![College Crest](/wp-content/uploads/logo-01.png"){kind=logo}
The Trinity Humanities Residential takes place 4–6 August 2026. Applications are not yet open. Register your interest to be notified when applications open.
Trinity College Humanities Residential
Are you fascinated by people, ideas, and how we make sense of the world? Would you like to work alongside Cambridge academics and students, develop your academic skills, and explore subjects like History, Politics, Law, and Literature?
This three-day residential gives you the chance to immerse yourself in your chosen subject and experience what it is really like to study at Cambridge. You will take part in taster sessions delivered by Cambridge researchers, meet current students and admissions staff, and gain a genuine sense of the Cambridge learning experience.
Participants are placed into one of three academic streams: History and Politics, Law, or Literature.
What’s included
- Academic taster lectures and seminars in your chosen stream
- Student accommodation in College for the duration of the residential
- Meals in Trinity’s historic dining hall, including a formal dinner
- Evening social activities hosted by current student ambassadors
- Conversations with academics, current students, and admissions staff
- All travel and food costs covered or reimbursed by Trinity College
“The University of Cambridge is a world-leading centre for the study of Humanities, and we want to show prospective students everything Trinity has to offer. This programme welcomes participants for a stay that is sure to be intellectually stimulating.”
Dr Glen Rangwala, Director of Admissions — co-leading the History and Politics stream
Who can apply
This programme is open to students in Year 12 (England/Wales), Year 13 (Northern Ireland), or S5 (Scotland). There is no cost to participants — all travel and meals are covered.
Get in touch
If you have any questions, please contact our Schools Liaison Officers at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.
We welcome applications from students with an interest in studying Law, Literature, History, or Politics at Cambridge. Applications are assessed on academic record and demonstrated commitment to exploring relevant subjects at a higher level.
To be eligible, you must be currently attending a state-funded school in the UK and be in Year 12 (England and Wales), S5 (Scotland), or Year 13 (Northern Ireland).
In line with Trinity’s widening participation aims, preference will be given to applicants who meet one or more of the following criteria:
- You will be the first in your family to attend university (where neither parent nor carer holds a university degree; siblings are not considered)
- You attend a school with low progression rates to Cambridge or Oxford
- You are from an ethnic group under-represented at Cambridge
- You live in an area with lower socioeconomic advantage or low rates of progression to higher education
- You have spent time in care
- You have significant caring responsibilities, such as for a parent, carer, or sibling, that affects your time or ability to study
- You are or have been eligible for free school meals or the 16–19 bursary
- You are a refugee or asylum seeker
For more information on our widening participation aims and practices, please see our Widening Participation Strategy.
Applications for the Trinity College Humanities Residential have not yet opened for 2026. If you are interested in attending, please register your interest and you will be notified by email when applications open in early June.
The deadline for submitting a completed application is 6pm on 21 June 2026. All applications received by the deadline will be considered equally. Unfortunately, we are unable to consider late applications.
No – all elements of the programme are completely free to attend. The cost of food, accommodation, and travel to Cambridge will be fully covered by Trinity College.
The residential will take place from 13:30 on Tuesday 4 August to 15:00 on Thursday 6 August.
To be eligible, students must be available for the full duration of the residential programme.
Participants will be responsible for arranging their own travel to and from Cambridge. Guidance on the best ways to reach the College can be found on our Visiting Trinity College webpage.
Students travelling from particularly long distances, for whom same-day travel is not feasible, may be considered for an additional night of accommodation on the evening of 3 August.