University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge - Cambridge, England
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Overview
The University of Cambridge, located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world. It is regarded as one of the world's top 5 Universities, and is by the far the best university for science in the UK. Stephen Hawking did most of his work there.
The University of Cambridge grew out of an association of scholars in the city of Cambridge that was formed, early records suggest, in 1209 by scholars leaving Oxford after a dispute with local townsfolk there. The universities of Oxford and Cambridge are often jointly referred to as Oxbridge.Rivalry has flourished subsequently between the two universities.
The University of Cambridge is a member of the Russell Group, a network of research-led British universities; the Coimbra Group, an association of leading European universities; the League of European Research Universities; and the International Alliance of Research Universities. It is also considered part of the "Golden Triangle", a geographical concentration of UK university research.
Academically, Cambridge is consistently ranked in the world's top 5 universities. It has traditionally been an academic institution of choice of the Royal Family (King Edward VII, King George VI, Prince William of Gloucester and Edinburgh, Prince Edward and Prince Charles were all undergraduates) and has produced 89 Nobel winners to date, more than any other university. Trinity college alone has produced more Nobel prize winners than France, and the college is also richer that all of the Oxford colleges combined and is the last word in science bar none. It is also the third biggest land owner in the country, after the queen and the Church of England. It has one of five fields medals in Mathematics, of the 6 awarded to members of British Universities.
Services for International Students
The University of Cambridge International Office offers guidance to Colleges, faculties and departments on the needs of international students and gives advice to international students who have been accepted to Cambridge or who are in residence. It also provides induction and orientation information for new students.
Accommodation
The Accommodation Service is based at Kellet Lodge in Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QJ. It is normally open Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 12.45 and 2.00 to 4.45 pm.
Campus
As a collegiate university, like Oxford, Cambridge is unusual for having no campus as such and is essentially a federation comprising of 31 self-governing colleges. Each college is a part of Cambridge while retaining a unique history and personality and being largely autonomous. They appoint their own teaching staff and fellows in each subject (most colleges will have a broad mix of academics and students from a diverse range of subjects though certain colleges do have subject strengths e.g. Trinity Hall for Law), decide which students to admit, provide the supervision teaching for undergraduates, and are responsible for the domestic arrangements and welfare of undergraduate students, graduate students, post-doctoral researchers and staff in general. Academics from different colleges collectively form the different departments in the university and are responsible for organising lectures and seminars, performing research and determining the syllabi for teaching.The university does have a central administration headed by the vice chancellor. Facilities such as libraries are provided on all these levels: by the central university (the Cambridge University Library), by the departments (individual departmental libraries, such as the Squire Law Library), and by the individual colleges (all of which maintain a multi-discipline library for members of the college - members of other colleges are free to use them as well).
Location
By Air, Cambridge is served by four major airports: Stanstead (the closest), Luton, Heathrow and Gatwick (the furthest away). There are National Express coach services to Cambridge from all four airports (see www.nationalexpress.com) and a one way ticket costs around £10 - £30. From Stansted, it is quicker to catch the direct train to Cambridge, which takes 30 minutes and costs around £8 one way.
By Train
There are direct trains from London (King’s Cross and Liverpool Street stations) which take about one hour and Stansted Airport, which take about 30 minutes. For all train times see www.nationalrail.co.uk/ or call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950.
Once you arrive, there are buses going into the City Centre and there is also a taxi rank. More information regarding taxis can be found at the University’s designated webpage on this topic, and bus information is in the next section.
The Colleges of Cambridge University
There are 31 Colleges in Cambridge. Two admit only graduates (Clare Hall and Darwin) and three are for women only: Murray Edwards, Newnham and Lucy Cavendish (which admits only Undergraduates and Postgraduates agend 21 and over) and the remainder house and teach all students enrolled in courses of study or research at the University.
The role of the Colleges in University life
Each College is an independent institution with its own property and income. The Colleges appoint their own staff and are responsible for selecting students, in accordance with University regulations. The teaching of students is shared between the Colleges and University departments. Degrees are awarded by the University.
Within each College, staff and students of all disciplines are brought together. This cross-fertilisation has encouraged the free exchange of ideas which has been crucial to the success of the university. Trinity and St John's have also established science parks, providing facilities for start-ups, and making a significant contribution to the identification of Cambridge as a centre of innovation and technology.
The role of the Colleges in student life
A College is the place where students live, eat and socialise. It is also the place where they receive one on one tutorials from acknowledged experts in the subjects they are studying. These tutorial are known at Cambridge as supervisions. The supervision system is one of the main reasons for the University's success in the university rankings and indeed its academic success in general.
The Colleges and the University support access initiatives to encourage applications from able students from both state and independent schools. The most successful of these is the summer schools programme.
In addition to resources provided by the University, each College has its own library and sports facilities (fierce inter-collegiate sporting rivalry being a time honored part of Cambridge life), and some have their own bar and theatre. Most Colleges have their own clubs and societies, offering a variety of non-academic activities for students to take part in.
Benefits of the College system for students
- Teaching: The supervision system, where students receive tuition in small groups, is regarded as one of the best teaching models in the world.
- Accommodation: Almost all undergraduates live in College accommodation for the duration of their time at Cambridge.
- Welfare: A variety of support systems ensure that students are treated as individuals, allowing overseas students in particular to be fully integrated. This is one of the reasons that Cambridge has one of the lowest drop-out rates.
- Financial support: Many Colleges offer awards for their own members, in addition to funds available from the University.
The Colleges
Cambridge University College Index
Each College maintains its own information on the web. All are represented in the Undergraduate Prospectus and the Graduate Studies Prospectus. Information about Research Fellowships is available from the annual Awards Special Edition of the Reporter and may also be available from individual colleges.