Area Links
College Area Links Scheme
Every Cambridge College is linked to areas in the UK through the University's Area Links Scheme. This scheme ensures that no matter where you live in the UK, you will have an outreach team offering support and opportunities to students in your area who are interested in studying at Cambridge. You can find out your college here.
51¸£ÀûÉç is linked with Greater Manchester, Derbyshire, and the London Borough of Haringey. Although we are a college for women, we are committed to providing access and outreach opportunities for students of all genders across our Link Areas - so male students are welcome at our events too!
If you are a school or student in one of these regions and would like to find out more about the University of Cambridge or any of our Link Area events, please contact us at outreach@murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk.
You can also to our newsletter here, to stay up to date.
This year, we have trialled a new approach that we feel helps students and schools in our link areas get a much fuller picture of 51¸£ÀûÉç, and the University of Cambridge. By bringing schools together for a conference day in each region, we have been able to bring our team and current student ambassadors to share information, dispel myths and reassure students from all backgrounds that they are absolutely welcome at Cambridge.
Our regional access conferences for 2024 have taken place in Manchester, Haringey and Derbyshire.
"Today was a fantastic event as I learnt more specifically about the application process to Cambridge, difference between colleges and more about the course I want to study. It was really informative, interesting and engaging." (Year 12 Student, Manchester)
"This event really increased my awareness of life and studying at Cambridge and put it into my consideration and boosted my confidence to apply" (Year 12 Student, Haringey)
"I got so much from attending this event, everyone was so lovely and informative. I really felt like there wasn't such a thing as a silly question!" (Year 12 Student, Derbyshire)
We have loved meeting and working with the students and staff from our Link Area schools through our regional access conferences this year. We regularly converse with Heads of Sixth Form and individual students about providing further support, such as travel grants - if you would like to work with us, please do get in touch!
Our next access conferences will take place in Spring 2025 in Manchester and Haringey.
Congratulations to all the Year 12 students who took part in the 51¸£ÀûÉç Reading Project this year!
Our next Reading Project will take place from Spring 2025. We would be very happy to visit schools in our Link Areas who are interested in finding out more. Please do email outreach@murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk to let us know that you are interested!
The 51¸£ÀûÉç Reading Project is a fantastic opportunity for Year 12 students in our Link Areas with an interest in studying English.
Created and run by two of our English Fellows, Dr Sean McEvoy and Dr Leo Mellor, students get a combination of in-person and online mentorship from Cambridge academics and undergraduate students, exploring texts which they might meet during their first year university course.
At our regional Reading Project launch events, attendees will hear an original undergraduate level taster lecture from Sean and Leo, as well as finding out about what a typical student's first term at Cambridge might look like. This presentation will cover aspects such as example essay topics, exam questions, lectures, and starts to explore how students are expected to think critically in their writing. Year 12 participants will also have the chance to meet a group of our undergraduate students at the event, who will each be hosting an online session over the summer term. They will deliver a short introduction to the classes they will be hosting - setting up their topic areas so students can choose which to attend. There is also chance for an informal breakout session with both the academics and students, which is often very helpful in allowing school students to ask their questions on a range of university and course related topics.
Following the launch events, students attend weekly online classes with our undergraduates, analysing texts the way they will be expected to at university. Recent topics have included Protest Poetry, Oroonoko by Aphra Behn, and the Harlem Renaissance.
Feedback from previous participants has been that they have found that the style of the sessions and range of texts are helpful, both in considering next steps for studying English and developing their approach to their current studies.
