What Are Super-Curriculars?
Super-curricular activities are experiences you pursue beyond your A-Level or IB curriculum that demonstrate genuine intellectual passion in your chosen subject area. Oxford and Cambridge explicitly state that they seek students who pursue their subject beyond what is required.
What Oxford, Cambridge & LSE Actually Look For
Independent reading in your subject area
Real-world application of academic concepts
NGO or fieldwork projects connecting to your subject
Academic competitions and published work
Generic volunteering with no academic link
Vague "passion" statements without evidence
Why Super-Curriculars Matter for UCAS
4,000
Characters in UCAS personal statement
650
Words to make your case
0
Words wasted on vague statements
Forgettable vs. Unforgettable
❌ "I am passionate about economics."
✅ "Running a KCS Foundation rural financial literacy project in Bihar connected Banerjee and Duflo's randomised control trial methodology to measurable community outcomes I personally tracked — deepening my conviction to study development economics."
Super-Curricular Examples by Subject
Economics / Development Studies
Partner with KCS Foundation to design and oversee a rural financial literacy or vocational training program. Connect your findings to Acemoglu, Sen or Banerjee's research on poverty and institutional development.
Politics / International Relations / PPE
Analyse the political economy of rural Bihar — caste dynamics, government welfare schemes, NGO accountability frameworks — through your KCS Foundation project lens. Connect to Rawls, Sen or Acemoglu's frameworks.
Medicine / Global Health
Lead a health awareness campaign in rural India through KCS Foundation. Reflect on social determinants of health, healthcare access disparities and community health outcomes. Complements clinical work experience powerfully.
Education / Social Work
Design an educational intervention — a literacy program, STEM workshop series or digital access initiative — and measure learning outcomes. Connect to pedagogical theory from Vygotsky or Freire.
Engineering / Computer Science
Lead the technical design of a rural school computer lab or coding workshop through KCS Foundation. Connect technical decisions to broader questions of technology access and digital equity.
How to Write About Your Project in Your UCAS Personal Statement
Describe the project briefly
2–3 sentences maximum. What it was, where, and what you did.
Identify a specific observation or surprise
What did you encounter that you didn't expect? This shows genuine engagement.
Connect explicitly to an academic text or concept
Name the economist, theorist or framework. Be specific — not "I read about development".
Explain how this deepened your desire to study
Close the loop — connect the experience to why you want to study this subject at university.
Timeline for UK Students
Lower Sixth / Year 10
Ideal2+ years before UCAS submission — maximum data, strongest narrative.
Upper Sixth / Year 11
Strong12-month project gives complete documented data for your personal statement.
UCAS Oxbridge Deadline (Oct 15)
CriticalEnsure 6+ months of documented activity before this date for Oxbridge applications.
KCS Foundation for UK Students
One project. Your UCAS statement. Oxford's attention.
KCS Foundation works with UK-based students applying to Oxbridge, Russell Group and global universities — providing all the academic documentation, impact reports and recommendation letters your application needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a super-curricular for Oxford and Cambridge?
Any activity beyond your A-Level or IB curriculum that demonstrates genuine intellectual engagement with your chosen subject. NGO projects, independent research, academic competitions, relevant reading and published work all qualify.
How many characters is a UCAS personal statement?
Your UCAS personal statement is 4,000 characters (approximately 650 words). Every sentence must count — and a KCS Foundation project gives you specific, academically connected, authentic material to fill it powerfully.
Can a KCS Foundation project be used for both UCAS and Common App?
Absolutely. One great project can be described across UCAS personal statement, Common App essay, supplemental essays, Coalition App and any other application system.