An online (with optional in-person day) Subject Insight Programme for young people interested in pursuing university study in the arts and humanities and learning more about the hidden stories of the past.

The 2024-25 programme will take place in spring and summer 2025. You can register your interest here to be notified by email when sign ups for the programme open in early 2025.

Please contact Libby Beckett (Outreach and Admissions Officer, schoolsliaison@clare.cam.ac.uk) with any questions.

Which subjects will I explore during the programme?

The series will introduce participants to a breadth of surprising or secret stories from the past. Last year's programme included webinars on the following topics:

  • The Surprising Roots of the Vietnam War with Professor Andrew Preston
  • Secrets of Early Modern Prisoners' Letters with Dr Elizabeth Foyster
  • Early Modern Material Culture with Dr Aislinn Muller
  • The Sixteenth-Century Roots of Artificial Intelligence with Dr Tom McClelland
  • The Hidden Stories of Women in Science during WW1 with Dr Patricia Fara
  • The Renaissance in the History of Art with Dr Lucia Tantardini

Who is this programme aimed at?

This online programme is aimed at students interesting in studying an arts or humanities course at a competitive university and who enjoy being stretched and challenged outside the classroom. The programme is free of charge.

The programme is open to all students who are in Year 12 (England/Wales), S5 (Scotland) or Year 13 (Northern Ireland) at a state (non fee-paying) school or college.

In the event that the programme is over-subscribed, students who meet Widening Participation criteria will be prioritised (please visit this page for a full list of criteria).

You do not need to be taking any particular courses in school or college at the moment, but you might consider applying for this programme if you're interested in any of the following subjects:

  • English
  • History
  • History of Art
  • Modern Languages
  • Philosophy and Ethics

The programme will not assume any prior knowledge of the above fields, so don't worry if you're not taking these courses at the moment.

Please note: students must obtain parental/guardian permission to take part in this programme.