Subjects

Subjects

Academic courses on offer

Combining expert-led lectures, demonstrations, and workshops, with excursions to laboratories, museums, and more, this programme is designed to challenge students and deepen theoretical understanding to a level approaching undergraduate study. Key aims include emphasising interdisciplinary learning and the practical application of materials to real-life scenarios.

There are eight subject strands on offer for 2025. Click on a subject title to learn more about course modules and topics. 

Biology

The aim of the biology course is to provide students with a broad understanding on the various foundational aspects of biology and beyond. By merging theoretical underpinnings with discussions on the practical requisites inherent to modern biological studies, this course fosters creativity and inspires students to explore further within the captivating and innovative realms of biology.

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding into key modules associated with Biology as a field of study.

• Acquire key insights into a range of analytical techniques for interrogating and analysing biological systems.

• Build communication and research skills through interactive workshops and assessments.

Sample curriculum

AM	PM
MODULE Ia: Introduction to Biology	MODULE Ib: The living cell
MODULE IIa: Evolutionary Biology	MODULE IIb: Protein Structure and Functions
MODULE IIIa: Evolutionary History Excursion to the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences	MODULE IIIb: Photosynthesis
MODULE IVa: The Mendelian Gene	MODULE IVb: DNA Sequencing Practical: Sequencing your mitochondrial DNA Part 1
MODULE Va: The Molecular Gene	MODULE Vb: Genetics and Evolution
MODULE VIa: Microscopy	MODULE VIb: Genomics Practical: Sequencing your mitochondrial DNA Part 2
MODULE VIIa: Translation Excursion to the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology	MODULE VIIb: Interdisciplinary Biosciences Practical: Sequencing your mitochondrial DNA Part 3
MODULE VIIIa: The Cell Cycle	MODULE VIIIb: Signal Transduction Excursion to Botanic Garden University of Cambridge
MODULE IXa: The Circadian Cycle	MODULE IXb: Immunology

Chemistry

Our Chemistry course offers comprehensive theoretical insights, problem-solving skills, exposure to cutting-edge research, and academic debate of complex subject matters to prepare the students for studying at a UK university. The course will push you to ignite your passion for chemistry and is aimed to equip you with the knowledge and confidence required to succeed in your further education.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate a reasonable understanding into the key modules associated with Chemistry as a field of study.

• Apply gained knowledge to real world problems in terms of applications where Chemical understanding has a fundamental role.

• Develop an insight of Chemistry at an advance level as well as an applied approach.

• Build communication and research skills through interactive workshops and assessments.

Sample curriculum

AM	PM
MODULE Ia: Introduction to Chemistry	MODULE Ib: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
MODULE IIa: The Hydrogen Atom	MODULE IIb: Multi-electron Atoms
MODULE IIIa: Simplest Homonuclear Diatomics	MODULE IIIb: Second-row Homonuclear Diatomics
MODULE IVa: Larger Molecules	MODULE IVb: Frontier Molecular Orbitals
MODULE Va: Introduction to Thermodynamics	MODULE Vb: Chemical Applications
MODULE VIa: Electrochemistry	MODULE VIb: Kinetic Theory
MODULE VIIa: The Importance of Proteins	MODULE VIIb: Protein Stability
MODULE VIIIa: Protein Folding Kinetics	MODULE VIIIb: Photochemistry and Semiconductors
MODULE IXa: Natural Photosynthesis	MODULE IXb: Artificial Photosynthesis

Economics

The Economics course at Downing College is designed to challenge students by introducing them to university-level subject matters, as well as teaching students how to critically engage with more complex ideas as they would at a UK university. Furthermore, the course will provide the opportunity for students to apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios.

By the end of the course, students will:

• Acquire a robust theoretical foundation in game theory, understanding its key concepts, terminologies, and frameworks for analysing strategic interactions.

• Develop the analytical skills necessary to identify, formulate, and solve game theoretic models across a variety of contexts.

• Critically engage with both theoretical literature and empirical applications.

Sample curriculum

AM	PM
MODULE Ia: Introduction to Economics	MODULE Ib: The Nash Equilibrium
MODULE IIa: Nash Equilibrium: Applications	MODULE IIb: Dominant Actions
MODULE IIIa: Iterated Deletion of Strictly Dominated Actions	MODULE IIIb: Mixed Strategies
MODULE IVa: Dynamic Games	MODULE IVb: Games with Uncertainty
MODULE Va: Auctions and the Price of Art Excursion to the Fitzwilliam Museum	MODULE Vb: How to Think like an Economist
MODULE VIa: Consumer and Firm Theory	MODULE VIb: Supply and Demand
MODULE VIIa: Behavioural Economics	MODULE VIIb: Introduction to Macroeconomics
MODULE VIIIa: Monetary and Fiscal Policy	MODULE VIIIb: GDP, Sustainability, and Ethics Excursion to the Whipple History of Science Museum
MODULE IXa: Genoeconomics	MODULE IXb: Beyond GDP

Engineering 

The course is designed to offer students a comprehensive introduction to engineering principles, with a specific emphasis on aerospace, mechanical, and civil engineering. The latter part of the course is geared towards prompting students to apply these fundamentals to real-world contexts, such as deciphering vehicle design through the application of material behaviour principles and machine design concepts.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental principles in engineering, including aerodynamics, thermodynamics, material science and automobile design.

• Apply fundamental understanding of the physics to solve engineering problems.

• Explain basic civil, aerodynamic and mechanical principles and their effect on engineering technologies.

AM	PM
MODULE Ia: Fundamentals, Statics & Dynamics	MODULE Ib: Introduction to Aerospace
MODULE IIa: Automobile Handling and Braking	MODULE IIb: Thermodynamics
MODULE IIIa: Introduction to Civil Engineering	MODULE IIIb: Aerospace 1
MODULE IVa: Remote Sensing	MODULE IVb: Aerospace 2
MODULE Va: Applications of Aerospace Excursion to Imperial War Museum Duxford	MODULE Vb: Propulsion Systems
MODULE VIa: Data Visualisation	MODULE VIb: Electric Aviation
MODULE VIIa: Introduction to Plastic Deformation	MODULE VIIb: Statistical Modelling
MODULE VIIIa: Metal Forming Excursion to University of Cambridge Metal Forming Laboratory	MODULE VIIIb: Satellite-based Flood Mapping
MODULE IXa: Machine Design	MODULE IXb: Kinetic Theory

Human, Social and Political Sciences / Law 

HSPS

Drawing from the three core disciplines of the HSPS program at the University of Cambridge—Politics and International Relations, Sociology, and Social Anthropology—the course delves into a range of topics. These include democracy, theories of international relations (IR), human rights, humanitarian intervention in relation to the responsibility to protect (R2P), conflict resolution, political sociology, and distributive justice.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Comprehend the concept of democracy and its contemporary significance.

• Investigate the intricacies of humanitarian intervention by analysing select case studies.

• Acknowledge the diverse perspectives within the global discourse on human rights.

• Participate in discussions regarding colonialism, museums, and entitlement theory.

Law

This course will give students insight into a highly topical, intellectually stimulating and morally significant area of law. They will have to work hard to master new concepts, but this area is one that has the potential to capture students’ imaginations and to get them thinking about the function of the law in society, the factors that affect its development, and how, as future lawyers, they could play a significant part in shaping the law.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Develop reasoned and technically well-crafted arguments in support of conclusions.

• Apply legal rights to diverse factual situations, and developing an appreciation of the difficulties and uncertainties entailed in doing so.

• Think critically about institutions and the legal rules that govern their functioning.

Sample curriculum

AM (HSPS)	PM (Law)
MODULE I: Introduction to Politics and International Studies	MODULE I: Introduction to Human Rights and International Law
MODULE II: Theories in Political Science	MODULE II: International Humanitarian Law
MODULE III: Power and the State	MODULE III: International Courts
MODULE IV: The Evolution of State Sovereignty	MODULE IV: Domestic Human Rights Law and the Human Rights Act Excursion to UK Parliament
MODULE V: Democratic Governance in the 21st Century	MODULE V: International Courts
MODULE VI: Human Rights, State Autonomy, and Global Responsibility	MODULE VI: ECHR: Right to Life
MODULE VII: Humanitarian Intervention and the Responsibility to Protect	MODULE VII: ECHR: Freedom of Expression
MODULE VIII: Constitutional Structure of the UK	MODULE VIII: ECHR: Right to Work and Right to Health
MODULE IX: Museums and Entitlement Theory Excursion to the Fitzwilliam Museum	MODULE IX: ECHR: Right to E

Mathematics / Computer Science

Mathematics

This course enables students to enhance their theoretical understanding of mathematics, gain confidence in computational skills, and apply mathematical concepts to real-world situations while fostering critical thinking about global equity in maths and science.

Students will learn about:

• University level definitions in mathematics.

• A brief introduction to the definitions of continuity and limits.

• Techniques with difference equations.

• Methods in modular arithmetic and how they can be applied to challenge problems.

Computer Science

The Computer Science course offers students the opportunity to enhance their programming, coding, and mathematical skills while exploring relevant topics such as AI and machine learning, benefitting from exposure to the latest innovations, and receiving expert instruction in this essential discipline.

By the end of the course, students will:

• Grasp the fundamentals of programming, including algorithms and data structures.

• Gain core insights in data management, machine learning and AI.

• Ethics in technology, including privacy in the digital age.

• Foundations of discrete mathematics.

AM (Mathematics)	PM (Computer Science)
MODULE I: Foundations	MODULE I: Introduction to Computer Science Excursion to the Museum of Computing History
MODULE II: Numbers and Limits	MODULE II: Communicating with the Computer
MODULE III: Differentiation	MODULE III: Data Management
MODULE IV: Elementary Number Theory	MODULE IV: Ethics and Practices in Technology
MODULE V: Information Theory	MODULE V: Machine Learning and AI
MODULE VI: Group Theory	MODULE VI: Software Development Practices
MODULE VII: Maths in the Real World Excursion to important Mathematical sites in Cambridge	MODULE VII: Linear Algebra
MODULE VIII: Geometry	MODULE VIII: Discrete Mathematics
MODULE IX: Chaos Theory	MODULE IX: Calculus and Differential Equations

Physics

The aim of the Physics course is to provide students with a broad understanding on the various domains of study. The course itself encompasses key base domains such as Kinematics, Thermodynamics, Fluids, Waves, and Quantum Physics. Moreover, we cover important applicability cases such as Spacecraft Systems, Orbital Physics, Nuclear Physics and Material Sciences.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Apply gained knowledge to real world problems in terms of large-scale projects to small scale designs.

• Utilise commonly employed Physics terminologies during analyses.

• Build communication and research skills through interactive workshops and assessments.

AM	PM
MODULE Ia: Thermodynamics	MODULE Ib: Heat Transfer
MODULE IIa: Fluids 1	MODULE IIb: Fluids 2
MODULE IIIa: Material Sciences	MODULE IIIb: Spacecraft Systems
MODULE IVa: Particles and Waves	MODULE IVb: Relativity
MODULE Va: Quantum Physics	MODULE Vb: Statics
MODULE VIa: Real World Applications Excursion to Imperial War Museum Duxford	MODULE VIb: Reak World Applications Excursion to Imperial War Museum Duxford
MODULE VIIa: Orbital Physics	MODULE VIIb: Astrophysics
MODULE VIIIa: Optics and Electromagnetism	MODULE VIIIb: Waves
MODULE IXa: Dynamics	MODULE IXb: Nuclear Physics

Physchology / Neuroscience 

The Psychology course delves into the study of the mind, behaviour, and human experience, blending scientific research with conceptual exploration to address fundamental questions about humanity. Covering diverse areas like cognition, ethics, and methodology, the course invites students to engage in discussions on core psychological issues, and is an ideal academic experience for those interested in pursuing Psychology at university level, or those curious about the workings of the mind and behaviour.

By the end of the course, students will:

• Demonstrate an understanding into key modules associated with Psychology as a field of study.

• Acquire key insights into a range of topics related to consciousness, neuroscience and complexity.

• Develop an understanding into Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Mental Health.

AM	PM
MODULE Ia: Cognitive Bias and Decision Making	MODULE Ib: Aggression and Prosocial Behaviour
MODULE IIa: Nature vs. Nurture	MODULE IIb: Language Development and the Psychology of Culture Excursion to Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
MODULE IIIa: Introduction to Consciousness	MODULE IIIb: Consciousness of the Self
MODULE IVa: Attachment Style and Modern Family	MODULE IVb: Mental Health: an Overview
MODULE Va: Emotion Regulation Across Environments Excursion to Scott Polar Research Institute	MODULE Vb: Psychosis and Schizophrenia
MODULE VIa: Complexity Science in Neuroscience	MODULE VIb: Neurons and Neurotransmission
MODULE VIIa: Basic Anatomy and Organisation of the Brain	MODULE VIIb: Introduction to Neuroimaging Methods Excursion to Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre
MODULE VIIIa: Theories of Consciousness and Measuring Consciousness	MODULE VIIIb: Applications in Clinical Practice
MODULE IXa: Language Development	MODULE IXb: Memory

Multiple subjects

For a single two-week residential programme session at Downing College, students will enrol in one subject. If a student prefers to participate in more than one subject, they can choose to attend two or three residential sessions for a total of four to six weeks in person at Downing