University of Cambridge
A community for students, researchers, and early-career professionals building things alongside their main work.
It's anything you're building, learning, or exploring outside your main work.
Writing a novel, making music, photography, art, podcasts, or any creative expression.
Apps, websites, tools, open source projects, or learning to code.
New skills, career exploration, languages, or diving deep into a new field.
Ideas you're thinking about, hobbies you're pursuing, or paths you're considering.
A startup incubator
Pitch competitions
Pressure to monetize
Only for "finished" projects
Instead, we're a supportive space where exploratory, non-linear, and curiosity-driven pursuits are recognized and valued.
Share experiences, challenges, and opportunities related to your side projects and alternative career interests.
Talks, skill-sharing sessions, and informal gatherings that help you develop practical skills and confidence.
Connect people across disciplines. Your next collaborator might be studying something completely different.
Create a culture where curiosity-driven, non-linear paths are seen as valuable, not as distractions.
Not sure where to start? Here are some high-quality side projects pursued by people like you.
Click the button to get a random project idea!
Have a different idea? Perfect. Side projects don't fit into boxes.
Share Your Project With UsRegular gatherings to connect, share, and make progress.
Date TBA - Lent Term 2026
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Darwin College MCR
Casual gathering where everyone shares what they're working on. No presentations required - just real conversation about your projects.
Sign UpMonthly
3-4 members present their side projects (10 min each). A chance to share your progress and get feedback.
Monthly
Learn from each other. Members teach skills they've picked up - from no-code tools to creative techniques.
Ongoing
Small groups that meet to set goals and check in on progress. The support system side projects need.
Open to all students, researchers, and early-career professionals at the University of Cambridge. Whether you have a project in progress or just an idea - you belong here.
Sign Up NowWe'll send you details about upcoming events and how to get involved.
Not at all! We welcome everyone at any stage - whether you have a vague idea, just started something, or are deep into a project. The point is to support each other's journeys, wherever they begin.
There's no such thing! We celebrate curiosity, not achievement. Learning to knit, writing poems in your Notes app, or finally organizing your photo library - these all count. If it matters to you, it belongs here.
Never required! Our socials are casual conversations. If you'd like to share at a Show & Tell, that's optional and always in a supportive environment. Come as a listener, a sharer, or both.
Definitely not! We're intentionally broad. Creative projects, learning goals, hobbies, career exploration, community initiatives - anything you're doing alongside your main work counts as a side project.
Just sign up! We'll add you to our mailing list and invite you to upcoming events. Show up to a social, join an accountability circle, or just lurk until you're ready. There's no pressure.
PhD, Land Economy
Darwin College
PhD, Land Economy
Hughes Hall