English Taster Series on John Milton

Our annual English Taster Series is themed around the life and works of John Milton, with lectures and workshops given by academics in English, chance to chat with current students studying English, and a College tour. Applications to Cambridge are also discussed and there are plenty of opportunities to ask questions.

If you are interested in applying for the event in the future, you might like to look at Darkness Visible (a resource for studying Milton's Paradise Lost, made by Christ's students) as well as the English subject page.

This Taster Series is aimed at academically able students in the UK who meet all of the criteria below:

You attend an academy, school or college in the UK that does not charge fees (to anyone) OR you are home educated in the UK.

You are in Year 12 (England and Wales), S5 (Scotland) or Y13 (Northern Ireland). We also accept applications from students in the year above if you have not applied to university this year and are planning to apply in October 2025 to start in 2026 (taking a gap year).

You are studying English Literature and two other subjects for A Level, IB Higher Level or Scottish Higher (intending to continue to Advanced Higher). 

You love reading and are interested in exploring literature beyond the standard school curriculum.

Applications have now closed for this series. The application deadline was 19 February (23:59). 

We will be in touch with applicants to update you in due course. 

• Most applicants will hear the outcome of the application by the end of Wed 26 February
• A small number will hear by the end of Friday 28 February. 

Those offered a place are expected to attend the online sessions live, and attending the in-person visit day will be contingent on attendance at the online sessions.

The Taster Series is for students only (there are no sessions for parents & guardians). 

The online sessions will take place on Zoom from 16:30-17:30 on three Mondays: 3, 10 and 17 March. There will be a visit day to Christ's itself on Friday 4 April 2025 for those who are selected for the programme. 

The online sessions are camera on Zoom meetings. Students should be on mute when not talking but will need to "unmute" themselves when invited to speak. There will also be some opportunities to participate by typing or answering polls etc. Sessions will not necessarily all be the same format as they will be lead by different academics and admissions staff, however participants will be expected to attend live and be ready to participate where appropriate (recordings are not provided afterwards). The first session will be introductory and will run through how to participate as well as other information relating to applying to Cambridge.

If you take the option to visit Christ's at the end of the series, note that visiting students are responsible for getting themselves to Cambridge, however we provide travel information and a map of the college (see below). 

• How to get to Christ's
• Cambridge University map
• Printable map of Cambridge
• Christ's College map

If you are in (or were previously in) Care, please read about the Care Travel Fund (eligibility criteria apply).

"Allowed me to view Literature in a totally different way, and showed me how broad the subject really is."

"The calibre of teaching and ideas (from the lecturers and participating students alike!) was unlike anything I'd been exposed to before and has inspired me to educate myself further on the works of John Milton and his cultural milieu."

"I enjoyed the different approaches the lecturers had to paradise lost and their differing ways of discussion."

"My favourite thing about the series was learning more about the Cambridge learning style and seeing how lectures etc are completed."

"It was lovely to meet like-minded, highly achieving, passionate students and to meet current students at Christ's."

You can read more of the comments here.