Your academic study will be your priority during your time at Cambridge – while you’ll be learning lots about your subject, you’ll also be developing a range of skills useful in all areas of life. There are also plenty of academic activities you can be getting involved with alongside your course.
Reflect on which skills you’re developing through your studies using this page and the Skills Glossary, or evaluate your skills with the Skills Discovery Tool.
Skills you’re developing through academic study
Over the course of your degree, you’ll be building your ability to learn and apply effective learning strategies as you figure out what works best for you. This will lead you to understand your own strengths, and learn how to manage yourself and your time. Persisting when the course content or workload feels challenging develops your resilience and self-motivation. All of these skills will help you navigate challenges and succeed in the rest of your personal and professional life.
Through essay and report writing, you’ll practice your written communication skills, applying analytical and critical thinking. Learn more about these skills on the writing, analytical and reporting skills page. By synthesising information from different sources to offer new perspectives, you’ll develop your skills in originality.
By taking part in supervisions and seminars, you’ll build your skills in debating and evaluating arguments. You’ll also practice problem solving, and learn how to build on others’ perspectives to generate new ideas.
Many STEM students will do practical sessions, which could involve skills such as teamwork, numeracy, and logical reasoning. Have a think about which skills you’re developing during these sessions.
Doing a dissertation will offer a chance to explore your research interests in a lot of depth, and coursework can draw on many of the same skills. You’ll develop your abilities in research and seeking relevant information as you identify and explore your research topic with the support of your supervisor. Whether your work is based on literature, fieldwork or lab work, data management will be important to effectively using your research and sources. Throughout the year, you’ll gain a lot of practice in managing your work and your time while keeping yourself motivated.
Further academic opportunities
Join your subject society and attend their talks and social events. Find the full list of subject societies here. You could seek out College-based subject societies.
Look for reading groups based on your interests to build communication, debate and analysis skills. Many involve reading articles or chapters rather than full books, so could fit around your assigned work. Explore the options available here, or check out your departmental mailing list for new groups.
Attend or present at conferences or symposiums – most of these welcome students at all levels, and some are even led by students. You’ll get the chance to hear talks on new research and participate in discussions. Attending will demonstrate your commitment to learning and give you practice in networking, while being a speaker will build your presentation skills. Look out for emails advertising these or check the events listings on departmental websites.
Submit to student journals, developing your writing skills and boosting your self-confidence. You could join their committee to get involved in selecting and reviewing articles, building your editorial and project management skills. Find a list of student journals here, or keep an eye out for submission calls on social media or mailing lists.
Seek out summer research opportunities run by your College or department to gain hands-on experience with research methodologies, data analysis, and academic report presentation or writing. Find the full list of Cambridge-based summer research programmes here.
If you're a PhD student, you could become a postgraduate workshop convenor, arranging events for postgrads to present their research, test out new ideas and receive informal feedback. Managing the programme logistics will develop your project management and leadership skills.