Skip to main content
The Oxford and Cambridge Project

The Oxford and Cambridge Project

By Opportune Simon

The Oxford and Cambridge Project aims to make Oxbridge accessible by lifting the veil on the secrets of the two of the most prestigious universities in the world. Hosted by Opportune Simon. Find us on Spotify, Youtube, Instagram and Facebook @oxfordandcambridge
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

11. Meet the Engineer who hadn’t heard of Cambridge University before applying

The Oxford and Cambridge ProjectJan 23, 2021

00:00
55:54
16. Studying Natural Sciences with Ilya's Cambridge Advice

16. Studying Natural Sciences with Ilya's Cambridge Advice

Today we chat with Ilya, a 3rd year at Jesus College, studying Biological Natural Sciences (aka Nat Sci). If you're thinking about applying to Cambridge, you should definitely check out his Youtube channel - Ilya’s Cambridge Advice - on which he gives great and concise application advice to the university. We sit down and get to know more on his daily life at Cambridge, his study methods, and how COVID affected his final year of undergraduate.
Apr 04, 202138:54
15. May Vet Student discusses studying VetMed at Cambridge!

15. May Vet Student discusses studying VetMed at Cambridge!

Today we are hosting May Vet Student on our podcast! May Yean is currently in her final year of studying Veterinary Science at Cambridge University. She grew up in Malaysia and matriculated in 2015 at Girton College. In her 6th year in Cambridge, she started a Youtube channel to give others an insight into her life as a vet student, as well as share educational videos and productivity tips.
Feb 27, 202149:01
14. Everybody wants to be at Catz

14. Everybody wants to be at Catz

This week we have Alex Denny with us. Alex recently graduated from St Catharine's College, (or as students affectionately call it: Catz) with a degree in Archaeology. He tells us about why he chose this course, shares his love for the college, discusses his busy university schedule, and debates the merits of May Week with us from the experience of living with a student bursary. Alex has secured a training contract with the firm Allen & Overy and is currently doing his PGDL in London.
Feb 20, 202101:06:05
13. Cambridge Economics 101

13. Cambridge Economics 101

Today Opportune speaks to Krishna Ramesh! Krishna graduated with a bachelors’ degree in economics from Cambridge in 2016, and with a masters’ degree from Yale in 2017. He tells us all about Downing College, the structure of the econ course and his career in international development. He also shares tips for future applicants and current students.
Feb 13, 202159:41
12. Life of a 4th year Cambridge Medic

12. Life of a 4th year Cambridge Medic

This week we speak to Claudia Tam. Claudia is a current 4th year student at St Johns College, reading Medicine. She tells us about life in Cambridge during #COVID, her undegrad and clinical years as a medic, and her role as President of the Cambridge University Amateur Boxing Club. Claudia has also tutored high school students in Oxbridge interview prep and shares some great tips for future applicants!
Feb 06, 202140:24
11. Meet the Engineer who hadn’t heard of Cambridge University before applying

11. Meet the Engineer who hadn’t heard of Cambridge University before applying

This week Opportune speaks to Areeg Emarah. Areeg grew up in Kenya and had never heard of Cambridge before her final year of high school, when her head master suggested she apply! She is now in her 4th year, studying Information and Computer Engineering at Trinity College. Areeg speaks about her incredible journey moving to Cambridge, adapting to life and labels (and now #COVID), and developing her passion of increasing access to the University.
Jan 23, 202155:54
10. Perspectives of an International Student at Cambridge University

10. Perspectives of an International Student at Cambridge University

Happy New Year! For this first video of 2021, Opportune speaks to Borane Gille, a Girton College graduate, who received a 1st class degree in Land Economy in 2018. Borane speaks to us about adapting to the Cambridge life as an international student, leading sports and social societies, and shares lots of tips for doing your best in exams.
Jan 15, 202101:03:33
9. Life of The King's Men at Cambridge University

9. Life of The King's Men at Cambridge University

For this very Christmassy episode, Opportune chats to Seb Johns about all things music! Seb is a former member of the famous King's College Choir, and of the close-harmony group The King's Men. Seb graduated from Corpus Christi College in 2017 with a BA degree in Music, and talks about choral scholarships as well of sharing stories of his time at Cambridge.
Dec 18, 202045:06
8. Joe Binder: Serial Entrepreneur at Cambridge University

8. Joe Binder: Serial Entrepreneur at Cambridge University

We're so excited to talk to Joe Binder this week! You may know Joe from his Cambridge vlogger days, from his strong Instagram & LinkedIn game, or from the #StudentsOfCambridge campaign he founded in 2014. In this episode, Joe talks candidly abut his time at university, the feeling of never fitting in Cambridge's mould, and the self belief he developed through paving his own path.
Dec 05, 202051:10
7. Becoming an Influencer while at University

7. Becoming an Influencer while at University

This week we talk to Gina Jackson, who you may know under the Instagram name @GinaGoesTo! Gina graduated with a BA in Classics from Pembroke College in 2017. During her time at Cambridge, Gina started blogging and has grown to an audience of 50,000 followers. She tells us all about the highs and lows of university life, and also shares tips for anyone wishing to build a following as a student.

*

TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro 02:05 Background 03:18 Open days: discovering which college fits you 04:45 Why did you choose Classics? 06:03 Application process 07:20 Interview prep 09:08 Interview day 15:38 First year: exploring everything! 18:04 Classics course structure & workload 23:32 Favourite part of the course 25:55 Are you a good fit for Classics? 30:38 Pembroke College 33:21 Building a social media platform from university  36:13 How has your degree prepared you for working life? 38:22 Perks of Pembroke 39:40 Pembroke College accommodation 42:44 Joining societies 44:26 Organising a May Ball 46:15 Balancing studies, social media and sleep 48:04 Choosing your priorities at the start of the year 49:50 Tips for managing the Cambridge pressure 52:26 Tips for building a social media presence 53:37 Biggest regret at uni 56:28 Happiest day at Cambridge 57:42 May Week memories

Nov 28, 202001:02:06
6. Acing your University Application with a Cambridge Law Grad

6. Acing your University Application with a Cambridge Law Grad

This week, we talk to Jack Lewis about his university years as a top-performing Cambridge lawyer. He shares the strategies that he put in place during his school years to get in to Oxbridge, and the study techniques that he applied at university. Jack studied at Trinity Hall College and graduated in 2017. He then went on to pass the LPC and work at a 'magic circle' law firm.
Nov 20, 202001:19:27
5. Insights from a Cambridge University Supervisor

5. Insights from a Cambridge University Supervisor

In this first week of national lockdown, Opportune chats on Zoom with Simina Dragoș about her inspiring journey - from missing her Cambridge offer to becoming an eminent academic - studying for her BA, Masters, and now PhD at the university! Simina has studied at both Emmanuel College and at Fitzwilliam College, and discusses the merits of both. She has recently started acting as a supervisor for the Education faculty, and shares her tips on mastering essay writing and exams.
Nov 06, 202001:06:08
4. How to Prepare for Cambridge University Interviews

4. How to Prepare for Cambridge University Interviews

This week, Opportune and Kleopatra are joined by Callum! Callum "topped the tripos" in his 2nd year at Cambridge, which means that ranked the highest out of all students in the year. He shares with us lots of interview & supervision tips that he learnt from his successful academic career. He tells us about his love of literature, and why he decided to study English at university over picking a Law degree. Callum also gives us the low down of what life is like at Trinity, one of the "largest, oldest and richest" Cambridge college, and debunks some long-running myths about the college.

Oct 22, 202001:05:08
3. Three Tips for Freshers' Week at Cambridge University

3. Three Tips for Freshers' Week at Cambridge University

This week, we look back at our own experience as freshers at Cambridge, and share our top 3 tips for freshers this year. We also chat to Ben Margolis, President at the Cambridge Students' Union, and Siyang Wei, Access, Education, and Participation (PG) Officer at Cambridge SU, discuss the new steps that the University and Colleges have taken to adapt to the new constraints that COVID-19 creates for freshers' week.
Oct 05, 202029:56
2. Making the most of your time at Cambridge University

2. Making the most of your time at Cambridge University

This week, Mini Smith shares her experience in studying the four-year Modern & Medieval Languages course, living at Murray Edwards College and securing her dream career in journalism. She also talks about various extra-curriculars at Cambridge, such as: drama, journalism, netball, and being part of society committees.
Sep 26, 202001:04:13
1. From a rejection to a 1st at Cambridge University

1. From a rejection to a 1st at Cambridge University

For our first episode, Nick Rogers tells us about his experience getting rejected from Cambridge, re-applying the next year, and graduating with a first class degree. He also discusses applying for a Natural Sciences degree, switching tripos in 2nd year to study Computer Science, living at Churchill College, and going to Cambridge as a first-generation uni student.
Sep 26, 202057:23
Welcome!

Welcome!

Sep 26, 202008:15