by Varsity Applications

This article is 4 years old

Varsity is Cambridge University's independent student newspaper which is read by thousands of people around the world, with its website receiving 42,000 visitors weekly and its physical copy being distributed to over 160 locations. 

If you wish to be a part of Varsity over the Summer and during Michaelmas term, apply to join our team now, as a limited number of roles have reopened. If you don't wish to apply for a formal role but wish to write for us in an informal manner, please scroll to the bottom of this article. 

To apply for any of these formal roles, please submit a document with your full name (including CRSid or another email, if you are an incoming Fresher) and the role for which you wish to apply.

Please note that no prior experience is required. We welcome anyone keen to join the paper for the first time, especially freshers. Varsity is a space to explore new things, and our team is eager to guide you! 

Applications for all roles should be sent to applications@varsity.co.uk by 5pm, Sunday August 16th. 

Detailed information about all available roles and application guidelines can be found below.

Section Editor Roles:

If you would like to apply for Sports Editor or Theatre Editor, please provide:

  • A critique of the section from the past couple of terms, with suggestions of improvements you would seek to implement, if appointed. This should largely focus on content, but if you have any particular ideas for digital presence or print design, please include these (150-300 words).
  • A critique of an article from the section from the past couple of terms (150-300 words).
  • One idea for content in the section.
  • Alternative headlines and subheadings for one recent article from the section.
  • Details of any experience you have for the role. For example, you may wish to include any intern experiences or other extra-curricular activities. Please also include any technical skills (e.g. ability to use Adobe InDesign, Photoshop or video editing software), particularly when applying to roles where these skills would be important (150-300 words).

Sports Editor

With so much sport going on in Cambridge every week, it’s no surprise that this is a busy section. The Sport Editor is responsible for commissioning match reports, interviews and features every week, covering as wide a range of sports as possible, across all levels. In the past year, the Sport section has taken a closer, more critical look at the world of Cambridge sport and we’re looking for someone to continue this focus, and platform personal experiences and perspectives on University sport. Next term’s Sport Editor(s) should be ready to plan investigations and features on Cambridge sport, and hire a team of staff sports writers over the holidays.

Theatre Editor

The Theatre Editors will commission reviews for the large Cambridge theatre scene as well as more personal Opinion or Features-style articles exploring students’ experiences with the dramatic arts. Next term, we’re eager to broaden the section’s focus beyond reviews, although these will remain important, seeking to highlight in particular the creative work students undertake to bring productions to life and making use of a range of multimedia content. This is a demanding role due to the large output of the section and the time-critical nature of reviews. We are especially looking for individuals who understand the Cambridge theatre scene well and are extremely organised.

Sub-Editor Roles:

If you would like to apply to a Sub-Editor role, please provide:

● A critique of an article from any section from the past couple of terms, with particular attention to the detailed improvements which a sub-editor could make (150-300 words).

● An explanation of any experience you have for the role, why you think you would be suitable, and why you want to do it (150-300 words).

Sub-Editor Role

Know your less from your fewer? Have an eye for commas, apostrophes, capital letters, always italicising Varsity, and spelling? Our team of sub-editors are key to ensuring that Varsity maintains its reputation for clear and professional journalism. They ensure that all pieces conform to Varsity’s house style. It’s also important for sub-editors to be aware of the content itself, and to flag up anything that may be unsuitable for publishing. We are looking to recruit a number of sub-editors to help support our Chief Sub-Editor, who will manage the team of sub-editors to ensure content is sub-edited in a timely and high-quality fashion.

Creative Roles:

If you would like to apply to a creative role, please provide:

● Your experience for this role (150-300 words).

● A small portfolio of your own work.

Photography Contributor

Our photography contributors keep the paper looking engaging with new and original artistic content. As a contributor, you will be given commissions from different section editors to contribute photos to the articles on which they’re working. You will also be able to contribute to the stock photos folder to which editors can go when need a photo for an article with a tight deadline. This role is very flexible in the number of photos which you take for the newspaper.

Illustrations Contributor

Our illustrations contributors keep the paper looking engaging with new and original artistic content. As a contributor, you will be given commissions from different section editors to contribute illustrations to the articles on which they’re working. You will also be able to create your own illustrations to add to our folder of stock illustrations to which editors can go when they need an illustration on a tight deadline. This role is very flexible in the number of illustrations which you do for the newspaper.

Video Contributor

Our video contributors will be responsible for creating the content which the Head of Video proposes, as well as coming up with their own ideas about exciting video opportunities. We’re looking for people to shoot, edit and present Varsity’s video output. You are welcome to apply to any one or a selection of these roles, and Varsity will be able to provide opportunities to expand and develop your skills.

Informal Roles:

If you are not interested in a more formal role, but you are interested in casually writing for us, please join our section groups which will start posting commissions from Friday the 14th. 

Varsity Writers: All commissions for all sections are posted here

Features Writers: All commissions for the Features Section are posted here

Opinion Writers: All commissions for the Opinions Section are posted here

Interviews Writers: All Commissions for the Interviews Section are posted here

Science Writers: All Commissions for the Science Section are posted here

Sports Writers: All Commissions for the Sports Section are posted here

Violet Writers (Varsity’s blog): All Commissions for the Violet Section are posted here

Lifestyle Writers: All Commissions for the Lifestyles Section are posted here

Arts Writers: All Commissions for the Arts Section are posted here

Fashion Writers: All Commissions for the Fashion Section are posted here

Film & TV Writers: All Commissions for the Film and TV Section are posted here

Music Writers: All Commissions for the Music Section are posted here

Theatre Writers: All Commissions for the Theatre Section are posted here

Please note that all staff writer and columnist roles will open in September.

Got any questions about the roles or the application process? Pop an email to our Editor-In-Chief, Rich Bartlett, at applications@varsity.co.uk

Don't hesitate to apply! We're excited to receive your applications.

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