Freshers 2023!

IMPORTANT DATES

FRESHERS FORTNIGHT: MONDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER – SUNDAY 1ST OCTOBER

COLLEGE INDUCTIONS: MONDAY 25th SEPTEMBER

If this is your first term as a postgraduate student at Jesus, welcome to the College! The MCR (‘Middle Combination Room’) is the postgraduate community within the College, and the Committee is here to help make your time at Cambridge enjoyable, intellectually stimulating, and fun.

Starting a new degree (and, for most, moving to a new city) is an exciting time, but it can also be stressful. Working with the Tutorial Department and Admissions Office within College, our Social Officers have put together a programme of events for “Freshers’ Fortnight” to help you settle in to Jesus.

The College has a huge amount of useful information available in the Postgraduate Handbook and Offer Holder Information pages (you will need to log into JNet using [your CRSId]@jesus.cam.ac.uk and your JNet password once you’ve received this). There’s also a Facebook group and Instagram page for the MCR that you can request to join (please note that there may be a delay to be accepted as we need to check with our postgraduate list provided by college).

We realise that some students don’t arrive at the start of the Michaelmas term; if that’s you then don’t worry, you’ll still have plenty of opportunity to join in and meet everyone. There are lots of events throughout the year. We will make sure you are welcomed and filled in on everything that has happened and all future events. It doesn’t take long to find your feet and there are plenty of people willing to help you out!

Arriving at Cambridge

Accommodation, registration and all the admin side of arriving is handled by the Tutorial Department within the College. You’ll find all their contact information on the People page of the College website (look for ‘Staff and Departments’, then ‘Tutorial’); if you have any questions about your arrival, they’re in the best position to help you. In particular, they’ll be informing you about procedures for arriving and maintaining whatever social distancing or isolation requirements are in force. 

Postgrad accommodation is in various houses, almost all of which are near the College, or in the grounds itself. All houses have furniture, cooking and laundry facilities, network access, etc. Accommodation is all sorted out by Admissions or Tutorial before you start, so you’ll know where you’re supposed to be going before you arrive. 

In College, and in the University, you’ll need a University Card. This is your student ID card, your library card for the University and many Departmental Libraries, your access card to various places in College, the card with which you pay for food in Hall or in the bar… you’ll want to have it with you all the time. University cards should be available at the Porters’ Lodge upon your arrival, but if not they’ll know where you can go to get it. Married students can also get a special University Card for their spouse, which allows access around the University. Speak to the Postgraduate Tutor and they can help you arrange this. Students with registered partners will also be able to get an access card for their partner.

Within College, food and drink are paid for via UPay, which is a debit system linked to your University card. You have to load money on your account before you can use it. When you buy food in Caff, drinks in the Roost, or a ticket for Formal Hall online, the money will automatically be debited from your card account. So before you can do all of this, you need to put money on your card. The easiest way to do this is via the UPay website or app. 

Fresher’s Timetable

Where to go if you have questions

Have a look at the Useful Contacts page! Or please email any of the MCR committee, they’re more than happy to help!

Scroll to top