The Colleges
In addition to being admitted to the Faculty of Education every student must also be accepted for admission to a College.
The role of the College
For graduates, the main role of a College is to look after their general welfare, including the provision of accommodation (for full time students), 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, football, 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 issues. Graduate tutors have particular experience in dealing with the concerns of home and overseas graduate students.
College community
As a member of a College each student will become part of a community which may have up to 250 graduate students engaged in study and research in a wide range of disciplines. They provide one another with the opportunity for informal discussion and learning. Details of all the colleges can be found at: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/gsprospectus/colleges/
College application
For the MPhil and PhD it is the Board of Graduate Studies who arranges college places for students. There is further information available on their website. They will ask you to express two preferences; if, however, neither of your first two choices offers you a place, other colleges will be asked to consider your application. Everyone who is offered a place by the Faculty of Education will be given a place at a college. If you have queries relating to colleges, please contact BGS.
On the MEd, the Faculty arranges college places for students. MEd applicants will be given information about the Colleges which accept part-time students and, if offered a place, will be asked to make a choice of three in order of preference. The Faculty will approach the Colleges on the student's behalf but cannot guarantee acceptance.