There are several famous Cambridge alumni who have definitely changed the world! These University of Cambridge notable alumni have left a mark on the world, and they are known all over the world for their input and their contribution to their respective fields. There are notable famous figures and personalities at Cambridge University, so we have made a list of the top notable alumni of Cambridge University:
Famous Cambridge Alumni
Every university has graduates who have gone out into the world and created history in different fields. The University of Cambridge is known all over the world for providing the best quality of education. But that's not all! There are many well-known people in this world who have one thing in common - they're all Cambridge graduates! Want to get to know some of them a little better? Have a look at our list of famous Cambridge alumni and the various fields they belong to. Also, you can even have a look at our blog on Masters at Cambridge University: Top Courses, Eligibility, Fee, if you wish to join this esteemed university!
Diplomat
Diplomats are people who are appointed by the government and are responsible for representing the country's interests and conducting negotiations with other countries. This comes with great responsibility and value. As such, there have been a few famous Cambridge alumni who have done wonders in the field. Have a look at some of the most well-known diplomats in this list of famous Cambridge alumni:
1. Christopher Meyer
Year of Study: 1965
Field: History
Starting our list of famous Cambridge alumni, we have Christopher Meyer, who was a British Diplomat and served as the Ambassador to the United States and Germany. He was also the chairman of the Press Complaints Commission from 2003-2009. As the chairman of the PCC, this University of Cambridge notable alumni introduced a number of reforms to enhance the credibility of the commission, which are still well-known today!
2. John Sawers
Year of Study: 1976
Field: Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
Another addition to the list of University of Cambridge notable alumni is John Sawers. He was a civil servant, intelligence officer, and diplomat. As the Chief British Permanent Representative to the United Nations, he navigated complex international issues, such as the Arab Spring and the Syrian Civil War.
3. Shirin Ebadi
Year of Study: 1969
Field: Law
Shirin Ebadi is one of the most famous Cambridge University alumni. She is an Iranian lawyer, Nobel Laureate, writer, and teacher. She is also a former judge and founder of the Defenders of Human Rights Center in Iran. She is among the most famous University of Cambridge notable alumni and is known for advocating for the rights of women and children in Iran. She has also faced persecution for her activism.
4. Sir Andrew Wood
Year of Study: 1961
Field: Modern and Medieval Languages
Sir Andrew Wood also joins the esteemed list of famous University of Cambridge notable alumni as a former British diplomat, specialising in Russian affairs. He served as a diplomat from 1996 to 2000. He was also on the boards of several institutions and councils, such as the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce, the Foreign and Colonial Investment Trust, and the PBN Company.
5. Dame Rosalyn Higgins
Year of Study: 1955
Field: Law
When discussing the famous alumni of Cambridge University, we must address Lady Higgins, who is a former British president of the International Court of Justice. She joins our list of Cambridge University famous alumni, specifically known for being the first ever female judge elected to the ICJ. Throughout her career, she made a series of substantial contributions to international law and diplomacy.
6. Sir Antony Arthur Acland
Year of Study: 1950
Field: Classics
Sir Antony Arthur Acland was a British diplomat and one of the most important additions to our list of University of Cambridge notable alumni. He served as a British Ambassador to the United States and as the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. Additionally, he played an important role in the diplomatic engagement during the Cold War and many more significant events.
Scientists
Scientists are known for creating, innovating, and evolving. Thanks to scientists, we live in a progressive world today, ready for new and improved changes. If you want to know which of these scientists studied at the University of Cambridge, then keep reading. Here are some of the notable scientists and famous alumni of Cambridge University, who have done amazing work in their respective fields:
7. Isaac Newton
Year of Study: 1668
Field: Mathematics and Natural Philosophy
One of the most famous personalities known to humans, Isaac Newton, is a famous physicist and is part of the list of notable alumni of Cambridge University. He was a mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, and author who made the discovery of gravity and moved the world in regard to physics. He not only made students go crazy with his theories, he was a key figure in the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment.
8. Stephen Hawking
Year of Study: 1966
Field: Applied Mathematics
Stephen Hawking is another mention in the famous Cambridge alumni list! Stephen Hawking has his contributions to understanding gravity and working more on the theories created by Isaac Newton, black holes, and cosmology. He has helped the world understand more about space and many more; he deserves to be on the list of Cambridge University famous alumni.
9. Alan Turing
Year of Study: 1934
Field: Mathematics
The one who cracked the enigma code of the Germans during World War II. With a movie telling his story, Alan Turing is probably one of the most famous Cambridge alumni. Renowned as a cryptographer, Alan Turning was also a mathematician, computer scientist, logician, cryptanalyst, philosopher, and theoretical biologist. He created the Turing Machine that helped the world to delve deeper into the idea of a general-purpose computer!
10. Robert Oppenheimer
Year of Study: 1924
Field: Physics
Robert Oppenheimer is a person that people know about but isn't as renowned as the others on this list of University of Cambridge notable alumni. Robert Oppenheimer was the person who created the atomic bomb. He is among the main members of the Manhattan Project, where he created the first nuclear weapons. He also studied physics at Cambridge!
11. Charles Darwin
Year of Study: 1836
Field: Priesthood
The one who created the theory of evolution, Charles Darwin, was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist. He changed the world with his idea that all species have come from the same ancestor. Charles Darwin is considered one of the most influential figures in human history and is one of the most famous Cambridge alumni, as he studied natural science there.
12. Bertrand Russell
Year of Study: 1893
Field: Mathematics and Philosophy
Another person that we need to mention in our list of Cambridge University famous alumni is Bertrand Russell. He was one of the few people who were in defence of logicism in mathematics (basically, mathematics is, in some significant sense, reducible to formal logic); he was also the one who discovered the Russell Paradox (the paradox where every theory in mathematics that has unrestricted understandings will lead to contradictions). Also a Nobel Prize in Literature winner, Bertrand deserves to be on our list of University of Cambridge notable alumni.
13. John Maynard Keynes
Year of Study: 1902
Field: Competitive Mathematics
John Maynard Keynes was a philosopher who shook the world of economics. He changed macroeconomic theory, practice, and governmental economic policies. He studied mathematics at the University of Cambridge, making him one of the most famous people who went to Cambridge.
14. Niels Bohr
Year of Study: 1911
Field: Theoretical Physics
With Cambridge being one of the oldest universities in the U.K., there are various famous Cambridge alumni that many people might have forgotten about. One of them is Niels Bohr, the one who made the Bohr theory that electrons in an atom orbit the nucleus in a stable orbit (chemistry students will understand). He also is renowned for his contributions to quantum theory. For his contributions, he deserves to be famed in our list of famous Cambridge alumni.
Actors and Directors
Actors and directors are what rule the world of entertainment. There is a lot of creativity that goes into becoming a director or actor, which is something the University of Cambridge can offer to every student. Have a look at the notable actors and directors who join our list of Cambridge University alumni:
15. Tom Hiddleston
Year of Study: 2006
Field: Classical Studies
Another addition to the list of the University of Cambridge notable alumni is the famous actor Tom Hiddleston, known for his role as Loki in many Marvel movies and T.V. shows; he has also played many other roles in various movies, like Kong: Skull Island, The Night Manager, and a lot more! This Cambridge famous alumni as he earned a double first in Classics!
16. Rachel Weisz
Year of Study: N.A.
Field: English
Rachel Weisz is known for her roles in the famous movie by the name of The Mummy, where she played the role of Evelyn Carnahan. She is on this list of famous Cambridge alumni as she has graduated from this university with upper second-class honours. She has also won various awards for her roles in movies like The Constant Gardener, Blanche DuBois, and many more!
17. Freddie Highmore
Year of Study: 2014
Field: Spanish and Arabic
Everyone remembers the kid from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or Shaun from the famous T.V. show The Good Doctor! Freddie Highmore is a famous actor who has starred as the main lead in both these movies and shows. He is part of the list of famous Cambridge alumni not only due to his fame but also because he graduated with double first in Spanish and Arabic from Emmanuel College, making him a multilingualist! He has also won many awards due to his roles, like the Critics' Choice Movie Awards for Best Young Performer and the People's Choice Award!
18. Emma Thompson
Year of Study: 1977
Field: English
Dame Emma Thompson, DBE, studied English at Cambridge! , and is one of the greatest actors of her generation, is another addition to our list of Cambridge University famous alumni. She is not only an actor but also a screenwriter, and she is the only one in history to have achieved the feat of winning an Oscar for both acting and screenwriting! For this feat, she deserves to be on the list. She has starred in various movie roles, such as Me and My Girl, Tutti Frutti, and Fortunes of War. Emma Thompson has also written and starred in the movie Sense and Sensibility, for which she won an Oscar!
19. John Cleese
Year of Study: 1936
Field: Law
John Cleese, a comedian, actor, and screenwriter, is the next addition to our list of Cambridge University famous alumni. He is one of the most famous people who went to Cambridge and graduated with an upper second in theatrics and has made his mark on the world through various movies, T.V. shows and sketches, like Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, A Fish Called Wanda, Shrek, two James Bond movies, and so much more! Additionally this Cambridge famous alumni has also won various awards, like the BAFTA and Golden Globe, for his contributions! Not adding him to the list of famous Cambridge alumni would be considered a sin!
20. Sam Mendes
Year of Study: 1987
Field: English
Sir Samuel Alexander Mendes CBE is another recognized member on our list of University of Cambridge notable alumni. This Cambridge famous alumni is a film and stage director, producer, and screenwriter and has made movies like Road to Perdition, Jarhead, Revolutionary Road, and Skyfall, as well as Spectre. Sam has also won various awards, like the BAFTA Award and Laurence Olivier Award. Since he has graduated with first-class honours in English, he needs to be on this list of notable alumni of Cambridge University.
Now that you have read up on our list of Cambridge University famous alumni and are tempted to join this list, start your journey by reading all the information you need regarding the University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate and Strategies. Start your journey towards greatness today! If you aspire to join the Cambridge Alumni, ensure you acquaint yourself with their admission procedures and the range of exams they recognize. Primarily, Cambridge considers exams such as the GRE and GMAT.