University Open Day

Our next Open Day is taking place on Friday 12 September 2025.  Please register your attendance with the University ahead of time.  

What you can expect from our Open Day

Downing College looks forward to welcoming prospective applicants and their supporters to learn more about the University of Cambridge and life at a collegiate university. We have a full programme prepared for Open Day where visitors will be able to explore the College grounds, meet current students and staff, as well as get a feel of what studying at Downing could look like.

Visitors are invited to enter via our main gates on Regent Street.

We will be open from 10am to 3pm on Friday 12 September 2025.

Please visit us at the Welcome Desk in front of the Maitland Robinson Library, where you will be able to collect an Eat Like a Student meal voucher*, bookmark, and get directions to the areas of Downing you would like to visit.

Our current students will be leading tours of the College, departing every 20 minutes from outside the portico, by the magenta banner. You will also have the chance to view some of our student accommodation. These rooms will be signposted and open for viewing during the Open Day hours.

Information Fair

We are hosting an information fair in the Grace Howard Room (Howard Theatre), where you can meet members from several College departments and ask questions. The departments that will be represented are:

  • Admissions
  • Accommodation
  • Archives
  • Finance (please note this will be a presentation, not a staffed stall)
  • Gardens

Admissions talk

From 10.35am to 11.05am, Professor Guy Williams, Senior Tutor, will be giving a talk on Downing’s admissions process.

Subject overview sessions

Throughout the day, Directors of Studies and other academics will be delivering short talks introducing their subjects. These sessions will include:

  • An overview of the course
  • A Q&A opportunity

10am – 10.30am

History of Art - Dr Rachel Coombes

11.10am – 11.40am

Medicine - Dr James McCaffrey

Archaeology - Dr Oliver Antczak and Lydia Clough

11.45am – 12.15pm

Human, Social and Political Sciences - Prof. Mónica Moreno Figueroa

Asian and Middle Eastern Studies - Dr Nanase Shirota

12.20pm – 12.50pm

History - Dr David Pratt 

Modern and Medieval Languages - Dr Elena Martinez-Acacio

12.55pm – 1.25pm

Economics - Dr Michael Ashby

English - Dr Bonnie Lander Johnson

1.30pm – 2pm

Psychological and Behavioural Sciences - Prof. Amy Milton

Geography - Dr Michael Bravo

2:05pm – 2:35pm

Law - Dr Brendan Plant

Engineering - Dr Maria Vera Morales

Veterinary Medicine - Dr Tom Towers

2:40pm – 3:10pm

Natural Sciences - Dr Alice Sowton, Dr John Morgan, Prof. Zoe Barber, Dr Marta Correia

Classics - Dr Frisbee Sheffield
 

*Eat like a student

Collect a meal ticket from us at the Welcome Desk and enjoy the opportunity to eat in our Dining Hall from 12pm to 1.30pm at student prices!

For those with allergies/intolerances, our full menu, including ingredient lists, will be available to view in the Dining Hall on our electronic board. There is always at least one hot vegetarian or vegan dish available.

If you would prefer a lighter meal, the Butterfield Café will also be open from 10am to 3pm. However, please note that regular full prices apply.

Travel Information 

Whilst Downing does not have any parking available for visitors during the Open Days, Cambridge is a wonderfully connected city via public transport.

We recommend looking into the Cambridge park & ride scheme if you are planning on driving. Alternatively, Downing is a short 20-minute walk from the Cambridge Train Station, and the first College you will come across on your way into town. The College is also just a 10-minute walk from the National Express Coach Station. 

University staff and student ambassadors will be based at Cambridge Train Station, Trumpington P&R and Madingley P&R on the mornings of the event.

Once in Cambridge, visitors are encouraged to walk between venues or use the Whippet U Bus (standard fares apply). 

For more details on transport to and from Cambridge, please visit the University’s page.

We look forward to welcoming you to our College!