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Access to Sheffield Summer School: eligibility, deadline and what it gives you

The Access to Sheffield Summer School is a free four-day residential run by the University of Sheffield for Year 12 students from across the UK from groups under-represented in higher education. It is not subject-based: students stay at Endcliffe for academic skills sessions, university-level teaching and social activities, with travel paid, then join the Year 13 to Uni programme. Completers get the Access Sheffield contextual offer, which is AAB for Medicine and Dentistry, and a scholarship if they study at Sheffield.

Closes
Not published
For
Year 12 students, medicine and dentistry
Where
Anywhere in the UK
Gives you
Lower offer, then AAB instead of AAA

What you get

Completing Access to Sheffield Summer School gives you a lower offer and an offer of AAB instead of AAA for medicine and dentistry.

  • Access Sheffield contextual offer of AAB for Medicine (A in Chemistry or Biology) and for Dentistry, up to two grades below standard on other courses
  • No interview fast-track: Medicine applicants are still UCAT-ranked
  • Access to Sheffield Scholarship (£1,000 a year plus £600 if household income is £40,000 or under), allocated automatically

To get it, you must

  • Meet the 1800 UCAT threshold
  • Make Sheffield your firm choice

Who can apply

You need to

  • Live anywhere in the UK
  • Be in Year 12 (S5 in Scotland, Year 13 in Northern Ireland), aged 17 or under on 1 September, with a teacher who will write a supporting statement
  • Have 5 GCSEs at grade 6 or above, with grade 4 in English and Maths
  • Be studying at least 3 A-levels or equivalent
  • Not be on the Access to Sheffield Year 12 to 13 pathway

Plus at least one of

  • Free school meals
  • Deprived postcode
  • Care-experienced
  • Young carer
  • Estranged from parents
  • Refugee or asylum seeker

Dates

Applications open
Not published, last cycle opened in January
Applications close
Not published, the 2026 round has closed and you can register interest for 2027
Programme runs
Four-day residential in early August 2027 if it follows 2026 (3 to 6 Aug 2026)
Apply to university
UCAS deadline 15 October 2027 for 2028 entry

How to apply

Apply through the Access to Sheffield Summer School page. It is run by Sheffield Access Service. Questions go to summerschool.accesstosheffield@sheffield.ac.uk.

Frequently asked questions

Does Access to Sheffield Summer School guarantee an interview?

No. Access to Sheffield Summer School gives a lower offer rather than a guaranteed interview. Access Sheffield contextual offer of AAB for Medicine (A in Chemistry or Biology) and for Dentistry, up to two grades below standard on other courses.

Who is eligible for Access to Sheffield Summer School?

Live anywhere in the UK. You need to be in Year 12 (S5 in Scotland, Year 13 in Northern Ireland), aged 17 or under on 1 September, with a teacher who will write a supporting statement, have 5 GCSEs at grade 6 or above, with grade 4 in English and Maths, be studying at least 3 A-levels or equivalent, not be on the Access to Sheffield Year 12 to 13 pathway, and meet at least one of its widening participation criteria, such as free school meals, deprived postcode, care-experienced.

When is the Access to Sheffield Summer School deadline?

This cycle's closing date has not been published. Not published, the 2026 round has closed and you can register interest for 2027. Applications not published, last cycle opened in January.

What offer do Access to Sheffield Summer School students get?

Students who complete the programme are made an offer of AAB instead of AAA. Access Sheffield contextual offer of AAB for Medicine (A in Chemistry or Biology) and for Dentistry, up to two grades below standard on other courses

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