Alumni and friends along with current fellows and students gathered in the magnificent setting of the Drapers' Hall in London to mark the life of our former master Sir David Harrison (1930-2023) and the success already of the fund established in his memory.

We have been notifying applicants about the outcome of the undergraduate admissions process. Huge congratulations to those who received offers, and for those who didn't: be assured that the standard was extremely high and we only wish we could have admitted everyone.

Here are some of the key statistics:

*860 people applied to Selwyn this year

The start of Lent term sees the return of our popular speaker events, to which college members and the wider Cambridge community are warmly invited.

The first, on Thursday January 18th, featured alumnus Jon Silverman discussing why there was much political noise - but almost no decisive action - on dealing with Nazi war criminals in the UK. To view online, please click here:

Selwyn College is pleased to announce that Steph Cadman (SE 2017) has been awarded the inaugural Bill Turnbull Prize for clinical medicine. Dr Cadman won the award thanks to her outstanding achievement in the clinical part of the medical course, for which she was given MB BChir with distinction. In addition to her academic excellence, she made a significant contribution to the Selwyn community – particularly the support of her medical colleagues – whilst a Selwyn student.

A message from the new president of the MCR - which represents Selwyn graduate students:

The college received magnificent backing from alumni and friends in the telephone campaign which took place in December 2023. A total of more than £100,000 has been raised through conversations between current students and old members. We’re extremely grateful for the generosity of our supporters; and you can donate online at any time to help future generations of Selwynites. Just visit this page: https://www.sel.cam.ac.uk/donate-now

Here's our 2023 Christmas card. It was created by first-year undergraduate in natural sciences Luna Kefford, who painted this view of the Selwyn chapel. There was a brilliant selection of entries in our design competition open to all Selwyn students, and this is the first time that the winner has been an undergraduate fresher.

Many congratulations to Luna - and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.   

This year, our campaign focusses on the world-class teaching Selwyn provides. The Sir David Harrison Fund is a major new initiative as part of our tribute to our late master, to support teaching in the sciences, engineering and maths. Teaching is at the heart of what we do as a college. There is nothing more important than instilling the next generation with the learning that they need, and this is an area in which we now need specific investment.

On Wednesday 8th November at Selwyn the first Vice-Chancellor’s Dialogue was launched by Professor Deborah Prentice, who became VC earlier this year. The aim is to hold a series of dialogues about some of the most difficult issues of our time.

Congratulations to Oketa Zogi Shala who has been elected president of the Selwyn JCR, the body which represents our undergraduates, for 2024.

Oketa is a second year HSPS student. Growing up in a Kosovan working-class home in North London, she says that her background has influenced her deep passion in fighting for social justice and access.