Guide for Teachers and Advisers 2022
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Guide for Teachers and Advisers 2022 entry Welcome At Cambridge, we remain determined that the many recent changes affecting the sector Contents (curriculum reform, changes to student finance, Working with schools and colleges 1 increased budgetary pressures on schools and – Why Cambridge? 2 most significantly – the global pandemic) don’t Applying to Cambridge 4 affect our capacity to identify, encourage and Selection 12 admit young people with the academic ability Support and settling in 22 and potential to thrive at this University. Further information and 24 We appreciate having your input, and that of resources your colleagues, both to help us understand how Application timetable 2021-22 25 you have adapted your educational delivery to the most challenging of circumstances, and to work with us to persuade your students that Please note higher education remains a worthwhile investment of their time, energy and resources. This guide covers application and admission procedures for Home fee status applicants for Together, we’re making progress: more than 70 2022 entry, and the information contained is per cent of UK students at Cambridge are now intended to be used in conjunction with that found in the Undergraduate Prospectus and on from maintained-sector schools, and admittance the Undergraduate Study website of those from under-represented groups has also (www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk). grown. However, we do need your assistance in Information for international/overseas applicants encouraging those who may not already have (including those from the Channel Islands and Isle considered Cambridge as an option, to make of Man) can be found on the website. Guidance sure that our undergraduate body reflects the on fee status can be found here: spread of talent across the UK population, and www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/ international/fee-status that they know they will thrive here. This guide represents life at the University and Having been Cambridge’s Director of Admissions Colleges prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. We may for five years now, I’ve really valued my need to make changes to the information in this publication due to the pandemic and/or interactions with teachers, both individually and Government guidelines and restrictions. It is very at various meetings and conferences, and very important that the students you are supporting much hope that this dialogue continues. Please check the University and College websites for the do get in touch with me directly at the email most up-to-date information before applying or address below. accepting an offer to study at the University. www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk Schools and colleges Throughout this guide, we use the term school to Dr Sam Lucy describe all educational establishments offering Director of Admissions for education up to and including FE. This includes the Cambridge Colleges colleges and sixth forms. [email protected] www.cam.ac.uk/teachers 1 Events The Cambridge Admissions Office (CAO) staff organise a Working with range of in-person and virtual events throughout the UK each year to encourage students to consider the University of Cambridge. We’ve detailed some of these below. Please schools and check the University website, or relevant College or department website for event updates and details before planning your visit. colleges • Virtual Tour – access a range of information, 360 degree photography, articles and films from our Colleges and departments. • Cambridge Open Days, for Year 12 students – check the We’re committed to working alongside schools and website for 2021 Open Day dates, regular updates and colleges to make sure all suitably qualified students, no booking instructions (www.cam.ac.uk/opendays). matter what their background, have all the information they need to apply to Cambridge. We run a range of • School visits and HE fairs face-to-face and online schemes and events designed to (www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/events). help you access this information and support your students • Oxford and Cambridge Student Conferences for Year 12 in their journey to our University. students and teachers (www.cam.ac.uk/ocsc). College Area Links Scheme • Subject Masterclasses for Year 12 students (www.cam.ac.uk/masterclasses). The Area Links Scheme connects every area of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to a specific • Outreach events and initiatives for students from a Cambridge College. variety of widening participation backgrounds (www.cam.ac.uk/outreachevents). The Scheme was established to build effective relationships with schools and colleges across the UK by: Find more information online at: www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/events. • providing specific/defined contact points so that schools have a direct way of staying in touch with the collegiate Cambridge Students’ Union (Cambridge SU) University Initiatives • enabling the Cambridge Colleges to develop knowledge Cambridge SU organises a popular residential Shadowing of specific regions and understanding of the local Scheme and manages the Alternative Prospectus website education environments (www.applytocambridge.com, which includes the ‘Ask a If you’d like some information about the University or to Student’ facility for each course and College), as well as arrange a visit, your link College is keen to hear from you! running various other initiatives. For more information, Each College runs its own programme of activities for the contact the Cambridge SU Undergraduate Access, schools in their link regions. For example, Admissions Tutors Education and Participation Officer (see p24). and Schools Liaison Officers may visit schools, run Events for teachers and HE advisers masterclasses and/or organise visits to Cambridge. You’re welcome to attend most of our open days and Find out which College is linked to your area online at: events with your students. However, the CAO and several www.cam.ac.uk/arealinks. Colleges also organise some events specifically for teachers Subject enrichment and HE advisers. See the website for further information (www.cam.ac.uk/teachers). The University’s HE+ website (www.myheplus.com) provides resources for students in Years 12 and 13 to explore their subject(s) of interest beyond their current curriculum. Not sure who to contact? The University also offers a number of public events suitable for students in younger year groups. Details of To find out more about how we can work with these can be accessed at: you, contact your link College or speak to the www.cam.ac.uk/public-engagement. Cambridge Admissions Office. www.cam.ac.uk/arealinks [email protected] 2 Why Cambridge? Why Cambridge? No. 1 89% 110 in the Complete University of our students who responded affiliates of the University have Guide 2021 and top 3 in the to the Graduate Outcomes Survey been awarded the Nobel Prize Guardian University Guide 2021. were in work or further study with since 1904. 15 months of graduating.¹ Top 10 3 years Cambridge is one of the top ten universities most Cambridge guarantees most students College- often targeted by Britain’s leading graduate employers owned accommodation for at least three years (The Graduate Market in 2020). (see below). Academic excellence More personal tuition The University of Cambridge is one of the world’s greatest In addition to lectures, practicals and seminars, students universities, consistently rated among the top higher receive regular small-group tuition (most often for education institutions in national and international league between one and three students). This more personal tables. We provide a challenging, flexible and individual tuition, known as ‘supervision’, allows students to explore learning experience. Our teaching staff include many course material in much greater depth, investigate new national and world subject leaders, so students have the approaches, receive regular feedback and clarify anything exciting opportunity to be taught by experts in their field. they’re unsure of. Flexible learning Outstanding support Many of our degree courses (formally referred to at To help our students succeed we provide expert teachers Cambridge as Triposes) encompass several subjects, with and lecturers, excellent library and computing facilities, some options available across several courses where the superb labs and lots of support. Our extensive welfare and subjects overlap. Our courses are generally broad in the support systems ensure that students’ individual needs can first year, before becoming increasingly focused in later be recognised and met. As a result, we have consistently years (see p7). This allows students to explore their subject high student retention rates, with the latest figures and confirm their strengths and interests before indicating that 98.5 per cent of students continue or specialising. complete their undergraduate degree at the University (compared to 90.3 per cent nationally).² The collegiate structure Cambridge is a collegiate university that comprises various Accommodation guarantee faculties and departments in different academic subjects, The Cambridge Colleges guarantee accommodation to and a number of Colleges (see p8). Therefore, as well as single undergraduates without children for three years being a member of the University and an academic faculty/ (many also provide for fourth-year students)³, and students department, students also belong to a smaller College are only charged rent when they’re in residence – contracts community. are typically for 27-39