Break free from exams and coursework đ
You're spending term 1 & 2 gaining valuable knowledge, term 3 is the time for you to put it to good use and make a difference! ExtendED Learning is a chance for you to build skills and experiences for life beyond UCL!
Register your interest now to be the first to hear what we have on offer this year! 2026 ExtendED events launching in February 2026.
What is ExtendED Learning?
ExtendED is a collaboration between UCL and Students' Union UCL, offering a diverse range of learning opportunities in Term 3. Whether you're interested in one-off workshops, conferences, in-depth consultancy challenges, or innovation labs, the ExtendED programme allows you to explore new areas beyond assessments and dissertation.
This initiative provides a unique chance to build valuable skills and competencies without the pressure of grades. You'll also have access to a skills mapping platform to track your personal development and showcase your growth.
The programme is designed for experimentation and innovation, enabling you to make a positive impact on society while expanding your learning. With various formats, time commitments, and schedules available, there's something for everyone to get involved in.
Now is the time to invest in your future at your own pace, by curating your own learning experience, and having fun while making friends at the same time.
What can I expect from these events?
đ Practical Skills & Experience â Gain hands-on experience through workshops, consultancy challenges, and innovation labs, helping you develop problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking skills.
đ Career-Boosting Development â Enhance your CV with real-world projects, network with industry professionals, and use our skills mapping platform to showcase your personal growth.
đ€ Collaboration & Impact â Work with like-minded peers from different disciplines, tackle real societal challenges, and make a meaningful impact while experimenting and innovating in a supportive environment.
đ Networking Opportunities â Connect with professionals from external organisations, gain industry insights, and build valuable relationships that could open doors to future career opportunities.
We're currently working hard on all that's to offer this year after a successful pilot last year. We'll be launching our 2026 programme in February, but in the meantime why not take a look at what was on offer last year? Most activities have limited capacity.
What's On?
Take a look at what Students' Union UCL offered as part of The ExtendED programme last year. The programme is split into 4 strands to help you navigate what's on offer.
Find more details about each strand via UCL's website, and details of which strand each of our events is a part of below.
Innovate and Create
- Social Enterprise & Your studies: Supper Club
A 2 hour (free!) lunch, where you had the opportunity to speak to our very own Social Enterprise team. Students who attended were able to speak to successful social entrepreneurs and hear more about how they can use their business skills to make a real difference.
Connect With Communities
- Team Up for Social Change: Social hackathon
Heard of the term 'hackaton' before? Imagine gathering a group of tech whizzes or coders to hack a problem within a limited period of time. Our Social Hackathons are similar but we've put our own spin on it- events for you (UCL students) to become real world problem solvers, working with local non-profit organisations who have provided the problem for you to make a real impact.
Our 2026 Hackaton was hosted at UCL East, where 5 organisations were invited to share the problems they were facing with students having the option to choose which most reflected their passions. They spent the day speaking to the organisation, working as a team to create a solution, and present their ideas to the relevant organisation.The day ended with a celebration of everyones efforts (a great opportunity to network!) at Riverside East.
- Consultancy Challenge: A week to change the world
One of our most sought after events, this was a 5 day opportunity to develop your project management, stakeholder management and consultancy skills. We provided training throughout the week, as well as introducing students to Redemption Roasters, a social enterprise who train prison leavers with the skills they need to gain secure and meaningful employment.
Students were given the challenge to work in teams, working against the clock to assist Redemption Roasters with a key issue they face, being given the chance to speak to redemption roasters in short meetings across the week.
On the last day, students were invited to pitch their ideas to Redemption Roasters, whereby a winning team was chosen. All involved were then invited to enjoy a celebratory networking lunch.
Debate the Future
- Working in the real world: Cross-sector communication skills
Our âWorking in the Real World: Cross-Sector Communicationâ workshop was an eye-opening experience where students got to dive into how to communicate across different sectors with real impact, connect with people from non-profits, business, and public service, and level up your professional toolkit. It was all about building skills you actually use: teamwork, respectful dialogue, and navigating complex conversations in a way that makes a difference.
- Upskill4Life Workshop
Our âUpskill4Lifeâ workshop, led by expert trainers, gave students just like you practical, hands-on guidance to really stand out in the job market. Students learnt how to lead impartially, make fair decisions, and communicate with real confidence; powerful skills that employers are dying to see. This session also helped students reflect on their leadership strengths and sharpen decision-making so they can lead discussions or mediate conversations like a pro. This wasnât just a career prep session- it was a boost to your self-belief and your real-world readiness.
- Climate Hackaton
Last yearâs Climate Hackathon, led by sustainability experts, brought incredible insight into the realities of Climate Change and the changes we can make from the ground up. Students teamed up in mini-groups across two days, diving into how to make sustainability part of real-world industry standards. In partnership with the British Standards Institution (BSI), participants researched, prototyped, and pitched recommendations that balanced equity and environmental impact. Students had the chance to make a real change, with BSI taking student ideas forward into their youth consultation process.
Supercharge your Career
- Lightning Hack: Get that career spark!
Lightning Hack: Get That Career Spark! was a fast-paced design sprint that threw students straight into real-world problem solving. In just 90 minutes, teams formed and then tackled a challenge provided by a charitable organisation (Centre 404). Teams then pitched their ideas like it was Dragonâs Den. We loaded up the room with ideation stations: flipcharts, sticky notes, paper, pen (everything you needed to brainstorm under pressure). Along the way, students honed important skills; collaboration, influencing others, prioritising under time constraints, and giving sharp, agile pitches. We also built in a reflection moment so students could honestly assess where your strengths lie (and where there's still room to improve). Finally, teams pitched their solutions to a panel of stakeholders, voted on winners, and celebrated together.
- ENO Breathe: Building resilience under pressure
Last yearâs âGive Yourself Space to Breatheâ workshop was a super empowering pause for students under pressure - guided by Suzi Zumpe (Creative Director of ENO Breathe), students learned simple, evidence-based techniques around breath, posture, and voice that helped you take control when your body felt like it was taking over. Inspired by the award-winning ENO Breathe programme, the session bridged theory and practice, showing students how to shift from a stress response into a state of calm clarity, no prior experience or singing required!
- Make your point: Sharpening your presentations
Last year, our âMake Your Pointâ workshop was a game-changer if public speaking ever gave you butterflies. Led by Dr Steve Cross, a science communication pro and stand-up comedian, the session was as fun as it was practical. You had the opportunity to learn how to structure your talk, engage your audience, and talk about your work in a way that actually sticks. Steve mixed in serious presentation tips with a good dose of silliness to help you build confidence and stage presence.
- Storytelling: Sell yourself with confidence
In our âStorytelling: Sell Yourself with Confidenceâ workshop, Steve Cross hosted a fun and interactive session, where students learned how to turn personal experiences, skills, and ambitions into powerful narratives that really resonate, whether that's with employers, colleagues, or wider professional networks. By breaking down what makes a story stick, Steve helped students craft their story so that they can now present with clarity, confidence, and genuine impact.
