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Resources for prospective students

Essential materials and support for engaged learners

Resources for prospective students

Welcome to the Girton College Resources for Prospective Undergraduates page! Here, you'll find a wealth of information to help you navigate the exciting journey toward higher education. From insights into our academic programs and collegiate culture to tips on the application process and student life, we’re here to support you every step of the way. 

At Girton, we celebrate curiosity, inclusivity, and academic excellence, and we invite you to explore the opportunities that await you. Discover how you can thrive as part of our vibrant community and shape your future at Girton College!

Useful websites

A student-made resource with tons of great tips on applying to Oxbridge:

Videos all about Cambridge from a student perspective: 

All our upcoming in-person and online events, both by all of the Cambridge Colleges and the Central University team:

Finances - Student finance in England - Everything you need to know and Student Finance And Support Available | UCAS

Dates and Deadlines - Dates and deadlines for uni applications | Undergraduate | UCAS

Before you apply - Before you apply | Undergraduate | UCAS

Personal Statements - How To Write Your Undergraduate Personal Statement | Undergraduate | UCAS

Super-curricular resources

Finding time to explore your subject out of your school curriculum might seem tricky at first, but here are some easy ways to integrate your learning into your daily routine.

If you would like some further guidance on finding resources, please take a look at the following webpages:

Why not read the daily news whilst on the way to school or college?

When doing your homework or revision for your subjects, why not take 5 minutes to read an academic article and include that in your critical thinking?

On the way home from school or college, take some time to listen or watch podcasts and videos surrounding your subject of interest.

Why not take a day to explore a local museum and think about how an object in there can make you think critically about what you have learnt so far in your subjects.

When thinking about what to include in your Personal Statement, it can be difficult to know where to find quality books to read. Here are some example reading lists provided by the university to be used as a starting point to go off and explore further, as these are not exhaustive. 

College competitions

Girton’s Humanities Writing Competition is for students in Year 12 (or equivalent) who have an interest in the Humanities. Students submit an essay based on one or more objects selected from the College’s small antiquities museum, the Lawrence Room.

The competition is an opportunity for research and writing beyond the curriculum using one or more of the six objects as your focus. We accept essays or creative responses (such as dramatic monologues or short stories). 

Girton's Medicine Prize is for students who have an interest in the Medical Sciences. Students submit a maximum 3-minute video via an unlisted YouTube link based on this year's topic: ‘Plants have been used for therapeutic purposes for thousands of years. With reference to a single plant of your choice, discuss its medicinal use, past, present and future.’

This competition is an opportunity for students to research and present beyond the curriculum, using the topic set by our prize convenors, as their focus. This competition is open to State Schools in Girton College’s Link Areas (College Area Links | Undergraduate Study) which are Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, and Wolverhampton.