Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge - Fitzwilliam College - University of ...

Undergraduate
students are
guaranteed a
College room,
either on-site or in
one of the nearby
College houses. All
College rooms are
light, warm and
comfortable, and
allow for privacy
and independence.
Many have ensuite
bathrooms or
showers; every
room on-site is
fitted with at least
a washbasin.
First years are allocated single
occupancy rooms in Old
Court. After that, students
may choose their rooms, a
room ballot is organised by
the Junior Members'
Association (the
undergraduate student body).
With around 360-370 on-site
rooms for undergraduates,
only a minority of students
occupy rooms in houses.
Indeed many choose, in their
second year, to join with a
group of friends to enjoy the
sociability and independence
of sharing a college house.
The cost of renting in
College (whether on-site or in
a College house) varies
according to the size of room
and its facilities – a large
room with full en-suite is
naturally more expensive than
a small room with washbasin.
Students on a tighter budget
may forego these luxuries in
order to pay lower rent. Rents
at Fitzwilliam are broadly in
line with those charged by
the other colleges. See
Finance for more information.
All students have access
to small kitchens (gyp rooms)
for self-catering. The rooms in
New Court are grouped
around a well-equipped
kitchen and dining area. But
in practice, not having to
bother cooking and washingup
attracts students to the
Buttery for most meals.
Computers
The college has two student
computer rooms – one for
undergraduates, the other for
graduates. In addition there
are sites with 'cybercafé'
facilities for easy access to
email. All student rooms, on
and off the main college site,
are networked for personal
computers, allowing access to
college and University
networks and via them to the
internet. All student rooms
also have a telephone point.
The Chapel
The chapel is a resource for
the whole college community.
Like most of Fitzwilliam's
buildings, the exterior is
FITZWILLIAM COLLEGE | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE | 7
Living at Fitz
Students are offered a College room for all three or four years of their
undergraduate career.
simple and austere, but the
interior is light and
welcoming. It is a beautiful
and peaceful place at the
heart of the College site.
Sunday and weekday services
are held, and there are times
when it is reserved for private
prayer. The chapel is
ecumenical, and anyone,
whether they see themself as
a Christian or not, is very
welcome to attend services.
See www.fitz.cam.ac.uk/chapel.
The chapel is also
regularly used for musical
recitals, with a two-manual
Collins organ, a Steinway
grand piano and a
harpsichord.
Other facilities
Other rooms for student use
include the Stretton Room,
with a fully-equipped kitchen
adjoining where students can
entertain on a larger scale
than would be possible in the
gyp rooms, and the Society
Room, where students can
read the newspapers or
access their email. There are
two music practice rooms in
the central building and three
in the auditorium. The
undergraduate common room
(the JMA), next to the bar, is
equipped with a pool table,
table football and cable TV.
There is also a laundrette, so
you don't have to take your
washing home.
Eating
The College hall is where
meals are taken, whether
formal or informal. The use of
a common space by Fellows,
students and staff enhances
the College's spirit of
community. Sharing meals is
at the heart of collegiality.
All meals are available
self-service through the
buttery, adjacent to the hall.
The buttery offers a wide
range of low-cost meals,
always including vegetarian
options, fresh fruit and salads,
and ice creams. Special
dietary needs can be catered
for. Through consultation
with the JMA, Fitzwilliam
aims to provide the food
students want, at the times
they want it. The buttery is
open for breakfast, and stays
open for take-away
sandwiches and snacks all
morning until lunchtime. An
evening meal is available
6-7pm.
Some week nights there is
also a Formal Hall, a formal
three-course dinner, with the
trappings of Cambridge
college tradition (a high table,
grace, gowns, candles,
silverware…). Dining with
college friends and guests at
a Formal Hall is a popular,
relatively cheap way of
marking special occasions.
The shared kitchen
facilities make self-catering
possible and there are
supermarkets within easy
reach of the College. Most
students combine some selfcatering
(cornflakes, toast,
sandwiches…) with buttery
meals.