In a bid to increase diversity, Cambridge University launches fully funded foundation course
India Today
The University of Cambridge has launched a fully funded foundation course for the first time in a bid to increase diversity.
In an effort to increase diversity across its campus, the University of Cambridge launched a new pre-degree foundation course with lower entry requirements. The varsity announced on Monday that the Cambridge Foundation Year is free of cost, fully funded, and targeted at a completely fresh stream of applicants. The one-year, full-time residential programme follows a ‘rigorous’ application procedure, with the first intake of 52 students set to commence in October 2022 for the start of the new academic year.
Cambridge Foundation Year Course Director Alex Pryce said, ‘This is a big day for those who are receiving their Cambridge Foundation Year offer, and a big day for the University.’
Noting that this is the first pre-degree course by Cambridge, he said, “This is the first time in its history that Cambridge has run a pre-degree foundation year programme, aimed at talented applicants who might not otherwise consider applying to study here, and the number of applications we received shows that it is competitive and that there is a clear appetite for it.”
The pilot foundation year programme received a total of 267 applications or about 5 applications for each place — comparable to the number of applications received by the varsity for undergraduate studies, which is 6 applications for every place.
The course is targeted at approximately 50 individuals yearly who have
The course is intended for roughly 50 people each year who have faced educational and social challenges and have demonstrated the ability to excel in a degree programme in the arts, humanities, or social sciences.
University of Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Stephen Toope said, “The Cambridge Foundation Year offers a fresh approach to widening participation at Cambridge.”
