Graduate Prospectus 2010-11

The College System

One of the big advantages for graduate students at Cambridge is that you are not only a member of the University, you are also a member of a college. The collegiate nature of the University gives you an environment in which you can meet people from other disciplines and participate in a wide variety of cultural, sporting and social activities. The contact you have with college staff and fellow students provides an excellent opportunity for broadening your interests and horizons, getting involved in University life, and making new friends. It also significantly increases the opportunities for multidisciplinary interaction with research students and members of staff in other departments, often on an informal basis.

The 31 colleges are all financially self-supporting and responsible for the selection and admission of undergraduates and for the guidance and general care of all the University's students. In effect, they are residential communities providing small group teaching for undergraduate students, and accommodation, meals, social, recreational and sporting facilities for all their members.

Colleges vary in size from about 150 to over 1,000 resident students. Some are ancient and some are modern, but each college is an independent foundation, electing its own teaching and research members and selecting and admitting its own students. Five colleges admit only graduate students and three admit only women; the others house and provide teaching and support for both men and women, for graduates and undergraduates. Each college forms a distinct community, with its members drawn from almost the complete range of academic subjects.

For graduates, the main role of a college is to look after their general welfare, including the provision of accommodation (as far as possible), meals and other social amenities. College facilities vary, but typically include a bar, student common rooms (known as Combination Rooms), library, laundry and computing facilities. Sports facilities, such as rowing, rugby, soccer, cricket, athletics, squash, tennis and badminton, are usually available at little or no cost. You will be assigned a college graduate tutor, whose role is to help you with any problems outside the responsibility of your academic supervisor, such as personal, welfare or finance problems. Graduate tutors have particular experience in dealing with the concerns of both home and overseas graduate students.

Most colleges also have a chapel, and a chaplain or dean is available to provide personal support.

Colleges also have their own awards and grants, for which you may be eligible. These can include funds for travel expenses, conferences, research abroad, specialist tuition, childcare or computing expenses, as well as hardship funds.