The following are free London-based lectures that need to be booked in advance. Check individual websites for timings, locations and details of how to book places. They are an excellent way for students to learn more about a preferred degree subject.

Cambridge University Subject Masterclasses aim to give academically able students in Year 12 the chance to experience typical undergraduate teaching and student life at Cambridge. The classes are subject-specific and include taster lectures, Qs & As, an introduction to the Cambridge admission process and the opportunity to learn about life as a Cambridge student from Cambridge students.
https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/events/masterclasses

 

Conway Hall hosts a range of activities, including ‘Thinking on Sunday’ lectures. It is known for being a hub for free speech and independent thought.
https://conwayhall.org.uk/events/

 

The Geological Society holds public lectures twice daily at 3pm and 6pm related to improving knowledge and understanding of the Earth.
https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/gslpubliclectures19

 

Gresham College has 130 free annual lectures and events that are open to all. If attendance in person is not possible, lectures are live streamed and over 2,000 lectures are available on their website and on You Tube. Lectures span art and literature, business, history, law, maths, music, politics, religion and science.
https://www.gresham.ac.uk/attend/

InvestIN’s programmes aim to offer students experience of what it’s like to work in, for example, law, banking, engineering and medicine, before they start university. The programmes are designed to give students a taste for different careers and are led by experienced professionals from competitive careers. The programmes are fee paying.
https://investineducation.co.uk/collections/programmes

 

The King’s Factor is a King’s College after-school maths club that aims to give Year 12 and 13 students the chance to enrich their experience of maths through challenging and interesting problems to help develop students’ understanding of maths and increase confidence in further study and application of maths. Sessions are led by staff from King’s Mathematics Department and run every fortnight in the evening. Eligibility criteria apply.
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/nms/depts/mathematics/about/KingsFactor/kingsfactor.aspx

 

King’s College’s K+ programme is part of King’s widening participation programme that aims to open up access to King’s to under-represented groups.
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/widening-participation/wp

The K+ programme runs over two years and includes events, activities and academic workshops to help support students’ university applications. The programme also provides students with skills needed to reach their potential as an undergraduate student. On successful completion of the programme, students are eligible for the K+ reduced offer to study at King’s – these are two A Level grades lower than the standard offer (excluding medicine and dentistry). Eligibility criteria apply with emphasis on under-represented students from state schools.
http://kplus.london/about/

 

King’s College Medicine in Action Lectures run lectures aimed at Sixth Form students. Clinicians from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and KCL scientists deliver a range of lectures. The lectures aim to give students the chance to talk to experts and broaden their knowledge of science and medicine. KCL staff and students also give talks to prospective medicine students, navigating the medicine application process. Students must register to be on the mailing list for events’ information and to book a place. Sessions take place at Guy’s.
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/lsm/study/outreach/ks5/actionlecture.aspx

 

The LSE hosts up to 200 public lectures every year during weekday evenings. Some of the most influential figures in social sciences speak at these lectures. Their website lists details of lectures and a list of podcasts of past lectures. http://www.lse.ac.uk/Events

 

The Royal Institution hosts talks delivered by leading scientists and cultural commentators, from ‘Harnessing the power of immunology’ to ‘The physics of black holes’.
http://www.rigb.org/whats-on

 

The Royal Society hosts science-based lectures delivered by leading experts on a range of contemporary issues. Past lectures have included, ‘The quantum revolution in science and technology’ to ‘The next big thing’ and more. The Royal Society also hosts a summer science exhibition that celebrates the cutting edge of UK science. https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/

 

UCL Minds programme includes public lectures, podcasts, performances and exhibitions on a range of topics, from economics to neurosciences.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ucl-minds/