Pupils, who travelled from various areas including London and Cambridgeshire, experienced three days of real-life lectures, workshops and social activities whilst meeting current students and living in the institution’s world-class student accommodation.

The event was organised by the Accesss Partnership Team, and Becky Heard Access Lead Officer, hailed it as a great success.

“The students who attended got immersed in university life, experiencing the academic, social and living away from home sides of Higher Education,” she said.

“It gave them a lot of confidence to see that going to university is something very achievable. Lots of students said the experience has reinvigorated their desire to finish their A-levels or BTECs, and their passion for their subject. We hope to see many of them back here next year as undergraduates!”

Classes of 20 pupils were divided into seven subject areas: Psychology, Media, Art and Design, Nursing and Midwifery, Business, Law, and Computer Science.

Each lecture and workshop was tailored to provide a true experience of the challenges they will face at university.

Media course students were tasked to record a live TV programme, while the Art & Design students created a motion image using animation.

Law students visited Luton Crown Court to witness real cases and were also able to ask questions to a court judge.

Business students put their entrepreneurial skills to test whilst developing a business plan for their own product, and Computer Science students were taught programming languages.

Nursing and Midwifery students were given a taster of the various subjects on the courses, and Psychology students looked at subjects such as learning from disasters, and understanding the psychology of romantic love.

Josh Knight, who went to the summer school and studied Psychology, added: “Being from the Luton area, I have my heart set on moving away from it, but after staying in the accommodation and seeing the general lifestyle at the University, it seems like a really good place to go, especially if you’re not from the area.

“I’d certainly recommend this place to people.”

The following week a Sports Science and Physical Activity summer school was held on the Bedford campus, with students having sessions in the labs and gaining an overview of the multiple disciplinary aspects to studying sport at the University.

Wayne Instrell said, “I would recommend this experience to everyone, it gives you a great feel for university and taste of the subject.”