is unsuccessful, I’m afraid that we are unable to change our decision unless a genuine error has been made. Due to the nature of the programme, we build in an anticipated number of withdrawals, and so do not operate a waiting list system.

We are sorry to disappoint anyone, but we hope you can appreciate that this is unavoidable with a programme with a limited number of places.

We hope that this will not deter the applicant from considering applying to study at the University of Exeter in the future.

What are the benefits of the programme?

Completing the University of Exeter Scholars programme means that the participants will graduate as an Exeter Scholar – a prestigious title of which we hope the participants will be proud. Becoming an Exeter Scholar also brings with is a wide range of benefits. 

Participants who decide that they wish to study for a degree at the University of Exeter will be given the opportunity to complete the Exeter Scholars online assessment. If they successfully pass this assessment, they will qualify as a Senior Exeter Scholar. As a Senior Exeter Scholar, if they choose to come to the University of Exeter to study, they will gain access to an additional benefits package that is designed to support them once they arrive at university. 

While some of the benefits listed are specific to studying at the University of Exeter, the skills development and support with decision-making is available to all participants regardless of their final destination. Applying to Exeter is not a prerequisite of taking part in the programme, and will not affect the experience of the participant in any way.

If a participant is placed on a different subject activity strand than the subject that they want to study at university, do they still receive the grade reduction and benefits?

Yes. Exeter Scholars participants will get the benefits of the programme – including the grade reduction – regardless of what subject activity strand they complete or what degree course they apply to. 

Please note that the benefits are only applicable to the University of Exeter, and cannot be transferred to or used at other universities. 

Does the programme take time away from the participant’s current studies?

Each subject activity strand of the programme has a number of activity sessions. These are generally held on weekdays during time-time, although there are a number that take place on Saturdays and during the school holidays.

Each subject activity strand of the programme has a minimum time requirement in order to pass; this minimum requirement will always be less than the number of sessions. No participant is expected to (be able to) attend all of their subject activity sessions.

The application requires the participant to list a teacher or tutor who they are happy to speak to about the programme and to request authorised absences. We are able to support the student in this, by providing information about the programme and confirming its legitimacy for school or college absence.

Most of the schools and colleges in the South West that our participants attend are ones we have worked with before, and so it is rare that a school / college has difficulty accommodating a student on this programme.

If there is any issue, raised either by a student or a school, about the student in question missing too much of their current studies, we have a number of ways to work around this. When missing subject strand sessions is unavoidable, participants are able to make up for any missed time on their subject activity strand by participating in a number of other activities, such as live online Q&A forums, or attending other events, such as one of the University of Exeter’s Open Days. 

The Exeter Scholars programme aims to develop and hone key transferable skills that will benefit students not only in their University studies, if they choose to go on to do a degree, but also in their current studies. We hope that their participation in the programme will, instead of detract from them, give a boost of both skills and motivation to their current studies.

Do you cover travel costs for the programme?

Yes – all travel costs for the compulsory elements of the programme are covered. Travel costs for some of the optional activities are covered, as outlined in the benefits package.

After attending a programme-related event, either you or the participant should complete a travel expenses claim form. This form, as well as instructions on how to complete it for travel by both public transport and car, can be found here.

Once you have submitted the form, we will process the claim. You should receive your reimbursement in a couple of weeks; please contact us if you have not received your reimbursement in six weeks from the point of submitting it.

I’m concerned about the participant being required to travel for the programme (e.g. Penryn to Exeter)?

All of our subject activity strands take place at either Streatham campus or St Luke’s campus in Exeter, or our Penryn campus in Penryn, and some strands include field trips. These are advertised along with the rest of the subject strand information at the point of application. (Any events that take place outside of these areas, such as the Law strand’s trip to London, will have transport provided.)

One of the key areas that the Exeter Scholars programme hopes that participants will develop is the confidence and independence for independent travel.

When deciding on which subject strands to apply for, we ask that you and the participant consider how they could travel to participate in the activity sessions were they to get a place on either their first or second choice of subject strand. There is no limit to travel claims, and so cost should not prove a limiting factor in this decision-making process.

We understand the concern felt by parents and carers at particularly lengthy journeys. It is worth considering that there may be other students from the participant’s school / college who are on the same strand and will be making the same journey, so they could partner together for travel. Furthermore, each year every strand takes on students from all over the South West, so there is likely to be a number of participants making a similar journey, which may useful for the second session onwards.

The Exeter Scholars team in both Exeter and Penryn are always happy to provide advice about travel if required.

Do you provide information for parents and carers about the programme?

We are launching our parent / carer programme update for the Exeter Scholars programme in March 2018. This will be a quarterly update that will inform parents and carers of how they can best support participants on the programme, and of any important and/or time-sensitive information of which they should be aware, about both university and current studies more broadly.

The Exeter Scholars team in both Exeter and Penryn are always happy to provide information and advice to parents and carers about any aspect of the programme or the decision-making and application processes involved in progression to university.

What can I do to support the participant throughout the programme?

As parent / carer of a participant on the Exeter Scholars programme, it is our hope that you are able to support and encourage participants in their engagement with the programme and with the university decision-making process more broadly.

Through our parent / carer quarterly updates, we will provide you with key pieces of information that we hope you can use to prompt and remind participants to complete important tasks – such as booking an Open Day, starting a student finance application, or meeting an application deadline – rather than to complete these tasks on their behalf. 

The best way for you as a parent / carer to support the participant through the programme is by encouraging them to be as independent in their participation as possible. Remind them to check their emails, as we may send important information through that channel; encourage them, where possible, to complete travel claims themselves or call us themselves to ask us any questions.

We realise, of course, that all of our participants are different. Some will already have a high level of independence and will be comfortable, for example, travelling alone; and some will find it difficult to engage so independently from the start, and will need time to develop these skills. We hope that, for these latter students in particular, the programme will give them the opportunity to take small steps towards this goal.

The Exeter Scholars team is, of course, always happy to discuss any issues that our participants might be having with any aspect of the programme.

Why do you not currently have any pathways starting in Year 13?

We do not currently have any pathways starting in year 13 because our year 12 pathway is designed to map onto year 12 and year 13.

Since year 13 is such an important year for students, with A Level (or equivalent) exams and UCAS applications and deadlines, we are careful of providing too many activities during this time. All of the activities on offer are designed to help them with their university applications and decisions (see below).

What do you offer to the year 13 students that helps them with their university applications and decisions?

We offer a range of activities throughout year 13 to help participants with the university applications and the decision-making process more broadly.

In the summer between years 12 and 13, we run a UCAS Application Day that aims to both inform and assist with the application process. Throughout year 13, we run live online Q&A forums that are focused on topics relating to the specific stages of university application that occur during that year. We also offer a personal statement checking service, where students can submit their personal statements for feedback from one of our team.

There are also a number of subject-specific opportunities that will continue from year 12 into year 13. Student shadowing is offered in many of our colleges, and, for participants that apply to the University of Exeter BMBS Medicine degree programme, we offer a medicine-specific interview preparation day.

The Exeter Scholars team are also on-hand throughout the year to provide advice and support – including after the application process. We want to make sure that our participants have as smooth a transition as possible out of further education and – if they decide to do so – into higher education.

Do you cover travel costs for any Open Days, Offer Holder Visit Days, or other events held for year 13 students?

We cover costs for any event or activity that is directly related to programme participation.

This means that events such as the UCAS Application Day or the Medicine Interview Preparation Day (see above), that are run by us for programme participants, will have the travel costs covered.

We do not cover travel costs for Open Days, since these are not directly related to programme participation.

We do, however, provide a travel bursary for any programme participant who attends an Offer Holder Visit Day, as part of the Exeter Scholars benefits package.  

If you are in any doubt as to whether travel costs are covered for a particular event, please do get in touch with us.

What is the process for becoming an Exeter Senior Scholar?

Completing the Exeter Scholars programme by meeting the minimum attendance required means that a participant has passed the programme and has therefore qualified as an Exeter Scholar. For any participant in our Exeter Scholars programme who decides to apply to study at the University of Exeter, they have the opportunity to become an Exeter Senior Scholar.

In order to become an Exeter Senior Scholar, participants need to complete and successfully pass an online assessment. (The only exception to this is Pathways to Law participants, for whom successful completion of the subject activity strand provides a fast-track route to qualifying as a Senior Scholar.)

Once a participant has submitted their UCAS application to the University of Exeter, a member of the Exeter Scholars team will automatically contact them to invite them to complete the assessment. Invitations will be issued after the January UCAS deadline (generally in February), and details of the assessment completion deadline will be confirmed at the same time.

Successfully passing the online assessment allows the participant to access a range of additional benefits that will be available to them if they are made an offer and decide to come to the University of Exeter.

NB: Qualifying as an Exeter Senior Scholar does not guarantee an offer from the University of Exeter. The benefits of completing the Exeter Scholars programme are linked to the terms of the offer, should the participant be made an offer.

What effect will completing Exeter Scholars have on an application to study at the University of Exeter?

Successful completion of the Exeter Scholars programme entitles applicants to the University of Exeter to a grade reduction of up to two A Level grades (or equivalent) below the standard entry offer for their chosen course. As a guide, this is likely to be a minimum of one grade below the bottom of any advertised grade range, although this could be more in some cases.

It is extremely important to note that completion of Exeter Scholars does not affect any subject-specific or GCSE entry requirements for a course. Any participants considering applying to study at the University of Exeter at the end of the Exeter Scholars programme should ensure that they can fulfil these before submitting their UCAS application, so as to avoid wasting one of their five choices.

For courses that interview, applicants will be assessed in the same way as other candidates at interview; should they be made an offer, the grade reduction will be included.

Participants on Exeter Scholars are guaranteed an offer from the University of Exeter provided that they meet any subject-specific / GCSE requirements and with the exception of any subjects that require an interview.

We believe that all Exeter Scholars participants have the potential to progress to the University of Exeter even without this grade reduction, and we want to encourage everyone to fulfil their potential. With that in mind, the Exeter Scholars Attainment Award will be available for applicants who meet the set of higher grades outlined in the offer text they receive from the University as a helping hand with motivation.

If a participant goes to study at the University of Exeter, is there support available to help them with time management and other academic study skills?

Yes. There are plenty of resources and services available at the University of Exeter to support current students with all kinds of personal, academic, accessibility, and wellbeing requirements. The University's website has a list of support services and a dedicated Study Zone for study skills development and support, which also provide information on how to access these services. 

How does the application process work?

Applications for the Year 10 Residential Pathway open in the December of year 10. The application process for both is an online form. All information about the programme will be provided by the school, and the school will invite eligible participants to apply.

How does the school select which students to invite to take part?

We have a list of eligibility criteria and a guide for how many criteria a potential participant has to meet in order to be eligible for the programme. The school will invite students who meet the academic eligibility (i.e. predicted GCSEs) to apply; the remaining eligibility criteria is then assessed through the student’s application, which will require a contribution from you as the student’s parent / carer.

Students who meet at least one of the listed nine criteria, or who have experienced circumstances that may affect their exam performance and / or the likelihood of their going to university, are likely to be accepted onto the programme. In the event of the programme being oversubscribed, applicants will be prioritised based on their academic and overall eligibility, including any exceptional circumstances.

What will participants starting in Year 10 be doing in their first year?

The year 10 programme will consist of a four-day residential to be held at the University of Exeter Streatham Campus. This residential will be held in the Easter holidays, and so will not take time away from the participant's current studies.

After the residential, we will continue to be in regular contact with participants by email, and will make sure that they are always confident about what the next step in their Exeter Scholars journey will be.

What happens on the Year 10 residential?

The residential will consist of four days of activity with three overnight stays. During these four days, participants will explore the University of Exeter Streatham Campus, take part in both subject-specifica ctivity sessions (subjects which they will choose at the point of application) and general activity sessions relating to higher education and student life, and can enjoy a variety of fun social activities.  

The costs are entirely covered by the University of Exeter, and the residentials are staffed by members of the Exeter Scholars team and University of Exeter Student Ambassadors.

Do you cover travel costs for the residential?

Yes. We arrange and pay for the travel for the participants, sending out any tickets for travel via post ahead of the residential (if tickets are required), and putting on coach travel where appropriate.

The residential itself is also fully funded, with meals and accommodation provided. It will not cost anything for the participants to attend.

What benefits are there for starting the programme in year 10?

Starting the Exeter Scholars programme in year 10 means that participants can ensure they are making the best decisions for their future, and can be planning ahead for their future education and A Level (or equivalent) choices. By thinking about the possibility of university now, the participants will have a considerable amount of time to consider whether higher education is for them, explore the courses available at various universities, and assess what they could get out of university. Effectively, they would be getting a head start on the process of thinking about university and making decisions for their future. Participants who successfully complete the year 10–11 element of the programme are awarded the title of Junior Scholar. 

Additionally, we guarantee a place on the year 12 pathway to any participant who successfully completes the year 10 element (Junior Scholars). This guarantee of a place is on the condition that they meet the academic eligibility of the programme at the point of joining in year 12 (i.e. achieved GCSE grades instead of predicted GCSE grades). Continuing on the year 12 pathway then brings a range of benefits to students who apply to study at the University of Exeter. 

For more information about the benefits to participants at different stages of their Exeter Scholars journey, please visit 'What is Exeter Scholars?'.

Does the programme take time away from the participant’s current studies?

The year 10 participants will have been invited by the school to apply, and so the school itself will have taken this concern into consideration.

The year 10 programme will consist of a four-day residential to be held at the University of Exeter Streatham Campus. This residential will be held in the Easter holidays, and so will not take time away from the participant's current studies.

All activities completed in the programme have been designed with the participant’s current studies in mind, and will therefore complement rather than compete with them.

Exeter is so far away from home. Why should the applicant work with you rather than with a university closer to home?

The University of Exeter Scholars programme is a free programme that gives participants across the country the opportunity to find out more about university and about a particular subject, and to gain first-hand experience of student life at the University of Exeter. The programme also has a strong focus on skills development in order to help participants with their current studies and increase motivation.

National participants who apply to us in year 10 will have the unique opportunity to work with us across a four-year period. This will ensure that they are making the best decisions for their future, and can be planning ahead for their future education and A Level (or equivalent) choices. By thinking about the possibility of university now, the participants will have a considerable amount of time to consider whether higher education is for them, explore the courses available at various universities, and assess what they could get out of university. Effectively, they would be getting a head start on the process of thinking about university and making decisions for their future.

The Exeter Scholars programme also provides a range of additional activities with which participants can get involved that will help them with their decision-making process, such as live online Q&A forums, and help and advice with UCAS applications and personal statements.

And, if the participant decides to apply to the University of Exeter, there is a whole range of benefits on offer that they can access if they successfully gain an offer and choose to study with us. Find more information about the benefits offered by the programme.

The University of Exeter is one of the top universities in the world. We have two campus locations – Exeter and Penryn, Cornwall – which both offer beautiful, vibrant, and differing environments in which to study and live. We have received a TEF Gold award for teaching excellence, have a superb research community and level of graduate employability, and we have a range of support services to support our students throughout their degrees. You can read more about why the University of Exeter is an excellent choice for undergraduate study.

Why do you not currently have any pathways starting in Year 11?

We do not currently have any national pathways starting in year 11 because our year 10 pathway is designed to map onto year 10 and year 11.

Since year 11 is such an important year for students, with their GCSE exams, we are wary of providing too many activities during this time. We offer a number of live online Q&A forums which are designed to help with their current studies and exam revision, and with the A Level (or equivalent) and university decision-making process.

For more information about the programme for national participants beginning in year 12, please see the information listed below.

How does the application process work?

Applications for this pathway are now closed.

The application consists of an online form, which sets out the eligibility criteria that applicants are required to meet in order to apply for a place on the programme. Any student studying at a school outside of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset, and Bristol is able to apply through our online form, provided that they meet the outlined eligibility criteria.

Should an applicant have submitted an application form and not have received a confirmation email, they should contact us to check that the application has been submitted successfully. Any appeals after the closing date relating to forms that have not been submitted will not necessarily result in the applicant being considered.

What should I do if I’m not sure whether the applicant meets the eligibility criteria?

We have a list of eligibility criteria and a guide for how many criteria a potential participant has to meet in order to be eligible for the programme.

We provide a postcode checker on our website so that you can check this aspect of the eligibility. The remainder of the answers should be known to both you and the prospective participant.

As of 2017, we now also include an 'exceptional circumstances' eligibility criterion. This criterion covers difficult family or individual circumstances that have affected the applicant’s performance in exams and possibly the likelihood of them going to university. We encourage you to use this box to include any information that may help the application.

If you are still at all unsure, please do get in touch with us.

Students who meet at least one of the listed seven criteria, or who have experienced circumstances that may affect their exam performance and / or the likelihood of their going to university, may be accepted onto the programme. In the event of the programme being oversubscribed, applicants will be prioritised based on their academic and overall eligibility, including any exceptional circumstances.

What happens if the applicant’s application is unsuccessful?

The Exeter Scholars programme is a hugely popular programme with a high demand for places; unfortunately, as the number of applications grows, so too does the number of applicants that we regretfully cannot offer places to. In the event of the programme being oversubscribed, applicants will be prioritised based on their academic and overall eligibility, including any exceptional circumstances.

If the applicant is unsuccessful, I’m afraid that we are unable to change our decision unless a genuine error has been made. Due to the nature of the programme, we build in an anticipated number of withdrawals, and so do not operate a waiting list system.

We are sorry to disappoint anyone, but we hope you can appreciate that this is unavoidable with a programme with a limited number of places.

We hope that this will not deter the applicant from considering applying to study at the University of Exeter in the future.

What will successful applicants be doing on the programme?

The year 12 national programme begins with a week-long summer residential, in which participants are given the chance to discover a subject in depth and detail.

Our South West-based students visit us regularly throughout the academic year to learn about their chosen subject, but we understand that regular visits are not always possible for participants outside the South West. So we’ve condensed this part of the programme into a residential experience, which is available to students from across the UK; this residential provides the opportunity to explore a subject activity strand of the participants’ choice, delivered over five days.

As well as the residential itself, joining the Exeter Scholars programme will provide participants with the opportunity to take part in regular live online Q&A forums with current University of Exeter students, including a Virtual Open Day, and to benefit from exclusive online activities throughout years 12 and 13. Taking part in these activities will mean that participants can become a University of Exeter Scholar and have access to a range of benefits.

What happens on the Year 12 residential?

On the year 12 residential, participants will be staying in university accommodation in either our Streatham or Penryn campus, and will have the chance to explore both the campus and the local area.

During the five-day residential, they will be participating in subject-specific workshops (based on subject choices made during the application process), and will be taking part in social activities and activities relating to Higher Education more broadly.

The summer residentials will take place in July 2019. The subject choices available and all dates for the 2019 summer residential will be listed on our website from March / April 2019 in order to allow potential participants to choose their first and second choice of subject.

Do you cover travel costs for the Summer Residential?

Yes. We arrange and pay for the travel for the participants, sending out any tickets for travel via post ahead of the residential (if tickets are required). If any participant plans to drive or be driven to the summer residential, then the cost of fuel is able to be reimbursed.

The residential itself is also fully funded, with meals and accommodation provided. It will not cost anything for the participants to attend.

For your information, our travel claim form, as well as instructions on how to complete it for travel by both public transport and car, can be found here. Once this form is submitted, we will process the claim. You should receive your reimbursement in a couple of weeks; please contact us if you have not received your reimbursement in four weeks from the point of submitting it.

What are the benefits of the programme?

Completing the University of Exeter Scholars programme means that the participants will graduate as an Exeter Scholar – a prestigious title of which we hope the participants will be proud. Becoming an Exeter Scholar also brings with is a wide range of benefits.

Participants who decide that they wish to study for a degree at the University of Exeter will be given the opportunity to complete the Exeter Scholars online assessment. If they successfully pass this assessment, they will qualify as a Senior Exeter Scholar. As a Senior Exeter Scholar, if they choose to come to the University of Exeter to study, they will gain access to an additional benefits package that is designed to support them once they arrive at university.

While some of the benefits listed are specific to studying at the University of Exeter, the skills development and support with decision-making is available to all participants regardless of their final destination. Applying to Exeter is not a prerequisite of taking part in the programme, and will not affect the experience of the participant in any way.

Do you provide information for parents and carers about the programme?

We launched our parent / carer programme update for the Exeter Scholars programme in March 2018. This is a quarterly update that will inform parents and carers of how they can best support participants on the programme, and of any important and/or time-sensitive information of which they should be aware, about both university and current studies more broadly.

The Exeter Scholars team in both Exeter and Penryn are always happy to provide information and advice to parents and carers about any aspect of the programmeor the decision-making and application processes involved in progression to university.

What can I do to support the participant throughout the programme?

As parent / carer of a participant on the Exeter Scholars programme, it is our hope that you are able to support and encourage participants in their engagement with the programme and with the university decision-making process more broadly.

Through our parent / carer quarterly updates, we will provide you with key pieces of information that we hope you can use to prompt and remind participants to complete important tasks – such as booking an Open Day, starting a student finance application, or meeting an application deadline – rather than to complete these tasks on their behalf.

The best way for you as a parent / carer to support the participant through the programme is by encouraging them to be as independent in their participation as possible. Remind them to check their emails, as we may send important information through that channel; encourage them, where possible, to complete travel claims themselves or call us themselves to ask us any questions.

We realise, of course, that all of our participants are different. Some will already have a high level of independence and will be comfortable, for example, travelling alone; and some will find it difficult to engage so independently from the start, and will need time to develop these skills. We hope that, for these latter students in particular, the programme will give them the opportunity to take small steps towards this goal.

The Exeter Scholars team is, of course, always happy to discuss any issues that our participants might be having with any aspect of the programme.

Why do you not currently have any pathways starting in Year 13?

We do not currently have any pathways starting in year 13 because our year 12 pathway is designed to map onto year 12 and year 13.

Since year 13 is such an important year for students, with A Level (or equivalent) exams and UCAS applications and deadlines, we are careful of providing too many activities during this time. All of the activities on offer are designed to help them with their university applications and decisions (see below).

What do you offer to the year 13 students that helps them with their university applications and decisions?

We offer a range of activities throughout year 13 to help participants with the university applications and the decision-making process more broadly.

In the summer between years 12 and 13, we run a UCAS Application Day that aims to both inform and assist with the application process. Throughout year 13, we run live online Q&A forums that are focused on topics relating to the specific stages of university application that occur during that year. We also offer a personal statement checking service, where students can submit their personal statements for feedback from one of our team.

There are also a number of subject-specific opportunities that will continue from year 12 into year 13. Student shadowing is offered in many of our colleges, and, for participants that apply to the University of Exeter BMBS Medicine degree programme, we offer a medicine-specific interview preparation day.

The Exeter Scholars team are also on-hand throughout the year to provide advice and support – including after the application process. We want to make sure that our participants have as smooth a transition as possible out of further education and – if they decide to do so – into higher education.

Do you cover travel costs for any Open Days, Offer Holder Visit Days, or other events held for year 13 students?

We cover costs for any event or activity that is directly related to programme participation.

This means that events such as the UCAS Application Day or the Medicine Interview Preparation Day (see above), that are run by us for programme participants, will have the travel costs covered.

We do not cover travel costs for Open Days, since these are not directly related to programme participation.

We do, however, provide a travel bursary for any programme participant who attends an Offer Holder Visit Day, as part of the Exeter Scholars benefits package.

If you are in any doubt as to whether travel costs are covered for a particular event, please do get in touch with us.

What is the process for becoming an Exeter Senior Scholar?

Completing the Exeter Scholars programme by meeting the minimum attendance required means that a participant has passed the programme and has therefore qualified as an Exeter Scholar. For any participant in our Exeter Scholars programme who decides to apply to study at the University of Exeter, they have the opportunity to become an Exeter Senior Scholar.

In order to become an Exeter Senior Scholar, participants need to complete and successfully pass an online assessment. (The only exception to this is Pathways to Law participants, for whom successful completion of the subject activity strand provides a fast-track route to qualifying as a Senior Scholar.)

Once a participant has submitted their UCAS application to the University of Exeter, a member of the Exeter Scholars team will automatically contact them to invite them to complete the assessment. Invitations will be issues after the January UCAS deadline, and details of the assessment completion deadline will be confirmed at the same time.

Successfully passing the online assessment allows the participant to access a range of additional benefits that will be available to them if they are made an offer and decide to come to the University of Exeter.

NB: Qualifying as an Exeter Senior Scholar does not guarantee an offer from the University of Exeter. The benefits of completing the Exeter Scholars programme are linked to the terms of the offer, should the participant be made an offer.

What effect will completing Exeter Scholars have on an application to study at the University of Exeter?

Successful completion of the Exeter Scholars programme entitles applicants to the University of Exeter to a grade reduction of up to two A Level grades below the standard entry offer for their chosen course. As a guide, this is likely to be a minimum of one grade below the bottom of any advertised grade range, although this could be more in some cases.

It is extremely important to note that completion of Exeter Scholars does not affect any subject-specific or GCSE entry requirements for a course. Any participants considering applying to study at the University of Exeter at the end of the Exeter Scholars programme should ensure that they can fulfil these before submitting their UCAS application, so as to avoid wasting one of their five choices.

For courses that interview, applicants will be assessed in the same way as other candidates at interview; should they be made an offer, the grade reduction will be included.

We believe that all Exeter Scholars participants have the potential to progress to the University of Exeter even without this grade reduction, and we want to encourage everyone to fulfil their potential. With that in mind, the Exeter Scholars Award will be available for applicants who meet the set of higher grades outlined in the offer text they receive from the University as a helping hand with motivation.