Prospective Students
Why Pembroke?
Do you like beautiful gardens and buildings? Do you want to be able to name your entire college year? Would you like to be close to the centre of town, but not so close that tourists take pictures through your window? If any of the above apply to you, Pembroke is the college to which you should apply.
Located less than five minutes' walk from town, and a maximum of two minutes from many faculty buildings and lecture halls, Pembroke is at the centre of Cambridge academic and social life. We are also right on the bus route for many of the less central faculties, like the Sidgewick site (still less than a ten minute walk from Pembroke). While freshers live in the college itself, subsequent years tend to move to well-maintained houses, of which the majority are no more than ten minutes away from Pembroke. We have college-owned accommodation for all our years of study.
Accommodation varies according to cost. No first-year rooms are en-suite, but toilets are always close to hand, and only shared between a few people. Showering facilities can be up to three flights of stairs away, but there is never a wait for them. There are also shared cooking facilities in the accommodation areas, including fridges, freezers, stoves and microwaves.
As a fully-catered college, we offer varied and tasty meals on a pay-as-you-eat system. Vegetarians always have several options, but other dietary requirements are not catered for so well. A meal including a main course, drink and dessert can cost up to £3.50. Formal hall, a waiter-service three course meal, takes place every evening, which means that it is generally available for whichever event one wishes to celebrate.
For other social times, we have our recently refurbished college bar. We organise two themed college parties per term, and these tend to attract most of Pembroke. However, many people walk to Clare or Queens on weekend nights to enjoy the events there, and we are not far from either. We have sports teams to pander to all abilities, and our own grounds on the outskirts of town. Onsite we have a 24-hour gym, music practice rooms fitted with grand pianos, and the New Cellars venue, used for everything from drama productions to gigs and parties.
Pembroke has an average state-independent ratio for the university and undertakes access initiatives to encourage state school students to apply. We are also fairly split in a female to male ratio. If you are interested in applying for any such schemes or want further information then please consult http://www.pem.cam.ac.uk/access/index.html or email the Access Officer, at jp-access@pem.cam.ac.uk.
Academically, we are well-furnished. We have wireless internet access in the library so that students can use both laptop and library books. There are also several computer workstations available for those without laptops. Photocopying and printing facilities in the library itself saves time, and the library is open from 8am-midnight. The IT room is open all the time, and there are always an abundance of computers and printers there. Financially, there are an abundance of travel grants, music and sports bursaries, and prizes for good exam results.
If you're looking for a very small college, a party college, or a place in which people don't know what you're up to, Pembroke is not the place. However, if you want a college in a great location, offering good food and opportunities for both academic and extra-curricular development, ask for our own Alternative Prospectus which you can order from http://www.pem.cam.ac.uk/access/index.html. We hope to see you on one of our Open Days.