Lucy Cavendish College

Address:: Lucy Cavendish College (map)
Lady Margaret Road
Cambridge CB3 0BU
Telephone:: +44 1223 332190
Fax:: +44 1223 332178
Email:: lcc-admission@lists.cam.ac.uk
Website:: http://www.lucy-cav.cam.ac.uk/
MCR:: http://www.lucy-cav.cam.ac.uk/pages/students.php
See also:: Institution admissions pages, Graduate Studies Prospectus Entry.

Lucy Cavendish College (affectionately known as Lucy) is unique not only in Cambridge, but in the British higher education system: it is the only college with a mixed population of undergraduates and graduates that admits only women over the age of 21. Graduate students at Lucy therefore run no risk of feeling out of place in a community predominantly made up of much younger students, as in other Cambridge colleges, yet have the advantage of living in a vibrant environment, buoyed up by the enthusiasm of women returning to full-time education from a variety of backgrounds and from all over the world.

Currently, the college has about 100 graduate students, and is able to offer good accommodation to graduates for the full period of their Ph.D. or Master's degrees. The majority of the study-bedrooms have either en-suite facilities, or share with one other person, in bright, light, modern yet aesthetically pleasing, buildings. Kitchens are shared, and provide a focus for informal gatherings - and occasional healthy bitching about life. There is not much more formality at most college meals, at which Fellows, Senior Members and students chat happily together, as indeed they do at the weekly Formal Hall (gowns, waiter service and delicious food). There is an impressive 'trust' library, open 24 hours a day.

Lucy understands that the first priority of a graduate student is to have a good working environment, but doesn't neglect the social side of Cambridge life. There are regular meetings of graduates discussing their richly diverse work and common problems. There is no Middle Common Room, but graduates are encouraged to join in any of the activities arranged by the Students' Union, from mature student 'bops' to end-of-term punt trips. There is an excellently equipped gym, a brand new bar and the college shares other sporting facilities with other colleges. If this account does not seem to have presented a very 'alternative' view, that's because, by and large, Lucy really is good news for women graduates.