RCSA BME Residential
Applications for the 2025 BME Residential are now closed.
What is the RCSA BME Residential?
This is a residential opportunity led by the Racial Equality Officers on the Robinson College Students' Association (RCSA). This event is aimed at students entering Year 12 who identify as BME (Black or Minority Ethnic), and who are interested in gaining an insight into selective universities.
The event will provide an opportunity for academically-able students to explore student life, university-level learning, as well as receive valuable information about making competitive university applications.
This year the RCSA BME Residential will run from Wednesday 24th September - Friday 26th September (morning).
Personalised Support
City Tours
Mentorship
Subject Insight
College Tours
Application Support
Who is it for?
Applicants must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for the programme:
- Have an academic profile (e.g. GCSE grades) suitable for progression to selective universities.
- Will begin Year 12 (England & Wales) / Year 13 (N. Ireland) / S5 (Scotland) or equivalent in September 2025.
- Identify as Black, Asian or minority ethnic. Priority will be given to students from ethnic backgrounds currently underrepresented at the University of Cambridge (Black African, Black Caribbean, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Arab).
Applicants must also meet at least one of the Widening Participation criteria below:
- Have at any time been under the care of a Local Authority.
- Are currently eligible for Free School Meals, or have been eligible for Free School Meals in the last 6 years.
- Are currently attending a school with low progression rates to higher-tariff universities.
- Are the first in their immediate family to attend university.
- Have home postcodes in areas of high socio-economic deprivation (IMD quintiles 1 and 2).
"Thank you to all of the ambassadors for being so kind, welcoming and fun! I'll miss the fun facts :("
2024 Participant
"I thought the residential was going to be ok but I actually really enjoyed it and I'm sad to leave."
2024 Participant
Thank you to all of the student ambassadors - Yoon, Sabrine, Abu, Alvira and Sia - you were all so friendly and helpful! Also thank you to Nmesoma for talking about Land Economy with me, it was really insightful!
2024 Participant