Information for Postgraduate Offer Holders

• Read through the information that has been sent to you from our Tutorial Office.
• Let us know that you’ve met your offer conditions using your new self-service account (CamSIS account). The self-service account replaces the Applicant Portal once you’ve received an offer (see further information). It tells you everything you need to know about the progress of your offer, including finding out about College membership. Please ensure that you are aware of any relevant application deadlines.
• This process will be different for PGCE offer holders who will be contacted by the Faculty of Education with more details on how to confirm that they have met conditions of their offer.
• Make a note of when the Q&A Session is for your course, once dates are released.
• In the spring, ensure you have completed the relevant accommodation survey for your course (links have been emailed directly).
• If relevant, apply for permission to live further than 10 miles from Great St Mary's Church (see Course-Specific Details below for more information).
• Submit a completed Financial Undertaking Form (not for PGCE students) via your self-service application portal in order to satisfy your admission conditions.
  • If you are taking out any student loans, it is important to ensure you have forwarded confirmation of this to the College Finance Office to ensure attendance is confirmed with the loan provider, and that invoices are raised correctly.

• Complete online student registration and collect your University IT account details.  You will be emailed directly by the University Student Registry from the end of August onwards with details on how to complete this process, depending on your start date, and when your admission is confirmed.
• Please make sure you upload a photo to CamSIS in order for your University card to be printed. Your photo should be a passport-style photo. It should only include you: no hats, scarves, eyewear or pets please! It should be a good quality photo, electronically uploaded. You can email the Homerton Card Representative with any queries or issues.

• Matriculate: All new members of the University are required to complete a process called Matriculation at the start of their course. This is an online process and you will be sent a link prior to the start of your course.
• Check your Cambridge email.
• Book a Start of Course Meeting with your College Tutor: you will be sent details of how to book this meeting soon after the start of the course.
• Book your place at the Matriculation Dinner for your course. You will be sent details of how to do this in advance. Dates for Matriculation Dinners will be made available under Course-Specific Details on this page.
• Request a student status letter to assist with opening a bank account/registering with a GP.
• Add your GP details to your CamSIS record. This can be completed either as part of the online student registration exercise (see above), or directly via your CamSIS Student Self Service account.
• Pay your fees, if you are self-funding. You will receive an invoice for the full cost of your fees emailed to your @cam.ac.uk address after the start of term, and payment will be due within 14 days.

Contacting the College and the Faculty

The PGCE course itself is administered by the Faculty of Education rather than Homerton College; as such they are responsible for arranging your school placements, confirming your enhanced DBS check, and organising payment of any scholarship or bursary you are due to receive. If you have any questions regarding these issues, please contact the Faculty of Education's PGCE Team. For any other queries, please contact the Homerton Tutorial Office.

College Accommodation

The survey to apply for on-site College PGCE accommodation for the academic year 2026-2027 will open in late Spring 2026. The link will be sent to all offer holders, and you will be notified of the outcome in mid-July. 

Please note: we have very limited accommodation available for PGCE students.

Living outside of College

The majority of PGCE students will live in rented accommodation either within the city of Cambridge, or in its surrounding areas. The University's specialist Accommodation Service may be able to assist you in finding suitable accommodation for your time in Cambridge, and you can register with them online; other options include SpareRoom, the Cambridge Accommodation Noticeboard, and any of the local letting agents. Cambridge's Student Union has recently partnered with Marks Out Of Tenancy, a platform which provides anonymous reviews of landlords. The MCR has a yearly PGCE WhatsApp group for students seeking house shares, which you can join to help you find housing prior to your arrival in Cambridge. 

If you would like the link to join the 2026-27 PGCE WhatsApp group, please get in touch using the contact form at the bottom of the page. 

All postgraduate students are required to live within 10 miles of Great St Mary's Church in order to satisfy the University's residency requirements. If you are planning on living outside of this area, you will need to fill out the PGCE Residency Request Form and send to the Tutorial Office by email before 1^st September to apply for permission; however, it should be noted that the College strongly advises against living further than a 1-hour commute from Cambridge. If you need to live outside this area for a placement, please also contact the Tutorial Office well in advance. 

Meeting Offer Conditions

PGCE offer holders will be contacted by the Faculty of Education with details on how to confirm that they have met the conditions of their offer. 

Please contact the PGCE Office for any queries regarding your application and conditions, as well as visiting the PGCE FAQ page for further information.

Finances

Please complete the FSAQ (Fee Status Assessment Questionnaire) form and the PGCE Financial Declaration, which has also been sent out by email. 

The Faculty of Education provides details of PGCE Tuition Fees, as well as some approximate costs of living that should be taken into account when budgeting for the course.

Bursaries

In languages and physics, trainees will not need to be eligible for student finance to be eligible for a postgraduate bursary or scholarship — this applies to all trainees.  For all other subjects and routes, trainees are only eligible for a bursary or scholarship if they are entitled to support under the student finance criteria (this does not mean that trainees actually have to take out a loan).

Loans

Home students wishing to take out a tuition fee loan, or to apply for any additional funding (maintenance loan etc.), will need to apply to one of the following bodies:

• Student Finance England
• Student Finance Wales
• Student Finance Northern Ireland
• Student Awards Agency Scotland

When selecting your College and course, please ensure you list the University as "Homerton College - University of Cambridge" and your course is listed as either "PGCE - GENERAL PRIMARY", "PGCE - EARLY YEARS", or "PGCE - SECONDARY [YOUR COURSE HERE]"; alternatively you can use the College-specific course code.

Students from the Channel Islands wishing to take out a tuition fee loan, to or apply for any additional funding (maintenance loan etc.), will need to apply to one of the following bodies:

• students from Jersey
• students from Guernsey
• students from Isle of Man

The Finance Office will confirm your attendance on the course with your student loan provider after you have started at the College and Faculty of Education in September.

Please note: It will not be possible to use your monthly Bursary or Scholarship payments to cover the costs of the fees which are due, in full, at the start of the course.  If you have an enquiry regarding fee payment, please contact the Finance Office directly. If you foresee any financial problems, you are encouraged to discuss them with Jim Morris, College Accountant, before coming to Cambridge, for instance to discuss a payment plan.

Start of Year Preparations

Online Q&A

There is an online Q&A session every year for you to find out more about the College, and to raise any non-course related issues, with the Postgraduate Tutor Team. A link for the online call is sent to all incoming students one week before the session. 

There will also be a Pre-Arrival Teams/Zoom session around the start of September, and the link for this will be forwarded to you also nearer to the time.

Welcome and induction

The Welcome and Induction programme includes: 

• 12th-13th September 2026 PGCE College Induction weekend. Students are required to attend College in person for the following mandatory events:
  • 12th September 2026: PGCE registration. This is when new students need to bring their documents to the Tutorial Office.
  • 12th September 2026: PGCE welcome talk
  • 13th September 2026: College community workshop
• PGCE matriculation dinner. Invitations will be sent out in advance. 

There will also be in-person College induction activities in September and early October, including a Freshers' Week of activities organised by the MCR.  Details of these events will be shared nearer the time.

Contacting the College

Our friendly Tutorial Office Team is there to help with any queries from incoming students. Just send them an email!

College Accommodation

The survey to apply for on-site College postgraduate accommodation for the academic year 2026-2027 will be distributed by email in the late Spring and you will be notified of the outcome in August. Please contact us using the form at the bottom of the page if you have not received the accommodation survey by the end of the first week in May.

Please note: we cannot guarantee accommodation to all postgraduate students.

Living outside of College

The majority of students who don't live in College will live in rented accommodation either within the city of Cambridge, or in its surrounding areas. The University's specialist Accommodation Service may be able to assist you in finding suitable accommodation for your time in Cambridge, and you can register with them online; other options include SpareRoom, the Cambridge Accommodation Noticeboard, and any of the local letting agents. Cambridge's Student Union has recently partnered with Marks Out Of Tenancy, a platform which provides anonymous reviews of landlords. 

The University requires all full-time postgraduate students to live within 10 miles of Great St Mary's Church in order to engage fully in the life of their department. If you are planning to live outside of this area, you will need to contact the Tutorial Office before 1st September to apply for permission; however, it should be noted that the College strongly advises against living further than a 1-hour commute from Cambridge.

Meeting Offer Conditions

The self-service account tells you everything you need to know about the progress of your offer, including finding out about College membership. It is also where you can provide documents to meet your offer conditions - please ensure that you are aware of any relevant application deadlines.

Please use the online enquiry form for any queries regarding your application and conditions, as well as visiting the Postgraduate Admissions Office (PAO) FAQ page for further information.

Start of Year Preparations

Online Q&A

There is an online Q&A session every year for you to find out more about the College, and to raise any non-course related issues, with the Postgraduate Tutor Team. A link for the online call is forwarded to all incoming students one week before the session. 

See Degree-specific Information below.

Degree-specific Information

MBA and MFin

There is not a Pre-Arrival Zoom session specifically for MBA and MFin students, but you are welcome to join either the session for part-time students, PGCE students, or all other postgraduate students (please note that this option is usually after the start of the MBA/MFin course). Please contact the Tutorial Office if you would like to receive the link for one of these sessions. 

MBA/MFin students will need to register with the College before teaching begins. This page will be updated with the relevant details in due course. 

MBA/MFin students will be able to join in with September freshers' activities, but will join other full-time postgraduate students for the College's Matriculation Dinner, when you will get to enjoy a candle-lit three-course meal in the Dining Hall (you will be sent an invitation to this in September). 

All other full-time postgraduate degrees

There will be a Pre-Arrival Teams/Zoom session. The date will be added here in due course and the link will be forwarded to you in advance.

Registration will be in early October 2026. This is when students need to bring their documents to the Tutorial Office. There will be in-person College induction activities in early October, including a Freshers' Week of activities organised by the MCR. This will culminate with the College's Matriculation Dinner, when you will get to enjoy a candle-lit three-course meal in the Dining Hall (you will be sent an invitation to this in September). 

Contacting the College

Our friendly Tutorial Office Team is there to help with any queries from incoming students, including part-time students. Just email them!

Start of Course Preparations

Online Q&A

The online Q&A session for students starting courses in September and October takes place every year in July. During this call with the Postgraduate Tutor Team, you are able find out more about the College, and to raise any non-course related issues. A link for the Zoom call is forwarded to all incoming students one week before the session. 

Pre-Arrival Zoom

The Pre-Arrival Zoom meeting for all students starting MSt courses in September or October 2026 will take place in August 2026. The link for this will be forwarded to you in advance.

Registration and Matriculation

For details, see Course-specific Information below.

Accommodation

Part-time students only live in College under exceptional circumstances. References elsewhere on this page to accommodation surveys are for full-time students. Depending on your particular MSt course, however, College accommodation may be provided during your residential weeks. For further information, see the entry for your course under Course-specific Information below. 

It may also be possible to book a room in College for short study visits outside term, depending on availability. 

Course-specific information

The courses below are listed in alphabetical order.

MEd (Master of Education)

Registration for MEd courses will be in early October 2026. This is when students need to bring their documents to the Tutorial Office.

The College's Matriculation Dinner will be in October 2026, when you will get to enjoy a candle-lit three-course meal in the Dining Hall (you will be sent an invitation to this in September). Further details for these events will be shared nearer the time.

A Pre-Arrival Zoom call will be held in September (this is the same event to which full-time postgraduate students are invited); a link will be forwarded separately one week before.

Accommodation may be available for your teaching days, but it is not guaranteed. Please contact the Accommodation Manager two weeks before your planned stay to enquire about availability.

MSt in AI Ethics and Society

Registration for students on the MSt AI Ethics and Society course will be in September 2026. This is when new students need to bring their documents to the Tutorial Office. 

The Matriculation Dinner for students on the MSt AI Ethics and Society course will be held in September 2026, starting with a drinks reception at 7.00pm and followed by a 3 course-meal at 7.30pm; a matriculation photograph will be taken earlier the same day on the Principal's Lawn. Students will be contacted 3-4 weeks prior to their first residential with further information.  A Pre-Arrival Zoom call will be held approximately one week beforehand; a link will be forwarded separately. 

You will be sent an email inviting you to book College accommodation for your out-of-term residential dates a few weeks before each eligible residential session.

MSt in Applied Criminology, Penology and Management (N.B. Easter Term 2026 entry)

Registration for students on the MSt Applied Criminology, Penology and Management course will be in April 2026. This is when new students need to bring their documents to the Tutorial Office. 

The Matriculation Dinner for students on the MSt Applied Criminology, Penology and Management course will be held on 7th April 2026, starting with a drinks reception at 7pm and followed by a 3 course-meal at 7.30pm; matriculation photographs will be taken the same day at 6.15pm on the Principal's Lawn. A Pre-Arrival Zoom call will be held at 17:30 on 23rd March 2026; a link will be forwarded separately.

You will be sent an email with information about your College accommodation for your residential dates approximately one month before each residential session.

MSt in Architecture

Registration for students on the MSt Architecture course will be in September 2026. This is when new students need to bring their documents to the Tutorial Office. 

The Matriculation Dinner for students on the MSt Architecture course will be held in September 2026, starting with a drinks reception at 7.00pm and followed by a 3 course-meal at 7.30pm; a matriculation photograph will be taken earlier the same day on the Principal's Lawn. Students will be contacted 3-4 weeks prior to their first residential with further information.  A Pre-Arrival Zoom call will be held approximately one week beforehand; a link will be forwarded separately.

You will be sent an email inviting you to book College accommodation for your out-of-term residential dates a few weeks before each eligible residential session.

MSt in Clinical Medicine

Registration for students on the MSt in Clinical Medicine will be in October 2026. This is when new students need to bring their documents to the Tutorial Office. 

The Matriculation Dinner for students on the MSt Clinical Medicine course will be held in October 2026, starting with a drinks reception at 7pm and followed by a 3 course-meal at 7.30pm. A Pre-Arrival Zoom call will be held approximately one week beforehand; a link will be forwarded separately.

Accommodation may be available for your teaching days, but it is not guaranteed. Please contact the Accommodation Manager two weeks before your planned stay to enquire about availability.

MSt in Coaching

Registration for students on the MSt in Coaching course will be in September 2026. This is when new students need to bring their documents to the Tutorial Office. 

The Matriculation Dinner for students on the MSt Coaching course will be held in September 2026, starting with a drinks reception at 7.00pm and followed by a 3 course-meal at 7.30pm; a matriculation photograph will be taken earlier the same day on the Principal's Lawn. A Pre-Arrival Zoom call will be held approximately one week beforehand; a link will be forwarded separately.

You will be sent an email inviting you to book College accommodation for your out-of-term residential dates a few weeks before each eligible residential session.

MSt in Entrepreneurship

Registration for students on the MSt Entrepreneurship course will be in September 2026. This is when new students need to bring their documents to the Tutorial Office. 

The Matriculation Dinner for students on the MSt Entrepreneurship course will be held in September 2026, starting with a drinks reception at 7.00pm and followed by a 3 course-meal at 7.30pm; a matriculation photograph will be taken earlier the same day on the Principal's Lawn. Students will be contacted 3-4 weeks prior to their first residential with further information.  A Pre-Arrival Zoom call will be held approximately one week beforehand; a link will be forwarded separately.

You will be sent an email inviting you to book College accommodation for your out-of-term residential dates a few weeks before each eligible residential session.

MSt in Genomic Medicine

Registration for students on the MSt in Genomic Medicine will be in October 2026. This is when new students need to bring their documents to the Tutorial Office. 

The Matriculation Dinner for students on the MSt Genomic Medicine course will be held in October 2026, starting with a drinks reception at 7pm and followed by a 3 course-meal at 7.30pm. A Pre-Arrival Zoom call will be held approximately one week beforehand; a link will be forwarded separately. 

Accommodation may be available for your teaching days, but it is not guaranteed. Please contact the Accommodation Manager two weeks before your planned stay to enquire about availability.

MSt in Healthcare Data Science

Registration for students on the MSt in Healthcare Data Science will be in October 2026. This is when new students need to bring their documents to the Tutorial Office. 

The Matriculation Dinner for students on the MSt Healthcare Data Science course will be held in October 2026, starting with a drinks reception at 7pm and followed by a 3 course-meal at 7.30pm. A Pre-Arrival Zoom call will be held approximately one week beforehand; a link will be forwarded separately. 

Accommodation may be available for your teaching days, but it is not guaranteed. Please contact the Accommodation Manager two weeks before your planned stay to enquire about availability.

MSt in Social Innovation

Registration for students on the MSt in Social Innovation course will be in September 2026. This is when new students need to bring their documents to the Tutorial Office. 

The Matriculation Dinner for students on the MSt Social Innovation course will be held in September 2026, starting with a drinks reception at 7.00pm and followed by a 3 course-meal at 7.30pm; a matriculation photograph will be taken earlier the same day on the Principal's Lawn. Students will be contacted 3-4 weeks prior to their first residential with further information.  A Pre-Arrival Zoom call will be held approximately one week beforehand; a link will be forwarded separately.

You will be sent an email inviting you to book College accommodation for your out-of-term residential dates a few weeks before each eligible residential session.

Events will be listed individually on our Postgraduate Admissions events page.

Postgraduate Offer Holders Open Day

We hold an open day for Homerton Postgraduate Offer Holders in the spring. At this hybrid event, you will have a chance to meet current students, Fellows, and staff, get to know our beautiful College, and find out the answers to all your burning questions. Our next Offer Holders Open Day will take place on Monday 27th April 2026. Booking is open now, and we look forward to meeting you! 

Offer Holders Online Q&As

We hold online Q&A sessions for our incoming students in the summer before arrival. Offer holders are contacted directly with information about how to register.

International Offer Holders Information Events

In 2025, we teamed up with St Edmund's, one of the other Cambridge colleges, to offer two optional webinars to answer questions like:

• What's a College anyway?​
• How do I get to Cambridge​?
• How do I get around Cambridge​
• What's the NHS and how does healthcare work?​
• How do I open a UK bank account?​
• Where can I buy food?​
• How do elections work, and can I vote? ​
• What facilities are available in the University, College, and city?

We are planning to run a similar set of events for our 2026 offer holders.

Pre-Arrival Online Meetings

We offer pre-arrival online meetings for many of our courses. Students are contacted directly with links for these events. 

If you are unable to attend, you can email Tutorial to request copies of the slides. Please note that these sessions are not recorded. 

Registration Days

All new students are required to bring their documents to the Tutorial Office on their course-specific registration day. Dates will be added under Course-Specific Details above. 

Matriculation Dinner

Every cohort will have the opportunity to attend a three-course matriculation dinner. You will be emailed with an invitation to sign up for this in due course. Further information and dates can be found under Course-Specific Details above, and dinners will also be listed individually on our Postgraduate Admissions events page.

Matriculation itself is an online process and is separate from the matriculation dinner. You will be sent information by email and this step must be completed in order for you to study for your degree. 

College Induction

There are compulsory induction events in College for PGCE students (12th-13th September) and other full-time postgraduate students (early October). 

Freshers' Week

The MCR arranges two Freshers Weeks, one in September and one in early October. The September week is for students with earlier course start dates. You will be contacted with further information closer to the time. 

Please contact the Tutorial Office with any questions.

Homerton Changemakers helps you take full advantage of your Cambridge experience, building deep self-awareness, skills in influencing how things are done, and an understanding of the complexity of social and global systems so you can make a difference. Changemakers is made up of undergraduate and postgraduate students from all disciplines and backgrounds - everyone is welcome to attend, to apply to the available funds, and to participate as and when around study commitments. And it's free of charge. 

Changemaker Conversations 

Informal weekly roundtable seminars inspired by big questions, and offering the chance to meet influential changemakers. 

Finalists' Day - Career Transitions

An afternoon at the end of the academic year with Guest Speakers, who with their extensive knowledge, will help you navigate your way through the careers "system" to enable you to know your own worth and how to achieve the career of your dreams.

Changemakers Annual Residential

This residential is an intensive, immersive & multidisciplinary experience, helping you build a toolkit for making positive change: with purpose, courage, knowledge and ambition.

Visit the Changemakers events page for a full listing of opportunities.

Homerton MCR has put together the following social media groups: 

• MCR General Chat (WhatsApp)
• PGCE General Chat (WhatsApp)
• MCR Group (Facebook)
• PGCE House Share Chat (WhatsApp)
• MCR House Share Chat (WhatsApp)

If you would like the links to join any of these communities, please contact the Tutorial Office. 

Introducing Homerton

Homerton College was originally founded in London as a non-conformist academy and then teacher-training institution, before moving to Cambridge in the late nineteenth century. Since 2010 Homerton has been a full College of the University of Cambridge, offering all academic subjects, and with a diverse student body covering a wide range of interests and skillsets.

Homerton has its own Changemakers Programme - uniquely designed to equip our students with the intellectual force, energy and edge to become ambassadors for change - and is actively working towards sustainability, inclusion, and student wellbeing. Further information on this and other areas of the College can be found on the About Us page of the site.

Libraries

Homerton has a well-stocked library, covering most academic subjects, which is open to all members of the College including Fellows and staff. It has several special collections, most notably the Children's Literature Collection and the Multimedia Collection.  It is located in the Mary Allan Building and is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, via your University Card for studying in its open plan space, or borrowing items (using the self-issue machine). For further information on how this resource can add to your College experience, please see the Library's page on our website. Students will also have access to their Faculty/ Department library, as well as the University Library, which is a copyright library.

IT Services

When you arrive at Cambridge, you will be issued with your University email account and the relevant passwords to allow you to access the many different services available to you. These are maintained by UIS (the University Information Services), and full details of how to get started are available on their Getting Started page, as well as details on how you can purchase discounted software, access training courses, and printing facilities. The College also has a dedicated IT support team offering assistance with hardware, software, and any other general issues you may encounter with your computer during your time here.

As well as your main @cam email account, you may also receive a Department/ Faculty email account (e.g. @jbs.cam.ac.uk). In order to ensure that you receive communications from across the University, you will need to link these accounts: further information will be available from your Department/ Faculty IT Department.

University Card

The University issues to all students a single card with multiple uses. These include proof of identity and student status, as well as access to the University Library, College and, most importantly, your Faculty or Department library. Your University card also enables you to use services, such as photocopying, in some Departments. The card also acts as a Homerton College ID card, providing  a means of identifying staff, visitors and students as well as increasing site security. It gives students access to key areas of the College, including residential accommodation and common rooms, and, if students choose, can also be used to purchase food and drink in the College dining areas. Don’t forget to upload a photo to CamSIS in order for a card to be printed! 

Please contact the College's Card Representative with any queries or issues.

Dining Areas

Between the new Dining Hall, the Buttery, and the Griffin Bar, there's always somewhere to go in the College grounds to get something to eat, have a drink, and meet up with friends. Lunch and dinner are served every weekday, with a hot lunch on Saturday, and brunch or a roast on Sundays. The menus rotate weekly with several options to cover most dietary requirements. There are also weekly Formal Halls (open to all students) on Tuesdays in Full Term, and regular Postgraduate Formal Halls on selected Fridays throughout the year. For more information, see our catering webpage. 

EPOS & UPay

EPOS stands for Electronic Point of Sale and is the cashless purchasing system that students and staff can both use via their University Cards. All students can load money on to their cashless EPOS account via UPay to use in the Catering Department and Porters’ Lodge.  You will also use your UPay account to purchase tickets for the Formal Halls.

MCR and Homerton Union of Students

Homerton's MCR (Middle Common Room) is the equivalent of a Student Union for all postgraduate students (including PGCE and full- and part-time students). HUS (Homerton Union of Students) is our active student-led organisation. It is there primarily to help students settle in and enjoy College life. The HUS hosts events, sets up student societies, and provides a crucial link between Homerton staff and students. It overlaps with the JCR (Junior Common Room), which is for undergraduate and PGCE students. Yes, PGCE students get to be part of both Common Rooms! 

Homerton’s size means you are bound to find people who share your hobbies and interests, from sports to politics to music and drama, or simply socialising in the College bar, but if you are looking for something extra, you can try the Cambridge Students' Union which has even more to offer you.

College support and advice

There is a wide range of resources available at Homerton to help in times of difficulty, whether with emotional, physical or mental health concerns. Our team is here to help and support you, and includes our in-house Wellbeing Team, Tutors, and student Welfare Officers, as well as the wider University support and local GP surgeries. Students moving into the area should arrange to register with a local GP to ensure the smooth provision of healthcare services.  Once you have registered, please ensure that you update CamSIS (the student self-service portal) with your GP details. You are also advised to read the latest information regarding communicable diseases and vaccines prior to arriving in Cambridge.

Tutors

Every student in the College is allocated a personal Tutor, who is there to help you with any issues or difficulties you might experience during your course, and to direct you to further sources of specialist support and advice. You will be invited to meet with your Tutor at the start of your course.

Disclosure of disability

The College and the University work in close conjunction to offer support to students with any kind of disability and the University’s ADRC (Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre) has a dedicated team of experts who can provide support, advice and guidance for disabled students and students with specific learning difficulties. With your permission, our College staff can liaise with the ADRC to create a support plan that meets your needs. Please read here for further information. You can declare a disability directly to the ADRC using their form. If you wish to declare a disability to the College, we ask that you contact our contact our Disability Liaison Officer, Claire Hogg, with any questions you have.

Childcare Support

Marta Sokolowska is the College's Childcare contact and can help student parents find support for their personal welfare, assistance with funding and accommodation issues, and liaise with the specialist team of the University's Childcare Office.

The Childcare Office's website includes lots of useful information for student parents, including details of financial support for childcare costs. There is a dedicated section for families new to Cambridge, which might be particularly useful for offer holders.

College invoices and payments

College invoices and payments

One role of the College is to collect fee payments on behalf of the University, as well as any rent for students in Homerton accommodation. 

Please check the Postgraduate Admissions Office website for up-to-date details regarding fees.  If you have an enquiry regarding fee payment, please contact the College's Finance Office directly. If you foresee any financial problems, you are encouraged to discuss them with Jim Morris, College Accountant, before coming to Cambridge – for instance to discuss a payment plan. The Finance Tutor - Dhiru Karia - is available to assist students during their studies.

Reminder: To ensure an accurate invoice is issued at the start of your course, including ensuring your sponsor receives this, PGCE students are required to complete the online Financial Declaration before 1st August.  Failure to complete this survey will result in you personally being liable for your fees.

Reminder: All students applying through the Postgraduate Admissions Office are required to submit a completed Financial Undertaking Form via their self-service application portal in order to satisfy their admissions conditions.  If you are taking out any student loans, it is important to ensure you have forwarded confirmation of this to the College Finance Office to ensure attendance is confirmed with the loan provider, and that invoices are raised correctly.

Financial support

The College's on-site Finance Team offers information on the financial assistance available to Homerton students . We also recommend checking their FAQs.

Funding awards and deadlines

For further information see our Fees and Funding pages.

Pre-arrival information

There are dedicated pages on the University website containing information for new international students. These provide lots of useful advice on what to do before you get here, how to prepare to study, and support on arrival.

Healthcare

If you are studying on a student visa, please make sure you read the University's information pages about healthcare for international students, which provide details of the immigration health surcharge. International students who have paid the IHS can use the NHS on broadly the same basis as any other UK resident: services other than dentistry are free at the point of use and there is a standard charge for medicines prescribed by a doctor.

Before you travel to the UK

• You should have a medical, teeth and eye check-up.
• You should check whether your regular medication is available on prescription in the UK, since GPs reserve the right not to prescribe certain medications and not all medication from outside the UK is available on the NHS.
• If you have specialised medication, or you are in any doubt, you are advised to bring a supply with you. In any case, you should travel to the UK with sufficient medication to last until you have had a consultation with a GP.
• It is important that you are up to date with vaccinations against polio and tetanus (if you do not belong to a medical practice here, a tetanus vaccination could cost in excess of £30). Please see the latest vaccination information from the University.
• If you have any long-term health conditions or you are receiving medical treatment/taking medications, you should bring documentary evidence with you from your doctor. This should be in English and confirm your existing condition and/or any medication or treatment you are receiving. Your GP in the UK will then be able give you relevant information about clinics and prescriptions.
• Even if you are entitled to free NHS treatment while in the UK, overseas students should consider taking out private medical insurance to cover potential health-related costs.

When you arrive in the UK:

• We understand that you may be asked to undergo a brief routine health check, which may include a chest X-ray, as part of the immigration process at the airport, unless you have recent documentation covering this. See the UKCISA website for further information.
• You should register with a General Practitioner (GP) or family doctor as soon as you can. When you do so, you should take along evidence that you are a student in the UK, i.e. your passport, evidence of your address and your student status letter from the University. 

Transport

Cambridge is well known for its bicycles, and with bike lanes across the city and bike storage on almost every street corner it is a safe, convenient and environmentally-friendly way to travel.

Whilst many students cycle, there are also excellent transport facilities. The train station is just a 10-minute walk from Homerton College and buses run every 10 minutes from outside the College into the town centre. There is also a dedicated Universal Bus Service which links the College and the Addenbrooke's site with the City Centre and West Cambridge sites. Cambridge is also well connected to a host of destinations around the UK, most significantly just 50 minutes from London by train.

Safer Cycling

Many students choose to cycle around Cambridge - it is quick and convenient - but please make yourself aware of the rules of the road for cyclists.  Camcycle has produced some useful leaflets with further information about responsible cycling and keeping your bike safe.

• Welcome to Cycling in Cambridge (includes a map)
• Cycle Lighting
• Save Your Cycle from Theft

Cars & Cambridge

University Motor Licence

• The University has rules on full-time students keeping and using a car in Cambridge. All undergraduate students, and postgraduate students under 24 years of age are required to apply for a Motor Licence if they wish to keep a car in Cambridge. The application must be accompanied by a document called a Tutor's Note, which you should ask the Dean's Office to sign, and not your College Tutor. Postgraduate students aged 24 years or older do not need permission to keep a car in Cambridge. Please note, in any case, this does not mean parking in University, Faculty or College car parks is permitted without prior permission.
• Separately, full-time students must apply for a College parking permit if they wish to park their car in Homerton. Please note that a parking permit is not guaranteed, even if you hold a Motor Licence from the Proctors. Parking permits are generally issued to resident students (live onsite) and who need the car for academic reasons, such as school or hospital placements, or who have disability and/or access needs. Non-resident students (living offsite) are only issued parking permits if they have disability and/or access needs.
• If you are requesting parking at the College for access to another institution, including the Faculty of Education, this will be denied. You should contact the relevant institution directly.
• Part-time students do not need to apply for a motor licence. Please note that part-time students are only offered parking in College during their on-site residentials, or when in College accommodation. College is unable to provide parking for access to another institution, including the Faculty of Education; you should contact the institution directly.

If you need to apply for both a Motor Licence and a College parking permit, then it’s sensible to do them both at the same time. If you require a Tutor Note signed, please fill in the relevant details and send the form to the Dean.

Take a virtual tour of the College or watch our videos below. You can see a tour of some of our postgraduate accommodation and a College video tour led by our MCR Presidents. 

A new resource to help you settle in Cambridge

As new postgraduate student, you may be looking for information about moving to Cambridge, getting started in academic life, or building the skills you need to succeed in your degree. CamGuides are a resource designed to help do just that. The guides have been written by student students to collate everything they wish they had known before starting their courses. Packed with tips, student interviews and useful links, they contain sections on living in Cambridge, what daily life in academia is like, research skills, digital tools, and finding resources. Use the links below to explore CamGuides at your leisure. There is no need to worry about getting through everything in one go: CamGuides will always be there to refer back to when you need them.

• CamGuides for Master’s students
• CamGuides for PhD students

Terminology

We have put together a mini glossary to help you get to grips with Cambridge-specific vocabulary. 

CamSIS 

Student self-service online system. 

Combination Room 

The College’s common room for Fellows and staff. 

CRSid

The combination of letters and numbers (e.g. abc123) used to identify you on University systems, and which forms part of your email address (e.g. abc123@cam.ac.uk).

EPOS & UPay 

Cashless purchasing system that students and staff can use via their University Cards.  

Fellows 

The senior members of College. 

Formal  

A dinner that occurs regularly during term time where students can purchase tickets for a sit-down meal in formal clothing (some Colleges require gowns). 

Hall 

The dining Hall, which is used for student dining in College and other special events. 

High Table 

Table at the top of the dining hall reserved for Fellows. 

JCR 

Short for Junior Common Room. All undergraduate and PGCE students are members. ‘JCR’ refers both to them and to the common room in which they can relax. It is also the colloquial term for the committee elected by the student body, which works to improve students' experiences here by providing support and entertainment. 

Matriculation 

This is when you formally join the University. Matriculation itself happens online, but it is also marked by a photo and a formal dinner. 

MCR 

Short for Middle Common Room. The postgraduate community, including PGCE and all full- and part-time postgraduate students. As with the JCR, the MCR refers to the student body and to the common room which its members can use for relaxation. There is also an MCR Committee who represent MCR members and arrange events.  

Pigeonhole/ Pidge 

Your pigeonhole is where you will receive all your post. They are next to the porters. 

Porters’ Lodge/ Plodge 

This is where the Porters are based. They are responsible for overseeing entry to the College and greeting visitors.  

Principal 

The Head of the College, Simon Woolley. Other colleges might have a Master, a Mistress, a Provost, a President, or a Warden. 

(In) Residence 

All matriculated students who are studying for full-time degrees are required to be in residence in Cambridge, unless they have been given approval to live elsewhere. This means living within a ten-mile radius of Great St Mary’s Church if you are a full-time postgraduate student. 

Term (Michaelmas, Lent, Easter) 

The three terms in the academic year are called Michaelmas (October-December), Lent (January-March), and Easter (April-June). Full Term refers to the eight-week periods during which undergraduate teaching takes place.  

Tutor 

Your College Tutor is responsible for your pastoral (as opposed to your academic) care. 

Vacation 

The periods between the terms. Postgraduate students will usually still have academic work to do during the vacation. 

Please see the College's Data Protection policy for information about our commitment to GDPR.