More than twice as many places for bright UK teenagers from low and middle income homes will be on offer on the Sutton Trust’s US summer school programme in 2013.

Applications open today for 150 places in August 2013 at Yale and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – two of the world’s leading universities – in the programme run in partnership with the US-UK Fulbright Commission – EducationUSA.

In 2012, 64 Year 12 students –typically 17 year-olds – spent a week in July living on campus at Yale, and visited Trinity, Wesleyan, Columbia, Harvard and Princeton, as well as having the chance to visit New York City. Around 40 of those have or are intending to apply for a place to US universities.

Successful applicants –who will be on course to get top A level grades and come from homes with family income averaging £25,000 – also benefit from support with the application process and help preparing for university admission tests.

Yale and MIT are among six leading US universities that pay the full costs of tuition and board for successful applications from low and middle income families. In addition, there are more than 250 American universities and colleges with significant funds available for overseas students, totalling over $500 million (£300m).

There has been growth in the numbers of UK students going to US universities in recent years, particularly with higher tuition fees at English universities. Over 4,000 UK undergraduates a year go to US universities, almost exclusively from independent schools.

Sir Peter Lampl, chair of the Sutton Trust and of the Education Endowment Foundation, said today: “This is a fantastic opportunity for some of our brightest young people to get a taste of life on campus at some of America’s greatest universities, and to consider applying.

“The best US universities offer very attractive packages to enable those from low and middle income families to study there. By extending our US summer school programme after a successful first year, not only are we giving state school students an unrivalled opportunity to go where their talents take them, but we are also lighting a beacon for others to follow.”

Simon Lewis, chair of the US-UK Fulbright Commission said: “”We’re delighted to partner with the Sutton Trust on this initiative.  After getting a taster last summer, we’re pleased to see that the 2012 participants are not only applying for a full degree in the US, but also choosing UK courses that will let them spend a year out in the States.

“Some are even planning to apply for a Fulbright postgraduate award down the road.  We hope they will inspire a new generation of bright young people to study abroad and foster greater cultural understanding between the US and UK.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

  1. The Sutton Trust has run summer schools in the UK since 1997, with nine leading universities including Cambridge, University College London, Bristol, Nottingham, Durham, Kings College London, Imperial College London, Edinburgh and St Andrews, participating in 2013. Details of the 2013 UK summer schools will be announced soon.
  2. Those interested in applying for a place at a US summer school should visitwww.suttontrust.com for more details. Applications close in February 2013. Students may be able to participate if their family income is up to £45,000.
  3. Students will participate in a week-long visit to the US, where they will get a taste of US campus life, learn more about US culture and higher education. The students will be based at either Yale University or MIT, but will also travel to other area institutions for campus tours and to learn more about what universities and campus life are like in the US. Students will have a chance to sit in on academic lectures, as well as meet current students, admissions staff and alumni from a wide variety of US universities.  Those students interested and committed to applying for a full undergraduate degree in the US will be supported by a dedicated team of knowledgeable advisors throughout the process of applying for admissions and financial aid at American universities. Support will also be provided for schools and parents.
  4. The US-UK Fulbright Commission is a not-for-profit organisation that promotes peace and cultural understanding through a wide range of postgraduate and postdoctoral scholarships for US and UK citizens and its EducationUSA advisory service. www.fulbright.org.uk.