Home Making your Shortlist How to Apply Money Matters Freshers Survival Guide Gap Years News & Events

University Name:

Cambridge University: Magdalene

Location: Cambridge, East Anglia Show on Map

Profile
Student View
Open Days
Gallery
Contact

STAFF & STUDENTS

Undergraduates:	111 men, 128 women
Postgraduates:	148 men, 85 women
Teaching staff:	Men: 27 fellows, 8 research fellows, 22 lecturers. Women: 7 fellows, 2 research fellows, 2 bye-fellow, 7 lecturers.

COLLEGE & ADMISSION

Founded:	1428; women undergraduates first admitted 1988.
Admission:	Conditional offers usually AAA at A-level (or equivalent), plus STEP for maths and computer science; IB and Scottish Highers also accepted. All eligible candidates interviewed.

STUDY OPPORTUNITIES

Library and information services:

Over 26,000 volumes; also Wigglesworth Law Library, Pepys library (including the diaries) and Old Library. Ratio workstations to students 1:25; all college rooms on network, giving access to library and internet. IT support from 3 computer officers.

LIVING

Eating arrangements:	Meals at cost (dinner £3.95), both formal and self-service facilities.
Other college facilities:	Bar, film society; 2 grand pianos, harpsichord and organs; launderettes; boathouse, squash court, fives court, gym, table tennis room, 25 acres of playing fields nearby (shared); 26 computer terminals.
Accommodation:	All students in college accommodation: 420 rooms in halls of residence at £65–£98 per week incl heating and lighting; kitchen charge £147 per term. No first-degree students live at home.

MONEY

Term-time work:	College does not allow term-time work. Vac work available (housekeeping, clerk of works).
Scholarships:	Choral and music awards every year, organ scholarship most years. Generous scholarships and bursaries available in all subjects, plus some bursaries for international students.
Travel grants:	Available (including research) in all subjects.
Financial help:	Various special funds exist including access bursaries, hardship funds, travel grants.

Student view

Jon Romer-Lee, Magdalene College JCR President 2007/08 (3rd year MEng)

Living

What’s it like as a place to live? It’s great – near enough to the town centre to walk everywhere but far enough for there not to be too many tourists. And we’re surrounded by places to eat!

How’s the student accommodation? Really lucky as every undergrad (even 4^th years) are accommodated on the college site. Whether you want old or new, big, small, cheap or less cheap, the way the college has been gradually built up over 600 years means we have them all!

What’s the student population like? Awesome. We’re quite small (340 undergraduates) and from all over the place. Despite everyone’s different backgrounds, there’s a really good, friendly, almost family atmosphere where everyone knows everyone.

How do students and locals get on? As were not in the town centre, it’s not really an issue. Pubs etc are happy to see locals and students – it’s just not a great idea to go clubbing on Saturdays or Fridays but that’s the same at most unis.

Studying

What’s it like as a place to study? We have a decent library that’s about to have a huge extension and the college generally can cater for most subjects – only vary rarely is your Director of Studies not at Magdalene.

What are the teaching staff like? A few famous names in their fields, but most are totally unaffected by this and love the college’s close student-fellow relationships.

Socialising

What are student societies like? Excellent – most sports, musical ambitions, drama etc can be catered for in college, regardless of talent, which just adds to the atmosphere. If we don’t have it, or if you are really talented, the uni can provide!

What’s a typical night out? Drinks with friends, then maybe a curry, then clubbing to cheese!

And how much does it cost? Twenty quid will get you floored.

How can you get home safely? Grab a friend by the arm, and take a 5 minute stroll back to bed – via the ‘van of death’ for some chicken nuggets or a kebab!

Money

Is it an expensive place to live? Not really – rent’s not too high and you can easily live as frugally or as lavishly as you like.

Average price of a pint? £2.20 in college bar.

And the price of a takeaway? £5.95

What’s the part-time work situation? Undergrads are not allowed to work during term – there just isn’t enough time. However, with terms only 8 weeks long, there’s loads of time to work on vacation.

Summary

What’s the best feature about the place? The size – it’s small enough always to feel like a community, but big enough for you not to see too much of people.

And the worst? The terms are too short!!

And to sum it all up? A great place to live, work and play; the most welcoming and inclusive college in Cambridge.

Past students

Lord Ezra (Chairman National Coal Board, Liberal Democrat peer), Lord Justice Cumming-Bruce, Sir Michael Redgrave (actor), Lord Ramsay, Nick Estcourt (mountaineer), Gavin Hastings (rugby player), Bamber Gascoigne (presenter and broadcaster), Samuel Pepys (diaryist), Charles Kingsley (author), Lord Pilkington, Jonathan Ridgeon (athlete), William Burt (writer), Lord Derby, Prince Szudek (of Poland), Rob Wainwright (rugby player), John Simpson (journalist and broadcaster), George Mallory (explorer).