Freshers’ Guide 2011

Travelling to Cambridge by train – Engineering work on 1st/2nd October – Find out more.

Throughout the first few days and weeks you’re in Cambridge, there are several things which you need to do as a new student. During Freshers’ Week, there is a student run helpdesk in the Combination Room in the Norfolk Building where you can ask for help and advice about anything you’re having a problem with.

College information

There is a large quantity available from college directly for incoming students. This can be found at http://www.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/applying/freshers/index.php.

CUSU and the GU guides

Cambridge University Students’ Union and the Graduate Union both provide guides about coming to Cambridge. Their 2011 guides can be found online and a hard copy will be waiting for you upon arrival in Cambridge.

Things to do when you first arrive at St Edmund’s:

  • Upon arrival at the college reception:
    • Sign your room contract
    • Get your room key (£10 pounds deposit each)
    • Collect you college IT passwords – This allows you to use the computers in college and the college wireless network
    • Get your university card (This card allows you to buy meal, open doors in college, gain access to the Library building, laundry room, computer room—etc.)
  • Check your pigeon hole – there will be information from the CR as well as college regarding matriculation
  • Read the blue book and the college calendar—The two “Bibles” of everything official in the college, from accommodation, to meal times, to various contact details. If you have a question about how things work in college, it’s probably in the Blue Book.
  • Check the CR notice board (outside the college bar where the pool table is located). Information about CR events will be posted here as well as various societies or student organisations.
  • Get access to your university email & IT accounts and sort out internet access in your room. Find out more information about this in the IT section.
  • Buy a gown for matriculation and formal dinners
  • Get a bicycle so you can travel around Cambridge quickly
  • Register with a doctor
  • Open a bank account – the CR holds a bank information session during Freshers’ Week where several banks come into college to open accounts meaning you don’t have to queue at branches in town.
  • Get a mobile phone

What is the Combination Room (CR)?

The CR is the student representative organisation in the college (similar to a student’s union), consisting of the central executives and the extended committee as well all of the student members of college. The name also literally refers to the central room in the Norfolk Building (the main college building) where you can watch TV, read newspapers and play pool table for FREE.

CR Committee

The CR Committee is a group of democratically elected (see Constitution) student representatives of the CR within the college. In addition to keeping things running smoothly, they provide various entertainments (‘ents’) and events for all CR members to participate in.

Housing

Although many college members are housed within college, unfortunately the college does not have sufficient space for all students. For those who haven’t got college accommodation, don’t worry if you have not found a place to stay in Cambridge. Your first step is to speak to the rooms administrator in college – Anna Alasalmi who will be able to give you the most current and up to date information. She will be able to inform you of various options, i.e. when a room in the college will be available, where you can find information about accommodation outside the college. For further information, click here.

Meals in the college

All standard meals in college are cafeteria style where you pay for what you choose. Simply go to the dining hall between the times listed below making sure to take your university card to pay for your meal.

Meal times

Breakfast Mon-Fri 8:00am – 9:00 am
Lunch Mon-Fri and Sun 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Brunch Only on Sat 11:00am – 12:30pm
Dinner Mon- Fri 6:30pm – 7:45 pm

The weekly menu is posted on the college website – you can access it using the links at the top of the CR website. Dress for the daily meals is informal and relaxed.
Buying food is all done using your university card. Simply select the food you want then present your card to the staff and they will deduct the cost of the meal from your remaining balance. You can check your balance on the college website (use the links at the top of the CR site) and if you need to add more money, this can be done at reception.

Formal Hall

In St Edmund’s, Formal Hall is held on most Friday evenings in the dining hall. There are two different types of formal dinners: Formal Halls (£10.50) and Guest Nights (£17.50) both which include wine. Guest Nights are more formal, with more courses served. Lounge suits and academic gown must be worn by Eddies students. Formal Hall start with drinks before at 7pm usually in the Garden Room or CR.
Due to the small capacity (110 persons) of our dining hall, to attend formal hall, you must sign up on the college website about two to three weeks in advance (use the link at the top of the CR site for booking). Dates for when booking opens can be found in the system. Guests must also be signed up at the same time where you can also specify any dietary requirements.
As a seating plan is used for the formal halls, if you wish to sit near to specific people, please include that request when booking.

Inaugural Dinners

At the start of year, every student is invited to attend an inaugural dinners as part of the Matriculation process. To sign up to attend the dinner you are invited to, you must responding to the e-mail that will be sent to your Cambridge account.

Kitchen Minimum Billing

All members of college are required to pay what is termed ‘Kitchen Minimum Billing’. This fee is included on your college bill each term and is used to add credit to your university cards when paying for meals. If you live within college, the fee is £185 per term (2010/11) while for members who live out, the fee is £85.

Costs of meals

Members of college often comment that the price of meals in college is more expensive than other colleges. This may appear to be the case at first however a key difference between St Edmund’s and other colleges is that the kitchen minimum billing Eddie’s members pay is used as credit for meals. In other colleges, kitchen minimum billing is a payment which members cannot use and then have to pay for meals in addition to this. So actually, we do pretty well at Eddies as you never lose any money you pay for food!

Kitchen concerns

If you have any concern regarding meals in the college, feel free to contact the Kitchen Manager or the CR secretary who represents the views of students to the Catering Committee.

Hall Rules

In the ‘Blue Book’ there are several rules which should be obeyed when in Hall:

  • Those eating breakfast are asked to refrain from reading newspapers in the Dining Hall during the course of the meal.
  • It is expected that students (and their guests) speak only English in the Dining Hall.
  • Only food purchased from the College should be consumed in the Dining Hall.
  • Plated food should not be removed from the Dining Hall for consumption elsewhere.
  • On no occasion should wine be brought into the Dining Hall.
  • Smoking and photography are never permitted in the Dining Hall.
  • Mobile phones should be switched off before entering the Dining Hall.

Tea and Coffee

As students, everyone realises the benefits of caffeine to productivity! As such, a tea trolley is available in the CR at 11am and 3pm every weekday and at 11am at weekends. Assortment of biscuits, tea, coffee and sometimes hot chocolate are served. It has almost become a tradition in St Edmund’s for students and fellows to relax and have some stimulating conversations during the tea breaks.

Pigeonholes & Post

Pigeonholes are extremely important for college communication and a place for various surprises, be it letters, parcels or an outstanding college bill… Each college member has a pigeonhole with their name printed ABOVE it. For reference, your address is:

Your Name,
St Edmund's College,
Mount Pleasant,
Cambridge,
Cambridgeshire,
CB3 0BN,
United Kingdom

There are also pigeonholes for the college office and the Tutorial office. Outgoing Royal Mail (with appropriate postage) can be put in the ‘Royal Mail Service’ slot. Mails being sent to other college or persons within the University can be placed (Without postage) in the slot labeled ‘UMS’ (University Mailing System). You will be notified of any larger packages received by a slip in your pigeonhole. Your package can be then collected by presenting the slip at the reception.

University Email

You should have your email account set up by the time you arrive at Cambridge (unless you have finalized quite late) however you won’t be able to access it until you arrive. All college information will be sent to this account once you have arrived so please make sure you check it regularly. Information about getting started with this and your other IT accounts can be found on the IT page.

Mobile Phones

There are a number of mobile phone service providers such as Vodaphone, Orange and O2 or Car Phone warehouse. You can get a SIM with a pay-as-you go or direct debit contract with a phone included in the contract. They offer deals for international calls so be sure to ask for options. Your best bet is to go directly to these provides who are all located in town. Note that you often need to get your bank account sorted before you are able to get a phone contract. Most students find if they are in Cambridge for longer than a year it may be cheaper to get a contract phone, otherwise a pay-as-you-go setup may be better.

Getting Around in Cambridge

The easiest and often quickest way to get around Cambridge is by bike. A comprehensive map of the University and Colleges can be obtained at the Cambridge University Press bookshop on Trinity Street or online at www.cam.ac.uk/map.
During Freshers’ Week, there will be several organised trips into the city so do come along to find out the best places to go for food and fun.
City buses can be very useful if you are going somewhere further afield without a bike. You will usually receive a Bus Service pack from the City Council during the first few weeks however you can also find information on the City Council website. For your information, Citi 1 and Citi 7 can get you to the train station. You need to present your University Card to the driver once you board the bus in order to get the student fare.

The other colleges

With 32 Colleges spread from Girton in the North to Homerton in the South, it can be quite confusing to find your way around. Regardless of what the signs say to tourists, you are entitled to access of all other college grounds (Remember that the some lawns in the courts of many colleges are not for you to step on). If stopped by a college porter, just be courteous, inform them of your business or show them your University Card.

Shopping

Sainsbury’s supermarket is one of the most popular places in town to get your groceries. It is located in the city centre, on Sidney Street opposite Sidney Sussex College and is open until 11:30pm during the week. If you shop there a lot, consider getting a Nectar Card which allows you to get money off your vouchers and discounts.
The City Market in Market Square has fresh vegetables, fruit and even fresh sea food (if you get there before noon). The prices are sometimes cheaper than those in the supermarket. Aldi and Iceland on Histon Rd also offer cheaper options, but the varieties of goods are fewer. Also on Histon Rd is a little family store called Nazreen Dars that sell various foodstuff and Halal food.
Mill Road is the best place for international students looking for non-British foodstuff. You can find two Chinese stores (Cho mee and Windfield), one Korean store (the Korean Plaza), a butcher’s shop that sells Halal and Kosher food, some Indian shops and many other stores that sell local ingredients.
For home-use stuff or kitchen equipment, Argos (on Fitzory street) is quite popular among Cambridge students. Those that are looking for really cheap stuff and good deals (and if you don’t mind the distance), can consider Tesco and Asda on Newmarket Rd, they usually have great offers that are unbeatable by other stores. There is also John Lewis or Lakeland located in town if you feel like splashing out a bit!

Post Offices

The main post office in the city centre is on St Andrew’s Street. There are also several red post boxes throughout town or you could ask college to put post in their outgoing mail providing it has the right postage.

Travel outside Cambridge

The most convenient way to travel out of Cambridge is by coach or by train.

Coach

The Parker’s Piece Coach Station outside the Police Station usually have buses operated by National Express that run to all major London area airports and elsewhere. You can check the coach schedule and book tickets at www.gobycoach.com or www.nationalexpress.com. You may find it useful to purchase a Student Coach Card to get a discounted ticket.

Train

The train station on Hills Road has frequent service to King’s Cross in London as well as services North to Birmingham. You can check the prices and timetable at www.nationalrail.com. If you’re just going to London, you don’t save any money booking in advance however for trips further afield, booking in advance can save you a large amount from tickets. To book tickets in advance, you need to register with the specific company (i.e. The Train Line, First Capital Connect) that you are purchasing your tickets from.
A Young Person Railcard can be purchased at the train station and will give 1/3 off all rail travel. It costs £28 for one year, so it is worth to get the card if you are planning quite several trips to London or elsewhere during the year.

Academic Resources

There are many resources available for you within both the college and university. Below is a brief explanation of some of the facilities available and people who are their to support you.

Director of Study/Supervisor

Your Director of Study (DoS) is an expert in the course that you are studying. He/she can guide you through the details of choosing subjects, lectures, exam registration and should set up your supervisions. You can consult your DoS if your academic problems cannot be solved with your supervisors. For postgraduate students, academic enquiries should be directed to your course Supervisor or your Department.

The College Library

The newly built college library provides excellent studying environment learning resources for Eddies. There are a good number of well-catalogued books there and you can search for them on the computer in the library or on the web through Newton Catalogue. Although the library is rather small as compared to those in other colleges, one good thing is that the college is always willing to purchase additional text books. If you need a book which is in your reading list but not to be found in our library, a request can be sent to the CR librarian. Once the request is approved (provided it is within the books budget), the book will usually be catalogued within a few weeks time.

University Library

The University Library (UL) is off Grange Road, opposite Robinson College. The Newton Catalogue allows you to search catalogues in almost all the colleges, Departments, and the UL. Undergraduate may borrow five books for two weeks while graduates can borrow ten for eight weeks. If you cannot take a book out, you still can reserve it for a certain period of time. Within that period of time, the book will not be taken out of the UL by others.

The CR, CUSU & GU

Through the welfare service of the CR, you have access to all of the academic services provided through CUSU and GU.

Financial Issues

If you have any difficulty paying your college fees or university fees, do remember there are several resources in college which might be helpful.

  • The CR Treasurer (treasurer@st-edmunds-cr.co.uk) can offer advice and guidance about your situation and may be a useful first point of contact.
  • You can talk to the Bursar or your tutor about your situation and they may look into various Bursaries that you might be eligible for.
  • The Student Amenity Fund is available to student demonstrate a need.
  • You can talk to the Senior Tutor if you need the subsidies.

CUSU (Cambridge University Student Union) also provides emergency services for those students in need. It supports several bursaries and emergency funds and can certainly be a source of financial aid. Visit the Finance section of the CUSUwebsite.

Health & Welfare Issues

Medical Emergencies

In the case of life threatening emergencies, dial 999 to get an ambulance.

Non-critical Medical Issues

In case of a non-life threatening injuries or illness, you can also call NHS Direct for trained medical advice on 0845 4647.

The College Nurse, Lesley Crisp, is in Tutorial Room 1 on Mondays during Full Term from 1pm – 3pm. She is contactable at lrc31@cam.ac.uk.
There is also a free Injury clinic at Addenbrooks Hospital. The bus services Citi1 and Citi2 go to Addenbrooks hospital.

Counselling & Support

Information about sources of counseling can be gained from the CR welfare officer (welfare@st-edmunds-cr.co.uk) or on the welfare page. Such services are usually free and confidential.

The CR also has a Women’s Officer (womens@st-edmunds-cr.co.uk) to provide services especially for the needs of women, from health matters to access to social functions and an LGBT officer (lgbt@st-edmunds-cr.co.uk).

Family Services

In a mature college like St Edmund’s, welfare of students with families and children are well taken care of. The CR welfare officer will be the first point of contact if there is any concern regarding such issues. CUSU and GU offer information and counseling for students with children.
The Graduate Centre on Mill Lane has facilities for children (playrooms, day-care, support groups) and would be a great place to start if you need support. Other sources of help can be obtained from the tutor for childcare, Dr Judith Bunbury, and the Childcare Information Officer at the Old Schools.

Entertainment, Sport and Leisure

Eddie’s Bar

Our college bar is located in the CR and is a great place for Eddies to chat, play pool and relax after a busy day. In a college for mature students, you will always find something unexpected whether it’s cocktail nights or special events. The Bar is a student-run operation managed by the Bar Steward (bar@st-edmunds-cr.co.uk) and tended by student volunteers.
To make more friends and have some fun, you can sign up and join the bar team. If you’re interested, get in touch with the Bar Steward.

Bops & Other CR Entertainments

Entertainment is an important part of life at St Edmund’s. The Entertainment Officers organize various events and bops to keep your social diaries busy. The first bop will be held during Freshers’ Week. Others will be held to celebrate important dates in the college calendar. Just keep an eye on the CR notice board and website for information regarding CR Events.

Sports in College

St Edmund’s has a long legacy of sporting excellence at all levels. You will find many Eddies in the university light blue teams, representing Cambridge in various kinds of sports. There are also Olympic rowers and world champions in our college. Be on the lookout over Freshers’ Week for the chance to sign up for your favorite sports including at the Eddie’s Societies Fair. Remember that experience is not required – it’s all about having fun!
The college also has a recently refurbished gym which is open to all college members.

College Societies

St Edmund’s has several college societies which all members can participate in. To find out about the societies come to the Eddie’s Societies Fair schedule for Fresher’s Week.

Places to eat in Cambridge

There are so many great restaurants in Cambridge that you will never be short of somewhere to go! Below is a list of just a few for you to try:

  • Italian
    • Jamie’s Italian
    • Zizi’s
    • Pizza Express
    • Bela Italia
  • Japanese
    • Dojo’s is a very popular and value-for-money Japanese restaurant down on Silver Street.
    • Waga Mama
    • Teri Aki
    • Yo Sushi
    • Bento Box
  • Indian
    • Cocum
    • Cafe Naz
    • The Rice Boat
    • Maharaja

 

Places to drink in Cambridge

Drinking in town can be relatievly expensive, especially when compared to the prices of Eddie’s Bar. A pint in town can cost you at least £3 while a drink in College will be only about £1.50. You can often economise by either drinking in the college bar before going out or alternatively visiting other college bars.
A few good bars that are usually visited by some Eddies students are:

  • The Anchor, the quintessential uni pub is right on the banks of the Cam on Silver Street.
  • The Eagle, purportedly the most famous of all, is just located off King’s Parade. You can imagine yourself among the crowd who were the first to learn about the structure of DNA.
  • The Castle, closest to St Edmund’s is the Castle St. Good burgers too.
  • Try the Pickerel as well or the Granta near Darwin college.
  • The Maypole (behind ADC theatre) is open later than most other pubs
  • La Raza just off the Market Place is great for cocktails
  • B-Bar and Taboosh are some fun bars to hang out in , located in the centre of town.

Places to dance

The Cambridge nightlife, by all accounts, leaves a lot to be desired and is heavily laced with “Cheese”(the 70′s, 80′s and 90′s disco pop). Some of the clubs that are popular among students include Life, Ballare, Coco’s, Pa Na Na’s, Fez Club and Kambar. They all have various events, DJ and bands.

Theatres, Music and More

There is a long drama tradition in Cambridge, so you can see a lot of theatre, at all levels. The most famous is the ADC Theatre on Park Street. You can find their schedule at www.adc-theatre.cam.ac.uk.
There is a Cinema at the Grafton Centre, across from Parker’s Piece. Details can be found at www.myvue.com. Films are shown at St John’s College Film Society for a fraction of the regular price on most Sundays. The Arts Picture House shows independent and international films on St Andrew’s Street. Its website is www.picturehouse-cinema.co.uk.