Magdalene

Minnie

Magdalene is quite a small college, so there is a great community atmosphere. Everyone is friendly and there is a lot of social crossover between subjects, accommodations, even year groups! We have a really great student-led welfare team so regular events provide the chance to socialise and get familiar with people you wouldn't meet otherwise.

Minnie

In first year we could request a certain price band of accommodation so that we only paid what we could afford- I was given the second lowest band of room, with a single bed, desk, desk chair, shelves, drawers, wardrobe, sitting chair, mini fridge, and sink. It was at the top of an old building, so had sloped ceilings, and it was a street away from the main college site. On our floor we had 1 big kitchen (with dining table) and 1 small kitchen, with 2 countertop hobs, a microwave and a sink (no oven!) in each. That was between around 11 people. We also had 2 bathrooms with showers between us.

Minnie

Our cafeteria is called Ramsay, it serves lunch and dinner on weekdays, and brunch and dinner on weekends. It serves a range of hot and cold foods (recently introduced ice creams!) at quite good prices, with a special affordable option most days. There is always a vegetarian option on display, and they can usually happily accommodate other requirements too.  We also have formal halls at least 4 nights a week, which stays under £10 for Magdalene students unless you bring/buy wine. It consists of a candle-lit 3 course meal in a stunning hall, which are sometimes themed!

Minnie

There is a Magdalene bursary scheme which is on top of the Cambridge bursary, and this involves discounts on your college bill. There is a student support fund for unexpected financial hardships, as well as academic prizes. A range of bursaries and prizes are on offer for specific subjects or research projects.

Minnie

Every student has a tutor who you meet with every term, responsible for pastoral care and supporting your studies from that aspect (your director of studies supports you in the academic side of things).  We have a head of student wellbeing who is part of the college staff- they organise events and hold drop-ins.   We also have lovely student welfare reps who organise events and have a different outlook on things as they are fellow students.   All of the above are points of contact who you can discuss things with in a confidential and non-judgemental setting. They look out for you in term time and are friendly faces around college.

Minnie

As far as I know our Cripps Building has accessible accommodation with lifts and en-suites, and students with special accommodation requirements are given these rooms as a priority and do not take part in the ballot. There is a separate cardio gym and weights gym, located in different buildings in college. The cardio gym has treadmills, cross-trainers, rowing machines, and exercise bikes, and the weights gym has a selection of weights and related equipment.

Minnie

Magdalene is such a lovely college with a great community atmosphere, set in stunning historic buildings in a central location on the river- the only downfall to that is that the old buildings are a bit rickety and outdated. Many would agree that some renovations could be done to make the rooms and social spaces a bit more welcoming and polished. That's just the joy of living in authentic Cambridge though I think!