Student Outreach Initiatives

Admissions and access are topics that always spark passionate discussions among Cambridge students.

Like all Colleges, Magdalene is committed to welcoming the brightest applicants, regardless of background.

Magdalene’s undergraduates (the JCR) have long played an active role in outreach. If you visit on an Open Day, you’ll meet enthusiastic student helpers eager to share their experiences and encourage prospective applicants.

Each year, the JCR elects an Access Officer to lead student involvement in outreach events, including school visits and the Cambridge SU Shadowing Scheme. They also coordinate student volunteers for Open Days and support applicants during the December interview period.

If you have questions about student life at Magdalene, you can contact the JCR Access Officer at jcr-access-academic@magd.cam.ac.uk or our Schools Liaison Officer, who also helps arrange school visits.

The Magdalene College Outreach Ambassador Scheme was launched in October 2022. The scheme was established to give primary and secondary school pupils insight into the wide range of courses available at university, with current students sharing their experiences. Ambassadors design and deliver interactive sessions in schools based on their academic interests or research.

In its pilot year, the scheme was introduced to Magdalene Student Ambassadors, who support outreach initiatives such as Open Days, residentials, and school visits. Fourteen students took part in training on session design, audience engagement, and safeguarding.

Feedback from both students and teachers has been excellent. Outreach Ambassadors have led sessions on subjects ranging from English to Medicine, engaging pupils with their personal experiences of studying at Cambridge.

The scheme is expanding to involve more Magdalene students and schools. For more information, please contact the Schools Liaison Officer at access@magd.cam.ac.uk.