Cambridge Courses: What Students Study

what student study in university of cambridge

The University of Cambridge is a public research university in Cambridge, England, and is the third oldest university in the world. The university offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across its 31 colleges and over 150 academic departments, faculties, and institutions. Cambridge offers courses in a variety of subjects, including mathematics, engineering, the sciences, theology, history, and modern languages. The university also provides opportunities for flexible and online learning, scholarships, and a foundation year for students who have experienced disadvantages in their education.

Characteristics Values
Type of university Public collegiate research university
Location Cambridge, England
Year founded 1209
Number of colleges 31
Number of academic departments, faculties, and other institutions Over 150
Number of schools Six
Student body Undergraduate and postgraduate students from around the world
Courses Full-time and part-time courses, including a foundation year and executive and professional education
Teaching style Supervisions (small group sessions) and lectures
Notable alumni G. H. Hardy, J. E. Littlewood, Srinivasa Ramanujan, W. V. D. Hodge
Scholarships The Stormzy Scholarship for Black UK Students, Gates Cambridge Scholarships, etc.

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Undergraduate and postgraduate programmes

The University of Cambridge is a public research university in Cambridge, England, founded in 1209. It is the world's third-oldest university in continuous operation. The university consists of 31 semi-autonomous colleges and over 150 academic departments, faculties, and institutions organised into six schools.

The University of Cambridge offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across its various colleges and departments. While specific course offerings may vary, here are some examples of the types of programmes available:

Undergraduate Programmes:

  • Sciences and Engineering: Colleges like Churchill have a strong focus on mathematics, engineering, and the sciences.
  • Humanities and Social Sciences: With colleges like King's, known for its left-wing political orientation, offering programmes in subjects like history, theology, and modern languages.
  • Education: The Faculty of Education offers undergraduate programmes such as the Cambridge PGCE.

Postgraduate Programmes:

  • Research Degrees: Cambridge offers part-time and full-time postgraduate research degrees, allowing students to pursue their research while balancing career and other commitments.
  • Executive and Professional Education: The university provides flexible online and offline programmes for working professionals, led by Cambridge academics.
  • Specialised Programmes: Certain colleges offer postgraduate programmes with a specific focus, such as the three theological colleges (Westcott House, Westminster College, and Ridley Hall Theological College) that are part of the Cambridge Theological Federation.

Admissions and Scholarships

Admissions to the University of Cambridge can be highly competitive, and prospective students are advised to research and apply strategically to colleges with lower applicant numbers and higher acceptance rates for their chosen subject. The university also offers various scholarships, such as the Stormzy Scholarship for Black UK Students and the Gates Cambridge Scholarships for international students, to support talented students from diverse backgrounds.

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Courses for disadvantaged students

The University of Cambridge is a public collegiate research university in Cambridge, England, founded in 1209. It is the world's third-oldest university and is made up of 31 semi-autonomous colleges and over 150 academic departments, faculties, and institutions, organised into six schools.

The University of Cambridge has a history of only being open to male students for the first several centuries of its existence. The first colleges for women were established in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and female students were officially admitted in 1948.

Today, the university is committed to increasing student diversity and attracting students from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds. This includes a focus on increasing the number of BAME and Black students, with initiatives such as the Stormzy Scholarship for Black UK Students, which covers tuition costs and maintenance grants for up to four years.

Cambridge also offers the Cambridge Foundation Year, a fully-funded, one-year course for students who have experienced disadvantages in their education. The university has also launched a £500 million fundraising campaign to support a "transition programme" for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, which includes a three-week bridging programme and a transition year before beginning a degree.

In addition, St John's College at the University of Cambridge has offered free university places to the UK's most disadvantaged students. This programme, beginning in October 2023, provides financial support of more than £17,000 per academic year, covering tuition fees, rent, and maintenance costs.

The University of Cambridge also offers part-time courses and executive and professional education options, providing flexible ways to study for students who need to balance their career and other commitments with their academic pursuits.

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Part-time and online courses

The University of Cambridge offers a range of part-time and online courses through the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE). These courses are designed to be flexible and accessible, allowing students to balance their studies with their jobs and other commitments. Part-time courses are typically taught in blocks of one or two weeks outside of the university's full term, and students are expected to take up residence during these teaching blocks.

The University of Cambridge's part-time Master's degrees are taught by leading practitioners, academics, and researchers in their respective fields. These programmes typically span two academic years and offer students the opportunity to gain advanced knowledge, conduct research, and expand their professional networks. The creative writing course, for instance, is taught by academics and professional writers, allowing students to pursue their Master's while working full-time.

The ICE also offers a range of short, online courses that are open to everyone. These courses cover diverse topics, including cosmology, creative writing, finance, and coaching. Students can also pursue full, award-bearing university courses online, such as the two-year, part-time Masters in Social Innovation, which explores global challenges. Other online courses include the Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Business and the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Medicine.

In addition to ICE, the Cambridge Judge Business School offers part-time programmes. Unlike many universities, Cambridge's part-time degrees are not solely distance learning programmes. Students are expected to attend lectures, complete assessments, and actively engage in the intellectual and social experiences of Cambridge life. For research students, this involves approximately 45 days per year of formal supervision and training on campus.

The Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) also offers online courses that empower individuals to create a sustainable impact through their everyday actions. These courses are designed to be flexible, enabling learners to drive change in their communities while studying from anywhere in the world.

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Scholarships for Black UK students

The University of Cambridge is a public research university in Cambridge, England, founded in 1209. It is the third-oldest university in the world and has over 150 academic departments, faculties, and institutions. The University of Cambridge offers a wide range of courses for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Some colleges are known for their expertise and focus on specific academic disciplines, such as Churchill College for the sciences and engineering, while others have a more ideological focus, like King's College, which is known for its left-wing political orientation.

To support Black UK students, the University of Cambridge offers the Stormzy Scholarship, which was launched in 2018. The scholarship is a collaboration between Stormzy's #Merky Foundation and HSBC UK. It aims to provide financial support and alleviate the burden of tuition costs and maintenance grants for Black UK students studying at Cambridge. The scholarship has helped attract more applications from underrepresented groups, and the number of Black UK students admitted to undergraduate courses has more than doubled in recent years.

The Stormzy Scholarship has two main components. Firstly, it covers the full cost of tuition fees for Black UK students studying at Cambridge. Secondly, it provides a maintenance grant to reduce the need for recipients to take out additional loans. The scholarship is open to applicants of Black or mixed Black heritage who have been assessed for fee status as 'home' and have applied for student finance.

In addition to the Stormzy Scholarship, there are other scholarship opportunities available for students at Cambridge, such as the Gates Cambridge Scholarships, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which are specifically for postgraduate international students. The University also offers part-time courses, executive and professional education, and online study options to provide flexibility for students with other commitments.

The University of Cambridge is committed to supporting Black UK students and ensuring they feel at home and achieve their full potential. With the Stormzy Scholarship and other initiatives, the University strives to create a more inclusive environment and remove barriers to higher education for underrepresented groups.

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Colleges with different academic focuses

The University of Cambridge is a public collegiate research university in Cambridge, England, founded in 1209. It is composed of 31 colleges, faculties, departments, research centres, and laboratories, all of which belong to the university. Each college has its own staff and fellows who are members of university departments.

While the university organises lectures and awards degrees, undergraduates receive academic supervision within their colleges through small group teaching sessions. If a student's academic focus does not align with the fellows at their college, they may go to other colleges for supervision.

  • Churchill College: Known for its expertise and focus on the sciences and engineering. This is due, in part, to a requirement imposed by Winston Churchill that 70% of its students study mathematics, engineering, and the sciences.
  • King's College: Known for its left-wing political orientation.
  • Robinson College: Has a reputation for an academic focus on sustainability and environmentalism.
  • Theological colleges: Westcott House, Westminster College, and Ridley Hall Theological College are members of the Cambridge Theological Federation and are in partnership with the university.

In addition to academic differences, colleges vary in the costs they charge students for room and board.

Frequently asked questions

The University of Cambridge is a public collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. It was founded in 1209 and is the world's third-oldest university in continuous operation.

The University of Cambridge offers a wide range of courses across its 31 colleges and over 150 academic departments, faculties, and institutions, organised into six schools. Some colleges have a reputation for expertise in certain academic disciplines, for example, Churchill College is known for its focus on the sciences and engineering. The University offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, as well as part-time courses and online study options.

The main structural pillar of Cambridge's teaching system is supervisions, which are small group sessions between an academic and two or three students. In addition, students attend daily lectures, although these are not compulsory.

The University of Cambridge admits talented students from around the world to its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. It offers scholarships for students from various backgrounds, including the Stormzy Scholarship for Black UK students and the Gates Cambridge Scholarships for international students. The Cambridge Foundation Year is a stepping stone for students who have experienced disadvantage in their education. The University also has a number of colleges for women, the first of which were founded in the late 19th century.

Cambridge is a beautiful city, with colleges that are architectural marvels. The colleges are mostly clustered in the city centre, which has a small-town feel. Social life revolves around the colleges, and you are likely to bump into friends when you go into town. However, some students may find this a little suffocating, and the University has also been criticised for not doing enough to promote diversity, support mental health, and ease the pressure on its students.

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