The Cambridge Admissions Office (CAO) runs a diverse range of outreach events and initiatives designed to encourage potential applicants to consider their higher education options irrespective of their background. A team of student ambassadors (CAMbassadors) work alongside the CAO Staff to help run these events.
CAMbassadors play a vital role, not only ensuring events run smoothly but also providing event participants the opportunity to talk to current undergraduates about their experiences of higher education and student life.
What do CAMbassadors do?
Some examples of the varied roles that CAMbassadors take part in during events include:
- giving tours of the Colleges, University sites or the city centre
- speaking to groups, or as part of larger presentations to share experiences
- registering, giving directions and stewarding at events
- helping participants in small groups to complete a task or activity
What makes a good CAMbassador?
Some of the skills and qualities we look for in our CAMbassadors are:
- reliability and punctuality
- good organisational skills
- good communication skills – particularly listening
- good team player
- flexibility
- patience
- a good sense of humour
Find out more from our CAMbassadors about how the programme has helped develop their skills.
Who can be a CAMbassador?
CAMbassadors must be current undergraduates who are not in their final year of study. You must have the right to work in the UK in order to be a CAMbassador.
If you are interested in becoming a CAMbassador, please use the link in the side bar above to register your interest. We will then contact you when we are recruiting new CAMbassadors.
As part of the selection process we require your Senior Tutor to approve your participation in the scheme. We will contact them after the selection event and must have their endorsement before you will be able to become a CAMbassador.
What events do CAMbassadors support?
We run a wide range of outreach and recruitment initiatives for prospective students. Below is a very brief summary of our key projects – you can find out more on the Undergraduate Study website.
Widening Participation
Care leavers & the Realise Project
The Realise project runs a variety of one-day events for children in care and their supporters.
Insight
A progressive programme for Year 9 – Year 11 students that aims to develop academic interests and tackle the barriers many students face when applying to university.
Sutton Scholars
An academic programme primarily for Year 9 –Year 11 students in Norfolk. Students are given the opportunity to visit Cambridge and other universities, and to complete an academic project.
HE+
A collaborative project for Year 12 students that is jointly run by the University and its Colleges, working together with groups of state schools and colleges in fourteen regions of the UK.
Sutton Trust Summer Schools
Free subject-specific residential summer schools for Year 12 (or equivalent) students studying at state schools in the UK. These five-day residentials take place in July and August and allow students to explore their subject interests and gain an insight into what it is like to be an Undergraduate student at Cambridge.
Student Recruitment
Cambridge Open Days
Large-scale Open Days each summer when the University and Colleges open their doors to prospective students to find out more about studying at the University.
Oxford and Cambridge Student Conferences
A series of joint conferences organised by the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford at different locations around the country for Year 12 (or equivalent) students, their teachers and HE advisers.
Subject Masterclasses
Subject-specific day events, which offer students a true flavour of undergraduate study in their chosen subject and an introduction to the University of Cambridge.
The Subject Matters
Events for Year 11 students highlighting the importance of suitable A Level (or equivalent) subject choices when making an application to a selective, research-led university.