Pre-16 Aspiration Days
Specifically designed for students in Years 9–11, our Aspiration Days provide a supportive introduction to university life, while inspiring them to think about their future and the choices they get to make.
Join us at University of Gloucestershire for a tailor-made Aspiration Day designed to inspire your Year 9, 10 and 11 students to think about their future and the choices they get to make.
Packed with hands-on workshops, talks, campus tours, and the chance to chat with current students, our Aspiration Days get students thinking about what it’s really like to study at University and how their GCSEs will help to get them there.
Our Aspiration Days include a combination of the following sessions depending on your preference:
An interactive quiz that challenges misconceptions and builds accurate knowledge about university.
Explains how GCSE choices link to post-16 pathways and higher education opportunities.
An interactive activity where pupils design a university timetable to explore course structures and independent study.
A hands-on activity where pupils manage a student budget to build financial awareness and understand real-life costs.
Hands-on sessions led by outreach staff to give pupils a real insight into degree-level study.
Guided tours led by student ambassadors, showcasing key facilities and university life.
An open session where pupils can ask current students about courses and life at university.
All Higher Education Preparation Days meet Gatsby Benchmark 7.
We offer our Aspiration Days across all of our campuses throughout the academic year. Our best availability is between January and July. They typically run between 10am – 2.30pm.
As dates can fill up quickly, we recommend booking early to secure your preferred slot.
View all upcoming activities & events
“Thanks so much for today. The students gave me some very positive feedback on the way back, and personally, I found it to be really well presented and pitched at the right level. I’ve visited a few universities for aspiration type days, and today was the best one I’ve been on. And I was very impressed with the facilities on campus. I’d love to book one in for next year!”
Assistant Headteacher, Highfields School, July 2025
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Travel funding
We recognise that rising costs can make organising travel challenging. To help, funding is available to support travel to and from campuses for our activities. Please get in touch to discuss what your school or college may be able to claim.*
*Funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and must be claimed within 30 days of your visit. Schools and colleges are responsible for arranging travel directly with a provider. Reimbursement will be made to the school or college, subject to minimum student numbers and all paperwork being completed correctly within the timeframe.
Get in touch
You can get in touch with the Outreach Team using the options below.
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