r/cambridge_uni

I'm starting an MPhil in the Physics Department this October, and Hughes Hall seems to be one of the farthest colleges from my department (Google Maps shows a 52-minute walk).

I'm kind of bummed out about my college allocation 😭. But I'm trying to make the best of what I've got, so what would be the best strategy here in terms of choosing accommodation and how will it affect my experience?

From what I've found online, Hughes Hall doesn't have enough accommodation for its students, and undergrads and PhD students are prioritised (as per their website). So, a lot of MPhil students end up getting private accommodation. On top of this, my undergrad results won't come out until June/July, and that will delay the completion of my offer conditions, which are required to be completed before getting college accommodation, I think. So most places might be filled up by then?

I was really looking forward to staying in college accommodation since it helps with having a tighter-knit friend group and more on-campus vibes than private accommodation, especially as an international student. I would definitely prefer it if Hughes Hall offers me a college accom, though I know it’s not that likely.

At the same time, should I start searching for private accommodation closer to my department (instead of close to my college, although Mill Road might be a nicer place to live near)?

Why is Cambridge the more famous and lauded university internationally?

Hi,

My fiancée, our dog and I are moving to Cambridge in Autumn. My fiancée is gonna study PhD there and we got accepted to Clare college.

I assume we won´t be able to bring our one year old puppy to the colleges, but we wont move anywhere without her. I am looking for other cambridge PhD dog owners, can you share your experience? Do you have tips on where to find some dog friendly landlords? Thanks a lot

It's so frustrating that you get nothing for weeks and then suddenly everything is due within days of each other.

I'm planning on visiting Cambridge later this month but I've learned that a lot of colleges are closed to due to examinations. Is this true for pretty much all colleges?

Is it still possible to visit some colleges or would it not be worth it?

I'm starting a postgraduate degree next year, and I was curious about what living off campus as a postgrad looks like in Cambridge. A few questions, if anyone's got the time:

• When should I start looking for off campus housing?
• Where would you recommend I look for off campus housing? I've used SpareRoom previously, but is there a better site to look at for Cambridge?
• Anywhere you would actively recommend I not look for housing? I'm fine with travelling any distance, so that's not a concern for me.
• How is living on campus vs. off campus, excluding the distance? I'm in Hughes Hall for context.

Hello, as the title says, this is mainly for postgrads who live in private accommodation away from their college. I will be starting my MPhil this October and since I’ll only be here for 9 months, I want to make the best of what I can in this period.

The problem is, rent at my college (St. Edmund’s) is quite expensive (and is also not guaranteed for postgrads) so I’m considering private accommodation and have found 2 options that are pretty good. Both places are about a 30-35 min away walk away from my department, which I don’t mind. The main issue for me is the distance from my college. One of them is about 10 mins away by foot and the other option, which is cheaper by about £100-150 (considering rent, bills and food), is around 30 mins away. I’m really inclined towards the latter because of the affordability but am worried about not being able to get as involved in the postgrad community at college and missing out on the chance to meet people because of the distance. I don’t know how to ride a cycle and while I’m planning to learn over the summer, I’m honestly not very confident, especially with navigating the traffic rules and everything.

For those who are in a similar position, have you been able to manage time between home, college, and department? Were you able to actively engage with the postgrad community in college despite the distance and if yes, then how? Any insights would be really appreciated.

tldr: MPhil student considering private accommodation about 30 mins away from college. How to be actively involved in the college student community despite the distance?

Hi! I'll be at Darwin for 26/27 and am feeling a bit of choice paralysis when it comes to filling out the accommodation request form. I've looked through the google drive photos/the website etc. Does anyone have the inside scoop on summer field or Wordsworth or causewayside? My budget is ideally below 170 but I could go up to 200 a week.

Hey guys, has anyone in Darwin College been offered accommodation for the 2026/27 academic year? (Starting in the Michaelmas Term)

Hey Everyone, I’ve received an admit from Cambridge ACS. Is there any whatsapp group or something where I can meet other admitted students.

I’m an incoming PhD student joining Caius this year (it was my second choice), and I’d love to hear your opinions on how Caius is for postgraduates in practice socially, housing-wise (especially Harvey Road), food/MDR, grants, facilities, overall atmosphere, etc.

Thanks!

Had a supervision last week where I felt genuinely intellectually stretched in a way that made the whole week feel worthwhile. Had one the week before where I sat in a room for an hour being made to feel like I had not read anything correctly despite having read everything. Same format. Completely different experience. The quality variance between supervisors is enormous and nobody really talks about it openly. Is there a way to address a bad supervision dynamic or do you just endure it until the term ends.

Hi there,

I’m a PhD student working at the west site.

I’m currently deciding between two options for me and my partner in Cambridge and would really appreciate some opinions.

Option 1: a 1-bedroom apartment in Eddington (Rubicon Turing Way) through the university. It’s newer, but also about £100/month more expensive.

Option 2: an older 2-bedroom house near Fitzwilliam College, around a 20-minute walk from the city centre.

The university flat seems more modern and convenient overall, while the house offers more space including a garden but is quite old.

+Do you happen to know if the windows inside the rooms at Eddington apartments don’t open?

I’d appreciate your advice /opinions.

Starting a part-time MSt in Creative Writing at Cambridge this September and trying to figure out accommodation. I’m from London, so commuting occasionally isn’t too bad. I'll only have a week of teaching in September and then the next time I'll have workshops will be in January.

I’m pretty strapped for cash, so full-time Cambridge rent feels hard to justify, especially since I won’t be there consistently. At the same time, I still want to experience Cambridge properly and not feel completely like a commuter student, especially because I lived away for all 3 years of my undergrad, so I’m not really used to the idea of not being based where I study.

Does anyone know of any cheap short-term accommodation options people use besides Airbnbs/hotels? Maybe college rooms, student sublets, hostels, spare rooms, etc.? Would also love to hear from other part-time postgrads about how they handled accommodation/social life.

Is it tht the people are very social (or antisocial), or like a specific sports (eg I think downing for tennis?) or just a random niche story. Do say wht college it is

I can waste an entire day at home but somehow manage to lock in properly the second I’m in the libraray. Is it same with everyone or just me?