Arriving to live somewhere new, especially if it is a city or country that you don’t know well, can be confusing. When you come to Cambridge, in addition to all the usual arrangements, you will need to prepare for important registration and induction events in the College and in your department. At Hughes Hall we work hard to help new students settle in well, this page provides some guidance on the main things you will need to consider.
Arrival: You should plan to arrive to begin your studies on your Registration Day. For information about this please the Arrival section
Accommodation: The College has accommodation available for students, please see the Accommodation section
Travel: There is some guidance about making arrangements to travel to Cambridge available below
Induction and Matriculation: Induction Day is an important event for new students at the start of October, you will be required to attend it
Disability and Medical: We strive to provide appropriate support for disabled students, please see the section on Disability and Medical
IT: It will be useful to plan ahead for your IT induction to College and the University
Personal Safety: Guidance documents on being safe and secure
Please Remember: Some essential additional points
Other Guidance: Links to other sources of information, guidance, and welcome
You will be provided with information about applying for college accommodation during the application process. Please ensure you submit your preference form and any other information requested in good time. Please see the main accommodation page for new students, and information about fees and charges.
If you have been allocated a college room you will collect your room key and sign your room licence at your College Registration Day. Please check your confirmation letter to ensure you arrive on the right day; if you are allocated to college accommodation and wish to arrive early you will need to arrange this in advance. College rooms are located on the main college site and in houses in the nearby area.
You should plan to arrive on your College Registration Day as detailed in your college confirmation letter. For helpful travel information about coming to Cambridge, please see our Arriving in Cambridge guide.
Registration is a vital administrative process: until you have registered and matriculated you will not be considered an official member of the College or the University. The Registration Days are organised by the College to fit around the various course start dates and they take into account mandatory pre-sessional courses. It is important that you attend on your scheduled day.
On your College Registration Day you will:
Induction Day is the Saturday before the start of term, which in 2017 is Saturday 30th September. The day starts promptly at 10:00am and you must attend. This is the official start of the year, with welcome, introduction to key people (including your Tutor), free lunch and the annual college photograph.
College Matriculation Dinner is a special dinner, provided by the College (free to you) to celebrate your new membership of the College. You can find the date of your dinner on your confirmation letter. You will be given a form to complete on your Registration Day to confirm your attendance.
There is a calendar of College events in the About Us section of this website.
The College and the University work together to offer the maximum possible support to all disabled students. The earlier we are aware of any disability, the better we are able to ensure that all the arrangements you require are in place before you start here (e.g. study skills support, suitable accommodation and exam access arrangements). You may also find that you are eligible for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) or other available funding to support your needs. If you would like support, please contact the College’s Disability Equality Officer. The University’s Disability Resource Centre can provide further guidance, tel: +44 1223 332301, email: disability@admin.cam.ac.uk.
There is additional guidance about equality and diversity at Hughes Hall in the About Us section.
It is essential all students register with a local doctor whilst studying. To do this you may need to request a letter confirming your status as a student using your Personal Information page which becomes active after registration and can be accessed from the Student Centre section. A list of local Medical Centres is available here. Try contacting them in advance to find out what information they will need to register you. (NB If you are on a 1 year course and there is less than 6 months left on your course when you register with the doctor, you will be charged for any treatment/consultation.)
The first two weeks are filled with introductory sessions, both at college and in the departments, completing administrative tasks and formal induction into the university and college.
There are many other University organisations which provide welcome activities and/or useful services. These include:
Useful websites for international students:
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Hughes Hall,
Cambridge, CB1 2EW
Reg. Charity 1137471
© 2018 Hughes Hall.
