The Vice-Chancellor marked the start of the new academic year this morning by giving his annual address to the University in the Senate House.
A new £500m fundraising campaign is to be launched to help students and ensure the University is fully inclusive of the most diverse talent.
Professor Stephen J Toope reflected on his first year at the University as its Vice-Chancellor and on the challenges facing the institution in the coming year.
In his speech he highlighted the University’s commitment to supporting students and widening participation while not lowering academic standards.
The Vice-Chancellor repeated a commitment to a Transitional Year programme to help raise attainment in students who may have suffered educational challenges.
He also announced a half a billion pounds fundraising campaign directly aimed at student support which will raise funds for post-graduate studentships and enhance financial support for undergraduate students: “I want us to be genuinely open to all who have the talent to flourish at Cambridge. The challenge is considerable. But so is the scale of our ambition.”
Read the full speech here.