Exceptional Summer Pre-College Chemistry Program for High Schoolers at Cambridge University Campus

Outside of lessons, we are proud to offer a busy and diverse social programme to help you get the most out of your time in Cambridge. This includes activities such as punting on the River Cam, zorb football and a murder mystery night in the college. There are also two excursions during the programme, one day trip to visit Oxford and its constituent colleges, as well as an optional day out in London, seeing the city’s most famous landmarks as well as some free time for shopping. Those who choose not to travel to London are invited to afternoon tea in Cambridge. Activities and excursions are run by our team of friendly mentors – whose main job is to maximise your enjoyment.

There are also two excursions during the programme, one day trip to visit Oxford and its constituent colleges, as well as an optional day out in London, seeing the city’s most famous landmarks as well as some free time for shopping. Those who choose not to travel to London are invited to afternoon tea in Cambridge.

Participants should arrive between 2 pm and 5 pm on the first Sunday of the programme. Our team will be ready and waiting to welcome you, register you, and show you to your accommodation. Please note that your accommodation may not be ready until 3pm. 

If you are arriving at London Heathrow Airport, we are able to offer a shared airport transfer service. This is a chaperoned service departing from London Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 and travelling directly to the colleges in Cambridge/Oxford. Do not worry if you will be arriving to any other Heathrow terminal - our dedicated pastoral team will be there to meet you and escort to Terminal 3 for departure to your college

The transfers depart at 11:00, 14:00 and 17:00 on the Sunday of arrivals. On the final Saturday of the programme, the transfers to London Heathrow Airport depart at 07:00 and 12:00. This will be available to book for a fee per journey after enrolment.

Specific details, such as contact numbers, are shared with participants nearer the time of the programme.

If you are arriving at another airport, or by alternative means, further details about arrivals and departures are shared in your Welcome Pack, sent with your confirmation of enrolment.

To book the shared airport transfer service, which will cost £90.00 each way,

In small class sizes, you will be guided by expert tutors who have honed their expertise through teaching undergraduate students at world-class universities, including the universities of Cambridge, Oxford, and Harvard.

You will explore novel concepts as in sample topics, mentioned below and share ideas in small groups of like-minded and ambitious peers from around the world.

Chemistry Course Sample Topics

• Atomic Structure And Periodicity: You will take a closer look at the atom, by discussing some of the earlier models of atomic structure, including the Thompson, Rutherford, and Bohr models. Explore the atom, which forms the foundation of Chemistry and learn about the mole concept to perform important chemical calculations. You will also analyse the modern periodic table and discuss the fascinating trends that arise from this ordering.
• Thermodynamics: In this module, the 1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics, and the concepts of enthalpies and entropies of chemical reactions are introduced. Hess’s law of chemical thermodynamics is discussed as well as the use of the heat of formation for forming compounds. Participants also discuss more abstract, but engaging, ideas, such as spontaneous and nonspontaneous reactions.
• **Compounds, Hybridisation and VSEPR Theory: **Twenty years prior to the development of quantum mechanics, G. N. Lewis introduced an organising principle in bonding known as the Lewis structures, which helps predict the covalent bonding pattern of atoms. It is also a means of visualising the atoms in a bond, and allows us to conceptualise bonding between different molecules. Molecular orbital theory (based on quantum mechanics) and hybridisation (combining of atomic orbitals) are other indicators of how molecules are structured, and provide a more detailed look into the mechanisms they may use to form compounds. Participants will also employ the Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) theory to determine the angular inclinations of molecular structures.
• **Personal Project: **Throughout the fortnight, participants will be working on their own personal project. Having been provided with a brief, participants should research and prepare a presentation for their peers. This will build upon an aspect of the theory that they have learnt over the course of the programme and is also an opportunity to showcase the academic research skills they have developed. The presentation is followed by questions from the audience and wider class discussion of particular points of interest.

-Shared airport transfer service, which will cost £90.00 each way,