What subjects did Isaac Newton study at Trinity College, Cambridge?

At Trinity College, Cambridge, Isaac Newton’s formal education began with a traditional curriculum centered on the works of Aristotle.12

Beyond the official university requirements, Newton independently pursued several advanced subjects:

• Natural Philosophy: He immersed himself in the works of René Descartes and other mechanical philosophers, exploring the concept of nature as a system of particles in motion. He also studied atomism and the Hermetic tradition, which influenced his later scientific thought.2
• Mathematics: Newton began by studying Descartes’s La Géométrie, eventually mastering modern analysis and classical geometry. During this time, he independently developed the binomial theorem and the calculus.2
• Chemistry: He engaged in foundational studies in chemistry, influenced by the work of Robert Boyle.2

While these subjects formed the basis of his intellectual development, his later work in optics and his development of the reflecting telescope were largely conducted following his graduation and subsequent election to a fellowship at the college.3