Life in Cambridge, England

Cambridge is truly unique, as the university is combined and dispersed within a bustling town. On your way to lab you'll pass shops, pubs, restaurants and a flood of cyclists coming from every direction. During the weekends if you're not jetting to London (about 45 minutes away by rail) or another exotic locale, Cambridge is the ideal place to wander. Take some time to walk along the tree-lined Backs (a stretch of river bank and adjoining colleges from Darwin College north to Magdalene College) of the Cam, through the narrow roads lined with shops, around the marketplace, and into all the different colleges (read the Cambridge Application Guide for advice on choosing a college). While many of the shops in Cambridge close relatively early, there are plenty of things to do in the evenings. Grab drinks or dinner with friends at a nearby pub (there are a ton), attend Formal or Grad Hall at your college or a friend's, or hit up one of the nightclubs. If you're feeling really adventurous you can even go punting at night. Don't forget that there's always all of Europe to explore and it's easily accessible by rail, bus, or plane (Stanstead airport is under an hour away with cheap flights to most of the continent [see Ryan Air, EasyJet, or others])!

There are 3 terms in the academic year at Cambridge: Michaelmas (October to December), Lent (January to March), and Easter (April to June). The long gaps between terms mean that there will be periods where all the undergraduates are gone, but don't worry most colleges continue events during these times for grads. The end of Easter term is celebrated by May Week (oddly enough held in June), where each college has a May Ball. As one of the biggest social events of the year, many colleges try and out-do each other (Trinity & St. John's are most notorious for their fireworks displays).

As a graduate student at Cambridge, this is the time to try something new or continue pursuing other extracurricular activities. Most of these activities will be within your college and are welcome to everyone regardless of skill level. Rowing is the traditional sport at Cambridge and most colleges have their own boathouses beside the Cam along Midsummer Commons. Although some trainings are early in the morning, rowing on the river as the sun rises is a spectacular event (despite being half-asleep!). Most colleges will have sports teams (ultimate Frisbee, basketball, hockey, rugby, football [soccer that is] etc.) and sign-ups often occur at the beginning of Michaelmas. If you'd prefer to be more laid-back, wander over to Jesus Green or Parker's Piece, and you'll likely find pick-up games of football or ultimate Frisbee. Cambridge is also a huge hub for music and drama. Many colleges have their own chorale (with King's being internationally recognized), and I'd recommend going to at least one evensong (or even a chorale practice) just for the experience. For musicians, many colleges have practice rooms and there are ample opportunities to get involved in orchestras, chamber music, or even jazz groups.

If you have the choice, I recommend starting your time in Cambridge at the beginning of Michaelmas or even better, shortly before. This is when a huge influx of new blood injects itself into the Cambridge scene and there is no better time to meet people and get involved. For activities, be sure to check out the Fresher's Fair during the first week of term. Here all of the societies will beg you for your email address as they try to pump up thier membership. For classes and lectures, check out the Reporter. See our New Student Guide or check out this wiki for more details.

Cambridge's graduate student population is incredibly diverse and international (approximately 6,000 students). You'll quickly meet many students from all across the world anywhere from Australia to Austria. My lab at Cambridge (of approximately 10 people) represents 8 different countries! In addition to attending research seminars and training courses (on anything from Western Blot techniques to using Endnote), you also will have the opportunity to take courses at Cambridge. Most professors at Cambridge are very supportive of students and you will often find that they enjoy talking with students about their research. So be sure to contact the professor who is an expert in your field (if you're not already working with him/her) and meet up for a cup of tea. Cambridge is a great place to be and an even better place to train for a scientific career. Enjoy your time here!