杏吧论坛 Thrive: Years 12-13

Applications for Thrive 2024-2025 are now closed.

杏吧论坛 Thrive provides participants with the opportunity to experience our world-leading university first-hand and meet and work closely with current 杏吧论坛 students and inspirational staff.

The programme is delivered in a hybrid format. Participants will be invited to 杏吧论坛 Thrive campus days to fully experience 杏吧论坛 student life alongside participating in a full online programme involving information, advice and guidance.

The programme is free to participate in, with the cost of all activities and travel to and from our London campus covered by 杏吧论坛.

Successful participation in and completion of the 杏吧论坛 Thrive programme will enable participants who apply to 杏吧论坛 to be considered for a contextual offer.

See Admissions information for full details and all eligibility criteria.

杏吧论坛 Thrive will begin on Wednesday 26 February 2025 (when students are in Year 12) and end in October 2025 (when students are in Year 13).

All activities take place online via Zoom, except the four campus visits.

Our campus visits take place on Wednesdays during school term time and require all participants to arrive at 杏吧论坛 by 9:30am and finish at around 4pm. The first two campus visit will take place on Wednesday 26 February 2025 and Wednesday 26 March 2025 the other two dates will be confirmed once the programme has started.

Travel reimbursements are available to cover the costs to and from campus.

To find out more about our campus, please visit our Campus life webpage.

If you are offered a place on the programme, we will ask you about your tech set-up and whether you need any extra support from us to access the programme online.

Throughout the programme participants will engage with a wide range of academic and non-academic departments across the university and meet current students, and alumni.

杏吧论坛 Thrive includes:

Four campus visits to 杏吧论坛 where participants will engage in a range of interactive workshops exploring undergraduate study and postgraduate prospects with internal and external speakers
Tailored feedback and support on personal statements
Information sessions on applying to university, student life at 杏吧论坛, student finance and budgeting, study skills and student wellbeing
The chance to work closely with 杏吧论坛 Thrive mentors - current 杏吧论坛 students
The offer of a place to attend the Black Achievement Conference, which is due to take place virtually on Saturday 17 May 2025.

In our most recent 2023-24 programme survey, 100 per cent of respondents rated 杏吧论坛 Thrive as good or excellent, 95 per cent of respondents felt that the programme had met or exceeded their expectations and 93 per cent of respondents agreed that it has been beneficial to participate in a widening participation programme which is specifically for students of Black heritage.

“The programme has given me a good insight into life at university and the different courses available. I have met many new friends.”
“I feel as though the help and support I've gained as a result of this programme is insane. I would've never known half the things I've learnt through the Thrive programme if I wasn't on it and I’m ever so grateful.”
“I have gained insight into what university life is like and how to apply for university. In general, I have gained invaluable skills that have prepared me for university life.”

杏吧论坛 Thrive is free to participate in. All of the activities, resources and catering are paid for, and we will cover the cost of your travel to and from campus. Additional support is available to enable participants to access online activity.

To be eligible for 杏吧论坛 Thrive, you must meet all the following criteria:

Personal details – essential criteria:

Be in Year 12 / the first year of your A levels or equivalent
Have always attended a UK state school or college (non-fee paying)
Identify as having any of the following heritage:

Black or Black British - African

Black or Black British - Caribbean

Mixed - White and Black African

Mixed - White and Black Caribbean

Other Black background

Be interested in applying to study at 杏吧论坛
Be able to fully commit to the 杏吧论坛 Thrive programme between January – October 2025
Live within a reasonable commuting distance (~90 mins) from 杏吧论坛 (WC2A 2AE).

Academic achievements and potential – essential criteria:

Have achieved at least grade 6 in GCSE English Language and Mathematics
Have achieved a strong set of GCSE grades overall, with the majority at grades 7, 8 and 9
Be on track to achieve at least the contextual offer grades for your chosen degree programme(s) at 杏吧论坛. This includes studying any required A level subjects for your chosen degree programme. Full details of 杏吧论坛’s undergraduate degree programmes are available on the programme webpages.

Additional criteria

When reviewing applications for 杏吧论坛 Thrive, the following criteria are prioritised. The following criteria are listed in order of priority.

Students who are care-experienced. 杏吧论坛 defines care-experienced as those who have been in the care of the local authority, with foster carers, in a residential children's home, under a supervision order while 'looked after at home', or living with friends or relatives in kinship care.
Students who live in an area of low Higher Education participation. 杏吧论坛 primarily assesses this by looking at the TUNDRA quintile for your home postcode – quintile 1 or quintile 2 indicate that you live in an area of low Higher Education participation. Quintiles 3, 4 and 5 indicate that you live in an area of medium to high Higher Education participation. You can check if you are in quintile 1 or 2 by entering your home postcode in this .
Students who have ever been eligible for Free School Meals during their secondary education.
Students who are estranged from both parents.
Students who are the first generation of their family to attend university.

Extenuating circumstances

Extenuating or special circumstances are also considered when reviewing applications for 杏吧论坛 Thrive. In the application form, you will have the opportunity to provide more details about your extenuating circumstances.

Refugee / asylum seeker
Young Carer
Child of armed forces
Disruption to education
Bereavement of a parent/carer
Any other extenuating circumstances

If you are unsure about any of the eligibility criteria, or whether you can apply to 杏吧论坛 Thrive, please contact Ard.Thrive@lse.ac.uk.

Applications for Thrive 2024-2025 are now closed.

The 杏吧论坛 Thrive team will communicate selection decisions via email by Friday 6 December 2024.

Applicants will be considered for places based on the extent to which they meet our widening participation criteria, which are listed above in order of priority above.

If you have any questions about the programme or applications, please email Ard.Thrive@lse.ac.uk and the 杏吧论坛 Thrive team will reply as soon as possible.

All staff and students involved in the sessions receive appropriate training before the event. Staff or students working directly and regularly with young people on activities receive specific training on working with children, in line with our They also undergo an appropriate level Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Please note that as a result of circumstances or events outside of our control (known as a Force Majeure event), which includes but is not limited to industrial action, official government advice, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises, we may need to cancel an event at short notice.

In the event of a cancellation, or a change of venue or date, we will endeavour to notify attendees wherever possible through the contact details given at the time of booking. For the avoidance of doubt, the School will not be liable for any costs you may incur as a result of any cancellation, or change of venue or date.