Meet our Schools Liaison Officer

Hi, my name is Matthew Bowen, and I’m the Matthew BowenSchools Liaison Officer here at Gonville and Caius College. Working alongside the Tutor for Admissions and Outreach (Dr Chris Scott), the London Outreach Officer (Gwyneth Hamand), and the Admissions & Outreach Coordinator (Bethan Holloway-Strong), I help to build and strengthen links between Caius and schools in our link areas (Norfolk, Hertfordshire, and several London Boroughs). Delivering sessions and advice to students from a range of different backgrounds, I aim to support, inform, and encourage potential students to consider Cambridge University and higher education more generally.

Before completing my degree in Theology and Religion at Mansfield College, Oxford, I attended a comprehensive school in King’s Lynn (one of our link areas). As a student whose parents had not attended university, living in an area with low progression to Higher Education, I experienced first-hand the difference that access and outreach initiatives can have on students. The first outreach event that I attended during my time at school was here at Caius, and it helped to open my eyes to the possibility of both Cambridge, and higher education more generally.

Within my role as Schools Liaison Officer, I want to give students of all backgrounds a similar chance to understand and explore the range of different possibilities that are open to them in higher education. Building confidence, demystifying perceptions of Cambridge, and encouraging subject exploration, I hope to show students that here at Cambridge we are simply looking for people with potential, enthusiasm for their course, and a drive and determination to succeed.

I can host visits to the College – providing college tours, Q&A sessions with undergraduate students, delivering presentations, and arranging visits around the city to University departments and museums. Equally, I am also happy to visit schools to deliver talks, presentations or workshops on a variety of topics, including: applying to universities in general, the Cambridge application process, interviews, and student life. Please use the Access & Outreach pages to find further information.

For any queries please email schools@cai.cam.ac.uk, or my personalised matthew.bowen@cai.cam.ac.uk address. Whether it is your first time contacting Caius, or whether you have worked with us before, I would love to hear from you, so please do reach out!