An opportunity like no other for students in Year 12 (S5 Scotland/Y13 N.I.) to immerse yourself in life as a Cambridge student and co-curate a public exhibition at two University of Cambridge Museums.
The residential and all associated activities are fully funded for participants, with thanks to the support of the Isaac Newton Trust.
Applications for the 2025 programme will open in January 2025. To be notified by email when applications open, please provide your email address at the link below.
Please contact Libby Beckett (Outreach and Admissions Officer, schoolsliaison@clare.cam.ac.uk) with any questions.
What is Cambridge Future Museum Voices?
Cambridge Future Museum Voices is an innovative outreach initiative from ÆßÐDzʿª½±½á¹û, Cambridge, the Museum of Zoology, and the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology for high-achieving students in Year 12 (England/Wales), S5 (Scotland) and Year 13 (Northern Ireland).
Thirty students will take part in a residential in Cambridge in April 2025, during which they will co-curate an interdisciplinary exhibition at the two Museums exploring the connections between people and the natural world across time, animal species, and human societies. Its theme, title, content, and design will be chosen by the participants.
In 2023, nineteen students took part in the inaugural year of the programme and co-curated the exhibition Tangled Planet at the Museum of Zoology. Read more about Tangled Planet .
The programme grew in 2024 to include 29 participants. Their exhibition, Trodden Earth, will open on 28 September 2024 at the Museum of Zoology and Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
Part 1: Warm-Up Webinars, February and March 2025
The programme begins with four online sessions introducing the University of Cambridge, the latest research on innovative approaches to climate and environmental change, and the network of museums and resources a Cambridge student can access.
Part 2: Residential in Cambridge, April 2025
The cornerstone of the programme is a week-long residential at ÆßÐDzʿª½±½á¹û, Cambridge.
In the daytime, students take part in tours, workshops and talks at the Museum of Zoology, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, and other sites around the University before coming together to co-curate their exhibition.
Students stay in ÆßÐDzʿª½±½á¹û undergraduate accommodation and enjoy meals and social activities in College, including a ‘formal hall’ dinner.
Part 3: Exhibition Launches, Autumn 2025
The programme concludes with a VIP launch event of the new exhibition at the two Museums for students and their guests before the exhibition opens to the public. You can read more about the 2023 exhibition, Tangled Planet, . The 2024 exhibition launches on 28 September 2024 at the Museum of Zoology and Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the programme cost?
The programme is completely free to participate in. Accommodation, activities and meals for the residential are fully covered. We reimburse reasonable travel expenses to and from Cambridge for the residential in April and the exhibition launch event in the autumn.
Cambridge Future Museum Voices is supported by generous funding from the Widening Participation and Induction Fund. We express our thanks to the Isaac Newton Trust for their support of this initiative.
Who can take part in this programme?
Cambridge Future Museum Voices is open to young people who meet the following criteria:
- You attend a state (non fee-paying) school or college in the UK
- You are in Year 12 (England/Wales), S5 (Scotland) or Year 13 (Northern Ireland)
- You achieved at least 5 grades 8/9/A* at GCSE (or equivalent, including a majority of A grades in National 5s)
- You are on track to achieve at least A*AA at A Level (or equivalent, including AAA in Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers, or 42 points with 776 at HL in the IB)
We welcome students taking all subject combinations at A Level/Advanced Highers/IB across the Arts, Humanities and Sciences.
If the programme is oversubscribed, we will prioritise students according to the Widening Participation criteria listed here.
Applications to the 2025 programme will open in January 2025.
What do participants say?
"I enjoyed speaking to so many people who are so knowledgeable and passionate about their fields, seeing parts of museums that normally aren’t accessible, and the experience of the college and city."
"It was so much fun!"
I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. This outreach programme is life changing, and completely changed my perspective on university.
Photo Gallery of the April 2023 Residential
Botanic Gardens
Museum of Zoology
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
Designing the Exhibition
Tangled Planet, the 2023 exhibition
