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Graduate students can access housing options on campus in Harvard-owned properties or off campus in the Cambridge and Boston area.

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Whether you are interested in living in one of the four Harvard Griffin GSAS residence halls, looking for an on- or off-campus apartment, or hoping to find a roommate, the Office of Residential Life can direct you to the best resources. While the main Harvard campus is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard Griffin GSAS students live and study throughout the Cambridge/Boston area. In this section, you will find information to help identify your best housing option.

Please visit our virtual office hours in April to get all your housing questions answers. Virtual office hours are as follows:

• Tuesday, April 9, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 17, 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
• Thursday, April 25, 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
• Monday, April 29, 2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.

Our residence halls are an active living space for students. Therefore, we do not provide in-person tours. Please peruse the pictures on the website and email our office with additional questions.

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Postgraduate rents and what's included

All our postgraduate rooms are well furnished and centrally heated, with fast internet, and access to showers, laundry facilities, and kitchens. 

How much will my accommodation cost?

Your rent (also known as the 'accommodation licence fee') includes internet access, utilities, cleaning in communal areas, and laundry facilities.

Rents are based on each room's size and facilities, take a look at the  full list of postgraduate rooms and fees .

The rental period runs from 15 September each year until 31 August the following year, with no breaks between terms. If you arrive in the autumn term but after 15 September you'll still need to pay the full amount from the start of the rental period.

You pay the license fee in four instalments over the course of the year. If you wish to vacate before the end of the tenancy then you can do. You must give a minimum of one month's notice in writing, after the first quarter. Therefore the earliest you can move out is 15 December.

Included in your rent

All rooms are fully furnished with a standard set of furniture: a bed, wardrobe, desk, desk lamp, desk chair, bookcase, chest of drawers, bedside table, an armchair or easy chair, a notice board, and picture hooks. 

You can bring your own furniture and furnishings as long as they're listed in the accommodation licence agreement. The same goes for any electrical equipment - you're responsible for making sure that any electrical appliances you bring are safe to use and British Standard approved. We recommend getting your appliances Portable Appliance Tested before you arrive.

All kitchens are equipped with a kettle, toaster, refrigerator, and an oven with an electric hob. You'll need to bring your own pots, pans, cutlery, and crockery. We're gradually equipping kitchens with freezers too, where there is space.

If you have special requirements, for instance for health or religious reasons, please email  [email protected]  to let us know.

There are washing machines available to use in all postgraduate accommodation and, in some cases, tumble dryers too. 

Utilities and internet

Heating, lighting, and water bills are all included in your rent, as is high speed broadband internet access.

We can't accept any responsibility for loss or damage to personal property.

Over the last few years, at the request of the Middle Combination Room (MCR)  postgraduate society, the College has taken out a block contents insurance policy with a provider called Endsleigh. This covers the personal belongings of resident students in the event of damage or loss resulting from fire, flood, and theft.

The annual premium for the basic cover is included withint he rent. Limitations and exclusions to the basic cover apply. However, you can extend your cover to protect other items for an extra fee. Further details can be found on Endsleigh's website.

Cleaning in communal areas

The housekeeping department regularly clean all communal areas, including corridors, kitchens, and communal bathrooms. They also remove rubbish and recycling from communal areas.

However it will be your responsibility to keep the communal areas in good order and to clean your own room and your ensuite, if you have one. If you live in partner accommodation, it will be your responsibility to regularly clean all areas.

Not included in your rent

Television and tv licence .

If you wish to watch a television in your room, you will need your own valid annual TV licence, the College doesn't hold a general one. Please visit the  TV Licensing website  for further information.

How to report a problem with your room

At the start of the year you'll be able to view and check your room inventory which notes all furniture, furnishings, and fittings and their condition.

If there are any items in your room which aren't working, you can report the fault through JNet , the College intranet. Once a fault report is submitted, you will receive a confirmation email and a fault report number. 

Porters' Lodge and security

The Porters’ Lodge at the main entrance to College is open 24 hours a day throughout the year. It's the main point of contact for out of hours emergencies.

The Porters’ main responsibility is to ensure that the College is safe and secure. If you ever lose your University Card (which you need to access your accommodation), you can borrow a temporary access card after a quick security check.

If you have any questions about our postgraduate accommodation please email us at  [email protected] .

Hear from our students

Postgraduate

Jesus College has been a great home for me during my PhD. I chose Jesus College for a number of reasons – first, the location. We are central enough to be within easy walking distance of most things, but far enough away to avoid the hustle and bustle (and tourists in summer!). The College also has extensive grounds, with amenities like the hockey pitch, football pitch and tennis courts all on site. Secondly, the accommodation is some of the best I’ve seen in Cambridge. My house was newly renovated when...

There are many reasons why I’m so happy to be a part of Jesus College. The three biggest reasons for me are the opportunities to be involved in College sport, the support the College provides for me with for my research and the help in making sure that we have comfortable, affordable accommodation when we have needed it. Jesus College is so friendly and so it is incredibly easy to get involved in the sport and social side of the College. The MCR does a great job in welcoming new...

Jesus College has all the benefits of being large, historical and prestigious college, whilst also retaining fantastic welfare: the staff and other students all care about each other, and will be there to cheer you on when you are thriving, but also there to support you if you need any help. I chose Jesus due to several reasons, including its prime location, where it is very central, and easy to access everywhere, even if you work in one of the institutes further out. I also selected Jesus for its MCR...

I chose Cambridge for my PGCE as it’s the leading UK institution for teacher training and Education, with an exciting, research-dominated, cutting edge course. The staff are welcoming and approachable, and make studying here an absolute joy. I’ve already completed one of my three primary school placements, in a reception class in a school just outside Cambridge, and am due to start the next one soon. I chose Jesus because of its reputation as a sporty College, but the proximity to the city centre is a big bonus. Jesus also...

Jesus College has been at the heart of my Cambridge experience. I chose the College because I was impressed by its distinctive blend of academic rigour and extracurricular achievement. A College for all-rounders, Jesus is a lively and rewarding place to study. I couldn’t be happier here! Friendly and engaged, the Jesus postgraduate community never ceases to impress me. At ease with themselves and forever curious, my peers go out of their way to cultivate a sense of camaraderie. After a day of leafing through old manuscripts at the National...

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Accommodation

• Student Accommodation

Trinity Hall offers a variety of accommodation to both its undergraduate and postgraduate students. Accommodation ranges from characterful rooms in 14th-century buildings, to ‘retro’ 1960s student blocks, to modern en-suite rooms in our latest building, WYNG Gardens, which was completed in 2016. All rooms are fully furnished with a bed, desk and chair, wardrobe space, and many with comfy chairs or even sofas. See below for descriptions of our three sites: Central Site, Thompson’s Lane and Wychfield. You can explore each of these sites on our Virtual Tour .

One room on Central Site is available for a wheelchair user, with an adapted bathroom close by, and there are seven wheelchair-accessible rooms with en-suite facilities at Wychfield (two of which have linking rooms for carers). The  Disability Access Guide  provides full details of the College’s facilities for disabled students.

Undergraduates

At Trinity Hall, we provide all undergraduates with College accommodation for the first three or four years of their course. First-year students are allocated rooms by the College according to price band, and students are asked to indicate a preference. Second-, third- and fourth-year students choose their own rooms via a student-run ballot.

Undergraduates are housed in: Central Site, Wychfield and Thompson’s Lane (see below).

Postgraduates

Continuing students and new offer holders, who will be studying full-time, are invited to apply for accommodation by completing an online form. The deadline for completing the form is 1 May. After 1 May, all those who have applied for accommodation are placed in a randomly generated order. If we have X rooms available, then the first X people on the list will secure accommodation. The remaining people will be put on a waiting list.

We accept applications from any full-time student who has been offered a place, whether or not they have met their conditions. We will consider applications received after 1 May, but the likelihood is that they will be added to the waiting list.

We are unable to provide accommodation to part-time students.

Please note that we do not have any accommodation suitable for families with children.

Postgraduates are accommodated in: Wychfield (see below).

Central Site

Central Site is our main College site and includes around 107 single rooms for undergraduates, with shared bathroom facilities and basic kitchens containing a microwave oven and fridge. It is right in the heart of the city centre with easy access to the University Faculties. The College Cafeteria, Coffee Shop, Bar, Library, Chapel and main Music Room are also located on Central site.

Room rents for 2024-25 range from £123.45 to £233.90 per week.

Wychfield is a large site on the west side of Cambridge and has a range of undergraduate and postgraduate accommodation, including some modern, ensuite rooms, all surrounded by beautiful gardens. It is also the site of the College’s excellent sports facilities, including a gym, squash courts, and facilities for football, hockey, rugby, cricket, netball and hard tennis courts.

Boulton House

Purpose-built student accommodation with around 36 single rooms for undergraduate students, with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. The ground floor has a large lounge with pool table, comfy chairs and a vending machine.

Room rents for 2024-25 range from £149.40 to £175.40 per week.

Coote House

A detached house with 5 single rooms for undergraduate students, with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities.

Room rents for 2024-25 range from £149.40 to £194.90 per week.

A postgraduate student house with 10 single rooms, with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities.

Room rents for 2024-25 range from £129.90 to £175.40 per week.

Herrick House

A small purpose-built block of 12 self-contained, one-bedroom apartments for postgraduate students (primarily for couples).

Apartment rents for 2024-25 range from £279.35 to £285.80 per week.

Launcelot Fleming and Walter Christie House

Two purpose-built houses housing around 54 postgraduates in total, including four split-level rooms and 50 single rooms, with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. Each house has a common room and self-catering facilities.

Room rents for 2024-25 range from £168.95 to £220.85 per week.

Wychfield New Build

Purpose-built block housing both undergraduates (90 rooms) and postgraduates (46 rooms). All 136 single rooms are ensuite. Each block has a common room and self-catering facilities.

Room rents for 2024-25 range from £194.90 to £220.85 per week.

Thompson’s Lane

Thompson’s Lane , consisting of undergraduate accommodation, is close to the main College site and also to the main Sainsbury’s supermarket. It is also the closest of the three sites to the College boathouse on the river, therefore handy for budding rowers!

Bishop Bateman Court

Purpose-built student accommodation with around 44 single rooms for undergraduates, with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities.

Room rents for 2024-25 range from £149.40 to £207.85 per week.

WYNG Gardens

Our newest student accommodation with 72 ensuite rooms for undergraduates. All rooms are single occupancy; the majority of rooms contain double beds. There is a common room on the ground floor.

Room rents for 2024-25 range from £227.40 to £253.35 per week.

Accommodation Video

Here’s a video showing some examples of our student rooms. The rents for the rooms in the video, for 2024, are:

Central Site Room 1 (Rent Band N) = £207.85 pw Central Site Room 2 (Rent Band J) = £181.85 pw Central Site Room 3 (Rent Band J) = £181.85 pw Central Site Room 4 (Rent Band E) = £149.40 pw Central Site Room 5 (Rent Band N) = £207.85 pw

WYNG Gardens Room (Rent Band R) = £233.90 pw Bishop Bateman Court Room (Rent Band J) = £181.85 pw

Wychfield Room (Rent Band N) = £207.85 pw

Wychfield from above

Swoop over our buildings and green spaces at Wychfield in this aerial video.

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Graduate Accommodation

St John’s College is normally able to offer accommodation to all its graduate students.  This accommodation is either in shared houses (Hostels) or in Family Accommodation.

St John's College is a member of the ANUK National Code of Standards for larger student developments (educational establishments). More information on this can be found here: http://www.nationalcode.org/

All hostels are within 2 miles of the main College buildings and the city centre, and most are within ¼ mile of the College. The accommodation offered in the hostels comprises a single room in a converted or purpose-built house. All hostels have shared kitchen and bathroom facilities, and telephone.  All hostels have washing and drying machines, and further machines are available in the College. Each hostel houses between 4 and 15 graduate students.

Room charges for 2016/17 are between £370 and £606 per month according to the size of room and associated facilities. These costs include water, gas and electricity comsumption as well as internet access.  Four weeks notice of intention to vacate a room during the academic year is required.  Room charges for 2017/18 will be announced in June 2017.

Family Accommodation

The College has up to 52 units of furnished accommodation for students with long-term partners and/or children, ranging from one-bedroom flats to two-bedroom houses. For the Academic Year 2016/17 the rent for such accommodation ranges from £619-£970 per month.  These costs include water, gas and electricity comsumption as well as internet access.  All of this accommodation is within a two mile radius of the College.  A limited number of  three-bedroom properties are also available.  Rents for 2017/18 will be announced in June 2017.

Demand for this accommodation is high, although the College is generally able to meet this requirement, at the start of the academic year, provided sufficient notice is given that such accommodation is required. It is allocated by the College’s Accommodation and Bookings Manager according to availability and the circumstances of the applicants.

Private Accommodation

Students wishing to seek private accommodation in Cambridge should contact the Secretary of the University Accommodation Service, Kellet Lodge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QJ  (telephone enquiries to Cambridge 333316 or 338099, website http://www.accommodation.cam.ac.uk/ ).  Please note that private accommodation of a similar standard to College accommodation is scarce and liable to be expensive.

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Accommodation

Where you will live.

We offer a wide range of accommodation, from characterful Victorian rooms through to modern ensuite accommodation. 

Our accommodation is strategically located for convenient access to the College, University departments, and the historic city center of Cambridge. Living near campus ensures easy access to college facilities and support services, allowing students to focus on their studies and enjoy the benefits of college and city life. The College has made significant investments in improving student accommodation and facilities in recent years.

Onsite amenities include a well-stocked library with dedicated study spaces, a college gym, music pavilion, cafe bar, and a JCR & MCR common room. The Porters Lodge also provides 24/7 security for residents.

Lucy Cavendish aims to accommodate all undergraduate students for up to four years, as well as first-year postgraduates, subject to availability. Most of our accommodation offers ensuite facilities with shared kitchen and living spaces. For postgraduates, we provide self-contained studios suitable for single occupancy or couples.

Our accommodation team is committed to supporting students with specific religious or cultural accommodation needs. Once offered a place, we assist students in finding the best accommodation option, based on submitted preferences, and provide tips for settling in quickly.

All rooms are furnished with essential amenities including a bed, desk, desk chair, lamp, wardrobe, drawers, shelves or bookcase, and a noticeboard. Kitchens are equipped with a cooker, kettle, toaster, and fridge/freezer. Students are required to bring their own duvet, pillow, bed linen, towels, tea towels, crockery, cutlery, and cooking utensils.

Lucy Cavendish is a signatory of the ANUK National Code for Assured Accommodation, ensuring that students' rights to safe accommodation of a good standard are protected.

                                                                                                                See the latest LCC National Code of standards For Larger Student Developments Certificate 2024

Further information (requires log-in details)

Oldham Hall

Warburton Hall

New Building Albion Yard

The room allocation process differs for first-year undergraduates compared to other years. Please see below for further information and refer to the  Offer Holders' Page  to find relevant information for Freshers. 

• The Admissions Office will send you a link to an accommodation form where we will ask you some accommodation preferences. You should receive this form in the Spring
• Rooms will be allocated after A Level results have been published. According to preferences and subject to availability. We will request your room and key deposit at this time.
• You will receive an occupancy licence for your room by the end of August. 
• The deadline for signing your agreement is within one week of receiving the license.  
• Please pay your deposit and accept your licence by the deadline.
• Regularly check both your personal and Cambridge University emails for important information from College

Histon Road

Castle Street

Chesterton Road

Hinsley Lane

St Peter’s Street

Madingley Road

When will I find out about my room? (This is not relevant to first year undergraduates) 

• Your occupancy agreement will detail what room you have been allocated.  The deposit must be received and your licence signed before the room allocation is confirmed.  The deposit will be returned to you at the end of your final tenancy in College unless any necessary deductions for outstanding rent, damage or extra cleaning charges, are applicable.
• The College reserves the right to make changes in the allocation of rooms if circumstances dictate. For example, a student that has been allocated an accessible room who does not have accessibility requirements may need to change rooms should a student with specific needs require their specially modified room. The College reserves the right to terminate the occupancy at any time in cases of behaviour prejudicial to the welfare of the community.
• You will be given a date to move in so please look out for this on your tenancy agreement. 
• If you need to arrive in Cambridge earlier than the date you have been given by us, you may need to seek alternative accommodation until your moving in date. Please bear this in mind when booking travel.
• If you need to attend compulsory pre-course or induction sessions then please ensure you have selected the correct tenancy length (please see above).
• All rooms are offered on a continuous rental basis and there is no requirement for you to move out of your room over the Christmas and Easter holiday periods. There will be no rental refunds issued for any time spent away from your room for any reason, within your occupancy period.
• The Operations, Estates, Housekeeping and Maintenance teams are here to help you while you are living in College accommodation. 
• Your guide to living at Lucy can be found here  
• For a detailed guide to living and eating at Lucy login to the members' area
• Please make sure that your room is left clean, tidy and all rubbish and belongings are removed. Keys must be returned to the Porters’ Lodge by 10am on the day of departure.
• Once all room inspections have been carried out the deposit will be returned to you minus any necessary deductions, this process can take up to 4 weeks from the room inspection. If you are planning to stay in College accommodation the following academic year, we will keep your deposit until the end of your final occupancy period.
• Please pay your rent in accordance with the deadline set by the Student Finance Office.

We offer at variety of tenancy lengths to suit your requirements. 

38 Week Tenancy Agreement 

• Suitable for most undergraduate students as it covers the period from the start of the Michaelmas Term to the end of Easter Term. 
• All freshers will be allocated main campus accommodation covering your first year. 

40 Week Tenancy Agreement

• Most suitable for our undergraduate students who will be graduating at the end of that academic year. 

43 Week Tenancy Agreement 

• Perfect tenancy length for our postgraduate students who are on a nine month course. 
• This tenancy length would suit early arriving students and will allow you to attend compulsory pre-course or induction sessions.

51 Week Tenancy Agreement 

• Suitable for Masters and PHD students who need accommodation allocated for at least one full year. 
• For any student who may want to extend their stay in Cambridge after the end of Easter term. 

A £500 room and key deposit will also be required before you can move in to your room or £950 for a flat. This  will need to be paid on acceptance of your occupancy licence. Information on how to pay your deposit is available below

How to pay  

Deposits are paid back at the end of your final tenancy within 4 weeks of the room inspection taking place after your final departure. Please note that the room & key deposit will only be returned after the return of all keys issued and payment of all licence fees, damages and other charges reasonably levied by the College.

Information on how to pay your rent will be included with each rental invoice.

Rental is invoiced on a quarterly basis, in advance and r ent payment dates for 2024/2025 will be:

1st Payment for Michaelmas quarter (up to 31st December) due by: As stated on the College website Finance pages: https://members.lucy.cam.ac.uk/college-finance

2nd Payment for Lent quarter (1st January to 31st March) due by: 31st December 2024

3rd Payment for Easter quarter (1st April up to 30th June) due by: 31st March 2025

4th Payment for Summer quarter (1st July up to 30th September – if relevant) due by: 30th June 2025

Please note, all rental will be charged by the night and not by the month. The approximate price per week and month is a guide only.

Accommodation may not be granted to returning students who are in debt to the College. Failure to pay rent may result in the tenant being asked to vacate their room on being given a fortnight’s notice.  When the debt is cleared, the tenant may re-apply for a room but no guarantee is given that a room will be available.

Council Tax

Living in College or with other students Full-time students living in College, or in accommodation with other students, are exempt from Council Tax. The Student office will provide you with a letter from the College, which you should use to prove you are exempt. Living out of College with non-students Where students share accommodation with non-students, students are not liable for Council Tax but their non-student housemates are. There are strict rules about being liable for Council Tax.  If you are in any doubt, or receive a bill, you should check the position with your local Council Tax Office without delay.

Residents are permitted to have one guest to stay in their room for a limited period when they are themselves in residence. Please see guest rules below:

• Guests are not permitted to stay on a regular basis.
• Guests should not stay for more than three nights at a time.
• Guests should not stay on more than four separate occasions in any 3 month period.
• College members must be in residence with their guest.

Exceptionally, if a resident wishes a guest to stay longer, up to five nights in total, application for permission must be made in advance through the Operations and Estates Director and the Senior Tutor.

The Student Union has four guest beds available for rent. The charge is £4 per bed per night or £10 for three nights, payable in advance. If you are late returning your bed, you will be charged for any additional nights. Beds are available on a first come, first served basis and cannot be booked in advance. Further details on guest bed rental can be found in the Porters Lodge.

The College has a guest room available to rent out during term-time. Please note that we require a full 7 days' notice from the start of your booking (UK time) if you need to cancel. The full charge will be made for any bookings not cancelled within this time.

Please contact [email protected] for further information.

Please read the Terms & Conditions

The College recognises that individuals have different and varied needs both in terms of mobility and in social and dietary requirements. These needs are sometimes in conflict with our buildings, some of which were built over 600 years ago. The College provides full access to a number of study bedrooms equipped for use by disabled people. We have portable induction loops available at the Porters Lodge which can be installed in meeting rooms or Hall. We have adapted kitchens to meet special physical or dietary needs. The College would always liaise closely with the Disability Resource Centre to ensure that we are able to meet the individual needs of students with special requirements.

For further accessibility information click here

2024/25 Accommodation Map 

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Accommodation

The vast majority of graduate students at St John’s live in the college’s own graduate hostels, which are located around Cambridge. These are shared between four and about thirteen people, and can be broadly divided into two sections: small terraced houses in the Park Parade/St. John’s Road area, which are slightly cheaper and more conveniently located, but older and with fewer facilities; and large, more luxurious houses in the leafy Madingley Road area, which are newer, more spacious, and have better facilities, but are a 10 minute walk from the town centre. More traditional college-style accommodation is also available in Corfield Court, which consists of about 40 rooms arranged in traditional Cambridge ‘staircases’. It is located immediately adjacent to the College, right in the town centre.

The size of rooms (along with the rent) varies a great deal, even between rooms in the same hostel, but most of the hostels have a sink in each room. All the furniture you’ll need is provided: bed, bedside table, a desk and chair, wardrobe, shelves, cupboards, coffee tables, and if you’re very lucky some comfortable chairs or sofas, as well as a desk and bedside lamp.

Showers, baths and toilets are shared by all residents. All the larger hostels have common rooms shared by all residents, typically including several sofas and a dining area. The kitchens in the hostels are also communal. The quality of the kitchens varies. Most kitchens are fairly small but adequate for most purposes (as long as the entire house isn’t trying to cook simultaneously). There are individual cupboards in all the kitchens, and a reasonable amount of fridge and freezer space. The college does not provide cooking equipment or utensils, although most hostels have a selection of pots, pans, crockery and cutlery left behind by former residents. Most kitchens also have microwaves, kettles, toasters and the like, although again – these belong to current or former occupants of the house and are not provided by the College.

The majority of graduate rooms now have wireless internet connections, which provide high-speed Internet access. Most hostels are connected to the College’s own network, and the first time you connect you will need to enter a username and password which will be in your welcome pack when you arrive. If you lose them, or encounter some problems, you can go to the Computer Support helpdesk (located in the passageway between Forecourt and Bridge Street).

Some general information about graduate accommodation can be found on the St John’s website. Quite specific information about many of the rooms and locations (including ratings, photos, and videos) can be found on rooms.joh.cam.ac.uk (for members of the college only, Raven login required).

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The Department of Geography is happy to receive applications to host PhD students displaced from Ukraine, as part of the University of Cambridge process and UK government scheme . If you are interested and believe you are eligible, please follow the below procedure by first making contact with a current academic staff member before asking them to complete and submit the application form. Applications from Ukrainian doctoral students will be considered on a rolling basis and are not subject to the below deadlines.

Applications for visiting PhD students can be made by current academic staff in the Department of Geography. Retired and affiliated staff cannot host visiting PhD students. Academic hosts must be available throughout the period of the visit.

Visits will normally take place towards the later stages of a PhD course of study and applications from 1 st year PhD students will not be considered.

Visits of 2 weeks to a maximum of 3 months can be considered. Extensions are not normally permitted. Visits of less than 2 weeks will not come under this scheme.

Desk space in the Department cannot be guaranteed to visiting students, but if there is space they may be able to work in the PhD study rooms or the department library. Visiting students will be given a CRS ID but not a University e-mail address.

Applications will be considered by the Postgraduate Teaching Committee on a termly basis. The Committee will use the criteria below to evaluate applications. An approved applicant will be emailed by the Postgraduate Office and asked for any information needed to process their application and confirm arrangements for their visit.

All applicants applying to Cambridge as visiting students need to meet the University’s standard English requirements . This requirement is satisfied by proof of an acceptable English language test (IELTS or TOEFL) taken within the last two years.

Deadlines for applications

• Friday 20th October 2023
• Friday 9th February 2024
• Friday 19th April 2024
• Friday 28th June 2024

Please apply early and allow plenty of time for your student visitor to arrange their visit, e.g. accommodation.

Criteria to be considered in evaluating applications

• That the period of the student’s research/study at Cambridge comprises part of their registered degree at their home institution.
• Whether the academic host has met the PhD student and in what context.

3.1 they feel the student will benefit,

3.2 they confirm that the visit comprises part of the student’s degree, and

• What benefits will the student’s time in the Department make to the academic host and his/her PhD students?
• Whether the visiting PhD student may offer benefits to other Geography PhDs in the Department, and if so what those benefits might be.
• Whether there is any plan for publications or for future research collaboration with the visiting PhD student.
• How the costs of the visit will be covered.
• Whether the visit will call upon lab, modelling or computing resources, and how these will be covered, defrayed or otherwise managed.
• What activities the visiting student will undertake while in the Department.

Further information

• A deposit of £10 is paid for any keys issued as well as a deposit of £10 for the University card.
• Other features of such visits : Visiting PhD students to the Department will not be affiliated with a college. They will not receive accommodation. They will not have undergraduate-style supervisions.

Applications

An application should be submitted by the academic host/supervisor directly to the Postgraduate Office .

Prospective visiting students should consult the Department of Geography’s Research webpages to get an idea of the types of research done by the department, and consult our online staff list to determine if there is someone in the department willing to supervise their research.

Please note: Identification of a potential supervisor, while an essential requirement for application, does not imply a guarantee of acceptance and the full application procedure must be followed in all cases.

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Singing on the River

Singing on the River 2023: King's College, Back Lawn

Pack your picnics and join us on the iconic lawns of King's College for the annual Singing on the River.

The King’s Men perform a delightful programme of madrigals, part-songs and close-harmony on the stunning banks of the River Cam.

Admissions Admission from 6pm from the main entrance on King’s Parade. 

Picnics You are welcome to bring picnics and blankets. Please do not bring anything that might damage the lawn. Please bring a bag to take your recycling home with you.

Other information The concert will finish around 8:30pm. Please bring warm clothes and, if necessary, an umbrella.

Tickets: £20 / £10 / £5 under 5 years: Free

French Madrigal - Pierre Certon (c. 1572) 

The Last Rose of Summer - Trad. (arr. Owen Elsley) 

The Wild Rover - Trad. (arr. Paul Greally)

Loch Lomond - Trad. (arr. Sebastian Johns) 

Shenandoah - Trad. (arr. Keith Roberts)

Kelele - Trad. (arr. Toby Young)

Joshua - Trad. (arr. Keith Roberts)

The Kings Men - Trad. (arr. Sebastian Johns)

Warmth of the Sun - The Beach Boys (arr. David von Kampen)

I Get Around - The Beach Boys (arr. Keith Roberts)

Butterfly - Mia Makaroff (arr. Binath Philomin)

New York, New York - Kander and Ebb (arr. Keith Roberts)

Mr Blue Sky - ELO (arr. Paul Greally)

Yesterday - The Beatles (arr. Bob Chilcott)

Minnie the Moocher - Cab Calloway (arr. Ed Rex)

Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder (arr. Harry Bradford)

When she loved me - Sarah McLachlan (arr. Benedict Kearns)

I wanna be like you - The Sherman Brothers (arr. Bradley Smith)

Can you feel the love tonight - Elton John (arr. Binath Philomin)

Copacabana - Barry Manilow (arr. Will Crane)

Everything - Michael Bublé (arr. Ruari Bowen)

Lullabye - Billy Joel (arr. Philip Lawson)

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The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the University's principal research degree for graduate students and is available in all faculties and departments.

A Cambridge PhD is intellectually demanding and you will need to have a high level of attainment and motivation to pursue this programme of advanced study and research.

In most faculties, a candidate is expected to have completed one year of postgraduate study, normally on a research preparation master's course, prior to starting a PhD.

Completion normally requires three or four years of full-time study, or at least five years of part-time study, including a probationary period.

Terms of research are normally consecutive and, for full-time students, require residency in Cambridge. Not all departments offer part-time research degrees.

Various routes to the PhD are possible and, if you are made an offer of admission, it will be made clear whether you are required to study for a master's degree or certificate in the first instance, or will be admitted directly to the probationary year for the PhD. You are registered for the PhD only after a satisfactory progress assessment at the end of the probationary year (five terms for part-time degrees). The assessment is designed also to focus your mind on the stages necessary for the completion of your research within the normal time limit and to address any structural problems that have arisen during the first year. Students must pass the first year assessment in order to continue their PhD study.

During your PhD, your effort will be focused on writing a dissertation. The word count of the dissertation is dependent on the department and the Student Registry or Educational Student Policy will be able to tell you the maximum word limit. This must represent a significant contribution to learning, for example through the discovery of new knowledge, the connection of previously unrelated facts, the development of a new theory, or the revision of older views, and must take account of previously published work on the subject. Some Cambridge dissertations go on to form the basis of significant publications.

Although you will spend long hours working independently, your department and College will both support you throughout your PhD. You are also able to attend regular seminars in your subject area and could be involved in teaching, perhaps giving seminars or supervising, or in the social life of your department and College.

PhD course search

Go to the Course Directory and filter courses using the relevant checkboxes.

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PhD student Andrew Ward publishes gentrification op-ed in Cambridge Day

• By: Matthew Dineen
• April 10, 2024

In a new Cambridge Day op-ed, PhD student Andrew Ward utilizes his research from Professor Loretta Lees ‘  Gentrification Studies class last semester. In the article  “Gentrification study of Central Square finds independent spirit that’s being sorely tested,” Ward presents findings from Cambridge Local First’s inaugural State of Small Business report to demonstrate the rapid pace of gentrification in the Central Square neighborhood. You can read the full piece online here .

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