Rough Guide 2011 - Trinity College - University of Cambridge

BA SOCIETY
Rough Guide to Trinity
2011-12
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Welcome from the BA Committee
Dear New Graduate Member of College,
Congratulations on your acceptance! On behalf of the BA
Society I would like to welcome you all to your new home in
Cambridge, Trinity College. Trinity College is one of the
world’s leading academic institutions with over 32 Nobel
Laureates and 25 Olympians and has been home to notable
figures such as Sir Isaac Newton, Francis Bacon, Lord Byron
and James Clerk Maxwell. There is a lot to look forward to,
including the beautiful college grounds, the world famous
Trinity May Ball, an opportunity to participate in the legendary
“Great Court Run” and a vibrant and supportive community
of over 400 graduate students.
The BA Society is Trinity’s own society for graduate students. Due to the collegiate nature
of the University, each College has its own society for undergraduates, JCR (short for Junior
Combination Room) and graduates, MCR (Middle Combination Room). We are here to
provide support, representation and most importantly social and cultural functions for
graduates to help you make the most of your stay here in Trinity. Some of our events include
the weekly graduate formal dinners, fortnightly brunches and movie nights, themed parties
and trips. These are usually published in our Term Cards which are distributed at the start
of each term and are also available on our website.
The first week of Michaelmas Term is usually known as “Freshers’ Week”, and this year we
have organised lots of exciting events to welcome you to Cambridge. This includes your first
formal dinner in College followed by the Freshers’ Week Party in the Old Kitchen.
There’s also a traditional English tea party, a scavenger hunt and punting on the river Cam.
Please do take a look at the events schedule at the end of this guide for more details. I would
like to invite you all to the Wine and Cheese reception on Sunday, 2 nd of October at 7pm in
the Old Kitchen where the BA Committee will be introducing ourselves and officially
welcome you to Trinity.
The BA Committee, shown on the next page, is here to help you settle in and meet your
fellow graduate students. We are always happy to answer questions or give you advice
ranging from bank accounts to bicycles. So please feel free to contact us via email or at any
of our Freshers’ Week events. Whilst exploring College, please do drop by the recently
refurbished BA Rooms, which are your graduate common rooms. It’s a great place to relax
and meet other graduates.
There is a Freshers’ Service at 12 noon on Sunday 2nd of October in the College Chapel,
which is a must for those who enjoy music. The Trinity College Choir, voted the 5th best
in the world, will be performing and there is a free lunch in hall afterwards.
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Trinity offers a huge variety of Clubs and Societies from rowing to our very own comedy
debating club, Magpie and Stump. For a complete list, please visit the Links section on the
BA Society website. The Trinity College Student Union (TCSU for Short) has kindly
organised a Societies Fair in College, also known as “Chaplains’ Squash”, on Sunday 4th of
October, which directly follows the Wine and Cheese reception. You will be able to meet
students who are already members and sign up for societies that interest you. There’s also a
University wide Freshers’ Fair at Kelsey Kerridge on Tuesday and Wednesday of Fresher’s
Week, where there is a greater selection of societies to choose from. For those who play
sports competitively, I would particularly recommend that you visit the sports section.
To introduce you to graduates from other years and help you settle in further, everyone will
be assigned a “College Family”. This will usually comprise of two higher year graduates as
your “College Parents” and your first year siblings. Your siblings will include other new
graduate students as well as those who completed their undergraduate degrees here in
Trinity. Our Liaison Officer, Nathalie Saurat ( ba.liaison@trin.cam.ac.uk ) will contact you
later in August with more details. I strongly recommend that you get in touch with your
College family once you receive details of who they are, as they will be able to give you
useful tips or advice that may not be in this guide. There is a scavenger hunt and dinner with
College families during Fresher’s Week for you to get to know each other better.
Just as Trinity will be your new home during your time in Cambridge, the BA Society aims to
fulfill the role of your new friends and family. We are here to support you while you settle
in, help you make new friends and most importantly ensure that you enjoy your time here.
We therefore strongly encourage you to make the most of all that the BA Society has to
offer. For those of you who are interested in joining the Committee, there will be an election
for two First Year Representatives at the end of Michaelmas Term.
We hope you enjoy the rest of your summer holiday and look forward to meeting you all in
October!
Best regards,
Amanda
BA Society President 2011-12
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BA Committee 2011-2012
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*All email addresses are
@trin.cam.ac.uk

Where to Go Upon Your Arrival
If you have not yet done so, please inform the Accommodation Office your planned
arrival date as soon as possible.
Arrival date: 1st October
The official arrival date is the 1 st of October and it is strongly encouraged that you arrive on
this date. If so, please follow the crowds to the Old College Office (directly opposite the
Porters’ Lodge) where you will be given your swipe card and accommodation pack. Room
keys are to be signed out from the Porters’ Lodge. You will need to flash your swipe card on
the SALTO lock outside Whewell’s Court until it flashes green to activate it. Please aim to do
this as soon as you get your card.
Arrival date: Any day aside from the 1 st of October
If you arrive at Trinity College on any day other than the 1 st of October then please report to
the Porters’ Lodge to collect your accommodation pack which will have your swipe card
included in the pack. Once again, we strongly recommend that you activate your card as soon
as possible.
The exception:
The only exception is if you have been informed that you will be accommodated at Burrell’s
Field and you are arriving late at night. In this case you may prefer to make your way to the
Burrell’s Field Porters’ Lodge where there will be temporary swipe cards available to get you
into your room that evening. The following day please report to the Porter’s Lodge at the
Great Gate to pick up your personal card.
Please contact Nathalie ba.liaison@trin.cam.ac.uk if you have further question regarding your arrival.
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Quick Guide
Checklist: Things to do in Your First Few Weeks
Connect your computer to the internet (see ‘Computer Facilities’ section on
page 11)
Set up a bank account (see ‘Opening a Bank Account’ section on page 16)
Register with a local doctor (see ‘Doctors’ section on page 12)
Get a mobile phone and a Sim card (see ‘Mobiles’ section on page 16)
Buy a bicycle (see ‘Bikes’ section on page 8)
Buy a gown (see ‘Gowns’ section on page 13)
Buy an umbrella, coat hangers, power adaptor and any other essentials (see
‘Shopping’ section on page 18)
Come along to the BA Society Freshers’ Week events! (see ‘Freshers’ Week
Schedule’ at the end of the guide)
Incomplete Guide to Cambridge Lingo
• Fresher – a student who is new to Cambridge
• P’lodge – the Porters’ Lodge
• Formal – formal dinner held regularly at the college dining hall
• Eat in/ go to hall – to eat in the cafeteria sitting at the college dining hall
• Read a subject – study a subject, for example you might say that you “read Mathematics”
• MCR – Middle Common Room, the usual name for a college’s society for graduate students. Also
used to refer to the associated common room used by the society. For Trinity, these are referred
to as the BA Society and BA Rooms respectively.
• JCR – Junior Common Room, name for a college’s society for undergraduate students
• Bop – short word for a party
• Fellow – a senior member of the college, usually academics at the university, who are also
responsible for high level decision making in the college
• Magdalene College – pronounced “Mawd-lyn”
• Gonville and Caius College – “Caius” is pronounced “keys”
• WPR – Wolfson Party Room at Trinity, pronounced “whoop-er”
• Whewell’s Court – pronounced “hew-ells”
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What to Bring
• Smart clothes – for Matriculation Photo, Matriculation Dinner, BA Formals etc. you will need at
least one or two smart outfits as most events either have a formal or black-tie dress code.
• Warm clothes – Cambridge gets COLD in late winter and spring.
• Hot water bottle or blanket – ditto above.
• Umbrella and maybe wellies – alongside the cold we get some impressive downpours too.
• Towels – so you can take a much needed shower after all that traveling to get here. Also for when
you get caught in one of those downpours. Unlike bed linen, towels aren’t provided by College.
• Pins, decorations and photos – unless you want to feel like you’re living in a hotel room.
• Passport size photos – for many occasions you will have to provide a photo so one can make
your membership card. Useful to have a few ready for use.
• Chequebook – it’s surprising how often you get asked to write cheques for things, so if you have
one bring it with you and it will make life a lot easier.
• Fancy Dress – Cambridge parties involve a lot of fancy dress, so it can be worth bringing along a
few staple costume items; fairy wings and the like.
What Not to Bring
• Lamps – all rooms have them already.
• Bed linen – College provides and cleans it for you.
• Too many books – you’ll be sent out to buy certain textbooks once here (if you need them) and
most of them can be found in the library. Trying to guess what you’ll need just leaves you with lots
of un-read books to carry home again at the end. Trinity also gives everyone £50 to spend on
books, so might as well buy them once you get here.
• New calculators – scientists can only use University-approved calculators in exams so don’t buy
one before arriving.
• Gown – although the Cambridge Freshers’ Guide mentions ordering a gown in advance, don’t do
it. You won’t be expected to have one right away so just start looking once you arrive, for example
at the BA Society gown sale.
• Kitchen Stuff – everyone plans to do more cooking than they actually do. You can get everything
here, so don't buy it all until you’re sure you will use it.
• Internet cables – you can get these through the Computing Department when you arrive.
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The Rough Guide to (Almost) Everything You
Need to Know About Trinity
Accommodation
Trinity's complex system of accommodation allocation is explained in the new Accommodation
Handbook and the White Book (see below). Briefly, the ballot for all Junior, Senior, Research and
External Research Scholars is held in January, and the process of allocating rooms to all other
graduates begins in May. All graduates new to the College are allocated rooms in College, either at the
heart of the city centre, or in Burrell's Field, just across the river. There are also a limited number of
flats for married students. A section on the BA website describes and has pictures of the different
accommodation options. Any issues relating to the maintenance of graduate hostels should be raised
with the Accommodation Office (located in Z Angel Court). They will do their best to help you with
any problems relating to your accommodation. If you find that your mattress is causing you problems
or have any other maintenance requests, you can fill out an online Work Request form at
www.trin.cam.ac.uk/index.php?pageid=331.
BA Brunches
On alternate Sundays at 12 pm, the BA Committee organises a brunch in the BA Rooms. Croissants,
baguettes, bagels, cold meats, cheese, fruit, yoghurt and coffee are served. The brunches are free if you
bring your own crockery and cutlery and £1 if you don’t. There's no need to book – just show up!
BA Formal Dinners
BA dinner takes place every Friday during term and forms the Society's main social fixture. Pre-dinner
drinks will be served at 7.30 pm (see the BA Society's weekly emails for the location) and dinner
follows at 8 pm in Hall. This is a formal, silver service three-course meal, with wine and fruit juice
provided. The menus can be found at the Buttery or at www.trin.cam.ac.uk/basoc. Post-dinner drinks
and coffee are served either in the OCR (Old Combination Room) or at the table. Smart dress should
be worn, and gowns are encouraged.
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Tickets, which cost around £8, go on sale the
Friday before the formal at noon and can be
bought from online booking system up until the
day before the dinner. They often sell out quickly
so the earlier you book the better it is. Tickets
must be picked up from the Buttery prior to
dinner. Each BA member may bring up to two
guests at a slightly higher price (around £10). The
Buttery will accept cancellations with full refunds
up until Wednesday lunchtime.
The first BA dinner of term will take place on
Friday 7 th October and will be free for new
graduates. The sign-up for the dinner will be sent around during Freshers’ week, so keep checking
your inboxes.

BA Rooms
The graduate common rooms, referred to as the BA Rooms, are situated on I staircase, Great Court.
On entering the staircase, go straight along a short corridor until you reach a T-junction; immediately
before you is the entrance to the College Bar. To the left of this door is another leading to a bluecarpeted
staircase. Climb these stairs and at the top you will see two doors: the one on the right is the
entrance to the BA Rooms. The Junior Combination Room (JCR), which graduates are also entitled to
use, is on the left. You will need your University card to access both rooms. Your card should be
activated for the BA Rooms when you arrive. If it does not work, first try updating it using the cardpoint
in the Porters Lodge. If it still does not work you will need to visit the Accommodation Office
(Z Angel Court) and ask them to activate it for you.
The BA Rooms are split over two levels. On the lower level is a common room, containing a selection
of books, newspapers and magazines, a stereo system, football table, a variety of board games and a
networked PC, as well as a recently refurbished kitchen. The kitchen contains a conventional oven,
microwave, kettle, sandwich toaster, ordinary toaster and coffee machine. Please do not remove
anything from the kitchen and do clean up after use. It is possible to book the kitchen for periods of
no longer than 4 hours if you would like to hold dinner parties. You can make a booking online on
the BA Society Google Calendar which may be accessed through the BA Society website. Please write
your name and contact details when booking the BA Rooms or your reservation will be removed.
Upstairs from the reading room is a television room, where you can watch terrestrial TV. There is also
a VCR video player and DVD player. The TV Room can also be booked online. Please note that the
TV Room cannot be booked for a period longer than two hours unless at least four people will be
watching.
Bar
The College Bar is located on I staircase, Great Court. It is open to all members of College and their
guests from 6 pm to 11 pm, Sunday to Thursday and from 6 pm to 11.30 pm Friday and Saturday. It
is also open from 12 pm to 2 pm on weekdays. Out of term the bar has reduced opening hours. It
serves a range of subsidised spirits, beers, soft drinks, coffee and nibbles; and, as an alternative to
lunch in Hall, it also serves a small selection of food at lunch-time during Full Term (last food orders
at 1.30 pm). The bar houses a juke box, a pool table, table football and a quiz machine. You'll need
your buttery card to get in. If you want to take a drink out of the bar, ask the staff for a plastic glass
when you order.
Bikes
Many people get around Cambridge by bike. In order to keep your
bike in college you should register your bike with the
Accommodation Office (Z Angel Court). You will be given a bike
ID number which needs to be clearly marked on your bike and an
underground bike stall in Great Court, Whewell's Court or Blue
Boar Court. There are also plenty of bike racks around College,
but every now and then the Bike Man removes numberless bikes
and whisks them off to the bicycle rack in the sky. Bike theft is
common, so make sure that you have a secure lock (preferably a
'D'-lock - Combination locks are NOT recommended) and attach
your bike to a railing or other sturdy object. Remember to get
lights for your bike as not using lights after dark will cost you a
hefty fine. Cycle helmets are also strongly recommended. They can
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e obtained from cycle shops or the CUSU Societies Fair in Freshers' Week, and must be tight-fitting
to be effective.
When turning, signal clearly by sticking your arm out wide in the direction you are about to travel.
Make sure you look behind you before doing this. Do not try and overtake large vehicles on the lefthand
side when traffic is stationary. Do not ride on the pavement unless you see bike symbols, which
indicate you may ride your bike on the cycle path.
The area around Trinity is also subject to various one-way restrictions; these must be obeyed, as they
apply to all vehicles, and city wardens and police have been known to fine cyclists for disobeying
them! Fortunately, the system is simple. Trinity Street is one-way southbound (i.e. towards King's
College). Sidney Street is one-way northbound (i.e. towards St John's). Cars cannot use these roads
during the day (10 am - 4 pm).
If you're looking to buy a bike, your options are almost endless. Mill Road hosts half a dozen stores
selling a range of second-hand and new bikes, starting with Mike's Bikes at the city end right down to
Cycle King. Other options closer to home are Station Cycles in the Grand Arcade, University Cycles
on Victoria Avenue or Ben Hayward Cycles on Trumpington Street. If you’re looking to buy a second
hand bike, be warned that they sell out fast!
Buttery
The Buttery is where you can buy BA dinner tickets as well as wine, college port, beer, spirits and soft
drinks. It is currently located in the Bar and is open every day during Full Term from 12 to 2 pm and
6 to 7.50 pm. BA dinner tickets must be picked up by 7.30 pm.
Cinema and Films
Cambridge has three cinemas: the Arts Picturehouse, on St. Andrew's Street, which is one of the best
of its kind in the country; Cineworld, out by the train station; and the Vue multi-screen complex in the
Grafton centre (the latter two showing the usual range of current releases). All three offer student
discounts. The Arts Picturehouse also runs a membership scheme, with various discounts and
privileges.
The BA Society hosts Movie Nights in the BA TV Room every second Sunday at 8 pm. You can find
information about these in the BA Society emails and in the term card. There are also other various
societies within Trinity and the university that screen a variety of films. Admission is either free or
very cheap.
Clubs and Dancing
If you're up for a night out in Cambridge, then these are some of your options:
Ballare, often referred to as "Cindies," by students holds student nights every Tuesday. Ballare is also
popular on Wednesday and Thursday evenings (international student night.) It is open every night
from 9 pm to 4 am; Ballare can be found in Heidelberg Gardens, just above Lion Yard shopping
centre and opposite Christ’s College.
The Place nightclub, found at 22 Sidney Street, is Cambridge’s newest club. Recently converted
from ‘Life’ it has undergone a major refurbishment. Tuesday is LBGT night, known as Fusion, while
Wednesday is Latino night, and Thursday plays Hip Hop and UK Garage.
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Lola Lo, formerly known as Soul Tree/Coco’s, offers a variety of different nights. It recently changed
ownership and seems to be a promising new venue in Cambridge. Lola Lo is just behind The Cow,
next to The Corn Exchange.
The Fez Club is usually always heaving simply because this is one very cool club. It has a Moroccan
theme, a cavernous interior and a diversity of music to match. Mondays and Tuesdays are the student
nights when they play anything from Indie to Europop. You can find Fez on Market Passage off
Sidney Street next to Ta Bouche cocktail bar.
The Kambar prides itself on being an ‘alternative’ clubbing venue, playing mainly indie music.
Despite being on the small side and a tad expensive it does offer an array of music to meet all tastes.
The Kambar is on Wheeler Street, near The Corn Exchange.
La Raza is on Rose Crescent, between Gardies and McDonalds. Open until 1 am La Raza offers
classy surroundings to eat, chat, and dance. On Wednesdays they play live Jazz.
The Junction is the best Cambridge has to offer for the more serious clubber. But it's not just a club.
They have comedy, live music, theatre and workshops along with some very impressive club nights.
Some nights tend to sell out quickly so use the box office to guarantee a place on the floor. It can be
found on Clifton Way just off Hills Road. Check out their website for more details and bookings.
The Corn Exchange is "the city's centre for art and entertainment", where you can see anyone from
The Stereophonics to Jimmy Carr to the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra. OK, so perhaps it
shouldn't be in the "Clubbing" section, but it's the place to go for gigs. It is located on Wheeler
Street, just behind the market square.
Many other colleges run their own "ents". Worth checking out are: Clare Cellars, Jazz at Johns,
Queens, Fitzwilliam and Emmanuel. See The Cambridge Student and Varsity (weekly student
newspapers available free in the mail room) for listings. These are always cheap and fun.
College Authorities
Dr Khalfa and Prof Alavi, the Side F graduate tutors, and Hélène Sutton and Madelaine Crush, know
just about everything there is to know about the College, so if you have any questions (about funding
or visas, for example), they'll always be happy to help (C1 Nevile's Court, tel. (3)38505;
e-mail: gradtutor@trin.cam.ac.uk). Dr Khalfa and Prof Alavi act as Tutors to newly arrived graduates
at Trinity; those of you who have stayed on retain your Tutor from your undergraduate days. Your
Tutor is normally the first port of call in a crisis and is there to help you: the tutorial hours with the
tutors for advanced students are by appointment with their secretary.
Other important people to know about are the Dean of College, Professor Gray, and the Junior
Bursar, Dr Pullen. Professor Gray is in charge of discipline and so if you break the rules (e.g. by
swimming in the fountain) you’ll be sent to see him. Dr Pullen is in charge of all of the College’s
internal accounts. That means your rents, fees and LEA grants. Furthermore, if the BA Society wants
to do something high budget we need his backing. It is unlikely that you will need to speak to him …
but when you hear people refer to “the JB” you now know who they are talking about.
College Clergy
Trinity Chapel, on the north side of Great Court, is both a place of regular worship and a focal point
for the College's common life. Our internationally famous choir sings at services on Sundays,
Tuesdays, and Thursdays in term, and many students take an active part in leading worship. You are
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invited to use the Chapel as a place of private reflection and prayer.
Professor Michael Banner, the Dean of Chapel, is responsible for the chapel’s life and worship.
Michael is also the Director of Studies in Theology. He (K3 Great Court, email: mcb59, ph. (3)38563)
welcomes the opportunity to talk to students, in confidence, about anything of concern.
Christopher Stoltz and Paul Dominiak are the friendly and approachable Trinity Chaplains. You'll find
Christopher in M6 Blue Boar Court (cs617@cam.ac.uk; (7)66327) and Paul’s contact details will be
published on the college website soon. In the words of a former Chaplin, they are here “to help you
get the most out of your time here. With that in mind we'll be hosting a number of parties to which
you'll be invited. We will always have time for people to come and talk individually, and anything said
will be treated in confidence. As part of the foundation of the College, the chaplains are priests of the
Anglican Church. However, they are employed by the College to work with all members, regardless of
denomination or faith, race, gender or sexual orientation." The University caters for all faiths that
form part of the student body in Cambridge (see below) and there are plenty of opportunities to meet
with the members and chaplaincies of all of these in formal and informal settings.
Computer Facilities
Trinity has two main computer rooms: one in I staircase, New Court, and the other next to the
Porters' Lodge in Z Burrell's Field. Entry to both is with your University swipe card. Facilities include
a range of PCs (running Windows XP or Linux) and Apple iMacs (running OSX). All are connected
to the Internet. Most computers have DVD writers, some have CD writers and there are PC and Mac
scanners. Printing is via networked laser printers and the New Court computer room has both a
colour and black and white printer. There is a third room near Blue Boar D staircase, with computers
and a black and white printer, but no scanner. A fourth computer room in college is in I Great Court,
next to the BA Rooms and JCR, featuring 5 PCs, an iMac, and a printer.
All members of Trinity have a printing account, accessible after logging in (more details are displayed
in the computer rooms), from which the cost of printing is deducted. As a new student, you'll be
given £3 worth of printing credit to start off with; further credit is sold at the Great Gate and Burrell's
Field Porters' Lodges. Although charging for printing is done via your PWF account, note that this is
a separate PWF charging system that can only be used at Trinity. Please note that the Trinity central
server crashes occasionally, so we recommend that you back up anything important. It is also possible
to borrow a computer and/or monitor from the Trinity Computer Office for use in your room.
Forms are available from the Computer Offices. The number of machines available is limited though.
If you have brought your own computer with you, then (provided your room has an Ethernet point)
you will need to register your computer on the Trinity network before it can be used. To do this,
simply plug it in via the Ethernet port, open your web browser and follow the registration instructions
there. Once registered, your computer will be allocated an IP address, allowing you access to the
College network and Hermes/CUS from the comfort of your own room. See the Computer Officers
for the relevant forms, or find them online on the Trinity website.
The College Computer Officers are best contacted via email computer.help@trin.cam.ac.uk or you
can phone them on (3)38 551. They can also normally be found in the New Court computer room in
the surgery hour: between 2 and 3 pm on weekdays. Once you have your e-mail account, you can join
the Trinity BA e-mail list. All new postgraduates should be added to it automatically, but e-mail
Shahar Avin (ba.computing@trin.cam.ac.uk) if you have any problems. All society activities are
announced on this list, so it is a very convenient way to keep in touch with the BA Society.
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Contraception
You'll find free condoms in a container on the shelves in the BA Rooms. Please contact Nathalie
Saurat (ba.liaison@trin.cam.ac.uk) if they are empty.
Doctors and Emergency Numbers
The emergency number for the whole of the UK is 999 (for fire brigade, police and ambulance).
You'll need to register with a doctor upon arrival (the nearer surgeries will fill up and stop accepting
registrations at some point), and pass that information on to your Tutor. Many porters and College
staff are first-aid trained. To obtain emergency first aid please contact the Porters' Lodge on (3)38400.
Drinking
If the delights of the College Bar occasionally become too familiar, you'll find that Cambridge offers a
vast array of pubs. Pubs in the UK are now smoke-free within indoor areas. Favourite spots include:
the Maypole (just past the multi-storey car park – head that way to Jesus Green and you can't miss it);
the Eagle (on Benet Street, opposite King's College); the Pickerel (opposite Magdalene); the Anchor
(on Silver Street) which has an outside terrace right on the River Cam, and the Granta (just past
Darwin College), which overlooks one of the more tranquil parts of the river. Under the Arts
Picturehouse you'll find Wetherspoons (the largest pub in Cambridge). Walking a bit further might be
worth it, as the Castle Inn (on Castle Street) always has three German beers on tap, the intersection
between Elm Street and Eden Street awaits with three very descent pubs (The Elm Tree, The
Cricketer, and The Free Press), and the very brilliant pub Kingston Arms is located off Mill Road at
Kingston Street. For cocktails try The Vaults on Trinity Street or Ta Bouche on Market Street
Passage.
There are plenty of coffee shops in Cambridge. All the large chains, such as Starbucks, Costa, and
Café Nero can be found around the market or in bookshops. For something a little different try
Savino's (on Emmanuel Street opposite the bus rank) or the arty Indigo Coffee House (on St.
Edward’s Passage). Mill Road hosts two alternative insider tips for those willing to walk slightly
further: The CB1 and The Black Cat. Kings College offers a cheap, ethical and pleasant café next to its
college bar, while the quirky Clowns on King Street is open until midnight.
Eating
It's not always easy to find reasonably-priced food in Cambridge. For everyday meals, the best option
is probably still Trinity, although some departments and the UL do serve lunch. Some colleges (King’s
for instance) will even let you eat in their own halls. For restaurants both King Street and Bridge
Street are packed with places to eat.
Here are some favourites: Efes serves fantastic Turkish food at 78-80 King St. For inexpensive noodle
dishes there is Dojo’s (on Mill Lane), Wagamama (on St Andrews St) or Yippee (King Street). The
Curry King (behind the Mitre) is probably the best value curry-house in Cambridge. For Italian try La
Margherita, a friendly restaurant up the hill past Magdalene, Jamie’s Italian on Wheeler Street or Pizza
Express at 7a Jesus Lane. Alternatively ‘Ask’ on Bridge St. offers takeaway pizza for £5.95 or try The
Cow (by the Corn Exchange) on Tuesdays to get 2-for-1 pizza. If you've got something to celebrate,
try Galleria (Bridge Street), Browns or Hotel du Vin (both on Trumpington Street near the Fitzwilliam
Museum). For really posh occasions, there's no going past Midsummer House (on Midsummer
Common), Cambridge's only two-Michelin starred restaurant. You can also try Allimentum (Hills Rd)
which does cheap fixed menus at lunch, and Restaurant 22 (Chesterton Rd). The BA Society's
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Catering Representative, Yu Heng Lau, also keeps a food blog with Cambridge restaurant reviews
and recipes. It can be found at hungrytheate.blogspot.com.
Events
Throughout the year the BA Society will organize all sorts of events for its members. These range
from Brunches to Bops (Cambridge lingo for parties). These events will be advertised via our regular
e-mail updates, notice boards, term card and online at www.trin.cam.ac.uk/basoc/.
Funding
There is an overview of funds available to graduate students in the White Book (see below). Graduate
students can also apply to Trinity for funds for language courses, conferences, etc. Look out for
details on the screens (the noticeboards across from Hall), on the college website, or ask Hélène
Sutton (C1 Nevile's Court, tel. (3)38505, grad.tutor@trin.cam.ac.uk) for details.
Gowns
Gowns are worn in the University Church and the Senate House, on a few special occasions for which
notice will be given, and traditionally at formal dinner in Hall. Graduates under the age of 24 will
require a B.A. gown while graduates that are 24 or older qualify for an M.A. gown. Some gowns will
be available to purchase through the BA Society gown sale. New and sometimes second hand gowns
can also be purchased from Ryder and Amies (22 King's Parade), Ede and Ravenscroft (71-72
Trumpington Street (corner of Silver Street)) and A.E. Clothier (7 Pembroke Street). Also look out for
adverts on the college notice boards. If you would rather rent a gown, this can be done through the
shops mentioned above as well as through the Graduate Union (17 Mill Lane, email:
shop@gradunion.cam.ac.uk).
Guests
Guests may stay in your room for up to 2 nights per week. If you want to get a folding bed for your
guest you will need to book it in advance from house keeping in E staircase Whewell’s Court if you
live in Whewell’s Court or Blue Boar Court, E staircase Angel Court if you live in Angel Court, Great
Court, New Court or Nevile’s Court or in Burrell’s Field if you live there. Housekeeping is generally
only open in the mornings so make sure to visit early in the day and also to pick up the bed and linen
by 12 pm on the day of collection. If you would like to book a separate guest room, enquire at the
Accommodation Office (Z Angel Court). The charge of around £18 per single room per night will
appear on your college bill. Please note there are no double rooms available. Trinity gets very full
during term so book well in advance.
Housekeepers
The housekeeper (or bedder, short for bed maker) is the person who comes in every weekday
morning and cleans your room. You have two bins, one for recycling and one for other waste, which
gets emptied too. All rooms in College are cleaned by a housekeeper, as are some College hostels. If
you do not want your housekeeper to come in, leave your bins outside the door, but be sure to allow
access to your room at least three times a week so that your sheets can be changed, and your floor
vacuum cleaned. Housekeepers are generally very friendly, and much prefer it if you are friendly too!
13

Laundry Facilities
Burrell's Field, Whewell's Court, Pearce Hostel, Bishop’s Hostel and Angel Court laundry rooms
contain card-operated machines (as do some of the College Hostel sites e.g. Newton Road); cards (£5
for 10 units - 2 units to wash and 1 unit to dry) can be purchased at either of the Porters' Lodges. You
will need to provide your own washing powder. The dryers don’t always perform to the expectations
that their name would suggest so you may need to insert your card 2 or 3 times to set off sequential
cycles. This means you won’t need to return every 30 minutes to restart the machine.
LBGT
Trinity, like the whole university, is a diverse place: you'll meet a very wide spectrum of people here.
With such diversity comes acceptance: people here are largely accepting of the differences between us
all, including differences of sexuality. However and whenever you choose to define yourself, Trinity is
a great place to be! The CUSU LBGT Campaign is a group which aims to support the needs of
lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender students at Cambridge University. The Campaign offers help
and support for LBGT students, providing support and information on sexual health, coming
out and religious issues. Visit www.cusu-lbgt.com for further information.
Libraries
The College Library is in Nevile's Court. The opening hours of the Reading Room and Lower Library
vary according to whether it is Full Term or Term. Opening hours for Term and Vacation can be
found at www.trin.cam.ac.uk/library/.
Full Term:
Michaelmas & Lent: 9.00 am – midnight, daily
Easter: 8.00 am - 2.00 am, Monday to Friday and 9.00 am - 2.00 am, Saturday and Sunday
During Full Term, a maximum of 3 books from the upstairs section (Reading Room) can be taken out
on overnight loan. Books borrowed on an overnight loan must be back by 9.30 am the next morning.
There is a fine for late returns of £1 per book, per day. The Lower Library contains older books, or
books less frequently required by undergraduates, as well as an impressive collection of English
literature and French, Spanish, Italian, and German books as well as DVD’s which can be taken out
for 2 weeks (maximum of six volumes at a time); and the basement contains back issues of journals.
You may need to get a key from the front desk to access the basement in the evenings. Keep in mind
that graduates can submit book purchase requests through the library website. There are photocopiers
near the front desk. You are charged on your University card and pay for photocopying on your end
of term College Bill.
The Wren Library is open from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Monday to Friday during Full Term only.
The University Library, otherwise known as the UL, is just
off Burrell's Walk. Graduates can borrow up to 10 items
at a time, and the library is closed on Sundays. You will
need your university card in order to get in and out as well
as borrow books. You can find out more about library
services and consult library catalogues via the UL website
(www.lib.cam.ac.uk). You can also find out about
departmental libraries (often very useful) through this site.
14

Mail and Email
All graduates and undergraduates living in College have a pigeonhole in the mail room on E staircase,
Great Court, just behind the Porter’s Lodge; students living in Burrell's Field have separate
pigeonholes in the Burrell's Field Porters' Lodge. If you do not know where a student lives, the
porters can tell you, and they will also distribute mail.
Another way of contacting other students is by e-mail: all Cambridge students automatically have an
account on Hermes (the university mailing system), which has a user-search facility accessible at
www.lookup.cam.ac.uk. You will be automatically allocated a Hermes email address which you can
find out before you arrive via the Computing website (www.trin.cam.ac.uk/index.php?pageid=253/).
Maps
Finding your way around can be a bit tricky when you arrive so we have appended maps of Trinity
and Cambridge to the end of this guide. If you want to get a map of the whole of Cambridge get
yourself a Cambridge A-Z. Heffers (on the opposite side of Trinity Street to Great Gate) usually
stocks them, though you’ll be able to find them in many bookshops, newsagents, etc. A good online
map of Cambridge and the city centre can be found here. Heffers offer 10% off for those who are
members of the Trinity BioSoc, so that’s another incentive to join.
Matriculation
To become a member of College you must sign the matriculation book in the Wren Library. This will
be explained in more detail upon your arrival, but for now be content with the knowledge that there
will be an incredibly grand Matriculation Feast for all new graduates. This will be held a few weeks
into October. There is also a Matriculation Photograph on Monday at 12 noon. Smart clothes must be
warn, which means no jeans/shorts/flip flops. Gowns are encouraged and there will be a gown sale in
the BA Rooms the Sunday before for those who’d like to purchase a gown.
May Week
May week is a fortnight of post-exam celebrations, college balls and garden parties, which actually
takes place in June. You'll hear more as it approaches!
Meals in College
The main college dining hall is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner during term. You buy your food
priced by item using your university card. Prices are displayed outside Hall. The presence of
potentially allergenic ingredients will be indicated on dishes, but if you are unsure about something
just ask one of the friendly waiting staff. If you have special requirements, please contact the Buttery
or the BA Society’s catering representative, Yu Heng Lau (ba.catering@cam.ac.uk).
Breakfast: A cooked or continental breakfast is served from 8.15 to 9.30 am Monday-Saturday.
Lunch: 1, 2 or 3 courses are served from 11.30 to 2.00 pm throughout the week and 11.00 to 2.00 pm
on Sunday (including a brunch).
Dinner: Dinner (like lunch, 1, 2 or 3 courses) is served from 5.30 to 7.30 pm on Tuesday, Thursday,
Friday and Saturday and 5.30 to 8.00 pm on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday. The reason for the
earlier closing times is that on these days there is a formal dinner in Hall at 8.00 pm.
15

Mobiles
There are several places to purchase SIM cards and handsets in Lion Yard near the Market. If you are
an international student without a credit history in the UK, you might need (or choose) to start out on
a pay-as-you-go system. However if you ask your mobile provider you may be able to sign up to a
monthly contract, or else sign up to a pay-as-you-go deal whereby you receive the same prices as a
contract but are charged monthly by an automatic deduction from your prepaid balance. The
Carphone Warehouse is a mobile phone retailer that offers a range of phones and deals from every
mobile provider in the UK so that you can compare prices and contract deals. Lebara tends to offer
good rates for overseas calls, but make sure to shop around!
Music Facilities
In the main part of College there are 6 practice rooms, each of which has a piano. You can book the
rooms in the Porters' Lodge up to 1 week in advance; opening hours are 8 am–12 am. These rooms
are behind the chapel, under the clock tower. There are also 2 large practice rooms, with several
pianos, in Burrell's Field. There is no need to book these rooms, but you will need to get your
university card programmed at the Accommodation Office to enter them. Please note, though, that
the Burrell's Field rooms should not be used before 10 am or after 10 pm out of courtesy to residents.
The Frazer room may also be booked, though please note that no rooms will be available on Sunday
mornings between 10.00 am and 11.30 am due to the Eucharist.
Nurse
A college nurse is available to students at the Health Centre, B Nevile's Court (phone and
answerphone (3)38471; email: surgery@trin.cam.ac.uk), at the following times:
Full term: Monday to Friday, 8.30-11 am and 12-2 pm.
Term: Monday to Friday, 8.30-11 am and 12-1 pm.
During evenings and weekends, call the Porters' Lodge on (3)38400. The porters will contact the
nurse if required. A physiotherapist comes to the College on Tuesdays, and you can make an
appointment through the nurse; the latest appointment will be in the early afternoon.
Opening a Bank Account
Different banks will require different documentation, but international students in particular should
approach their first choice of bank with plenty of ID, proof of your home address, and a letter from
your Tutor written specifically to a bank manager confirming that you are a student in residence at
Trinity. You may need to make an appointment to apply for an account, particularly in the busy first
weeks of Michaelmas term. Try to organise a cheque book as soon as possible so that you can pay
your first college bill, which will arrive soon after you do. If banks are not co-operating, let your Tutor
know and there should be no problem organising an extension. For those new to the UK, a few banks
to consider, in no particular order, are Lloyds TSB, Barclays, HSBC and NatWest. Times taken to set
up bank accounts and to transfer funds from overseas can vary from a few days up to a few months
so make sure to be prepared in case there is a delay.
Parties
If you want to hold a large party (10 or more people) in a college room, you'll need to ask your Tutor
to sign a permission form. The Dean of College (Prof. Kevin Gray, D5b Nevile’s Court) will be
required to sign the form as well if you're planning a really big bash (of 30 or more). Failure to obtain
16

permission means you run the risk of having your party broken up by the porters ("being portered" is
the technical term) if there are complaints about the noise. It is possible to book some college rooms
for parties. The Wolfson Party Room (referred to as the WPR, pronounced “whoop-er”) and the
Butler House Party Room are the only bookable college venues for music and dancing, but you can
book the Private Supply Room for formal dinner parties.
Places of Worship
Although most college chapels and chaplains are Church of England, other religions also have
chaplains at the University, from the Catholic Chaplaincy at Fisher House to the University Rabbi.
The University Chaplaincy also has a multi-faith religious centre for group meetings and worship on
the West Cambridge site. There are also a number of University societies based on religion - look in
the Societies directory (www.cam.ac.uk/societies/) or attend the Freshers' Fair in the first week of
term to find out more.
Porters
Porters are the people in bowler hats who patrol the College and live behind the desk in the Porters'
Lodge (or ‘plodge’). Their first concern is the safety and well-being of all students, and the Porters'
Lodge is a good place to head to in an emergency (you can, for example, take one taxi a term from
College to the local hospital, Addenbrooke's, and the porters will provide you with the necessary
token for this). There is always a qualified first-aider available at the Porters' Lodges, should you need
one. On a more cheery note, they can help out with all sorts of minor enquiries, and sign out keys for
college rooms (if you lock yourself out, head to the p’lodge). You can reach the p’lodge by phoning
01223(3)38400. Always be friendly with the porters as you’ll invariably need their help! The p’lodge
should also be the first place you visit when you arrive at the college as they will provide you with
your room key and university card.
Prizes
There are a number of College prizes on offer in all sorts of disciplines. Most are open to all students,
but check the details of each individual prize, as some are only open to undergraduates, and others
depend on matriculation year or number of terms in residence. It is definitely worth entering; prizes
usually take the form of book tokens or cash value (normally deducted from your college bill should
you succeed), and the sums involved can go up to and beyond £500. Full details of prizes can be
obtained from your Tutor or by checking the White Book (see below) or the screens opposite Hall.
Public Transport
Cambridge's main bus station is on Drummer Street but some coaches such as those to London and
various airports leave from Parkside, Parker's Piece and buses to the railway station and
Addenbrooke's come to the bays on Emmanuel Street Bus Station. Timetables and routes can be
found on www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/around/buses/. The University subsidises the City 4
bus which runs from Madingley Road Park and Ride to Addenbrooke's Hospital Bus Station, via
many University sites. Tickets for students cost 50p on presentation of your university card.
The railway station (on Station Rd) is a half hour walk from College, or a £5 taxi fare. You can also
catch a Citi 1, 3 or 7 bus either to the station from the Emmanuel Street bus stop or from the station
to the St Andrew’s Street bus stop. Trains to London run frequently, and with a Young Person's
Railcard (which you can purchase at the station: to do so take a passport photo and ID), a day return
ticket to London costs around £14 for off-peak travel to King's Cross. If you'll be using the tube in
17

London, it's a good idea to ask for a day return ticket with underground zones 1 and 2, which
currently costs around £18 with a Young Person's Railcard. Visit www.thetrainline.com for train times
and ticket prices.
Punting
Punting is one of the best ways to spend a summer afternoon in
Cambridge. To sign out Trinity punts, see the College boatman in the
punthouse by the river, which is open from 11 am to 6.30 pm on weekdays,
and 10 am to 6.30 pm on weekends. You must take your university card
with you. Punts cost £4 per hour; and you'll need to leave a deposit of £5,
plus a university card for each punt. Punts are also available overnight.
Book at the punthouse, and then go at 6 pm with a bike chain to secure
your punt and take the punt poles and mats (which you'll have to keep in
your staircase or a staircase near the river). The deposit for overnight hire
for members of College is £20.
Recycling
There are recycling facilities in the gap between Pearce Hostel and New Court, and in the basement of
Wolfson building, as well as paper recycling bins in the mail rooms. There are further, public recycling
bins by the Park Street Car Park - turn left out of Great Gate, along Trinity Street and continue down
Round Church Street. Turn left at the end and the bins are on your left. Your room waste will
recycled too, please ask your housekeeper for details.
Security
Central Cambridge is a relatively safe area but you are still advised to take precautions, namely locking
all doors and windows even if you pop out for just a minute. If you witness a break-in or notice
(unusually!) suspicious behaviour around College, report it to the Porters' Lodge. If you notice the
same outside College, contact the Cambridge Police at Parkside on 0845 456 456. Faulty locks or
other security measures around College should be brought to the Porters' attention. Making sure of
your personal safety is usually easy to do; try to walk home with friends where possible and keep to
well-lit areas. Remember that if you are worried about walking from the main part of College to
Burrell's Field, you can request a porter to walk you home. If you would like a free personal alarm,
email the Women of Trinity President. If you are concerned about security measures in College, or in
Cambridge in general, let the BA liaison officer Nathalie Saurat (ba.liason@cam.ac.uk) know of your
concerns and she will do her best to help.
Shopping
Food
Most students living in or near College do their grocery shopping at Sainsbury's supermarket, on the
corner of Green Street and Sidney Street, which opens from 8 am – 11.30 pm every day except for
Sunday, when it opens at 11 am and shuts at 5 pm. There is also a smaller Sainsbury’s Local on
Regent’s Street that is open till 11 throughout the week. You can buy fruit, vegetables, flowers and, on
Saturdays, meat and cheese at the market which opens early and shuts at around 4 each afternoon, and
on Sundays a touristy craft market side gets added too. Marks & Spencer, just off the market, is
another supermarket, although generally pricier than Sainsbury’s. The Cambridge Cheese Company,
next to Whewell's Court in All Saint's Passage, is pricey but well-stocked. Further afield, you'll find
18

Asian groceries and health food stores on Mill Road. A large Tesco can be found on Newmarket
Road.
Equipment
If you're looking to stock your room with crockery and small appliances such as hairdryer and hi-fi
then you should head to either John Lewis in The Grand Arcade (near Emmanuel College), or, the
Grafton Centre, some 10 minutes away across Christ's Pieces, beyond the bus station. On Fitzroy
Street, just outside the main entrance to the Grafton Centre you’ll find Argos. The Grafton Centre is
quite close by but can be difficult to find the first time: take your A to Z map of Cambridge (available
from bookstores or news agencies) or visit the Cambridge City Council (www.cambridge.gov.uk) for a
handy pedestrian map of Cambridge. Sainsbury’s and Marks and Spencer will also stock some of the
basics. Kitchen equipment can be purchased at all of the aforementioned places as well as from
Lakeland on Sidney Street and Primark by the Grafton Centre. A few doors away from Lakeland you
can find Ryman Stationers where you can purchase stationery. Maplin on St. Andrews Street is a great
place to find anything electronic, from radios to keyboards.
Clothes
We'll leave you to discover your own favourites, but remember that you may be eligible for a discount
with your university card, so it is worth asking. The Grand Arcade is packed with clothes shops. It is
connected with Lion Yard which is just off the market. Marks & Spencer on the Market Square also
stocks a large selection of clothing. H&M and Zara can be found opposite of Lion Yard on St
Andrews Street.
Toiletries
Check out Boots or Superdrug – you’ll find both of these if you walk on past Sainsbury’s on Sidney
Street. Sainsbury’s also stocks many of the basics.
Bric-a-brac
If you need to buy small, low cost items such as power adaptors or coat hangers, try the stalls at the
market during the week. Alternatively, check out some of the discount stores in the Grafton Centre,
such as Poundland.
Fancy Dress (often needed for parties)
For hats, masks and joke items check out The Magic Joke Shop on Bridge Street – past St John’s, then
towards the river. For cheaper items check out Poundland in the Grafton Centre. Claire’s also has a
good selection of party goods and is found just off Market Square. Party Mania, near the Grafton
centre down Burleigh Street, has nearly every costume and party accessory you can imagine.
Societies
There are numerous College-based societies to choose from, ranging from the Music Society (TCMS),
which organises the May Week concert, to the Croquet Club and the Cheese and Wine Society. The
best way to learn about College societies is to attend the Chaplain's Squash on Sunday 2 nd October, in
the Nevile's Court Cloisters, under the Wren Library. You can also sign up for sports teams at the
Squash (see 'Sports', below). If you have an interest which is not catered for by a College society, there
is also an enormous variety of University societies; the place to sign up for these is the CUSU
Freshers' Fair at Kelsey Kerridge (on the Tuesday and Wednesday of Freshers’ Week). The College
will reimburse essential expenses incurred as a result of membership of a University society if there is
no equivalent College group, on a "first come, first served" basis. For a list of the various University
Societies, visit www.cam.ac.uk/societies/.
It is also possible to set up your own College society, if you feel that there is an important interest or
19

activity not currently covered by College societies. To do this, you need to form a committee of
president, junior treasurer and secretary, ask a fellow to be your senior treasurer, and write an
application to the College Societies' Fund. The application usually consists of a constitution, manifesto
and proposed budget, and the deadline for applications is normally in early November. College
societies may book College function rooms, such as the Junior Parlour (T Whewell's Court) and
Winstanley Lecture Theatre (A Blue Boar Court) without charge.
Spare Keys
If you lock yourself out of your room, the porters can lend you a spare key. They normally ask for ID
before signing out the key but are very understanding should it be obvious from your attire and wet
appearance that you've locked yourself out after going for a shower.
Sports Facilities
Most of the Trinity sports facilities are at the Old Fields site on Grange Road (just across from
Burrell’s Field). Here you’ll find Trinity’s own facilities for football, rugby, cricket, and netball as well
as 3 squash courts, a badminton court, 3 astroturf tennis courts and 3 hardcourts that can be booked
free of charge. The hardcourts can be used as a netball court. Croquet and gentle sports can be played
on the backs on the South Paddock. As you enter Old Fields from Grange Road, the building on the
left contains the Groundsman’s (Darren Wood) house; male changing rooms, toilets and showers are
on the ground floor, with corresponding facilities on the first floor for women. The building in the
centre is the Pavilion, which has a kitchen and small bar. On the right is the building which contains
the squash and badminton courts as well as the gym.
Squash and badminton courts can be booked online through a booking system available on the Trinity
website. The tennis courts do not need to be booked; if they are not already open a key is available
from Darren Wood.
The BA Society also owns a selection of sports equipment, which is stored in the Burrell's Field
Porters' Lodge. These can be borrowed for free by any Trinity BA by presenting your university card
and leaving a £10 deposit at the Burrell’s Field Porters' Lodge. There are:
Badminton racquets and shuttles
Squash racquets and balls
Tennis racquets and balls
Table tennis paddles, a net and balls
A football
A basketball
Some juggling clubs
A croquet set
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Trinity’s gym has recently been refurbished. This means
that all students, even if previously enrolled, have to be
inducted once more. The ground floor is a weights rooms
containing dumbbells, squat racks, Olympic bars, a
selection of weight plates, a dip station and a couple of
adjustable benches. Upstairs there are a number of cardio
machines and a pulley station. The gym is open from 7.15
am to 10.00 pm Monday – Friday, and 8.00 am to 10.00
pm on weekends. To use the gym you must be inducted
beforehand. To book an induction session, email
trinity@core-cambridge.com. Memberships for the gym costs £7 per term. Core-Cambridge regularly
offers gym classes. For more information please contact Nuno Blanc (ba.sports@cam.ac.uk.
BAs can join any of the College’s sporting clubs and if you are particularly skilled or just very keen
there are University-level teams too. For some minority sports there may only be a University team.
The college boat club (First and Third Trinity; www.firstandthird.org) has its own equipment, weights
room and more ergometers and is very enthusiastic in encouraging new rowers. There are official BA
rowing and cricket teams that often present a slightly more social approach to sport. Trinity College
Field Club (http://www.srcf.ucam.org/tcfc/ ) looks after all the non rowing sporting clubs in Trinity.
The best place to find out what's on offer is at the Chaplain’s Squash, which takes place during
Freshers' Week on Sunday 2 nd October in the Nevile’s Court Cloisters under the Wren Library starting
at 9pm.
Members of the University can also use university sports facilities. There is a gym at Fenners
(www.sport.cam.ac.uk/facilities/fitnesssuiteandgyms) that is larger and better equipped than the
College gym. Membership costs £40 per year. There is also an athletics track behind Robinson College
on Wilberforce Road. A wide selection of exercise classes takes place across Cambridge every week, at
venues like Kelsey Kerridge Sports Centre (on Parker's Piece).
Yoga classes are held on Wednesday evenings in college. Some yoga mats are available to borrow. The
classes cost £2 for BAs and £4 for non-members. For more information please visit
www.scholaryoga.com or contact Nuno Blanc ( ba.sports@trin.cam.ac.uk ).
Subscriptions
The BA Society subscribes to a number of newspapers, journals and other publications which are
available to read in the BA Rooms. You are welcome to take away any copies which are at least three
issues out of date, but otherwise please do not remove them from the BA Rooms, and do leave them
tidy for others to use. We currently subscribe to the following publications:
Journals
National Geographic
Scientific American
London Review of Books
Wallpaper
Gramophone
Frieze
The Word
The Fly
Vogue
Esquire
The Economist
The New Yorker
21

New Left Review
Private Eye
Newspapers
The Guardian (Mon-Sat)
The Independent (Sun-Sat)
The Telegraph (Mon-Sat)
The Times (Sun-Sat)
Sunday Observer
Theatre
The theatre scene in Cambridge is predominantly student-based. The ADC, or Amateur Dramatics
Club, a student-run theatre runs a main show and a late show every week. Other student productions
can be found in various college theatres, and in Corpus Playroom down St. Edward's Passage just of
King’s Parade. Full listings can be found in Varsity, The Cambridge Student and the ADC website.
The Arts Theatre is just past the Corn Exchange and offers professional productions. The Cambridge
Footlights regularly perform at the ADC which is recommended for those who enjoy comedy.
TCSU and Burrell’s Ents
TCSU stands for Trinity College Student Union. They represent both the undergraduates and the
graduates of Trinity. All graduates can attend any TCSU event as well as use the Junior Common
Room (JCR) and its equipment. One such event not to be missed is the Burrell’s Ents which will be
on Saturday 8 th October over in Burrell’s Field. There will be three bars offering you cheap drinks, live
music, and a dance room with great DJs. The famous “Trinity Blue” will be on offer so do give it a go.
University Card
This is the indispensable photo ID card which proves you are a member of the College and the
University. You will need it to get discounts on buses (Citi 4), at the CUP bookshop (10%), to gain
access to various institutions within the University such as the University Library (UL) or the
Botanical Gardens. Further more, this card is programmed to open SALTO Lock controlled doors
and gates around College (for instance the BA Rooms, JCR, computer rooms, mail room, music
rooms, various College staircases and hostels, and the Fellows' Garden all operate on this system). It
also allows you to place meals on your account in Hall and BA Dinner tickets and various drinks in
the Buttery. You should receive your university card on arrival at Trinity, and it is crucial that you then
activate the card by flashing it against the SALTO Lock on Whewell’s gate (wait until it flashes green).
If you have problem using your card, please visit the Accommodation Office (Z Angel Court).
University Centre
The University Centre (also known as the Grad Pad) can be found in Granta Place on Mill Lane. It
offers a wide range of social facilities for graduate and research students as well as University and
College staff and alumni. There are a number of eating establishments to be found there such as the
Grad Café. Other facilities include public computing facilities, a pool room and a Blue Fitness gym. If
you are a Gates scholar you will also find the Gates Scholars Common Room here. For more
information please visit www.unicen.cam.ac.uk.
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Varsity, TCS, Travisty and The Tab
There are two student newspapers in Cambridge – Varsity and The Cambridge Student (TCS.) They
are published once a week and can be found in the mailrooms every Thursday. Travisty is Trinity’s
own independent news paper since 2007. The Tab is an online news site which is quite popular with
students in Cambridge.
White Book
The White Book is the booklet of regulations and general information for all members of Trinity
College. It contains all kinds of valuable information, and makes interesting and necessary reading.
You'll find the White Book online as a PDF file.
Women
There still aren't as many women as men in Trinity, but we're getting there. In the meantime, we do
have an Adviser to Women Students: Dr Rebecca Fitzgerald, a Fellow for women to turn to if any
problems occur (rcf@hutchison-mrc.cam.ac.uk). There is also a Women's Group, known as WoT
(Women of Trinity) - contact (wot@tcsu.net) for details. Nathalie (ba.liaison@trin.cam.ac.uk) or any
of the other female BA Committee members are also happy to talk to women in college about any
issues, suggestions or thoughts arising from their stay in Cambridge.
Exactly What You Need … Useful Websites!
Trinity College homepage: www.trin.cam.ac.uk
BA Society: www.trin.cam.ac.uk/basoc/
Trinity College Students’ Union (TCSU): www.tcsu.net
University of Cambridge: www.cam.ac.uk
Graduate Union (GU): www.gradunion.cam.ac.uk
Cambridge University Students’ Union (CUSU): www.cusu.cam.ac.uk
Visit Cambridge (for shops, etc): www.visitcambridge.org
Cambridge City Council (for maps): www.cambridge.gov.uk
If you have any comments or suggestions regarding this Rough Guide, please contact Steffen Lösch
at ba.secretary@trin.cam.ac.uk. Photographs were provided by Douglas Brumley and Leon Xueliang
Liu. On behalf of the BA Committee, we’d like to welcome you to Trinity College, and hope that your
time as a graduate student and member of the BA Society is both rewarding and enjoyable.
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Freshers’ Week Schedule
Date (Time) Event Location
Wed 28/09 (5-6.30 pm) Welcome session with nibbles and
drinks.
Thu 29/09 (3.30-6.30 pm) Tour of Cambridge followed by
refreshments on the Backs.
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BA Rooms
Meet at Great Gate
Fri 30/09 (8 pm onwards) Evening trip to a traditional English pub. Meet at Great Gate
Sat 01/10 (5-6.30 pm) English high tea party with college
families.
Sun 02/10 (12.00-1.30 pm) Freshers’s chapel service and lunch. Chapel
Mon 03/10 (8.15-9.30 am)
(5-6 pm) BA Society gown sale. BA Rooms
(7-9 pm) Wine and cheese reception and official
welcome by the BA Committee.
(9-10 pm) College societies fair (i.e. Chaplain’s
Squash).
Introductory talk by graduate tutors.
(9.45-10.30 am) Fire safety talk by the head porter and
the junior bursar.
(11.45-12.45
am)
Fellows’ Bowling
Green (Cloisters if wet)
Old Kitchens
Cloisters
Winstanley Lecture
Theatre
Hall
Matriculation photograph. Neville’s Court
(3-4.30 pm) Tour of Trinity College. Meet at Great Gate
(7 pm onwards) Formal admissions dinner. OCR and Hall
Tue 04/10 (11-6.30 pm) University societies fair (i.e. Freshers’
Fair).
Kelsey Kerridge
(8 pm onwards) Scavenger hunt with college families. Meet in BA Rooms
Wed 05/10 (11-6.30 pm) University societies fair (i.e. Freshers’
Fair).
Kelsey Kerridge
(5.30-6.30 pm) Yoga taster session Junior Parlour
(8 pm onwards) Games night with nibbles and drinks. BA Rooms
Thu 06/10 (around 8 pm) Dinner with college families. Individually arranged
Fri 07/10 (7.30-9.30 pm) First BA dinner. OCR and Hall
(9.30-11.30 pm) Freshers’ week party Old Kitchens
Sat 08/10 (2-4 pm) Punting with strawberries Meet at Trinity Bridge
(9 pm onwards) TCSU Burrell’s Ent Burrell’s Field

Sun 10/10 (12-1.30 pm) BA Brunch with croquet The Backs (BA Rooms
if wet)
(9.30-10.30 pm) Stand-up comedy: Magpie and Stump Winstanley Lecture
Theatre
A Google Calendar version of the Freshers’ week schedule can be found here: Calendar ID:
hrd7da0o0capu2ptg44bmhv1i8@group.calendar.google.com
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Maps of Cambridge City Centre and Trinity
College
See www.cam.ac.uk/map/v4/drawmap.cgi?mp=main;xx=1900;yy=880 for legends.
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