Homerton

My favourite thing about the college is its diversity — you’re constantly surrounded by people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and interests, which makes the community incredibly enriching and welcoming.

All first-year accommodation is en-suite in West House. You are housed with everyone else in your year and for 2025/26 the rent was roughly £5000. Overall, it is still one of the cheaper Cambridge colleges. There are some differences in rooms: the fourth-floor rooms are smaller with a ceiling slant compared to the rooms from the ground floor to the third floor. There are different options which will be considered when balloting for first-year accommodation, including mixed, single-gender and alcohol-free corridors. However, I did struggle with the kitchen facilities, or 'gyps'. These facilities have a fridge, hob, microwave and kettle, which meant that there was a limit to what I could cook. I could adjust; however, it was very frustrating as it meant more frequent food shopping. The gyp sizes vary per floor, although they were overall quite small, which caused issues when three or more people were cooking simultaneously. No seats or tables were provided either. The lack of freezers and ovens is a standard in most colleges, although some colleges don't have hobs, so Homerton does well compared to most other kitchen facilities. Homerton has housekeeping staff who clean bedrooms, communal service areas, plus changing bedsheets and towels (which is optional, I chose to bring my own for both to make my room feel more homely). Once a week, someone will come to clean your room. However, you do have the option to not have your room clean by putting up a notice.

Food is served for breakfast, lunch and dinner from Monday to Friday. On the weekends, lunch is served on a Saturday, and then Sunday alternates between brunch and Roast, both served from 12-2pm. We also have the buttery, which is open from Monday to Sunday, serving snacks and coffee and acting as a study space for students. The pricing for food is increasing so fewer students are using the hall as meals frequently cost over £5, even with the student discount. There is a main bar for hot meals, but there is also a cold bar which serves salad and pasta options. In relation to dietary requirements, there is always a meat option, vegetarian and vegan option. Gluten-free options aren't necessarily advertised but they are always available if you ask. There has been an increase in halal options, but this isn't available often. There are currently no kosher options. Most special dietary requirements can be requested and ensured, but it can be a longer process.

I have received additional funding via the Cambridge Bursary, funded by Homerton College and the University of Cambridge, which is paid in three termly instalments and is available for all students with an annual household income of under £62,215.

Homerton also offers different funding forms, which you must go through your tutor to access. These are not always well advertised, so I will provide a list now of what is available for undergraduate students:                                                                                The College Hardship Fund: offers more support to those who do not qualify for the Cambridge Bursary Scheme and those whose financial circumstances have changed since they started the course.
King Maroy Fund: a donor funded maintenance award worth up to £5000 for refugee or care students. Talk to your tutor for consideration.
The Bell, Abbot and Barnes Fundings: aims to support students who have experienced unexpected financial hardship, this grant can go up to £2,000 per annum.               Vacation Study Grant: students can get the college to pay for their accommodation if they need to stay over the holidays. There are a limited amount of these, and applications aren't always successful, with little feedback provided on what meant a student was ineligible. Funding for taxis for students with disabilities related to mobility.                                Crane's Charity Hardship Fund: provides hardship grants for students towards the cost of medical, surgical or psychiatric treatment or for convalescent accommodation and travel to assist students who are ill.

Students who receive a first at the end of their exams receive a financial reward. There are also Choral Scholarships, which are for the duration of the student's degree, and choral scholars are required to take part in the musical services of the Charter Choir at the neighbouring Church of St John the Evangelist, attend choir practices, and are expected to take an active part in the secular musical life of the College.

We have three welfare officers on our student union who are able to signpost you towards different resources at college. They offer regular drop-in sessions where students can ask where to go for support and raise any concerns they may have about college life. Homerton's main form of welfare provision is college counselling, where you can request multiple counsellors although this is only offered short-term. This can all be achieved by emailing the wellbeing coordinator. There is also the option of speaking to the college nurse on-site during weekdays and weekends although she only works part time. For more complex matters, she may refer you to your doctor or other medical services in Cambridge, but is a great first step!

Although Homerton College on paper is accessible, there are various issues related to accessible accommodation. Disabled students now receive a priority ballot when deciding on their accommodation blocks and rooms. However, there have still been issues with disabled students not receiving accessible accommodation as it has been given to non-disabled students. The total number of accessible rooms is 12 Undergraduate accessible rooms, and 12 Postgraduate accessible rooms, however if needed an Undergraduate can go into Postgraduate accommodation. We only currently have 2 fully wheelchair accessible rooms in college, but are trying to get more. All accessible rooms are in the main accommodation blocks. Disabled students get invited to ballot with one friend. As such, they become exempt from the ballot and choose to take a room for their needs. They are the first group of people to choose rooms.

If there was one thing I could change about Homerton would be better communication and transparency between staff and students. There is very little information provided on different avenues for funding, welfare or other issues related to college life as staff do not sufficiently share information on what support the college has to offer. This has meant I've spent many nights trying to research what my options are, rather than being told what is available for students. Staff are working to improve this and the tutorial team tend to send emails to students a few times a term to signpost to resources. In the meantime, I've tried to make this Q&A as detailed as possible so students are aware of any and all information!