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Elite University Preparation

NCS students stand in front of the MIT campus map during their visit to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology which is part of our Elite University Programme.
Newham Collegiate students explore the MIT campus during their educational trip to the US which is part of our Elite University Programme.

At The NCS we help shape you to be the very best version of yourself; providing you with the knowledge, skills and habits of mind that will not only get you into university, but take up positions of leadership in your chosen fields.

With the help of our Emerging Talent Programme, soft skills workshops, lecture programme, BMAT and UCAT preparation and bespoke super curriculum; over 95% of NCS students receive offers to continue their studies at Russell Group Universities after A-Level.

Increasingly, many NCS students are setting their sights for the more elite universities of Oxbridge and the prestigious Ivy League in America. Since opening, The NCS has provided some of the best preparation in the country for applying to these prestigious institutions.

The NCS has combined our support for Ivy League, Oxbridge and Russell Group university applications – along with our Professional Schools and Vocational Career access – under one universal Elite University Preparation Programme to provide students with the very best information, advice and guidance possible.

The entire world of higher education is open to all NCS students and we will provide you with the resources to explore choices and support you to prepare the very best applications possible.

Our aim is to help and assist you to achieve your deserved next step. Whether that’s a Russell Group university, Oxbridge, an Ivy League education in the USA or work placement / industry programmes across the world, The NCS has the capacity and capabilities to help you realise your ambitions.

Make a selection below to learn more about how we prepare students to make competitive applications to some of the most elite university destinations in the UK and beyond!

Historic Ivy League university building with colorful fall leaves, representing the elite academic environment.

Ivy League & USA

Oxford university's historic domed building, representing centuries of academic excellence.

Oxbridge

UCL's historic building and bustling student activity, representing the academic excellence and lively environment of a Russell Group university."

Russell Group

Close-up of a handshake symbolizing agreement and partnership in school leaver degree apprenticeship programmes.

School Leaver Degree Programmes

What is an elite university?

Elite universities are the top 1% of institutions in the world, which are amongst the highest ranking both by performance and reputation amongst academics. In the UK these form of Oxbridge (the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge) and the Russell Group of universities. In the USA these are widely considered to be the Ivy League group along with MIT and CalTech which both have focusses on technology and engineering.

What are the best universities in the World?

The best universities in the world feature amongst the top 1% of those ranked annually by both reputation amongst academics and key performance indicators. 

Whilst the league tables change annually, the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and Imperial College London in the UK often rank highly. USA institutions regularly in the top ten include Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard Univeristy, Princeton and Caltech.

At time of publication (2024) the rankings based on performance place Oxford in first place for the either year running, followed by Stanford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard, and Cambridge to form the top five universities in the world. 

NCS Lecture Programme

The NCS is privileged to be able to welcome high profile guest speakers from the world of academia and industry to share their knowledge and experiences with NCS students.

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