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Murray Edwards College
University of Cambridge

Accommodation and College life

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Undergraduate accommodation

There is a variety of accommodation available at Murray Edwards College, some en suite, on the main College site and in houses nearby. All bedrooms contain a single bed, bedside table, desk, desk chair, easy chair, bookshelves and a fitted wardrobe. Kitchens are fully equipped with ovens, hobs, microwaves and fridges. All rooms on the main site have lockable cupboards.  Some rooms may have additional furniture such as a chest of drawers or additional seating. All rooms that are not en suite on the main site include a built-in sink. You can see some pictures of the accommodation on our College life page and as part of our virtual tour.    

In your first year, you do not need to apply for accommodation – the Tutorial Office will contact you in late August or early September, after you have received examination results and your place is confirmed.

In later years, students choose their accommodation in Lent Term after the Room Draw takes place.

Pearl House

All bedrooms in Pearl House are en suite, and are light and modern with plenty of storage space. All students have access to fully equipped kitchens. Room licenses are for 31-weeks (term time) only and cost between £1,846 and £2,046 per term.

Orchard Court

Bedrooms in Orchard Court vary in size and style. Most are single rooms although a handful of students each year will choose to share. Rooms on the top floors are split level with a bed upstairs, and a study, storage and seating space downstairs. Students in this building share bathrooms although the ratio of students per bathroom or toilet can be as few as 2:1. All students have access to well-equipped kitchens, most of which have seating areas, making for a more sociable experience.

License periods vary between staircases – you have the option to choose a room with a 33-week (term time only) license or a 39-week license, meaning students do not need to remove their belongings over the Christmas and Easter holidays. The cost is between £1,648 and £2,124 per term.

Hammond House and Clover House

Situated a little further from the heart of College, Hammond House and Clover House have 12 and 6 bedrooms respectively. Both houses have living and dining rooms as well as kitchens, allowing for a more sociable living experience.

Licenses for these rooms are 33 weeks although additional accommodation can usually be arranged (at an extra cost) for students wishing to remain in College during the vacation period. The cost is between £1,788 and £1,864 per term.

Buckingham House

Buckingham House has 35 generous en suite bedrooms and is the most modern undergraduate accommodation in College. There are two large kitchen spaces on the first two floors and a smaller additional kitchen on the third floor.

Licenses for these rooms are term time only (26 weeks) although additional accommodation can usually be arranged (at an extra cost) for students wishing to remain in College during the vacation period. The cost is £1,724 per term.

Paula Browne House

Paula Browne House has 25 rooms over 3 floors, of which 8 rooms share a bathroom between two people and 17 rooms are en suite. There is a spacious kitchen on two floors and two small kitchens on the top floor. Licences are either 33 or 39 weeks and the cost is between £1,987 and £2,218 per term.

College houses

The College also owns a small number of properties away from the main site but within a five minute walk of College. Many of these are on the opposite side of Huntingdon Road. Popular with third year students, they allow for more independent living but with College facilities still close at hand. Each house has its own bathrooms, kitchen, washing machine and garden.

Licenses for these rooms are 39 weeks and cost between £1,650 and £2,124 per term.

College spaces

Froud Room

The Froud Room is the College television room. With comfortable sofas and a large television screen, it's perfect for cosy film nights with friends or for larger group screenings. 

JCR

Situated between Orchard Court and Pearl House, the JCR is an ideal space for socialising with friends or hosting birthday parties. Large windows at either end mean the space is light and airy and a great place to study during the day.

College Bar

The College Bar is one of the few in Cambridge that is fully student-staffed. The bar itself is open every night and hosts events throughout the year such as 'Band in the Bar'. During the day, the bar is a much more relaxed space, offering an alternative workspace to the library. Every Friday, the JCR organises Skive@5 – a chance for students from all subjects and year groups to get together and socialise over tea and biscuits before the weekend begins.

The Coach House

As well as having an amazing art collection, we also have a space dedicated to the creation of art. Whether it's painting, sketching or drama rehearsals, the Coach House has adaptable spaces suitable for all purposes. Run by the JCR Arts Officer, it's kept stocked with craft materials and displays of students' work.

Tennis and squash courts

We are lucky enough to have tennis and squash courts on site, both of which are free for students to use.

Music practice facilities

We have a range of spaces available in College for music practice either individually or in small groups. While there is a dedicated music room with one electric and one upright piano, there is also a Steinway grand piano available in the Fellows' Drawing Room. The Steinway can be booked by students who have achieved Grade 8 in Piano.

Find out more about music at Murray Edwards.

The gym

We have a fully equipped gym on site with regularly updated equipment, including a squat rack, kettle bells, cross trainers and treadmills. Membership is much cheaper than joining public gyms with the added advantage that it's only a few minutes away from your room! 

The gardens

Murray Edwards benefits from plenty of outdoor space and a fantastic gardening team. With the exception of the Fellows' Garden, all outdoor space is accessible to students at all times. From spring bulbs to autumnal fruits, planting is planned with students in mind. The lawns are a great place to revise or have a picnic in summer. They also make an excellent location for the Murray Edwards Garden Party, one of the most popular May Week events in Cambridge. This isn't the only event to take place in the gardens – every autumn, the JCR Environmental Officer teams up with the gardeners to organise Apple Day. An afternoon of music, apple juice, apple crumble and marshmallows that's popular with students, staff and Fellows, Apple Day is a great way of bringing the College community together at the beginning of the year. In the summer, the beach comes to College and is a popular place to revise while catching some rays.

 

Academic societies

Medical Society

This thriving society supports our medical students academically and creates opportunities for them to socialise with medical students from other Colleges. 

Franklin Society

The Franklin Society is aimed at anyone in College with an interest in science but particularly Natural Sciences students. They run academic support sessions where students in all years can meet for tea and biscuits to discuss their work. They also host talks and provide advice on course options.

Veterinary Society

The Veterinary Society has members from all six years of Veterinary Medicine students at Murray Edwards. Members meet regularly for "vetty tea". This is a chance for members to catch up with each other and for older students to help those newer to the course. The Veterinary Society also organises formal dinners and May Week picnics. 

Geography Society

The College Geography Society brings together undergraduate and graduate geographers and Fellows for dinners, research talks and dissertation presentations. 

Maths Circle

The College Maths Circle encourages mathematicians from all years to meet up on a Sunday evening to socialise and solve problems collaboratively. Run by the Director of Studies, it also gives students the opportunity to present on a topic within Mathematics that is of interest to them.

The Gabe Society (Modern Languages)

The Gabe Society encourages modern linguists at Murray Edwards to come together and socialise. It also organises social events such as poetry readings and the chance for fourth year students to present and discuss their year abroad projects.

Further academic-related societies include: the Debate and Discussion Society, Engineering Society, English Society and History Society.

 

Recreational societies

As well as academic societies, we have a range of active recreational and faith-based societies in College. Our Music Society is very active, arranging concerts throughout each term. Our drama society, The Arden Players (formerly known as Madhouse) supports and funds plays performed in College and elsewhere in the University. We also have a number of sports societies, which are a more relaxed way of getting involved with sports than playing at University level. The College Boat Club is enthusiastic and some of its members rowed in the 2019 Boat Race.