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1209Description
Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is a collegiate public research institution. Its 800-year history makes it the fourth-oldest surviving university in the world and the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world.
Cambridge serves more than 18,000 students from all cultures and corners of the world. Nearly 4,000 of its students are international and hail from over 120 different countries. In addition, the university’s International Summer Schools offer 150 courses to students from more than 50 countries.
The university is split into 31 autonomous colleges where students receive small group teaching sessions known as college supervisions.
Six schools are spread across the university’s colleges, housing roughly 150 faculties and other institutions. The six schools are: Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Clinical Medicine, Humanities and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences and Technology.
The campus is located in the centre of the city of Cambridge, with its numerous listed buildings and many of the older colleges situated on or near the river Cam.
The university is home to over 100 libraries, which, between them, hold more than 15 million books in total. In the main Cambridge University library alone, which is a legal depository, there are eight million holdings. The university also owns nine arts, scientific and cultural museums that are open to the public throughout the year, as well as a botanical garden.
Cambridge University Press is a non-school institution and operates as the university’s publishing business. With over 50 offices worldwide, its publishing list is made up of 45,000 titles spanning academic research, professional development, research journals, education and bible publishing.
In total, 92 affiliates of the university have been awarded Nobel Prizes, covering every category.
The university’s endowment is valued at nearly £6 billion.
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The Old Schools, Trinity Lane, Cambridge , CB2 1TN, East of England, United Kingdom
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British - French research partnership on AIWednesday, 09 July 2025During the French President's state visit to the United Kingdom, Institut Polytechnique de Paris (IP Paris), HEC Paris, Université Paris-Saclay, Oxford University and Cambridge University formalised a joint commitment to create a strategic partnership in the field of artificial intelligence. Named the Entente CordIAle Paris-Saclay – Oxford-Cambridge AI Initiative, this partnership brings together two leading centres of scientific and technological excellence: the Saclay Cluster and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. They share a common ambition - to foster the emergence of excellent, ethical and sovereign artificial intelligence on a European scale. The aim of the partnership is to structure long-term cooperation in AI research, training and innovation, in order to meet the major challenges of our time. It is organised around five key areas: Encouraging academic mobility between students, doctoral students, researchers and teachers to enhance expertise and training. Organising joint scientific events (seminars, workshops, symposia) on the major scientific and ethical challenges of AI. Launching collaborative research projects: co-direction of theses, interdisciplinary programmes, joint applications for funding. Involving industrial and innovation players, to accelerate technology transfer and support AI entrepreneurship. Strengthen bilateral cooperation, in line with national and European strategic priorities. The 'Entente CordIAle Paris-Saclay – Oxford-Cambridge AI Initiative' extends the shared vision of Institut Polytechnique de Paris and HEC Paris: to establish a leading European hub in artificial intelligence, at the intersection of cutting-edge research, innovation, and the major challenges of our time. A firmly solution-oriented ambition realized through Hi! PARIS, a key actor in the France 2030 strategy, integrating cutting-edge research, excellence in education, and concrete technological innovations to enhance European competitiveness. This interdisciplinary centre was co-founded by IP Paris and HEC Paris in 2020, joined by Inria in 2021, and benefits from €70 million in funding over five years. In a joint statement, Thierry Coulhon, President of Institut Polytechnique de Paris and Eloïc Peyrache, Dean of HEC Paris, said: "With the Entente CordIAle Paris-Saclay – Oxford-Cambridge AI Initiative, we are taking a decisive step forward in European scientific and academic cooperation. By bringing together the excellence of our institutions, through the interdisciplinary centre Hi! PARIS, with that of Oxford and Cambridge, we are laying the foundation for an unparalleled axis of research and innovation in artificial intelligence." Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, concurred: "The University of Cambridge is proud to be part of this collaboration, which reflects our deep commitment to shaping the future of AI through rigorous research, inclusive education, and responsible innovation. Combining our strengths and sharing knowledge will help us to address the most pressing challenges of our time and ensure AI serves the common good." The Saclay Cluster, which includes Institut Polytechnique de Paris, HEC Paris and Université Paris-Saclay, the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, are joining forces to build AI excellence. Combining our strengths and sharing knowledge will help us to address the most pressing challenges of our time and ensure AI serves the common goodProfessor Deborah Prentice Partner signatories with Professor Deborah Prentice on the right. The text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Images, including our videos, are Copyright ©University of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified. All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways – on our main website under its Terms and conditions, and on a range of channels including social media that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms. Yes
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British - French research partnership on AIWednesday, 09 July 2025During the French President's state visit to the United Kingdom, Institut Polytechnique de Paris (IP Paris), HEC Paris, Université Paris-Saclay, Oxford University and Cambridge University formalised a joint commitment to create a strategic partnership in the field of artificial intelligence. Named the Entente CordIAle Paris-Saclay – Oxford-Cambridge AI Initiative, this partnership brings together two leading centres of scientific and technological excellence: the Saclay Cluster and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. They share a common ambition - to foster the emergence of excellent, ethical and sovereign artificial intelligence on a European scale. The aim of the partnership is to structure long-term cooperation in AI research, training and innovation, in order to meet the major challenges of our time. It is organised around five key areas: Encouraging academic mobility between students, doctoral students, researchers and teachers to enhance expertise and training. Organising joint scientific events (seminars, workshops, symposia) on the major scientific and ethical challenges of AI. Launching collaborative research projects: co-direction of theses, interdisciplinary programmes, joint applications for funding. Involving industrial and innovation players, to accelerate technology transfer and support AI entrepreneurship. Strengthen bilateral cooperation, in line with national and European strategic priorities. The 'Entente CordIAle Paris-Saclay – Oxford-Cambridge AI Initiative' extends the shared vision of Institut Polytechnique de Paris and HEC Paris: to establish a leading European hub in artificial intelligence, at the intersection of cutting-edge research, innovation, and the major challenges of our time. A firmly solution-oriented ambition realized through Hi! PARIS, a key actor in the France 2030 strategy, integrating cutting-edge research, excellence in education, and concrete technological innovations to enhance European competitiveness. This interdisciplinary centre was co-founded by IP Paris and HEC Paris in 2020, joined by Inria in 2021, and benefits from €70 million in funding over five years. In a joint statement, Thierry Coulhon, President of Institut Polytechnique de Paris and Eloïc Peyrache, Dean of HEC Paris, said: "With the Entente CordIAle Paris-Saclay – Oxford-Cambridge AI Initiative, we are taking a decisive step forward in European scientific and academic cooperation. By bringing together the excellence of our institutions, through the interdisciplinary centre Hi! PARIS, with that of Oxford and Cambridge, we are laying the foundation for an unparalleled axis of research and innovation in artificial intelligence." Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, concurred: "The University of Cambridge is proud to be part of this collaboration, which reflects our deep commitment to shaping the future of AI through rigorous research, inclusive education, and responsible innovation. Combining our strengths and sharing knowledge will help us to address the most pressing challenges of our time and ensure AI serves the common good." The Saclay Cluster, which includes Institut Polytechnique de Paris, HEC Paris and Université Paris-Saclay, the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, are joining forces to build AI excellence. Combining our strengths and sharing knowledge will help us to address the most pressing challenges of our time and ensure AI serves the common goodProfessor Deborah Prentice Partner signatories with Prof Deborah Prentice on the right The text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Images, including our videos, are Copyright ©University of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified. All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways – on our main website under its Terms and conditions, and on a range of channels including social media that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms. Yes
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Gut microbes could protect us from toxic ‘forever chemicals’Tuesday, 01 July 2025PFAS have been linked with a range of health issues including decreased fertility, developmental delays in children, and a higher risk of certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Scientists at the University of Cambridge have identified a family of bacterial species, found naturally in the human gut, that absorb various PFAS molecules from their surroundings. When nine of these bacterial species were introduced into the guts of mice to ‘humanise’ the mouse microbiome, the bacteria rapidly accumulated PFAS eaten by the mice - which were then excreted in faeces. The researchers also found that as the mice were exposed to increasing levels of PFAS, the microbes worked harder, consistently removing the same percentage of the toxic chemicals. Within minutes of exposure, the bacterial species tested soaked up between 25% and 74% of the PFAS. The results are the first evidence that our gut microbiome could play a helpful role in removing toxic PFAS chemicals from our body - although this has not yet been directly tested in humans. The researchers plan to use their discovery to create probiotic dietary supplements that boost the levels of these helpful microbes in our gut, to protect against the toxic effects of PFAS. The results are published today in the journal Nature Microbiology. PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) can’t be avoided in our modern world. These man-made chemicals are in many everyday items including waterproof clothing, non-stick pans, lipsticks and food packaging, used for their resistance to heat, water, oil and grease. But because they take thousands of years to break down, they are accumulating in large quantities in the environment – and in our bodies. Dr Kiran Patil, in the University of Cambridge’s MRC Toxicology Unit and senior author of the report, said: “Given the scale of the problem of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’, particularly their effects on human health, it’s concerning that so little is being done about removing these from our bodies.” “We found that certain species of human gut bacteria have a remarkably high capacity to soak up PFAS from their environment at a range of concentrations, and store these in clumps inside their cells. Due to aggregation of PFAS in these clumps, the bacteria themselves seem protected from the toxic effects.” Dr Indra Roux, a researcher at the University of Cambridge’s MRC Toxicology Unit and a co-author of the study said: “The reality is that PFAS are already in the environment and in our bodies, and we need to try and mitigate their impact on our health now. We haven’t found a way to destroy PFAS, but our findings open the possibility of developing ways to get them out of our bodies where they do the most harm.” There is increasing concern about the environmental and health impacts of PFAS, and in April 2025 the UK launched a parliamentary inquiry into their risks and regulation. There are over 4,700 PFAS chemicals in widespread use. Some get cleared out of the body in our urine in a matter of days, but others with a longer molecular structure can hang around in the body for years. Dr Anna Lindell, a researcher at the University of Cambridge’s MRC Toxicology Unit and first author of the study said: “We’re all being exposed to PFAS through our water and food – these chemicals are so widespread that they’re in all of us. “PFAS were once considered safe, but it’s now clear that they’re not. It’s taken a long time for PFAS to become noticed because at low levels they’re not acutely toxic. But they’re like a slow poison.” Lindell and Patil have co-founded a startup, Cambiotics, with serial entrepreneur Peter Holme Jensen to develop probiotics that remove PFAS from the body, and they are investigating various ways of turbo-charging the microbes’ performance. Cambiotics is supported by Cambridge Enterprise, the innovation arm of the University of Cambridge, which helps researchers translate their work into globally-leading economic and social impact. While we wait for new probiotics to become available, the researchers say the best things we can do to help protect ourselves against PFAS are to avoid PFAS-coated cooking pans, and use a good water filter. The research was funded primarily by the Medical Research Council, National Institute for Health Research, and Wellcome. Reference Lindell, A.E.: ‘Human gut bacteria bioaccumulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.’ Nature Microbiology, July 2025. DOI: 10.1038/s41564-025-02032-5 Scientists have discovered that certain species of microbe found in the human gut can absorb PFAS - the toxic and long-lasting ‘forever chemicals.’ They say boosting these species in our gut microbiome could help protect us from the harmful effects of PFAS. “Given the scale of the problem of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’, particularly their effects on human health, it’s concerning that so little is being done about removing these from our bodies.”Kiran PatilPeter Northrop / MRC Toxicology UnitPFAS accumulation in gut bacteria The text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Images, including our videos, are Copyright ©University of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified. All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways – on our main website under its Terms and conditions, and on a range of channels including social media that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms. YesLicence type: Attribution-Noncommerical
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Celebrating sporting success at the 2025 Cambridge University Sports AwardsTuesday, 01 July 2025Organised by the University Sports service, the annual ceremony brought together students, staff, alumni, and guests to recognise the exceptional contributions and successes of sports clubs, teams, and individuals across the University. Hosted by Director of Sport Mark Brian, the awards were presented by a distinguished line-up of guests including Professor Bhaskar Vira (Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Chair of the Sports Committee), Deborah Griffin (incoming RFU President), Scott Annett (CURUFC Director of Rugby), and Senior Tutors and Committee Members Victoria Harvey and Dr Jane Greatorex. Former Sports Personality of the Year Jack Murphy returned to present one of the evening’s headline awards. The awards shine a light on the importance of sport as part of the Cambridge experience - enhancing student wellbeing, building community, and nurturing excellence both on and off the field. The winners were selected by a panel of senior University staff, with the exception of the Sporting Moment of the Year, which was decided by public vote. This year’s winners: Club of the Year: Association Football Club Team of the Year: Women’s Cross Country A Team, Hare & Hounds Sports Person of the Year: Jan Helmich (Trinity Hall), Rowing Unsung Hero: Emma Paterson (Gonville and Caius), Mixed Lacrosse Sports Club Personality of the Year: Tads Ciecieski-Holmes (Wolfson), Modern Pentathlon Sporting Moment of the Year: Men’s Volleyball Blues Varsity Set Point Newcomer of the Year: Lauren Airey (Emmanuel), Modern Pentathlon College Team of the Year: Downing Table Tennis Outstanding Contribution Awards were presented to: Lucy Xu (Pembroke), Taekwondo Sam Grimshaw (Girton), Hockey Georgina Quayle (Homerton), Modern Pentathlon and Swimming & Water Polo Ben Rhodes (Jesus), Touch Rugby Izzy Howse (Robinson), Netball Ksenija Belada (Peterhouse), Volleyball Izzy Winter and Jess Reeve, Clarissa’s Campaign for Cambridge Hearts A particularly moving moment came during the presentation of an Outstanding Contribution Award to Clarissa’s Campaign for Cambridge Hearts, recognising efforts by Izzy Winter and Jess Reeve to raise funds and awareness for student heart screenings. For more information on the October 2025 screenings, visit www.sport.cam.ac.uk/heart-screening. The University extends its congratulations to all nominees and winners, and its thanks to everyone who participated in and supported the 2025 Sports Awards. The event was a testament to the passion, resilience, and camaraderie that sport brings to the Cambridge community. To read more about all the nominees, please visit the Sports Awards page: https://www.sport.cam.ac.uk/sportsawards/sports-awards-2025 Story by: Will Galpin Crowds cheer on the Sports Awards 2025 Crowds cheer on the nominees and winners at the 2025 Sports Awards. The University of Cambridge recently celebrated a remarkable year of student sporting achievement at the 2025 Cambridge University Sports Awards. Dik Ng Winners of the Cambridge Sports Awards 2025 gathered together The text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Images, including our videos, are Copyright ©University of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified. All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways – on our main website under its Terms and conditions, and on a range of channels including social media that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms. YesLicence type: Attribution
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