Our Programs

General

All our students reside in one of the colleges of Cambridge University, or in our central Cambridge headquarters ‘Reach Hall’, and have ample opportunity to interact with present undergraduates and post-graduates. Our teachers are academics and researchers from Cambridge and other top UK universities, as well as including professionals where relevant for the course (e.g. barristers for the Law course, journalists for the Journalism & Media course). All courses take place either in college buildings, Cambridge University Department buildings, or buildings in central Cambridge.

The program fee includes the following:

• Accommodation in rooms at a Cambridge University college or in our central Cambridge headquarters, ‘Reach Hall’
• Half board meals
• All tuition
• Excursions to local areas of interest in Cambridge, and further afield; in the past we have visited London, Brighton, Oxford and Shakespeare’s birthplace Stratford-upon-Avon
• Extra-curricular activities in the college and around Cambridge e.g. sport, drama and arts
• Lecture and Workshop series

The program fee excludes the following:

• Flights
• One meal (either lunch or dinner) a day (students can either visit tea-rooms, cafés, or restaurants in Cambridge.)
• Additional excursions or activities in time off such as the cinema
• Souvenirs, phone calls home etc.

Note: this is not an exhaustive list of inclusions and exclusions, but indicates the main items.

Evening Lectures

All Reach Cambridge students come together in the evenings for thought-provoking lectures from inspiring people. Students invariably say that the evening lecture series is one of the highlights of the course.

Our lecturers speak on subjects that fall under three categories: British Culture, International Social Responsibility and Inspiring Life Stories. Highlights have included lectures on Climate Change, Britain in Music, Community Outreach, Journalism and International Criminal Justice.

Always interactive and engaging, the lectures include ample time for questions – students always enjoy asking speakers tough questions after listening to their talks!

Workshops

The majority of our staff are Cambridge undergraduates, graduates or post-graduates, and are the ideal port of call for students who have any queries about Cambridge University or life at university more generally. Alongside daily contact with our staff team, students can also benefit from the excellent University Life workshops and lectures that we run during our courses.

These range from the practicalities of making a good university application to coping with the issues students invariably encounter once they have commenced their studies. Students can work on their CVs (resumés) or personal statements with the help of staff, and develop their interview skills by attending a mock university or job interview with our supervisor team.

Whilst of course we cannot guarantee that Reach Cambridge courses will get you a place at university, many former Reach Cambridge students have gone on to top universities and have remarked on how helpful their experience at Reach Cambridge was for deciding which types of institution and courses are right for them.

Activities

Work hard and play hard. Every spare moment, when students are not in class or at meals, our Cambridge Supervisors organize a smorgasbord of activities for our students to enjoy.

There are activities to match everybody’s interests: from photography groups to ghost tours, from sports tournaments to cake decorating, every student is catered for.

Sporting activities are available in the college grounds, including football (soccer), ultimate frisbee, tennis, basketball, volleyball and the Reach Olympics! There are also drama, music and art sessions as well as an opportunity to try punting down the River Cam!

A highlight of the extra-curricular aspect of the Reach Cambridge program is the World Fair, a special event during which students share their cultures and learn about one another’s countries, making the most of the program’s international environment. Students will also have plenty of time to explore Cambridge with their new friends in a safe and supervised environment.

Excursions

Reach Cambridge programs involve experiencing more than just Cambridge and academic life – they also provide an opportunity to visit some of the most celebrated historic and cultural sites in England.

We run excursions to some of the country’s most famous places; in the past, these have included London, Oxford, Brighton, Warwick and Shakespeare’s birthplace Stratford-upon-Avon. Taken to see the best that these places have to offer whilst also given supervised free time to explore, there’s no better way to experience this endlessly fascinating country!

Reach Cambridge students also have plenty of time to explore the inspiring and beautiful city of Cambridge.

The city is home to a number of impressive art galleries and museums that cater to all interests, whether you’re into Archaeology and Anthropology or the Visual Arts. Students also have the opportunity to try their hand at punting along the River Cam, a Cambridge tradition which offers views of famous Cambridge landmarks such as the Bridge of Sighs and King’s College Chapel.

Theatre

Where better to enjoy the dramatic arts than in the country that produced the world’s greatest playwright?

Generally, many students will get the chance to see some sort of performance during the summer. Past students have watched Shakespeare’s plays in the Globe Theatre in London or the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace. These productions have included: Much Ado About Nothing, Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night, The Merchant of Venice, Othello, Macbeth, Richard III, Anthony & Cleopatra, The Tempest and Romeo & Juliet. England is world-renowned for its theatre, and on Reach Cambridge programs you will be able to see why!

Supervision

The safety of our students is our number one priority.  Reach Cambridge staff are on hand 24 hours a day to supervise and assist students, however students are given a certain amount of freedom and independence, and it is up to them to spend this time wisely. Cambridge, being a university town, is a very safe environment. We issue all students with an emergency contact card that displays contact numbers for both Reach Cambridge senior staff and the emergency services. It is compulsory for students to carry this card with them at all times.

In order to ensure that they enjoy their free time safely, students are given:

•  geographical parameters
• a curfew for their return to accommodation
• instructions that they must remain with at least one other person from the program at all times when off campus
• contact phone numbers for Reach Cambridge staff

Any actions that are perceived by Reach Cambridge staff to endanger a student will result in the student involved being repatriated. Please see our Terms & Conditions for further details.