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2018

FRESHERS’ GUIDEBOOK

QUEENS’ COLLEGE

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Contents

Welcome to Cambridge and Queens’ College!...... 2

The city of Cambridge ...... 3

Studying at Cambridge University ...... 4

Queens’ College ...... 7

JCR – Junior Combination Room...... 7

Studying at Queens’ ...... 9

Computing at Queens’ ...... 10

Living in college ...... 11

Facilities and services ...... 12

Food!...... 12

Community ...... 15

Welfare and Health ...... 18

Sports and Societies ...... 19

Events...... 20

Freshers! ...... 22

Freshers’ Week...... 22

Check-list: before you move in...... 23

To bring or not to bring ...... 23

Check list: after you arrive...... 24

FAQ...... 24

Important Links ...... 26 2 | P a g e

Welcome to Cambridge and Queens’ College! Hello everyone! Welcome to the , and most importantly welcome to Queens’ College! We can imagine you’re all nervous to be starting uni but hopefully you’re also excited. It might seem scary at first (will I find friends, am I going to cope with work, what are all these weird slang words…) but trust us, it will get easier, and you’ll be having the time of your life very soon. We have prepared Freshers’ Week so that you can quickly get settled in, make lots of friends, and be ready to take on your next few years here! You will have lots of opportunities to meet new people, get to grips with the weird local lingo, get to know the city and much more. This guidebook should help you with many of the questions you might have, but you will always have your college parents, Freshers’ reps George and Caitlin, and the whole of t h e JCR to help you.

JCR - First Year Representatives (Freshers reps)

George Molina-Stubbs & Caitlin Woods

Being just one year above you, we remember very clearly what it felt like to be a Fresher – don’t worry, it’s absolutely awesome! It’s completely natural to feel nervous/scared coming into uni, but we’r e here to ensure that you’ll soon be calling Queens’ ‘home’. Our job is to be here for you, so if you have any questions

(however silly they may seem) about Freshers’ week, college, or anything else, we (along with your college parents) are your first point of contact. You will see us running around during Freshers’ Week if you need anything, but you can also email us, Facebook us, or drop by our rooms. We are always here for you!

George (top) – maths, george.molina- [email protected] Caitlin (bottom) – English, [email protected]

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The city of Cambridge You probably visited Cambridge on one of the open days when you were applying so you may be familiar with some of the university buildings, but Cambridge is so much more. Being a university city, with students taking up a large part of its population, Cambridge is a very vibrant and lively city, full of shops, restaurants, bars and clubs. You will have a tour of the city with your college parents, so we won’t bother you with much detail but here are some of the main pointers:

Grocery shops Dorm and living supplies  Sainsbury’s, 42-45 Sidney St. is the  Grand Arcade Shopping Centre: John main big supermarket, and is close to Lewis, Tiger… Queens’ (top 10 mins walks)  Grafton Centre: Poundland,  Multiple small Primark, Wilko… Sainsbury’s/Tescos/etc around the  Sidney St: Lakeland, Ryman, town Sainsbury’s…  ALDI, Histon Rd (Biking or bus distance) It is also super easy to have things from  Tesco Superstore, Newmarket Rd Amazon, eBay, etc. shipped to college – (Biking or bus distance) the porters will collect any parcels and  Marks & Spencer, Market Square leave you a note in your pigeonhole. (check out discounts at 5pm!) There are two large shopping centres in Drugstores and cosmetics Cambridge, Grand Arcade (city centre) and Grafton (a short walk away), and  Sidney St: Superdrug, Boots the main Sainsburys is a 10 min walk

 Grafton Centre: Superdrug from Queens’.

Queens’ College

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Getting around Luckily, Queens’ is one of the centrally located colleges. Most of the u n i v e r s i t y sites are w i t h in walking distance, but that will depend on your subject (check with your subject contacts!) and on extracurricular activities/hobbies you sign up for (eg. the boat houses are quite far). Students are not allowed to have cars at uni, so naturally biking is the main mode of transportation (NB. you can also use city buses should your lectures and supervisions be extra far).

Biking  Bring your own bike if you can, but nothing too expensive (unfortunately, bike t hef t is a thing). You can also very easily buy a used (or new bike) when here, but be careful to check it properly first!  You need a good lock.  There is a bike shed in college where you can keep your bike for the whole of your studies - just register it with the porters.  Almost all sites have places to lock your bikes.  Safety first! A lot of people cycle, but there are still cars and tourists. You need to have lights on your bike, and you should wear a helmet. A bell can also come in handy (to scare off tourists…)

Studying at Cambridge University There is an extensive number of subjects Cam lingo – academics taught at Cambridge. You will soon find out Mathmo………………………………………….. Maths student that these courses are very different, not Bio/phys Natsci...biological/physical natural scientist only in content but also in the way of Compsci………………………………………Computer science teaching. That’s why you will have your MML……………………Modern and Medieval Languages SUBJECT CONTACTS, who are usually ASNC (asnac)……………..Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic second year students of your subject. You HSPS………………..Human, Social and Political Sciences will spend a day with them in Freshers’ Vet med/med………….Veterinary Medicine/Medicine Week and they are always there to answer Supo……………………………………………………..Supervision your study-related questions. DoS………………………………………….…Director of Studies But here are some of the more general points:

 The main (and unique) teaching method at Cambridge are supervisions: small group sessions on a particular paper. Supervisors can be academics, Fellows, or senior graduate students, typically from Queens’ but sometimes from other colleges. The style of the Supervision will depend upon the Supervisor but will generally offer a forum for discussion and allow you to raise problems with your work. In many subjects your Supervisor will be the person who sets and receives the majority of your essays, problem sheets and so forth. 5 | P a g e

 Lectures are also going to be part of your studies. These vary, in some subjects being absolutely essential, in others non- compulsory, yet you’re always encouraged to attend. They are organised by your department and will typically be held at your departmental buildings. Some subjects also have practicals and classes.  Libraries – each college has its own library which is only available to the members of that college. Each department also has its own library which is open to all University students, not only members of that department (so don’t let any mathmos tell you you can’t use their cool library). O n t op of th at yo u a ls o ha ve t he University Library, which has every book published in the UK. You can borrow books on your University Card for free (if you don’t go over your due

date) but every library has a different borrowing policy, so make sure you know how it works at your specific library. You can keep track of your books at idiscover.cam.ac.uk. Cambridge also has excellent online resources which you can also access through iDiscover.  The Cambridge academic year is divided into three 8-week terms: Michaelmas, Lent, and Easter (Exam term). Cambridge weeks start on Thursdays (don’t ask, no one really knows why). The first week after exams is called and is dedicated to celebrating the end of the year.  Do not worry about exams now! Your subject contacts, supervisors and DoSs will tell you everything you need to know when the time comes. For now just concentrate on settling in and figuring out how Cambridge works. However, this doesn’t mean you should underestimate your work!  Everyone has a different way of studying. Don’t compare yourself to others, focus on finding what works best for you. There is always someone to help you – your supervisors, directors of studies, subject contacts, friends… So don’t be afraid to ask for help!  Most importantly, we know you might feel like everyone at Cambridge has to be a child genius, that you will not fit in and that you might not be able to make it. That is not true. You are here for a reason. There has not been a mistake, you do belong here. You can do it! 6 | P a g e

Important dates – when do I move in?  See www.cam.ac.uk for all organisation and general information, and http://www.queens.cam.ac.uk for Queens’ specific info  For subject related information, use your department’s website  Remember: term dates are not residency dates! Residency in Queens’ usually starts a week before term (on the Thursday) and ends a week after (on the Wednesday). NB. each college has its own policy.

Full

Michaelmas Full Lent Full Easter Year term term term

2017-18 Tue 3 Oct - Tue 16 Jan - Tue 24 April - Fri 1 Dec Fri 16 Mar Fri 15 Jun

2018-19 Tue 2 Oct - Tue 15 Jan - Tue 23 April - Fri 30 Nov Fri 15 Mar Fri 14 Jun

2019-20 Tue 8 Oct - Tue 14 Jan - Tue 21 April - Fri 6 Dec Fri 13 Mar Fri 12 Jun

Your Freshers week will start on Saturday 29th Sept so you will need to have moved in by then (before midday) at the latest. You will have your room available from Thursday 27th Sept so you have a couple of days to get settled in. 7 | P a g e

Queens’ College Now that we have covered life in Cambridge, let us welcome you to the best college: Queens’! Founded in 1448, Queens’ is one of the oldest colleges in Cambridge. With over 800 students, Queens’ is also the third largest college in student body. However, we still manage to have a reputation of being the friendliest and most chilled college. The community at Queens’ is amazing, larg ely due to the fact that we all live together on one campus for 3 years of our undergrad, which is not something all colleges can offer! Queens’ has a lot to offer and we’re sure you will soon call it your second home.

JCR – Junior Combination Room Over your time in here you will hear a lot about the JCR. Just as the Cambridge University Student Union (not to be confused with the , which is a debating society) represents the student body to the University, the JCR represents the undergraduate students to the college. Each year there is an elected committee which does its best to make your lives better and make sure your views are represented. In this guidebook we’ll introduce you to your reps and what they are responsible for. During Freshers’ week, we are going to be your first resource. Look for the committee jumpers! Please remember that you can always turn to us with any matter you might have. We are here for you! For graduate students, there is an equivalent committee, the MCR, Middle Combination Room. There is also SCR, Senior Combination Room, which represents the fellows.

JCR, MCR, and SCR also have corresponding The current committee! physical rooms which are only available to members of that group. Queens’ JCR (top of AA staircase) works both as a work room (it has computers and printers) and as a chill room with sofas and a TV.

The JCR refers to the undergraduate student body, the committee, and also the physical common room. 8 | P a g e

JCR – President

Hope Whitehead

Kia ora! I’m Hope and I’m your JCR President. I’m a third year English student originally from New Zealand, and am super excited to get to know you all. As President, my main responsibility is running the JCR Committee, but I’m also here to represent your views to College staff and CUSU. One of the best ways for me to do this is to hold open meetings – there’ll be at least one this term that I really encourage you to come along to! Your voice is a really important part of the process, and we want to hear it. If you’re not sure you want to bring something up at an open meeting, I’m also really happy to hear from you in person. Whether it’s JCR business or if you just want to ask a question or talk to someone, my door is always open. If I can’t help you, I should be able to point you in the direction of someone who can, so don’t be afraid to ask. You can find me in E4 (Old Court) or flick an email to [email protected].

JCR – VP External Tom Mayer

Hi, I’m Tom, and I’m your Vice President External! This role consists of two distinct responsibilities: the first is to head up the Welfare Committee, and the second is to manage our relationship with CUSU (the wider Cambridge Student Union). The welfare of undergraduate students is a priority for the JCR. Many incoming students find the transition to life here challenging - being away from home for an extended period for the first time is never easy, and neither is studying at Cambridge. However, it is important to remember that you are not alone, and Queens’ is a community in which your mental and physical well-being is placed above all else. To put this into practice, I will be working closely with the other welfare officers to provide a support network that makes you feel at home here, and during freshers’ week, we’ll be running welfare and consent workshops to make your transition to life at Queens’ as smooth as possible. CUSU stands for the Cambridge University Student Union. Hope and I are your representatives to CUSU Council, a body made up of representatives from all colleges and faculties, and we’ll do our best to represent your voices at CUSU council meetings. Whilst many issues that Cambridge students face can be resolved at a college level, some cannot, and are better tackled by students across Cambridge working together, and this is done at CUSU Council. CUSU also provides a range of services (such as a student support service, and free sexual health supplies), and runs a range of autonomous campaigns which aim to support specific groups of students, including women, LGBT+, international, BME, disabled and mature students. If you’ve got any welfare or CUSU related questions, then feel free to contact me. I’m looking forward to meeting you all!

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JCR – VP Internal/Treasurer

Dionne O’Brien Hi, I’m Dionne and I’m your VP (internal) and treasurer. My job includes managing society budgets and organising college stash. Throughout the year you will have the opportunity to buy Queens’ Stash through our suppliers. Orders will arrive with all the other parcels ordered around the same time so as to minimise delivery costs, I then distribute the parcels to students. I also take suggestions for new stash items, so do let me know if you have any suggestions. In Michaelmas, societies can apply for funding from the college to cover expenses such as equipment costs, venue hire and transportation costs, which they then have access to for the rest of the year. If you have any queries please get in touch.

Studying at Queens’ JCR - Secretary Each subject is Isaac Barkway very specific in Hi! I'm Isaac, a third year PBSer, and this year's their study JCR Secretary & Academics Officer. As requirements and secretary I'm style. That is why responsible for you have subject making sure the contacts. These JCR runs are older students smoothly, by of your subject, who you will meet in Freshers’ Week, keeping records of what and who will share their subject specific experience with you! Just as any other college, Queens’ the JCR is doing, provides great study facilities. There is a well- communicating stocked library, which is opened from 7am until what's going on in college to the students, and 2am with a lot of working space. The University generally keeping everything organised. I can also has excellent online resources. There is also a also raise issues with the rest of the JCR photocopier and a scanner and the library offers committee, or point you in the direction of the many services such as paper binding. right JCR officers to help you if you have a The JCR room is also a popular work space with problem and don't know who to ask! As computers and a printer, however it may get noisy as Academics Officer, my job is to represent your people often work together there. Some students also interests in helping make the college a use the college bar/café during the day. During exam productive and healthy learning environment. I term, many other study rooms around college are do that mostly by representing students' opened so people can easily find the best place to interests to the college tutors and fellows and revise. the college library team, and I'm also happy to Remember, everyone works differently. Someone help you out with any academic issues you lives in the library, someone works in the Queens’ bar might run into. If you have any questions about or cafés around the city, someone never leaves their the JCR or academic concerns, please do get in room. Find your own style and don’t worry about the touch! others! 10 | P a g e

Computing at Queens’ When you arrive in Cambridge one JCR – Computer Officer of the first things you will have to do Zeb Goriely is set up your account, thus granting Hi! I'm Zeb, your Computer Officer studying Computer you access to the internet, email and Science (surprise, surprise) and resident vloggy boi the computer terminals. The process (youtube.com/filmbyzeb for quality content). Formally my should be straightforward, but again, role entails managing the JCR website (or rebuilding it if anyone has questions, or needs as I'm currently doing), helping out with cyber security help, I’m more than happy to. Here (let me know if you get any dodgy emails) and helping are a few useful terms to do with out with any other IT related university computing to get you issues (usually just pointing started: you in the direction of  MCS (PWF) – The Managed someone who can!). Besides Cluster Service, formerly that, I'm just another JCR known as Public Workstation committee member Facility (PWF) is a shared network of PCs and Macs within interested in helping out Cambridge. There are two wherever I can, so if you computer rooms in College: one have any random queries in Essex Building and one in the (doesn't have to be IT JCR (AA staircase, Cripps). related) or think there's so mething college could be You can access each of these doing better, feel free to contact me at computers, using your [email protected] or just give me a shout when I Raven credentials. You can’t pass by.

install any applications yourself, but you can request a package to be installed at the MCS help desk.  CRSid – REMEMBER THIS! It is your unique identifier to Computerised Networks within Cambridge. It takes the form of your initials followed by several numbers, e.g. ed408. It forms your email address, [email protected], and is used to identify you to any University provided service. For example, the college provided common computers (MCS).  Raven - The unified login system for many services within Cambridge. You use it to access the internet, it’s used to grant you access to the PC’s within college, and it’s important that you remember its password.  Hermes – This refers to your University-provided email. It’s vital that you set it up as soon as you can, as it is the primary means of communication in Cambridge. You can access it both via web, at: https://webmail.hermes.cam.ac.uk, or (I would recommend) via an Email client such as Thunderbird, (not to mention the email cleints on other devices). For this, the following guide will be helpful. http://www.cam.ac.uk/cs/email/muasettings.html

Now a few words on the Internet.  WIFI – UniOfCam and Eduroam are two networks available virtually everywhere within Cambridge.  UniOfCam – uses simple authentication and you will be able to log into it using Raven details only. However, we would recommend setting up Eduroam as that network is more secure and it doesn’t require you to Log In using Raven every time you use WiFi. The process is, however more involved, so you might want to use UniOfCam first, and then set up Eduroam, using this guide: http://goo.gl/mAsLEu  Ethernet – you will be provided with a CAT5 cable (ethernet cable) in your room and there should be a wall outlet in each room. This connection is more reliable, and it puts far less strain on the Wireless network.

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 Pricing – If you use the internet like normal (work, social media, Netflix, etc) then you can consider it free! Technically all connections in College are metered and there are no free periods of traffic. However, the free daily usage cap is pretty high, and the price per GB of data is fairly low. More on that can be found on the College Website. Also, the black and white printing on college printers is free, provided you use your own paper.

Living in college Being one of the two colleges in Cambridge to lie on both sides of the river Cam, the symbol of Queens’ college is the famous Mathematical Bridge. We distinguish the “light” side (modern) and “dark” side (traditional). There are seven main residency buildings at the site – Cripps, Fishers, Erasmus, Friars, Dokett, Walnut Tree Court and Old Court – with most of the first years living in Cripps and Friars. Queens’ is one of the few colleges in Cambridge which offer undergradua te living on campus for three years. Most of Queens’ students have private rooms, but you can also choose to share sets in Fisher or Old Court rooms (no one is going to force you to share if you don’t want to). All rooms are equipped with beds, a mattress, mattress protector, pillow, duvet, a blanket, N O SHEETS, desks, chairs, closets, coat hangers, pin boards, lamps and internet cables. Residency usually starts a week before the start of term and ends a week after the end. Alternatively you can go on excess residency or quarterly scheme, where you can stay in college over holidays.

JCR – Accommodation and Environmental Officer Jacob Schafheutle-Evans. Hi, I’m Jacob – a 3rd year English student and your Accommodation and Environment Officer. It’s a long name (much like my own), but fairly self-explanatory (like my own? Maybe). I deal with, and liaise with college about, the various environmental issues and concerns that arise from daily college life, but most of my JCR-time is really spent dealing with the accommodation side of things. I’m the point of contact for any questions or concerns you might have about the accommodation at Queens’, which might range from more basic issues with your room to more complex questions or concerns about the accommodation system. Your radiator’s broken and you don’t know who to email about it? I can help. You want to get Queens’ onboard with a new environmental initiative, or help out with JCR efforts to tackle college rent prices? Send me an email – preferably at [email protected].

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Facilities and services  The porters’ lodge is the first thing

you will see coming into college. It QUEENS’ LINGO is open 24/7 so there is a lways going to be someone to help you should you Plodge…………………………………..…Porters’ Lodge need it, e.g. if you just lock yourself Pidge…………………………………………...pigeon hole out in the middle of the night (happens QBar……………………………………………Queens’ Bar to everyone). Our porters are Fitzpat……………………………………..Fitzpatrick Hall absolutely lovely and always up for a chat. Everyone’s personal pigeon Gyp……………………………………………………..kitchen holes are near the porters’ lodge. You Buttery…………………………………………..Cripps Hall can have things mailed to college and Bedder………...…..Cleaning staff/house keeping just pick them up from your pigeon hole.

 There are two halls, Old Hall for formal events (you will have some events there during Freshers’ Week) and Cripps Hall for daily use and basic formals. If you don’t want to buy buttery food you can still bring your own food and eat with your friends! There also is a college bar which is very popular among students, since it not only has pool tables and darts, but also a really friendly staff and very affordable bar food!  Laundry rooms are located in Dokett and Cripps. They have multiple washers, driers and an iron. A wash load costs £1.40 and 6 minutes of drying are 20p. The machines only accept £1 and 20p coins. There is a change machine in front of Cripps Hall but bring some change if you can.  A cleaner comes once a week to hoover your room and take out the bins. Hallways and gyps are cleaned every day. However, no one is going to deal with unnecessary mess, so do your dishes!  Housekeeping and Maintenance are the ones to turn to with any issues regarding your room and accommodation (leaking taps, broken doors, cold/hot rooms…)  There is a bike shed where you can keep your bike for the whole of your studies as long as you register it with the porters. Do not forget to use a lock, even in college!  The college has its own gym, squash courts, and runs various sports activities (yoga, boxercise). You have to pay membership to access the gym and the courts. There are also Uni wide facilities at the University Sport Centre. In spring and autumn, you can also rent college-owned punts from the porters! (£5 an hour)

Food! One of the things that Queens’ prides itself on is its variety of catering that it offers, and that unlike some other colleges, it is always totally up to you whether you want to take advantage of this or cook for yourself. We can also be proud to boast some of the best food in Cambridge. Within college we are lucky to have a café, the buttery, the bar, and formal halls for eating.  Buttery is the name of our normal cafeteria and serves meals three times a day, every day, and always has a mixture of meat, vegetarian and lighter options on offer. It is especially famous for its weekend brunches!  Our café runs in the bar during the day and is great for grabbing a quick lunch or snack and is also a popular space for people to get some work done in a more relaxed setting.  The bar here at Queens’ is widely acclaimed across the whole University as a great social space and good value for money – you can get a pint for just over £2! Every evening the bar also serves cheap yet tasty bar food, which is popular as

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a good way to relax with friends after a day’s work and can be useful if you miss normal buttery because it is served until 9:30pm.  All of our accommodation also has gyps (kitchens), which are usually shared between a few people. Cooking can be a great way to save money but also to relax and hang out with friends. You are also very welcome to bring your food down to the buttery and eat with the others.  Besides the normal daily catering, being a student at Cambridge also offers some opportunities for more formal served dinners. Formal halls take place every week on multiple days and they are especially popular as a way to celebrate events like birthdays. As a Cambridge quirk, everyone dining is expected to wear formal wear and college gowns, which you can get on your first day here in college. On top of norm al formal halls there will also be special occasion dinners such as year dinners and subject dinners, which are often black-tie events and usually happen in Old Hall which gives a unique, exciting atmosphere. In addition to these dinners college also runs Guest Nights, which are similar black-tie dinners in Old Hall to which you can bring your family and friends so that they too can experience the traditions of Cambridge, but you are also welcome to bring guests to regular formal halls.

JCR – Food Steward Cam Harris Hi, I’m Cam, studying History and JCR steward for this year. My email is jcr- [email protected]

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Buttery Café QBar Breakfast: 8.15 – 9.30 10.30 – 4.00 Monday to Friday Opening hours for drinks: Monday – Friday 18:30 – 23:00 Lunch: 12.30 – 14.00 Sunday - Thursday Monday – Friday 18:30 - 23:30 Dinner: 17.45 – 19.00 Friday and Saturday Monday – Sunday Opening hours for food: Brunch: 11.00 – 13.30 Saturday – Sunday 19:00 – 21:30 every day

Buttery (Cripps Hall) – Cripps Court Bar – Cripps Courts, Bottom of EE Bar – Cripps Courts, Bottom of EE staircase staircase Menu: hot meals, salads, soups, Menu: Panini, muffins, cake, coffee, Menu: Nachos, burgers, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, desserts, cereal, sandwiches, snacks – also eggs, sharing platters, chips, dips, kebabs, snacks and drinks bread, milk and other emergency brownies, sticky toffee pudding and groceries. similar. Check college website for weekly menus and pricing (deals for certain Generally inexpensive (coffee drinks Alcoholic and soft drinks with pints combinations) are around £1.70), every 7th coffee is from ~£2, food ~£4, food up to £5 free!

Formal Hall Guest Night Self-catering – gyp rooms Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 19.30, dates to be announced near Each floor/corridor has its own gyp Sunday the start of term room (kitchen), usually shared between around 6 people. 19.30

Buttery (Cripps Hall) – Cripps Court Old Hall

Sit down, served, three-course Sit down, served, four course formal Appliances: toaster, kettle (personal formal meal. Different dietary meal to which you can invite family kettles available via Housekeeping), requirements options available. or friends electric hob with 2 plates, small fridges, microwave Bring your own wine. Bring your own wine. Includes: sink, washing up liquid, £10.50 for College members and £25 for College members and sponge, personal (locking) slightly more for guests. Tickets by slightly more for guests. Tickets by cupboards, recycling containers reservation only: purchasable via application only once booking has upay.co.uk (see below for further been opened, details to be You have to provide your own information) announced nearer the time – ticket utensils, dishes, cutlery and similar. allocation is on a priority basis and Everyone has a lockable cupboard. tries to be fair to let everyone have the opportunity to attend at least one in their time in college

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Dress code: Smart with gowns Dress code: Black tie with gowns for Electricity turns on by pressing a college members, black tie for button on wall – it stays on for Maximum of 4 guests per College guests. 10 minutes at a time (so keep member (unless special application clicking it!) is made to Food Steward in advance) Recommended maximum of 4 guests, but more or fewer subject to popularity of event.

Special Dietary Requirements  Vegetarian/vegan options are always available. Other dietary requirements e.g. no nuts, allergies, gluten free, Kosher, Halal are catered for upon request but the head chef is hoping to increase the provision of dietary requirements for this coming October to be available at all meals.  Allergens and ingredient are always listed in buttery or upon request with the staff  Formal dinners offer a variety of dietary options.

How to pay The easiest way to pay in the buttery, café and QBar is with your university card. That is run through the UPay system (www.upay.co.uk) where you can manage and top up your account online (it is pay as you go). Formal Halls and Guest Nights are also paid through UPay. There is a phone app you can download! Alternatively, you can pay in cash. Your University card cannot be used at other colleges.

Social Life at Queens’ As it has been mentioned before, Queens’ has a well-deserved reputation of a welcoming, friendly, and joyful college. The JCR, MCR and college itself make incredible effort to ensure our lives here are not only about hard work and great education, but also about fun and enjoyment. Let it be societies, events, college facilities or just the community, you will soon find out that Queens’ is the place to be!

Community Queens’ has a vibrant and diverse community. Since most of Queens’ students live in college, you will easily get to know people across years and subjects - thanks to all our very popular events, QBar and just the general friendly atmosphere in college. To ensure everyone is happy in college, we have various representatives and a welfare team! And to make your arrival to our community as smooth as possible, Queens’ runs “college family” system. It is basically a group buddy system. At your arrival, a group of 4 Fresher “children” will be allocated to second-year “parents”. Your college parents are here to answer any questions you might have about life at Queens’ and in Cambridge. Since you will spend a lot of time in Freshers’ Week together as a family, siblings and parents often become really close and their friendship last for a long time! You should receive a letter from your college parents very soon!

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JCR – Access Officer Catherine Walker Hey! I'm Catherine, I'm a third yr, I do HSPS (Politics and International Relations), and I'm Queens' Access Officer! Access compromises all the ways prospective students can see the college, with a specific focus on improving the numbers of state school kids applying and coming to Queens' (we're 7% above the uni-wide average, so doing a pretty good job of it so far). These include school tours throughout the year, helping out with Interviews in December, the Access Roadshow that runs the first week of Easter Holidays, and Open Days in July. As part of the University's Area Link Scheme, we work especially closely with schools in Bradford, Havering, Kent, and Medway, so if you've come to Queens' from one of these areas or even one of these schools, getting involved is a great way to make Cambridge seem more approachable and achievable to kids like you.

The personal nature to Access gives you the opportunity to help dispel and disprove Cambridge myths by telling your own story. For any of you reading this who are worried that you're not tough enough to make it through Cambridge, I dropped out of school during Year 13 due to an eating disorder and decided to become a wedding planner because university wasn't for me anymore, but somehow got in and have survived two years. Making it here and overcoming whatever difficulties you may have faced along the way proves that others like you can do it as well, and Access is all about going out there to meet students, calm their fears, share yo ur experiences, and show them that they can and should apply to Cambridge.

Beyond the wholesome sunny vibes that Access puts inside your heart, it's fun to do. Any of you who came to the Open Days yourself might have noticed that we have students from first up to fourth yr helping out, and getting involved in any kind of Access is a great way to make friends throughout college. The other huge selling point is free food - for every tour you get a meal voucher, worth up to £5 in the buttery or cafe (lit), and even more for Interviews or Open Days (v lit). The Access Roadshow is essentially a free road trip around our link areas, with mates, and a £25-30 a day budget for food and bevs (huge lit). The best ways to get involved are to join the Queens' Access Team Facebook group, keep any eye out for any emails, message me, or come chat to me in person (I live in K3 by day and Qbar/the cluuub by night) xxx

JCR – Women’s Representative Alex Ajioka

Hi! I’m Alex and I’m a third year HSPS student from Cambridge, but more importantly I am also the JCR Women’s Representative Officer. The main part of my job is to make sure that gender issues are raised and discussed at JCR meetings, but also to push for positive political change to support women and non-binary people in college. I am also involved in welfare, and regardless of your self-defined gender I am here to support you. I also run the feminist society meetings, and the related Facebook group for Queens’ students. If you have any worries about problems you might face at Cambridge related to your gender, or how to address existing issues, don’t hesitate to message me or email me at [email protected] if you want to have a chat.

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JCR – BME Officer Iman Khakoo Hey!! My name’s Iman and I’m your BME Officer this year. From my personal experience, being BME at Cambridge can be difficult and isolating at times; so pls know that I am literally always here to tend to every/any need you might have. I have endless amounts of biscuits, love, wholesome food and time to give you so don’t hesitate to contact me for any reason! Our BME community at Queens’ are particularly friendly and non- judgemental and I hope that, through various social and educational events held throughout the year, the Queens’ BME love will be v clear. I study HSPS but please feel free to come to me for any academic (or non- academic) questions you have and I can direct you to someone who can help! My door is always open if you ever need to rant, cry, laugh, chat, or literally just take my food so just drop me a message! Finally, congrats on getting to Queens’ and remember that your thoughts and opinions are valid and necessary here. BME love!

JCR – Internationals Officer

Sanjan Das Hi everyone, my name is Sanjan. I am a second year Engineering student from India and I am the international officer for the academic year of 2018 -2019. My main role is to deal with issues related to international students, organize extra storage and ensure equal opportunities for representatives of every nation in the college. Last year, around this same time, I was in your shoes in a lot of ways. It can be a nightmare figuring out how to set up a bank account, buying a UK SIM card, managing expenses - but don't worry! I am here to help you with all these questions. At the end of a term, I will be the person who will make sure you can leave as much of your things in college as necessary. Lastly, I will keep all of you updated on matters that might affect us internationals. If you have any questions before term begins, you can contact me on

Facebook/Messenger or on my JCR email ([email protected]), and throughout the year you can find me in Y7 in Fisher if you want to chat abo ut anything that you feel I could help out with.

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JCR – LGBT+ Representative Ryan Montgomery Hi guys, I’m Ryan (He/Him), and I’m a second year History & MML student. As LGBT+ Officer, my role involves:

 Providing welfare support to anyone who identifies, or thinks that they might be, LGBTQ+;  Representing the views and concerns of LGBTQ+ students to College, and working to achieve greater representation, and;  Running social events throughout the year Queens’ has a thriving and diverse LGBTQ+ community - everyone is welcome regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. My job is to ensure that the needs of this community are met, and that you everyone can express themselves as safely and freely as possible. As a welfare officer, I’m here to provide support, whether you are already out, struggling to do so or questioning your identity. If you have any questions, worries or just want a friendly chat, feel free to contact me through email ([email protected]), Facebook, or anywhere around College!

Freshers’ Week can sometimes be difficult, especially if you’re not already open - or sure - about your sexual/gender identity. To help you feel at home, we’re once again running the ‘Queer Peer’ Project: you’ll see older students wearing a rainbow pin badge around Queens’ during Freshers’ Week, to show just how open and accepting the College environment is and to answer any questions you might have. There’s also a chance to sign up to an LGBT+ Parenting Scheme, run with 3 other colleges. I was assigned a family group last year and it was a great way to get to know other LGBTQ+ students and get involved in Cambridge’s (amazingly enormous) LGBTQ+ scene!

In terms of Representation, my main focus this year is pushing for more gender-neutral spaces and admin in College. We’ve already made great progress, and I’m sure that the year ahead will see many more positive changes for LGBTQ+ students. You’ve made a great choice of college and we can’t wait to welcome you into our Queens’ community!

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Welfare and Health Students welfare and health is a great priority to both college and student representatives. College provides us with great services and there is always someone to help you, should it be physical or mental issue, or you just need someone to talk to. Cambridge can get hard and stressful and it is good to know there is always someone to lean on. You should not feel awkward asking for help. All officers listed below very much honour confidentiality and you can be sure there is zero judgement on their side.

College staff JCR Welfare Queens’ College very much prides itself in its In case you would prefer to talk to some of your originally drafted welfare system. While for all peers, the JCR has an incredible student Welfare study related issues you have Academic Tutors Team which runs various welfare related and DOSs, for your well-being there is a whole activities and projects for everyone across team of professionals who you will all meet subjects and years. They provide various sexual individually during Freshers’ Week. health supplies, runs free STD testing, provides There is a Nurse, who can help you with any tea and biscuits when times get hard, but health concerns. They let your Supervisors and mainly they are friendly faces to talk to. DOSs know if you are too unwell to do your work While our lovely Tom and Joy are the main properly. However, the Nurse cannot write you welfare people on our committee, do not forget a prescription! You will all need to register with that all the other positions have their own a local GP. welfare aspect and that you can always come The Chaplain is always here for you should you and talk to any of us. need an advice or talk, he is open to people of all religions, beliefs or disbeliefs. The Professional Welfare Team are here for all your mental issue or again, just for a chat. Drop in by their office or arrange a meeting. Whether you are feeling down or you need an advice, they are always here for you. If no one else is available, the Porters are a great chat and help at any point. The Porters Lodge runs 24/7 so do not be afraid to drop by!

There are also many other welfare services provi ded by the University, students or private companies. For more information, check out Queens’ website, https://www.queens.cam.ac.uk/life- at- queens/student-health-welfare

Also, keep an eye on our Freshers Facebook group (and group chat) and Queens’ JCR group.

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JCR – Welfare Team Joy Hunter and Tom Chesworth Hey Queens of Queens'! As your welfare team, we want to make sure that everyone here (male/ female/ non- binary) has the best possible time and always feels safe. We both know that Cambridge can get very overwhelming sometimes, and we've both learnt that reaching out for help can make a massive difference. We are both friendly faces around college (or at least hope to be!) so please don't hesitate to say hi or come see either of us for a chat anytime! Message, email, use the JCR page, or ask in person for any sexual health supplies and we will confidentially drop them off in your pidge. Every Monday we hold drop in welfare sessions, where we relax and chat in a safe environment. Come and meet us or if you have something to discuss in private we can pop next door. Alternatively contact us via email Facebook, or come find us and we'll be happy to listen or help in any way we can. We also hold regular welfare events throughout the term such as a puppy day, arts and crafts and even a welfare weekend. Please let us know if you have any ideas how we can make Queens' an even more welcoming and inclusive space. Remember that no problem is ever too trivial (come even just for a chat) and that you are your number one priority. We're super excited to meet you all in Freshers Week! Welfare love x x x x

JCR – Disabilities Officer Alice Wenban Hi! My name is Alice and I’m your Disabilities officer. What is a disabilities officer, who is she, what does she do, am I included??? I hear you all ask. My role is not defined by the legal definition of disability. I am here to help you if you feel like a disability or long time health condition is affecting you in anyway during your time here at queens. I am here to support you! And be the gal in your corner if you need it. If you are feeling like a disability is getting in your way at all please come and have a chat! It might just be something to talk through over a cup of tea or it might be something which I can help you with finding who to talk to and the right questions to ask. Big or small im here 4 u!!!! I’m a second year compsci and will be living in V10 next year feel free to swing by! Big love <3

Sports and Societies Sports and societies can be a great part of your University life. It is an easy way to gain experience, have fun and meet new friends. When it comes to Cambridge, do not think just traditional sport clubs and debating societies. There is a society for literally everything, from University Quidditch Team to Cheese and Crackers Appreciation Society. Since the University is rather large, colleges run their own societies and Queens’ is no different. You will have a chance to get to

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know all Queens’ societies on Monday 1 JCR – Sports and Societies Officer October and all Uni clubs on Wednesday 3 October. If you do not find a society which Lucy Dickinson matches your interests at Queens’, it will Hi I'm Lucy your Sports and Societies officer. I'm in charge of for sure be at Uni level! organising all the day to day running of societies in college and Freshers’ Week is a great opportunity for ensuring the extra-curricular activities available at Queens' you to find your new hobbies at Uni, but it continue to be one of our strongest points! Essentially, I'm the is also time for the societies to get new person to contact if you want to find out what societies are members. Some of them might be creating available in college and who to get in touch with if you want to a great pressure on you to join them. They join them, if you want to store any society equipment in the JCR might try to create an illusion that if you office, or if you want to set up a new society. The one thing I don’t join their society, you will have no don't so is deal with friends. Please, be cautious. These societies society funding and reimbursement so for might be just as great as they present any questions about that themselves, however do not put yourself you need to contact into something you might not enjoy just Dionne O’Brien the JCR because you want to fit in. You will spend Treasurer. Please feel your precious free time (and often money) free to get in contact if on societies, so do make sure it really does you have any questions make you happy. Do not think about CV, about societies or fitting in and similar. Find what you anything else and I hope genuinely enjoy and everything will work you all have a fabulous time at Queens’! out! There is truly something for everyone and doing what you love is the best way to find friends!

Events It is important to realise that University is not just about studying and hard work. The College and the JCR work really hard on making our lives here as enjoyable and fun as possible. A sub-committee of the JCR, QEnts, is responsible for organisation of various events from bar get-togethers, film screenings, famous Queens’ bops, to May Week Bounce, for all of us to enjoy!  Bops are the best described as themed school discos. Queens’ is really famous for having great bops with the right amount of cheesy music and silly themes. People are very enthusiastic, go to great lengths with their costumes, and bops are always popular and busy. Due to large demand, people out of college are not allowed to buy tickets, but you can bring up to 4 guests! Your first bop will take place on Friday 5th October in Freshers’ Week.  Bounce is the biggest event run by QEnts. It takes place in May Week (the first week after exams are done, actually in June). It is essentially just a very fun outdoor party with bouncy castles and other inflatable fun, live music and food.

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 May Balls are arguably the most famous events in Cambridge. Taking place in May Week, May Balls are extensive and formal celebrations of the exams. It is something you have probably never seen before and the extent to which colleges go with their Balls is beyond words. Queens’ hosts a May Ball every second year, with the last one taking place in 2017, but worry not, you are very much welcome to attend May Balls at other colleges. Similar to May Balls but on smaller scale are Garden Parties. You do not have to wait for May Week to enjoy some classy fun. There are many balls and other events throughout the year, so don’t forget to pack your JCR – QEnts President formal outfits! At Uni level, there is always something to Honor Clapp do. For example, Cambridge is famous for I am the current QEnts president and a third year Economist. QEnts its theatre ensembles such as the is in charge of putting on events for the JCR in college. We host bops, Footlights and Impronauts, who you will film screenings, Karaoke, Open Mic nights, Quizzes and more. So, have a chance to see in Freshers’ Week, there should be something for everyone to enjoy this year. but there are also many smaller plays QEnts holds some of the biggest and best bops in Cambridge. The going on. There are always some talks and best way to describe a bop is a school disco with a few drinks and conferences happening, and we can fancy dress. We have 5 bops a term and they're a fab way for all of promise you, you will never feel like you college to come together and to meet people from first to fourth year. There are competitions for best costume at every bop so bring have nothing to do. your facepaint/cardboard/paint and get ready for some crafting In terms of the night life, your college during term. We also host a couple of big Easter term events so get parents will for sure give you all the hyped. details. Cambridge is full of bars, pubs and In weeks without bops we’ll be trying to put on at least one bar has few clubs which are mainly occupied event or a film screening so there will always be something in by University students. Be prepared for college for you to do. QEnts is always after new tech people, Cambridge night life being very specific photographers and and quirky, but we can promise you will student djs (we have soon love it! our own set of decks if However, please keep in mind that you want to practice) so if you’re interested clubbing and drinking is not a in any of these things requirement! Do what you feel please drop me an comfortable with and do not let anyone email. We’ll be pressure you into anything. You will have handing over to a new the time of your life with whatever you committee next Lent decide to do because nothing is like term, so you don’t need Cambridge! to wait too long to get involved!

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Freshers! So hopefully now you are pretty much sure you know what to expect when coming to Uni. No worries if you still have some gaps. Your college parents, subject contacts, the JCR committee and mainly your Freshers’ Representatives will be there to help you with everything! Now, we will try to cover some of the more practical issues.

Freshers’ Week Freshers’ Week is a very exciting time not only for you, but for everyone in college. You can find the whole programme on Queens’ website, our Facebook group, and it will surely be sent to you by email. Residency starts on midday Thursday 27th September. You need to be in college on Saturday 29th September, midday the latest. There will be some events before the Saturday, but do not expect anything major. You will be required to register with the Tutorial Office on Thursday 27th and Friday 28th . More information can be found here https://www.queens.cam.ac.uk/apply-to- queens/incoming-students-freshers. You are not required to go to Freshers’ Week events but please note that you are expected to attend all events marked with an asterisk. However, we strongly recommend you take part in as many events as possible. Not only do they provide you with very important information, they are also a great way to meet people and become more comfortable with your upcoming life at Queens’. Don’t ever feel like you have to drink or do what you are uncomfortable with! There are many people in our year who do not drink and they are our friends just as everyone else. We strongly recommend you do not buy any Freshers’ club tickets packs. These are usually managed by private companies, which tell you, that everyone goes but frankly no-one does. We are working really hard on creating a programme for you to get to know your college peers as well as mingle with other colleges. Don’t worry, there are club nights every night with our wristbands too!

Matriculation Matriculation is the biggest event of Freshers’ Week. The whole Tuesday 2rd October is dedicated to it. It is the event when you are officially admitted to your college. Such event requires a special dress-code. Do not worry about gowns. You do not have to order them in advance. There is an order waiting for you to buy at your arrival and there is going to be enough for everyone! One Queens’ Undergraduate Gown costs £30. What you need to bring is a dark formal outfit. The reason for this is that other colours than dark tones would stand out on the Matriculation photo. For men, the expected outfit is a dark suit, white shirt with a tie is acceptable. For ladies, dark dress or a dark skirt with a dark blouse is accepted. Shoes are more up to you, but most girls tend to wear some sort of heels. You should not have anything crazy or outstanding. No one is going to tell you off for wearing flats. Here is a picture for illustration.

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Check-list: before you move in  Make sure you know and have your CRSid  Set up your Hermes email (everything is sorted over email!) and Raven  Take a look at Student Finance and Cambridge Bursary t o s e e whether something might apply to you  Check the “NHS low income bursary scheme” for health issues  Make sure you were not set any summer work (most subjects don’t so most can just chill)  Don’t stress

To bring or not to bring As we have said, despite being a smaller city, Cambridge offers a wide range of shopping opportunities or you can easily have things ordered to colleges, so if you forget something at home, it should not be hard to get it. Nevertheless, here is a rough list of what you might need (apart from the obvious things such as clothes). Bring for sure Maybe bring  Towels (not provided by college)  A bike (you can buy one here too, so no  Bath mat (for private bathrooms, the worries if it is a struggle), helmet and floors can get rather cold), bath baskets high-visibility features for shared bathrooms  Laptop (there is a computer room  2 sets of sheets, duvet covers and pillow available, but a private laptop offers cases comfort. Many students also take them  Hangers (college only provides about 10 to lectures) of them)  Sports and music equipment (there are  Room décor to make it more home-like music rooms with some basic stuff) (fairy lights, photos, posters, plants…) Leave home  Pots/pans (if you plan to cook), dishes,  A kettle (there is one in each gyp and mugs and cutlery you can ask for one for your room)  Dirty laundry box/bag  Printer (printing is free in computer  Stationary supplies rooms, you just need to provide your  Change for laundry own paper. However, if you have the  Warm clothes (it gets cold here, even if option to bring one then it’s up to you) you’ re a northener. A coat is a must,  Cleaning supplements (most of the consider tights, gloves, scarves, hats and necessary tools are provided by college, many jumpers. Warm socks and PJs are plus a bedder comes to take care of your also good) rooms once a week)  Rain gear  Ethernet cables, each room has one and  Formal clothing (matriculation, formal Wi-Fi is really good! halls and possibly black-tie events)  Photocopies of important documents such as previous doctors’ information  Some sort of ID (passport and drivers license)

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Check list: after you arrive  Register, get your university card, and get your room keys (not necessarily in that order)  Set up your room  Tell your parents to leave so you can settle in!  Get your gown (in college – we will let you know where)  Find out how to top up your uPay account so you can start eating (info above)  Meet your neighbours  Set up your internet accounts (ie. Hermes email, raven, log into wifi, etc)  Look through the Freshers’ Week timetable so you know when and where you need to be, and check out if you are interested in any of the offers (Freshers tees, club deals…)  Register with a GP

FAQ Do I need to buy college gown before arrival? No, it is not necessary. There is an order waiting for you to buy at your arrival. It will be then placed on your college bill which is paid mid-term. If you want to buy one anyways, online or second-hand perhaps, look for Queens’ College Cambridge Undergraduate Gown. You will need one for matriculation! Is it possible to drive into college when moving in? Yes, on move-in and move out dates, you are allowed to drive into college for 30 minutes maximum. You cannot keep your car in college for a longer period unless you have a special permission. Can we stay in college over holidays? Yes, you can. Either you can pay for excess residency day by day (around £30 per night), or you can go on a quarterly scheme, which is about 20% above termly fee. Can people come and stay over in my room? Yes, you can have one guest over for up to 4 days. College offers futons and bedding with sheets upon request with residency. Due to fire safety, these guests need to be checked in with the porters. If you want to host a get-together, you can have up to 10 people in your room otherwise it is considered a party. What if I am not able to balance out work and social work? What if I am not able to keep up with my work? What if I am not good enough? First of all, you are all here for a reason. The admissions officers know very well why they picked you in the first place. If you are one of the students who had missed their offers and still got in, you are in because they saw something in you. None of you is filling in a quota, none of you is here by default. This University and this college do not have to do that. Second, we are not going to sugar-coat anything for you. At first, your studies might seem very tough. Whether you are a gap year student or coming right after high school, the transition is not easy. But don’t worry. Everyone goes through this and you can do it. You need to figure out how to work here, and you will have every help available to you. Subjects contacts will fill you in on how your specific subject works and what you can expect, your Supervisiors and DOSes, as well as Academic Tutors, are here to help you. Do not forget, that even if you start struggling it doesn’t mean you’re failing. You are at a difficult university so it might happen. But there is always a way. Am I going to find friends? Absolutely! There are so many great opportunities to meet new people and it all starts in Freshers’ Week. We strongly recommend you go to as many events as you can, and at some point, you will surely find someone you click with. Another great way of meeting friends is joining clubs and societies. You do not need to strive for the seemingly most popular one. Find what you enjoy and you will find likely-minded people. We can all feel a bit lonely sometime but no worries, it is absolutely normal. Do not forget that in these cases, there is always someone to talk to, should it be the professional welfare team, or your JCR officers.

26 | P a g e What if I don’t drink and I don’t like clubbing? It might seem like you have no life at Uni if you don’t go out and you don’t drink. That is not the case. Yes, going out does belong to many students’ life, but that does not mean that you have to do it too. There is so much more to do than just go clubbing! Check out Cambridge theatres, go to a talk, chill with friends in college over some board games… But if you decide to go out, worry not, Cambridge clubs are nothi ng like you have seen before. They are very relaxed and friendly, and especially, so laid back you could go in your PJs and no one would care. What is the “Freshers’ Flu”? The infamous Freshers’ Flu is often connected to clubbing and drinking and could ther efore indicate just a Freshers’-Week long hangover. However, even non-drinking people often “catch” it as it is mostly caused by a lack of sleep and way too many Freshers’-events biscuits. In the intense Cambridge environment, it can then stretch to weeks. So, one advice is, get a lot of sleep prior to coming and don’t sacrifice it in Freshers’ Week. There is a lot of fun things to do, but your health is more important! Are there many people with gap years? Am I going to fit in if I am older? Am I able to get back to work? You will sure find out that people come to Uni at very different points in their lives. Gap year is a big trend, also different countries have different scholar systems so different aged people come in. You might be pleased to find out, that 65 people in your year group are aged 19-21. Queens’ has a very interconnected community and people are friends across years and subjects, so you will for sure have someone similar to you. In terms of academic worries, the transition is tough for everyone. It might take you some time to get used to a working schedule again, but it will come back easier than you think! Again, remember that there is always someone to help you should you need it. How do I deal with money? Money can be an issue for many students. This will be the first time for many of you to take care and manage your own life. It is good to be aware of how much money you have at your disposal, and pay attention to what you’re spending. Schedule ahead when you have to pay your college bill and how much that will cost you. Before you purchase something, ask yourself if you truly need it. There are also many phone apps to help you plan and keep track of your expenses. There are many ways of student support. Do not forget to check out Student Finance and Cambridge Bursary if any programme applies to you. The Financial Office, as well as the Tutors and Welfare Team, can help you find alternative resources and well as give you advice on budgeting. Even though Uni is not going to be your cheapest experience, it is manageable. You just need to stay in charge. Is it possible to stay healthy at Uni? Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will be mainly about your self-control. It will seem so easy to just go for a meal in the buttery three times a day, and then later get chips in the bar, but it will not only get expensive, but also unhealthy. Buttery always has a salad bar so there are healthier options and you don’t have to cook. But on the other hand, cooking can be a great way to relax and keep control of what you eat. Sainsbury’s, M&S and the market often have great deals on healthy food, so check it out! In terms of exercise, there should be a time all of you could spare for that. Again, it is just about how you plan your time and set your priorities. Maybe leave out Netflix before bed and go for a run in the afternoon instead. I am afraid to be away from home. What do I do? University is indeed a whole new life which might seem intimidating. But it has to happen at some point, right? What we recommend is getting some pictures to have in your room. Staying in touch with your family and friends is really important but don’t over-do it! You need to get settled into the new environment and being constantly hooked somewhere else won’t help. Everyone feels homesick at some point but trust us, when you will go home later you will miss Queens’ as your second home.

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Important Links Cambridge University - www.cam.ac.uk (you can access almost all resourced through here) Queens’ College – https://www.queens.cam.ac.uk/apply-to-queens/incoming-students- freshers Cambridge University Students’ Union - www.cusu.co.uk Hermes emails – webmail.hermes.cam.ac.uk UPay – www.upaychilli.com Moodle learning portal – www.vle.cam.ac.uk iDiscover – www.idiscover.cam.ac.uk WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A NEW WEBSITE FOR THE JCR – STAY TUNED!

FACEBOOK GROUPS AND PAGES Queens’ College Cambridge Undergraduate Offer Holders 2018 Official University of Cambridge Freshers 2018-2019 Cambridge University Students’ Union Queens’ College JCR QBar Coffee Shop Memebridge, Crushbridge, Camfess, (and many others)

So, there you have it, your Freshers’ Guidebook - we hope it was helpful! If you need anything, please do get in touch anytime. We look forward to welcoming you to Queens’!

See you soon!

Love, George, Caitlin, and the JCR Committee

Queens’ College Freshers’ Guidebook 2720 | P a1 g8 e

© Queens’ JCR Committee 2018

This Guide represents the views of Queens’ College JCR and should not be misinterpreted as representing the ‘official’ views of the College

Photos |Special thanks to Emma Wood, Marisa

Crimlis-Brown, Charlie Eardley, and Becca Nichols