Pembroke College Cambridge

Teaching and Learning

Our programme is renowned for its rigorous and intellectually challenging courses and at the centre of our ethos is small-group teaching. 

To achieve the interactive educational culture we believe is so important on the Pembroke Cambridge Summer Programme, we usually cap each lecture group at 30 students and each seminar group at 15.

We offer subjects that reflect both Cambridge’s strengths and the intellectual interests of the instructors who develop the courses. Each one is designed to be challenging but accessible, and most do not require prior knowledge.

How the teaching programme works

You will choose three courses, each with a total of 25 hours of contact time. That includes:

  • 12 x 75-minute lectures
  • 8 x 75-minute seminars

Each course is worth the same number of credits and runs over three or six weeks. We split our courses across Modules 1, 2 and 3. The independent supervision counts as Module 3.

Module 1:     

Monday 8 July – Friday 26 July 2024                |       3 weeks

Module 2:   

Monday 29 July – Friday 16 August 2024           |       3 weeks

Module 3:   

Monday 8 July – Friday 16 August 2024           |       6 weeks

Choosing courses

Wondering how to choose courses and how our modular system works?

We recommend reading our guidance on choosing courses and taking a look at the courses we offer.

Independent Supervision: one-to-one Cambridge teaching

If you're interested in developing your independent research skills, why not replace one of your three courses with the independent supervision option?

These tailored supervisions let you immerse yourself in researching your chosen topic under expert guidance. It’s a very rewarding and exciting option if you decide it’s right for you.

Advance Reading

Before you start the programme, you'll have access to course syllabi which will confirm whether or not you need to read any materials in preparation for your courses.

Once you’re in Cambridge you will have access to the Pembroke College library and some courses will offer e-course readers through the online platform. 

Credit transfer

Academic credit can usually be gained for the courses taken during the programme, although the amount of credit can vary according to the policy of your home university. For more information please see our Assessment and Credit page.