How to choose a degree that helps you help others

5-week online programme setting you up to help others, save lives, or change the course of history.

You’ll get practical guidance on deciding what’s best to study at uni.

We’re not currently accepting applications for this programme. Sign up for email updates to stay in the loop.

The programme also offers:

A cohort of smart and curious like-minded people
Advice and personal statement review from current or former Oxbridge students & admissions staff
£100’s worth of free books of your choice

Dates: 27th February to 31st March, 2023 (finished by most schools’ Easter holidays)

Who: Smart, curious, and ambitiously altruistic year 12s currently living or studying in the UK. The programme is for any and all degree types — STEM, humanities, social sciences.

Applications: Applications were due by Sunday 12th February, 2023 and have now closed.

Scroll down to find out more

Weekly structure

Interactive videos, engaging quizzes, practical checklists, and other activities to help you explore your options
Weekly check-in and discussion with an advisor and 3-5 peers
Optional chats and virtual hangouts with participants exploring similar subjects to you
Discord channel, paired 1:1s, and opportunities to get to know each other

How our previous programme helped

“Discussions at Leaf helped me decide that I was definitely going to apply to Computer Science & Philosophy.”

Avantika
“I switched from natural sciences to biochemistry, because after a talk with Jamie during Leaf, I realised that I would rather not study lots that I wouldn’t end up ever using, and instead learn more within my subject of choice.”

Kian
“Your programme was amazing. I was considering investment banking or similar, but Leaf definitely allowed me to consider actually getting involved with programmes and organisations which seek to make the world better.”

Tomiwa

Programme overview

- Clarifying what you want, so you can actually get it
- Passion isn’t enough: Exploring what would make a degree fulfilling
- How to achieve 100s of times more by considering who to help
- Estimating which actions save the most lives
- Realising your potential: SMART goals for smart people
- How to change the course of history
- Slow and steady wins the race: how to achieve more (later)
- Picking what to leave to later life learning
- Risking the right amount: leaning into success vs trying new things
- Listing your options, including the niche ones
- Using quick experiments to avoid degrees you’ll regret
- Scoring your options, including backups
- Finalising a plan: making progress while keeping options open
- Marking milestones to check you’re on track
- Top tips for landing your top choice

Team

Jamie Harris

After graduating with a first-class degree in history from the University of Oxford, Jamie secured a distinction in his Postgraduate Certificate of Education and taught for several years at a Sixth Form college. He then became a researcher at a think tank and co-founded a nonprofit providing careers advice to individuals hoping to make a positive impact.
Hannah Rowberry

Hannah has a first class degree in natural sciences and a PGCE in secondary education, both from the University of Cambridge. After a few years in teaching, Hannah worked as an admissions and access officer at three Oxford colleges — Christ Church, Exeter, and Lady Margaret Hall — and now works as an admissions consultant.
Shannon Yang

Shannon holds a degree in philosophy, politics, and economics from the University of Oxford, where she was awarded several scholarships. Shannon has worked across marketing, sales, and education within nonprofits and co-founded a meetup group in her city that brings together professionals interested in using their donations and careers to do the most good in the world.
Anna Partridge

Anna is a first year geography student at the University of Cambridge. She participated in Leaf's residential programme in 2021 and enjoyed the experience so much that she returned in 2022 as a facilitator. Anna was awarded a prize for her essay on case studies of successful international environmental cooperation.