Cambridge from the Inside

Cambridge from the Inside

By Trinity Hall, University of CambridgeEducation
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Cambridge from the Inside episodes

  • Studying Spanish and History: What's It Like?

    Stay tuned to hear Kareece, 2nd-year History and Modern Languages student, share everything you need to know about studying HML at Cambridge! A full list of discussion points can be found below.

    00:00 Introductions

    01:30 What made you choose to study History and Spanish? 

    02:40 Can you study History & Modern Languages without doing a languageat A Level? 

    03:50 How have you found the course so far? 

    06:00 The benefits of studying History with a language 

    08:10 How are HML students taught? 

    10:30 Do students who do a joint-honours degree like HML study more thansingle honours degrees?

    12:40 Dissertations in HML

    13:10 What is the year abroad like in the HML course? 

    16:00 What does a typical day look like for a HML student? 

    19:50 What societies have you been involved with? 

    22:00 What are May Balls?

    24:30 Were you always thinking of applying to Cambridge?

    26:00 Any concerns about Cambridge beforehand? 

    26:50 How have you found Trinity Hall?

    28 min
  • Studying Natural Sciences (Biological) at Cambridge

    Stay tuned as Professor Anton Enright, Natural Sciences Director of Studies at Trinity Hall, delves into what the Cambridge Natural Sciences course offers, the differences between Biological Natural Sciences and Physical Natural Sciences, and what sets it apart from programs at other universities.

    Anton studied Natural Sciences at Trinity College Dublin, specializing in Genetics, before completing his Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge in 1998, focusing on protein families and biological network analysis. He has since led research on non-coding RNAs at institutions including the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute, and the Department of Pathology, where he now oversees genomics and sequencing facilities

    00:00 Introductions

    01:30 How do you study Biology or Chemistry at Cambridge?04:00 The differences between Biological Natural Sciences and Physical Natural Sciences

    08:15 Can you describe the structure of the first year for the Natural Sciences course?

    09:45 How are NatSci students taught?

    11:30 What are supervisions? Would the course be the same without them?

    19:00 How do students decide which modules to take in the second year?

    22:00 How much overlap is there between Biology and Physics?

    28:30 What’s the difference between Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Biology?

    31:00 When is it right to specialise? And what are the advantages of Natural Sciences?

    35:00 Some of the different Biochemistry/Biology modules on offer in the second year

    38:30 The structure of the third-year course

    41:45 The structure of the fourth-year course, which courses allow for a fourth year, and other master's programs related to Biological Sciences

    46:00 Different routes into PhD study via research placements or master's courses

    51:00 What is neurobiology? (One of the second-year choices available)

    53:00 Can you explain the Experimental Psychology options in the first year and how students can graduate with an accredited Psychology degree through studying Natural Sciences?

    55:00 What’s the difference between the Evolutionary Behaviour and Experimental Psychology modules?

    56:10 Advantageous and necessary A-Level subjects/combinations for studying Natural Sciences

    59:40 How different colleges have different entry requirements for Natural Sciences

    01:00:00 Choosing between Oxford and Cambridge

    1 hr 7 min
  • Studying French & Italian: What's It Like?

    Stay tuned to hear Lola, 4th-year Modern and Medieval Languages student, share everything you need to know about studying MML at Cambridge! A full list of discussion points can be found below.00:00 Introductions01:25 What does MML stand for?01:50 How come you chose French and Italian?02:40 What does ab initio mean?03:10 How do students find learning a language from scratch?04:40 What languages can MML students learn from scratch as a part of the course?05:45 What’s the course structure like for MML?06:50 What does a typical day look like for MML students?08:20 What’s the difference between a seminar and a supervision in MML?09:20 How have you found the supervisions?10:20 Are classes/supervisions in English or your chosen language?12:10 Is it the course that enables students to become fluent in their languages, or their independent hard work?13:50 What advice would you have for anyone who’s trying to learn a language?14:50 Is the aim of the MML course to become fluent in your language, or does the degree act as a humanities degree as well?17:45 What does the year abroad involve in the MML course?19:00 What did you do on your year abroad?20:15 What’s the 4th year like for MML?22:45 What modules have you chosen?25:00 What are the big differences between French and Italian, language-wise and culturally?27:00 Can you borrow papers from other departments?30:00 At what point do the ab initio students join the post-A Level students?31:00 Do you have to continue with all three languages throughout the whole course?34:00 How do you choose between Oxford and Cambridge for MML?36:00 What differences have you noticed between a translated text and its original text?40:00 Can a translation ever be better than the original?41:20 Are two translations ever the same? How have you found doing translations?

    46 min
  • Studying Linguistics: What's It Like?

    Stay tuned to hear Tom, 3rd-year student, share everything you need to know about studying Linguistics at Cambridge! A full list of discussion points can be found below.

    00:00 Introductions

    01:50 What is linguistics?

    02:35 What is the difference between studying Linguistics and English language?

    03:45 What do linguists study in first year at Cambridge?07:55 Does linguistics help learning other languages?

    08:50 How did you find engaging with Old English in the first year?

    09:40 Different ways of reading after you’ve studied Linguistics

    12:20 What’s the point of studying Linguistics?

    14:40 What’s the overlap between linguistics and AI?

    16:40 What modules can you study in the linguistics course?29:00 What does a typical day look life for a Cambridge linguist?

    31:10 The overlap of linguistics and poetry

    33:10 Labs and seminars in linguistics

    35:50 Is there an overlap between linguistics and psychology 37:50 Difference between seminars/labs and supervisions 40:45 What’s your dissertation on?

    46:30 Have your interests in linguistics changed since you started the course?

    48:10 How did you get into linguistics and why did you choose it?

    57:40 How to prepare for the application process in linguistics?

    59:10 How did you find your interview?

    01:03:20 How to choose what to study between Linguistics, MML, ASNC, Classics and AMES?

    01:13:00: How have you found studying Linguistics at Trinity Hall?

    01:14:30 What kind of careers can you go into after Linguistics?

    01:17:30 Final remarks

    1 hr 20 min
  • Studying Mathematics at Cambridge

    Stay tuned as Dr. Ron Reid-Edwards, Mathematics Director of Studies at Trinity Hall, delves into what the Cambridge Maths course offers and what sets it apart from programs at other universities. 00:00 Introductions00:50 Is Cambridge the most prestigious institution to study Mathematics?05:50 What is the course structure like for a Maths undergraduate degree?09:40 Ron’s research and the courses he teaches13:50 What are Maths supervisions like?18:35 Reading suggestions for prospective Maths students – and the difference between Pure Maths and Applied Maths25:50 Can you explain String Theory to us?36:20 Module choices in the second and third years38:05 Opportunity to pursue a master’s after your undergraduate Maths degree – Part III40:50 The difference between Maths with Physics and Maths with Applied Maths46:30 For those who have English as a second language, how important is proficiency in English for studying Maths?49:50 How to prepare for the STEP Maths admissions paper01:00:00 Deciding between Oxford and Cambridge for Maths

    1 hr 10 min
  • Studying History of Art: What's It Like?

    00:00 Introductions

    00:34 What is the History of Art?

    01:05 How is Art History different from the History course?
    03:30 Course structure for first year
    05:00 What was your favorite module in the first year?
    05:50 How much of a role does religion play in Art History?
    06:50 Course structure for second and third year
    08:30 Eugénie discusses her dissertation
    09:30 What courses have you chosen for your second and third year?
    12:05 What prior knowledge do you need for Art History?
    13:10 What are you assessed on during the Art History interview?
    14:10 Similarities between Art History and English
    16:30 How are Art History students taught at Cambridge?
    20:10 What are Art History supervisions like?
    22:35 How are students examined in Art History?
    27:00 Do you ever create art in Art History?
    31:10 Which universities did you consider?
    32:50 How have you found the course overall?
    33:25 What are your plans for after you graduate?

    38 min
  • Studying English: What's It Like?

    Stay tuned to hear Nadia, 3rd-year student, share everything you need to know about studying English at Cambridge! A full list of discussion points can be found below.

    00:00 Introductions

    00:50 Why did you choose to study English? And why Cambridge?

    02:00 Do you have more freedom in the English degree compared to English at A Level?
    03:10 How does English at Cambridge compare to English at other universities?
    05:40 What are supervisions? And what are English supervisions like?
    10:30 What’s the course structure for English at Cambridge?
    12:50 Is there any overlap between departments when it comes to the modules you study?
    13:50 Being able to choose modules outside of the English department
    14:20 Studying translated texts, the theory of translation itself, and other languages
    18:15 What is Practical Criticism? And why is it so central to the English course at Cambridge
    28:10 Why is there a compulsory paper on tragedies?
    32:50 What modules are you doing?
    36:00 Dissertations in the English course
    37:20 Choosing between studying English or History
    41:00 Choosing between Oxford and Cambridge for studying English

    47 min
  • Studying Geography: What's It Like?

    Stay tuned to hear Lucy, a 2nd-year student, share everything you need to know about studying Geography at Cambridge! A full list of discussion points can be found below.

    00:00 Introductions

    00:30 What is Geography?

    01:00 What kind of students is Geography for?
    02:00 How has Geography changed across time
    03:45 How is Geography different to HSPS/History?
    07:00 What is Human Geography and Physical Geography?
    08:30 Is Geography a good degree to do in order to get into Climate Change
    11:20 What is the course structure like in Geography?
    13:30 Which modules have you chosen?
    19:30 What’s your Geography dissertation on?
    21:30 Geography in comparison to other courses
    23:50 How are Geography students taught?
    25:10 What are Geography supervisions like?
    28:30 What kind of coding do you do in Geography?
    30:00 What kind of science/maths elements are there in Geography?
    31:20 Is Geography a good degree for people who want to improve on both their essay writing and science/maths skills
    32:10 What kind of careers can Geography students go on to do?

    38 min
  • Studying Economics: What's It Like?

    Stay tuned to hear Nikola, a 3rd-year student Economics student at Trinity Hall, share everything you need to know about studying Economics at Cambridge, how Economics at Cambridge compares to other universities, and applying for internships in the finance sector! A full list of discussion points can be found below.
    00:00 Introductions

    01:10 What is Economics?

    02:50 What kind of students is Economics for?
    04:00 How Economics enables you to apply Maths to real life situations
    05:20 Why did you chose to study Economics?
    06:50 How has your understanding of current affairs changed since studying Economics?
    07:40 What’s the Economics course structure like?
    10:40 What your dissertation on?
    14:40 Data collection, Problem Solving, Coding and Essays in Economics
    16:30 How are Economists taught?
    17:50 How have you found Economic supervisions
    21:40 Which universities did you apply to?
    23:20 Choosing between Economics at Cambridge and Economics and Management at Oxford
    26:30 Choosing between History and Economics at Oxford or Economics at Cambridge
    28:30 Different career paths after studying Economics at Cambridge
    29:20 Applying for internships whilst studying at Cambridge
    31:50 How to get into the finance sector?

    39 min
  • How Wellbeing Impacts Academic Performance

    Tune in as Siam interviews psychotherapist Gareth Hughes to discuss the connection between wellbeing, optimal learning, and academic performance.

    Check out Gareth's book: 'Be Well, Learn Well'
    00:00 Introductions

    02:20 What was the motive behind writing your book Be Well, Learn Well?

    04:05 Many people believe there isn’t an overlap between wellbeing and learning. What would you say to them?
    07:10 What is the most common issue you’ve seen students deal with?
    08:30 How does a lack of sleep affect learning?
    12:50 How can we make long-term changes when we’re stressed?
    14:50 Similarities between high-performing athletes and exam preparation.
    16:50 What does effective revision practice look like?
    20:10 How do beliefs in our abilities affect our performance?
    26:10 Siam wishes he had bought the book before starting university.
    28:40 Students receiving little lifestyle advice before university
    32:10 The impact of social media on learning and wellbeing.
    40:45 What’s the difference between surface learning and deep learning?
    46:10 The benefits of following your interests and learning deeply.
    49:20 What do you mean by "thinking creates reality"?
    55:20 Why do students feel like they have to choose between their wellbeing and academic performance?
    57:30 How does physical exercise impact learning and wellbeing?
    58:40 Taking walking breaks while studying in the library.
    59:40 The effect of 20-minute naps on studying.
    01:02:25 The benefits of studying in short bursts.
    01:04:10 What are study practices like spaced repetition, spaced learning, and Pomodoros?
    01:07:40 On Flow State.
    01:09:40 In your book, you talk about being a radical in life. Can you expand on your ideas about going down the road less travelled?
    01:16:10 What is visualization?
    01:20:10 How can students study their degree on their own terms?

    1 hr 24 min

About Cambridge from the Inside

From the publisher's feed

Cambridge from the Inside is a new podcast about Outreach and Admissions at the University of Cambridge, hosted by Trinity Hall. It discusses admissions advice and what life is like as a Cambridge…