The Advanced Study Program in Science provides an opportunity for high-achieving students to enhance their university experiences through an enriched study program which included individual mentoring by a scientist, access to research laboratories from first year and access to creative thinkers across many disciplines. This program was developed in the light of evidence accumulated through student surveys and focus groups indicating that very able students were often bored and underchallenged in their early years at university. The response to the program by both students and participating scientists has been very positive and the impact at an institutional level is evident.