MAGDALENE COLLEGE

Located on the banks the River Cam, Magdalene is a hidden gem, tucked away on each side of Magdalene Street. Small, welcoming and packed full of interesting people, the College has a long history. Over the years the courts of Benson, Mallory and Buckingham have played host to prize winners, sporting greats, novelists, thespians and of course the famous Samuel Pepys. Today it is a place where 400 students from all walks of life call home, and where they lay the foundations for their future endeavours.

ACCOMMODATION AND FACILITIES AT MAGDALENE

Magdalene Outreach Team

Magdalene College is made up of an eclectic mix of buildings with a fascinating architectural history. Whilst this is part of the College’s charm, it does make it difficult to provide a description of a “standard” Magdalene room. Undergraduate accommodation is incredibly varied, ranging from spacious bedroom and sitting-room sets in the medieval First Court, to modern en-suite rooms in our newest Cripps Court accommodation. This does mean that the cost of College accommodation is also varied, so there are rooms that suit every budget. New students are allocated rooms before they arrive (though you can express your preference) and continuing students take part in room ballots which give everyone the opportunity to give a preference of where they would like to live and to live in different parts of the College throughout the course of their degree.

Within each set of accommodation there are small kitchen areas known as “gyp rooms”. Most gyp rooms in Magdalene have a combination microwave, induction hob, kettle and toaster, but this does vary slightly from staircase to staircase. Laundry rooms are situated in the Lutyens Building, Cripps Court and Thompson’s Lane. Magdalene rents include the cost of the room and basic utilities.

Tucked in amongst the mix of old buildings and beautiful lawns, Magdalene has excellent facilities for a wide range of sports, musical and dramatic productions, as well as academic and social pursuits. Magdalene shares outdoor sporting facilities with St John’s College just a few minutes walk away, including large playing fields, astroturf and hard surfaces. There is a small gym on site located at Cripps Court with a range of cardiovascular equipment including running and rowing machines. Cripps Court also houses several seminar rooms and an Auditorium, in addition to a Music Practice Room. For those looking to unwind, the College owns two punts if you’re brave enough to risk a dip in the Cam, and the College Bar is open every evening where you can get snacks, some amazing cocktails/mocktails and listen to? hits on the jukebox.

Last, but by no means least, Magdalene is home to not one, or two, but three Libraries. The Old Library houses the collection of rare books and manuscripts the College has collected over the years. The Pepys Library houses the diaries and private collection of Samuel Pepys (he of Fire of London fame) which he left to the College in 1703. And the College Library, currently on the ground floor of the Pepys Building but moving to the newly built library in 2021, is the working library for students and Fellows alike. Many find the College Library to be an ideal atmosphere in which to hunker down and finish off an essay, question paper or assessment, but the Library also frequently hosts exhibitions and the staff run?a great blog?showcasing everything they do.

THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MAGDALENE COLLEGE

Written by James Ball, Antonia Kefala-Stavridi and Lina Vassiliu

One of the things that greatly contributes to Magdalene’s distinctive character is its unique location. Magdalene College, situated at the north-western side of Cambridge’s town centre, extends over both sides of River Cam. Throughout their daily lives, students walk across the First and then Second Court, marked by the imposing Pepys Library, to reach the Riverside Path next to the Fellows Gardens. This is one of the most remarkable parts of College. A whole ecosystem is formed along that path. During autumn, the yellow leaves fall from the trees creating a golden blanket, which turns into an icy layer when winter hits. Spring and summer in Magdalene College are signified by the daffodils and other colourful flowers blooming all around the Fellows Gardens. Students often study or relax by the river, listening to the birds sing cheerfully. Many animals can be spotted throughout the year: squirrels, herons, swans, ducks and foxes. It is a real privilege for Magdalene students to be so close to nature.

Another important thing to know about Magdalene is that it has a vibrant student community. It is a relatively small College and thus gives the opportunity to its students to really get to know each other and form strong bonds and friendships. The committees are very active and work hard to organise events and activities for everyone. Through these, people have the opportunity to meet and interact with their fellow College members. The JCR community feels like a big group of friends. Anywhere you go around College, you are sure to see smiling, familiar and welcoming faces. This provides Magdalene students with a sense of safety and makes College feel like home. You know that many of your friends at Magdalene will be friends for life.

A third thing that makes Magdalene unique is that it hosts special events in very beautiful venues; events that no other College has. Magdalene is one of the few Colleges which give students the opportunity to eat in Formal Hall every single day of the week. But it doesn’t stop there: Magdalene is the only College whose formal dinners are lit exclusively by candles. Our beautiful candlelit hall makes formal dining even more extraordinary, giving students and their guests the feeling they are travelling into the past, living the Cambridge experience at its core. Furthermore, the Magdalene College May Ball is one of the greatest and most anticipated events in Cambridge. It takes place every other year and is one of the two white-tie May Balls in Cambridge, making it even more unique. But even smaller-scale events are well planned and widely appreciated by the Magdalene community: Ceilidhs, BOPs, Banquets and other activities are organized frequently and are extremely fun, giving the Magdalene Community the chance to bond even more.