Prospectus Welcome to Magdalene
Welcome to Magdalene, a college mixing formal with Choosing your college is an important “It really matters to us that we are a supportive decision, as this will be your home for informal, traditional with modern, where students are the next three or four years. It is where and warm community at Magdalene, because you will live, eat and sleep, where you enabled to reach their full potential in one of the will make many of your friends, and we believe that this delivers the best results at most beautiful riverside locations in Cambridge. where much of your personal studying every level.” Rowan Williams, Master. will be done.
Cambridge University has over Every undergraduate and Magdalene College is within a few At Magdalene, we value the thirty colleges, each with its own postgraduate student must be a minutes bicycle ride of most University opportunities we have to get to distinctive style and character. member of one of these colleges, facilities, and is a short walk from the know one another, irrespective of Some are large and very grand, as well as being attached to a shops, pubs and restaurants of the our subject and status. others are homely and intimate in University Department where city centre. Its small size and friendly style. Some are very old, others are lectures, laboratories and specialist atmosphere make it one of the most We hope that this prospectus will give founded more recently. libraries are available. welcoming colleges in Cambridge and you a flavour of what Magdalene has one where we hope you will soon feel to offer, and what it’s like to be a at home. member of the College. 02 –03 | Prospectus | Magdalene College Cambridge “Yes, this is the place for me.” It isn’t easy to explain this response, felt by so many people who visit the College for the first time, but it is a common reaction.
A welcoming community For those who visit the College for an Open Day, it is the enthusiasm and friendliness of our students which make the biggest impression. Magdalene is well known across Maybe it begins with a wander opposite First Court across the busy We think that our people – students, Studies and Tutor (see overleaf) but It won’t be long before you feel the University for its warm and through the historic First and Second bustle of Magdalene Street. Fellows and everyone else who works we’ll provide ‘academic parents’ at home, and fully integrated into friendly atmosphere, and our small Courts with the splendour of the here, are our best advertisement. (students in their second year of the life of College, and the annual intake of 105 undergraduates Pepys building and formal planting. perhaps it is our newest building, undergraduate study) for all ‘freshers’ to University, knowing a diversity (and about 80 graduate students) the spectacular Cripps Court, If you decide Magdalene is the place offer informal advice and answer the of students from all years and helps to foster a family atmosphere. Maybe it is the tranquillity of the which blends older with more for you, and you are accepted, then mass of questions which are sure to across varied subjects. Fellows’ Garden that lies beyond them. contemporary architectures, typical you’ll not only have a Director of arise in the first hectic weeks of term. Perhaps it’s the personal welcome of the Magdalene style. you receive when you visit It could even be the informality of “Magdalene is a lovely community and it’s small enough so that you feel as Magdalene for an Open Day or ‘the Village’ – a delightful collection However it’s not just the buildings of interview. of buildings spanning centuries of Magdalene, but the people who really though you know everybody. There is always so much going on to get varied architectural styles which lie make the College what it is. involved in!” Catja, second year studying English. 04 –05 | Prospectus | Magdalene College Cambridge Academic life at Magdalene
At Magdalene, our students are It is this focus on an individual’s needs, enabled to achieve academic both academic and personal, which is excellence through the support of an one of the great strengths of the excellent team of Tutors, Directors of Collegiate system. Studies, and support staff helping them to reach their full potential and Graduate students will have a Course gain the best possible results. Director or Research Supervisor in their University department to assist with As at other colleges, most of your academic issues, and a Graduate Tutor personal study and individual in College for personal matters. teaching will happen in College. Your formal lectures, seminars, laboratory Study facilities classes and additional specialised library facilities are provided by the The College offers excellent study relevant University departments. facilities for all students, including a number of libraries. The main College Before arrival, new undergraduates will library, situated in the 17th century be assigned a Director of Studies, a Pepys building, is open 24 hours a day specialist in your subject area, who will during term and provides all the act as your academic guide and recommended texts for first and mentor. Your Director of Studies will second year undergraduate courses. organise small group, College-based Our library, as well as all our student teaching sessions, called Supervisions, rooms, offers high-speed internet and will meet students on a regular access to University catalogues to basis through term time to discuss locate additional resources in the progress and guide your ongoing University and Departmental libraries. studies. They will also assist with exam The University Library itself is just a few entries, advise on future subject minutes bicycle ride away. choices and write academic references. Whilst our Fellows are often Each student is also assigned a Tutor international leaders and who will typically be a member of our distinguished specialists in their own teaching staff from another subject fields, we have delighted in the area. The Tutor will provide help with academic achievements of our own personal matters such as health or undergraduate and graduate students. financial concerns. Students normally In recent years our undergraduates meet their Tutors every term but can have performed highly in University arrange additional appointments as examinations and won University the need arises. In addition, the College Prizes for academic excellence in both Chaplain and College nurse are Arts and Science subjects. important parts of the support network for students, irrespective of faith (or lack of it), and “Supervisions are really good for clarifying difficult concepts they work alongside the College Tutors in this raised in lectures and my supervisor helps to place these within 06 –07 | Prospectus | Magdalene College Cambridge pastoral role. the context of ‘the bigger picture’.” Hugh, second year Natural Scientist. Living in Magdalene
Rooms Facilities We offer all our undergraduates their All undergraduates automatically own room in College for the full 3 or become members of the JCR (Junior 4 years of their course. Most Combination Room). This offers graduate students may have College TV/ DVD and daily newspapers, accommodation for at least one or alongside rooms for pool and table- two years of study, especially if they football. The College Bar is open in are coming to Cambridge for the the evening and has a dartboard first time. and hosts quizzes during term time.
All first year undergraduates are For a very ‘Cambridge’ form of allocated a room near the centre of relaxation during those lazy days the College with all its facilities close after exams, the College punts are to hand. In subsequent years you can moored along the riverfront. For the choose your own room according to more energetic, there is a multi gym, personal preference and budget. squash and fives courts on site. The boathouse and sports fields are only The rooms are varied in both size a few minutes bike ride away. and style, reflecting the rich architectural variety of the College. The MCR (Middle Combination Room) for graduate students also All rooms have a bed, study area and offers TV, daily newspapers plus tea internet access. Larger suites of rooms, and coffee making facilities. or ‘sets’ may have a separate study and Graduate students also have their bedroom or en-suite facilities. own punt and access to all the other College sporting facilities. You only have to pay for your room for each term you are in residence, and There are also two laundrettes on rooms are banded for cost according site, and there are a limited number to both size and facilities. of guests rooms for visiting family and friends.
“The views are fabulous and my room is just across the bridge from the College.” Jay, second year Economist.
“One of the things I love about Magdalene is that I really feel as though I belong to a community here. Whether you’re in the library, in the cafeteria or even in the laundry room, there are always friendly faces around who will inevitably stop you for a chat to see how you are doing. It is such a supportive and encouraging
08 –09 | Prospectus | Magdalene College Cambridge environment to be studying and living in.” Chloe, second year studying English. Food and Social Life
At Magdalene we offer food to and lunch are replaced by a highly to share this special and unique Supplies can be sourced in the city international tastes. Cambridge also “I love Magdalene encompass a variety of tastes and popular brunch. experience will ensure you are which has a fine traditional market has multi-screen cinemas, theatres and lifestyles. Ramsay Hall offers cafeteria much in demand socially. offering a good range of fresh local live music venues, as well as coffee because you can choose style breakfast, lunch and dinner Every evening during full term, Formal foods, and there are supermarkets and shops, bars and clubs for evenings out. during the week (including Hall offers a three course meal plus Gyp rooms (small kitchens) which are convenience stores nearby. In addition, to have formal dinner vegetarian and Halal dishes). It coffee in the beautiful candlelit shared between student rooms are the riverside area next to the College every night! proves to be a popular meeting atmosphere of the College Hall, and an also available for making snacks. boasts a range of restaurants, bars and point and, at weekends, breakfast invitation to friends or visiting relatives bistros catering for a wide variety of Bella, first year studying MML.
10 –11 | Prospectus | Magdalene College Cambridge Music, Drama and Sport
Music is an important part of the Many of the students take part, lives of many students and the with the emphasis on fun rather College offers Choral, Organ and than musical perfection. These instrumental Scholarships for gifted performances are often given individuals. Our Choir sing twice- a Magdalene ‘twist’ to add to weekly in Chapel and go on tour in the occasion. the UK, Europe or further afield every summer. The Chapel acts as a Sport has always been an integral focus for the Choir and other musical part of College life. Some Magdalene performances in the College, as well students achieve at the highest levels, as maintaining its traditional representing the University and even religious role. The Chapel organ was the country at their chosen sport. For installed in 2000 and has been others, sport provides a chance to acclaimed as one of the best neo- keep fit, to socialise and have fun, or baroque organs in Cambridge. We just to try a new activity. We field also have a range of grand and teams in all major sports (as well upright pianos, a harpsichord, as many fairly obscure ones!) for both virginals and a chamber organ as men and women. The sports fields well as two music practice rooms. (shared with St John’s College) are a The College Music Society performs few minutes bike ride away whilst the regular chamber concerts in College College boathouse is also just a few throughout the year. minutes away, downriver.
Our Cripps Court complex offers a While we are always delighted with state-of-the-art auditorium which is the success of our College teams, we used extensively for lectures, drama are equally entertained by their and music, as well as highly popular failures – sometimes of heroic film evenings. One of the highlights proportions! of the Magdalene year is the College musical.
“Magdalene’s sports teams are very welcoming and fun to be part of. They can be an opportunity to learn something new and meet lots of different people with
a common interest.” Hannah, first year PhD in Engineering .
12 –13 | Prospectus | Magdalene College Cambridge Finance and Support
The costs of undergraduate study in only pay for their rooms whilst they rewarded with a College Scholarship “Without the financial Cambridge vary depending on Fee are in residence. which includes a cash prize and Status (Home/EU/Islands/Overseas). book tokens. support from the What to do next Current estimated study costs at Awards Magdalene bursary, my Cambridge can be found on the Cambridge has an extensive set of Both graduate and undergraduate If you’d like to find out more about us us an application. Application University website but are not means-tested bursary schemes, students in residence who have entire Cambridge and what we have to offer, the best deadlines vary, but normally fall significantly more and often less which are available to help support severe financial difficulties may also experience would be way is to come for a visit. If an between early September and mid- than studying at many other Home, EU and Overseas be eligible for hardship funds, whilst Admissions Tutor is available, s/he can October for entry the following year. universities in the UK. In addition the undergraduates. For graduate travel awards are available to different. I am not able meet with prospective students by University and College offer an students, there are a number of support field work, or other activities appointment. Check the College Assessment extensive range of bursaries, awards academic awards available including which offer the potential for to ask my parents for website to find dates for upcoming Much of our undergraduate and scholarships to help support two College Bye-Fellowships which significant personal development. money, and otherwise Open Days. If you are unable to attend assessment is carried out prior to students in financial need. are awarded every year to final year one of these, please contact the interview. We take into account PhD students, usually one in the In addition Magdalene has a number would be required to get Admissions Office via the email previous results and predicted grades Living Costs Arts and one in the Sciences. These of fully and part-funded awards for address or telephone number below, within the context of your own At Magdalene costs of food and Bye-Fellowships offer free both undergraduate and a part time job. Instead, we may be able to arrange an informal personal circumstances. We also accommodation are subsidised by accommodation plus dining rights postgraduate study. I am able to balance my visit to the College. We have a full time consider personal statements and the College and are similar to other with the Fellows. Schools Liaison Officer (SLO) who academic references as well as any Cambridge colleges. Room rents Full details of specific undergraduate work life with organises and undertakes visits to supplementary work or written tests compare favourably with other Our undergraduates who achieve top and graduate scholarships are participation in societies schools. The SLO also coordinates visits we may have requested. In most universities in the UK and students grades in University exams are available on the College website. to the College by school pupils and cases these are supplemented by like STAR (Student Action teachers. We welcome enquiries from an academic interview and written all schools and colleges. Please get in subject assessment. Decisions on all for Refugees) and Zero touch by emailing undergraduate places are given early Carbon, and in the JCR, as [email protected]. in January. Women’s Political Officer. Undergraduates Graduates We admit around 105 undergraduates We welcome applications for all types More than anything, the each year, and consider applications of postgraduate courses and in all Magdalene bursary allows for all the courses offered by the fields of study. Each year we admit 30- University. If you have already shown 35 students reading towards the PhD and encourages young strong academic ability, and like what degree and a further 40–50 following people from financially you have seen, the next step is to send a one year course. disadvantaged backgrounds not only to take up a place in Magdalene but also to get Website: www.magd.cam.ac.uk the most out of their E-mail: [email protected]. uk The range of bursaries, awards and scholarships means that studies and College life.” Tel: +44 (0)1223 332135 14 –15 | Prospectus | Magdalene College Cambridge the costs of studying at Magdalene are often less than Simone, second year studying MML. The Admissions Office, Magdalene College, Cambridge CB3 0AG studying at many other universities in the UK. The formal and the informal, the traditional and the modern.