Scholarship

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The Reach Cambridge scholarship essay competition is designed for academically excellent high school students aged between 15 and 17 who would otherwise not be able to attend our programs. Please note that this scholarship competition is not for application to the University of Cambridge.

What are the prizes?

  • Full scholarship: Two fully-funded scholarship prizes for one of our 2-week Programs in Summer 2025.
  • Partial scholarship: Two partially funded (50%) scholarship prizes for one of our 2-week Programs in Summer 2025.

Please note that both prizes include all those items ordinarily covered by the program fee. They do not include the cost of flights, or other items, which are not ordinarily covered by the program fee. See terms & conditions for further details.

What is the essay question and what else will be taken into consideration?

Scholarship applicants have 5 essay questions to choose from:

Please note you must select only one of the questions below to answer / address in your essay and will need to indicate clearly (either before the start of your essay or in your introductory paragraph) which you have selected. The essay should be no longer than 750 words. 

  1. In a rapidly changing world, what role can young people play in shaping the future, and what actions can they take to address the most pressing global challenges?
  2. How has technology transformed the way we communicate and connect with others? (Hint: Discuss both the positive and negative implications of this transformation)
  3. What should be the main goal of education: preparing students for jobs, encouraging critical thinking and creativity, or developing good citizens? (Hint: Discuss how schools can balance these goals and why it is important)
  4. Can absolute freedom exist without boundaries? Discuss the philosophical implications of the balance between personal liberty and societal responsibility, drawing from historical, ethical, and contemporary perspectives.
  5. In a world filled with constant information and digital distractions, how can young people cultivate critical thinking skills and media literacy to navigate today’s complex information landscape?

To craft a good essay requires careful argumentation, clear structure and originality, so be as detailed and specific in your writing as possible. It is this set of characteristics that we will look for when judging applicants’ essays. We will also take into account the letter of recommendation supplied by your school and the short video personal statement.

To read more on how to write a strong essay, visit our blog for information about the Hamburger Method and our Top Ten Tips for essay writing.

How do I enter?

In order to enter the competition, follow these simple steps to complete a full application by 23:00 GMT on 18th November 2024.

  • Follow the links below to submit your application.
  • The Application process has been split into 5 stages:
  • All stages must be completed in order to be considered for the scholarship.
  • Upload your essay as a word document (the word limit is 750 words). Answer all other questions on the page.
  • A letter of recommendation from a member of staff at your school must be uploaded in Stage 5. This should be written on headed paper, and should outline why you are a good candidate for the scholarship: it should tell us what makes you academically excellent, and it must give us some indication of your financial circumstances. For example, if you attend a fee-paying school, the letter must specify whether you attend the school on a scholarship, or whether you are full or part fee-paying. It must include contact details for the member of staff so that we can contact them for further information if necessary. This is the only part of the application that should come from your school – the rest needs to be completed by you.
  • A short (up to 3 minute long) video should be submitted in form of a YouTube link as your personal statement. It is a chance for you to tell us a bit about yourself, why do you think you are the best scholarship candidate and how would coming to Reach Cambridge affect your life.
  • You must complete all forms and sections of the application. Please note that if you do not complete all these sections of your application, we will not consider your application. They should all be completed before the deadline.
  • Due to the number of applications received, we are unable to notify unsuccessful candidates.
  • Shortlisted candidates will be notified by early December, and will be invited for an online interview during December.
  • If you have any additional questions, please email scholarships@reachcambridge.com.

Please ensure you read the scholarship essay competition terms and conditions before applying. By submitting an application you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION FOR THE 2025 REACH CAMBRIDGE SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME

Scholarship Essay Competition Terms & Conditions:

  • Applicants must be between the ages of 15 and 17 on 18th November 2024, and currently studying at high school.
  • The students must complete the essays independently – they must be original, non-plagiarised work.
  • The closing date for scholarship applications is 18th November 2024 at 23:00 GMT. We will only consider full applications submitted by this date. A full application is one that includes an answer to the essay question and all other questions on the forms, the letter of recommendation from your school, link to the video personal statement and also has the following sections completed on the forms: School Transcript, Signature, Parent Info, School Info.
  • Applicants from fee-paying schools will only be considered if their letter of recommendation confirms that they attend the school on a scholarship.
  • The prizes provide, without charge, all those items ordinarily covered by the program fee, including accommodation, all excursions, lectures, theatre trips, workshops and tuition, and half board meals (breakfast only on excursion days).
  • These prizes do not include those items which are not ordinarily covered by the program fee: flights; transportation to/from Cambridge at the start and end of the program if travel is undertaken independently; meals not provided in the normal tuition fee (we usually provide half board meals on most days); optional enhancements shown to have an extra fee (such as taster courses); snacks, drinks and meals purchased away from the program; pocket money and souvenirs; books for credit courses and classes; laundry (aside from bed linen); medical insurance and any medical or dental fees.
  • It is not guaranteed that Reach Cambridge will offer scholarship prizes to any of the candidates. Reach Cambridge reserves the right to not award scholarship prizes.
  • Shortlisted candidates will be notified by early December.
  • Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview during December, and will be notified of the outcome of the competition no later than early January.
  • The author of the students’ recommendation letter may be contacted for further information.
  • The final decision on prizewinners rests with Reach Cambridge Ltd. By submitting an application for the scholarship the student agrees to respect and honour the decision made by Reach Cambridge.
  • By submitting an application to the scholarship competition, the student agrees to assist with promoting the scholarship scheme if awarded a prize.
  • The successful applicant also agrees to their name being published on the Reach Cambridge website, as well as on its social media pages.
  • The student must have permission from a parent or guardian to accept the scholarship. Scholarship prizes are conditional on parental approval – a parent/guardian will be required to sign a declaration that they accept the Reach Cambridge terms and conditions and rules and regulations.
  • By applying for this scholarship, the student agrees to abide by the Reach Cambridge terms and conditions and rules and regulations, available on our website, as well as these scholarship terms and conditions.
  • Students do not have to pay a deposit before applying for the scholarship.
  • Please note that all terms and conditions for Reach Cambridge programs, including the cancellation policy, also apply for scholarship applicants.