The Cambridge University African Students Mentorship Programme (CAMP), formally known as the ASCU Mentorship Programme is an initiative owned and organised by the African Society of Cambridge University that aims to provide general guidance and support on the postgraduate application process for Africans applying to the University of Cambridge. CAMP is the first University of Cambridge African students-led institutionalized mentorship programme for Africans, that provides financial support for application fees as needed. The structured programme will be run from August 2022 to December 2022 and will include one-to-one mentorship support with a matched member of the university. Further support will be provided for mentees with successful Cambridge applications.
Why CAMP Exists
The main aim of CAMP is to increase the application and success rate of African postgraduate applicants coming to Cambridge. We found that African students only make up about 2% of the full-time new entrant international student population enrolled at Cambridge. African applicants face multiple barriers to entry such as:
- Knowledge gap about important aspects of the Cambridge application
- Difficulty in obtaining strong reference letters
- High cost of application fees and English language proficiency test fees
ASCU has proposed a structured mentorship programme to provide general guidance and support on the application process for applicants from Africa. CAMP would provide:
- General session webinars to discuss tips on how to identify and contact a supervisor, and how to write strong personal statements and research proposals
- One-to-one mentorship support with a matched Cambridge student, alum or staff member
- Financial support for application fees for mentees with demonstrated hardship
Established in 1209, University of Cambridge is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large town of Cambridge (population range of 50,000-249,999 inhabitants), East of England. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Privy Council, University of Cambridge is a large (uniRank enrollment range: 15,000-19,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. University of Cambridge offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 810 years old higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic record and grades. The admission rate range is 10-20% making this UK higher education organization a most selective institution. International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment.