English
The Cambridge English Tripos offers you an exciting opportunity to study a broad chronological span of literature written primarily in English from the medieval period to the present day. Unlike courses in many other universities, you will study all these periods as part of your undergraduate degree, but there is also plenty of room for individual choice.
Overview
Students admitted per year: 6-8
Typical offer:
A Level: A*AA
IB Diploma: 41 points, with 776 at Higher Level
Subject requirements: A Level English Literature or English Language and Literature
Useful subjects: n/a
Admissions Assessment: n/a
Written work: two pieces, of a maximum of 3,000 words total, which must have been completed during the course of your school studies and marked by a teacher.
Why choose Newnham for English?
Newnham has one of the best-stocked College libraries in Cambridge, with particularly extensive holdings in English. Our stocks are regularly refreshed and expanded. Further resources are available to students at the English Faculty and University libraries, which are just a few minutes’ walk from Newnham.
Newnham is highly fortunate in the English supervisors who are directly affiliated to the College, and in the range of specialists whose connection with Newnham means that they are potential supervisors for its students. These include eminent academics within and beyond Cambridge. In addition, Newnham students can enjoy help with their creative writing thanks to the active connections the College maintains with leading authors, and which builds on a strong tradition of English within the College. Newnham English has had many writers and actors to its credit: over the years, our alumnae have included Sylvia Plath and A. S. Byatt, Miriam Margolyes and Emma Thompson.
Newnham students are very active in the arts, building on the college's historic tradition. Virginia Woolf was an invited speaker, as were Margaret Drabble, A S Byatt and Sarah Dunant. Honorary Fellows and alumnae Ali Smith, Janet Todd and Jenn Ashworth regularly come and share their work and experience of literary life. Lottie Mills, a BBC Young Writer of the year, studied English at Newnham, and poetry by Newnham students regularly features in the May's Anthology. Film is a lively interest among Newnham English students who have created films and helped organise film festivals. Many English students enjoy directing or performing student drama; there is a lively college Music Society and lovely performance space in the Old Labs, and the JCR runs a dedicated an arts room for painting, drawing and craftwork. English students are encouraged to explore the arts and to take this experiential knowledge into their study of literature.
Academic financial support
Newnham is one of the most generous Colleges when it comes to student support. As well as being able to access support for maintenance, opportunity and sports funding, all Newnham undergraduate students can apply for our book grants and research expenses funds each term for essential purchases and expenditure relating to their studies. A proportion of expenditure on books can be reimbursed against receipts (up to a limit of £200 each year), with research expenses assessed on a case-by-case basis. Funds for essential equipment purchases are also available, for example for stethoscopes for medics. We are also fortunate to have very generous funding available for summer research and/or travel. None of these grants are means-tested, so all students can benefit. Students achieving first-class results for their end of year exams will in addition receive at least £400 as a prize or scholarship.
