CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE …cumsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/freshers_guide_2013.pdfThe Cambridge University Malaysia and Singapore Association (CUMSA) was founded

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE ASSOCIATION

(CUMSA) Freshersrsquo Guide 2013

Contents 1 About CUMSA 2 General Points about Cambridge 3 Pre-departure Checklist 4 Flying Off 5 Settling in 6 Life in Cambridge 7 Glossary of Terms

About CUMSA

Presidentrsquos Foreword Dear Fresher Coming to Cambridge can be an intimidating prospect for anyone ndash it is an ocean compared to the half-filled swimming pool from which we so recently come (whether that is national service or the endless days of gaping nothingness after graduating from school) In fact CUMSA can also at a passing glance seem similarly daunting Founded by Mr Lee Kwan Yew in the fall of 1948 it was initially a gathering place for South-east Asian intellectualism with all the energy of their formative years However CUMSA is now a very different beast from what it once was (after all itrsquos now being run by a fool like me) From that initial pool of 12 students (I like to think of them as a rather serious bunch) CUMSA has grown into an organization comprising over 300 and entirely different in terms of how we serve the student body - more hugs and hi-fives than heated regional debate (though therersquos plenty of that too) As you will see over your first year our somewhat serious sounding history has translated into something rather more colourful Similarly you may find that Cambridge doesnrsquot quite adhere to whatever impression you may have formed I wish to argue that this is a good thing To those reading this when yoursquore supposed to (ie before your arrival rather than digging this out of your closet later when you have nothing better to do as I admittedly did) many of your apprehensions will be entirely unfounded You will be hard pressed to feel lonely as you not only have your course mates but also the closely knit communities of the colleges and naturally CUMSA Yes the work will be hard but you will have the weight of your tutors and friends behind you in support As for those things you are most looking forward to you may find they only get better The colleges become even more stunning as season changes to season and the sort of

About CUMSA opportunities available outside the classroom beggar belief in terms of number and sheer brilliance Whatever the perspective from which you read this it is my sincere hope that your first impressions will be (or have been) proved wrong In trying to make that process a seamless as possible - whether that be relief from said apprehension or the exceeding of already great expectations ndash CUMSA aims to make the Singaporean community a contributing part of that experience By putting on social events such as the CUMSA Ball Garden Party and Oxbridge games amongst a host of others it is our aim to bring the community together In this way we not only deliver a great time we also provide a little slice of Singaporeana when one needs comfort in something familiar Beyond that we also look after other aspects of student welfare as this booklet demonstrates Here we present useful advice about your journey to Cambridge and introduce some of those tools with which we hope to ease your transition such as the CUMSA family and events on arrival We look forward to meeting you all soon If you find yourself unsure about anything feel free to drop me a line at any time Yours Greg Teo President 1314 Cambridge University Malaysia and Singapore Association presidentcumsaorg

About CUMSA

Sponsors CUMSA would like to thank our following sponsors for their great support

About CUMSA

CUMSA Committee 2013-2014

President Gregory Teo Christrsquos College Law presidentcumsaorg Secretary Celeste Wee Homerton College Natural Sciences secretarycumsaorg Treasurer Julie Lim Sidney Sussex College Engineering treasurercumsaorg Sponsorship Officer Stacey-Ann Lee Churchill College Natural Sciences sponsorshipcumsaorg Sports Secretary Tay Shi Huan Fitzwilliam College Natural Sciences sportscumsaorg Publicity Secretary Daniel Yee Fitzwilliam College Law publicitycumsaorg

Events Officer Daniel Ng Fitzwilliam College Medicine eventscumsaorg Welfare Officer Choo Le Qin Fitzwilliam College Natural Sciences welfarecumsaorg Logistics Officer Timothy Tay Hughes Hall College Natural Sciences logisticscumsaorg Database Officer Darren Foong Trinity Hall College Computer Science databasecumsaorg Graduate Representative Huang Hongsheng Hughes Hall College PhD gradrepcumsaorg

About CUMSA

A Short History of CUMSA

The Cambridge University Malaysia and Singapore Association (CUMSA) was founded in Michaelmas term of 1948 as the Cambridge University Malayan Association (CUMA) with Lee Kuan Yew as its first President and Yong Pung How as its first Secretary Back then CUMA had only 12 members In 1960 CUMA formally became CUMSA and even when Malaysia and Singapore separated in 1965 CUMSA remained as one Over the past 62 years CUMSA has come a long way However we have remained true to our key founding aim of representing the interests and welfare of Malaysian and Singaporean students in Cambridge Though the means and methods may have evolved over time our resolve to serve remains unchanged CUMSA now boasts a membership of close to 300 and we take pride in the fact that CUMSA is one of the most vibrant and active student societies in Cambridge Our activities include formal halls bops the annual CUMSA Ball talks weekly sports among many others We also participate in events such as the Oxbridge games where we get to display our sporting prowess against (and interact with) Singaporeans and Malaysians from other UK universities All these events hope to enhance the strong bonds of friendship that exist within the Malaysian and Singaporean community in Cambridge and the UK Do remember to come down for the exciting upcoming Fresherrsquos Orientation camp in Singapore Also do join us at the CUMSA booth at the University Societiesrsquo Fair held at Kelsey Kerridge Sports Hall (opposite the road from Parkersrsquo Piece) At our booth you can sign up to be a CUMSA member and enjoy all the benefits that come with being a part of this historic society

General Pointers

Weather and Climate

The weather and climate in Cambridge is very different from the tropical climate that we experience near the equator ndash and this can be a very interesting and refreshing change from what we are used to One thing to get used to would be the extreme variability of the weather climate and hours of sunshine throughout the year One day it could be 20 degrees with sunshine and the next it could be 10 degrees and raining with strong winds Do note that Cambridge is in the driest region of Britain though so moisturisers would be very helpful in preventing your skin from cracking

General Pointers Michaelmas

term Lent term Easter term

Weather A little rain throughout the term There may very rarely be hail

Some rain a few episodes of snowfall and some hail (There was 10 inches of snowfall in one night ndash one of the heaviest in recent years in Lent 2011)

Sunshine Joy

Temperature 10-20 degC at the start of term becoming progressively colder before reaching 5-15 degC at the end of term

0-10 degC throughout most of the term sometimes dipping to -5 - -10degC during the night Around 5-15 degC at the end of term

Around 10-20 degC throughout the entire term ndash but be warned that temperature is particularly variable in Easter term with cold spells (Rarely exceeds 25 degC even in June)

Hours of sunshine

The sun will initially set around 7pm and progressively earlier until it sets around 4pm by the end of term (So if yoursquore biking bring your bike lights)

The sun sets around 3-4pm at the start of term and progressively later every day until it sets around 6pm by the end of term

The sun sets around 8pm at the start of term and progressively later until there are still traces of daylight around 10pm by the end of term

Disclaimer These generalisations of the type of weather to expect are based on the academic year 201213 and 201112 and are by no means an accurate forecast of what will be in store for you A good gauge would be the BBC weather forecast (httpwwwbbccoukweather2653941)

General Pointers

British Summer Time

The UK will switch from British Summer Time (+0100 GMT) to GMT at 1am on Sunday 27 October 2013 signalling the end of Daylight Saving time as the clocks are set back by an hour Daylight Saving will commence on Sunday 30 March 2014 with the clocks adjusted forward by an hour at +0100 GMT

Term dates You will usually only be required to be in Cambridge for the whole of lsquoFull Termrsquo not lsquoTermrsquo However it is best to check with your college if there is any need to be in college outside of Full Term before booking any flights (Eg some colleges and some courses have mock examinations just before the start of Lent term requiring you to return to Cambridge slightly before Full Term) Also most colleges require you to keep term (which means you have to fulfil a minimum number of days of staying on campus) Do note that lectures will only start on Thursday two days after the start of the Full Term The Full Term dates for the academic year 201314 are Michaelmas Term Tue 8 Oct 2013- Fri 6 Dec 2013 Lent Term Tue 14 Jan 2014- Fri 14 Mar 2014 Easter Term Tue 22 April 2014- Fri 13 Jun 2014 For more information refer to httpwwwcamacukunivtermdateshtml As you can see term breaks are pretty long and people usually travel a lot then Before you plan any trips during Easter break (break before Easter term also known as ldquostudy breakrdquo) do remember to allocate some time to prepare for the Tripos Exams in MayJune

Pre-departure checklist

Checklist 1 Medical Clearance Get a check-up before coming to avoid having to have one at Heathrow airport You will need to have a chest x-ray with its report and a medical examination report As you will need to take your x-ray with you in your hand luggage for your initial visa clearance at Heathrow you could try requesting for an A4 size x-ray plate (or smaller) for easier handling ndash or to roll up your x-ray into a certificate tube (though this may cause some damage to the x-ray if done improperly) Do note that sometimes the x-ray is not asked for at immigration but it is always good to have it on hand if you can If you are on a scholarship and have had a check-up as part of your scholarship requirements ask your scholarship board for a copy of the chest x-ray and medical examination report from that check-up ndash this will usually suffice Immunisation against meningitis is strongly advised before coming You can get immunisation jabs for meningitis and MMR at Tan Tock Seng Travellerrsquos Health and Vaccination Centre or most other clinics Different colleges will have different immunisation policies ndash do check with your college Whichever college you are in you will need to register with a GP soon after you arrive at Cambridge - your college will provide you with more details about this After registration with your GP you will be able to make appointments with the clinic whenever you are ill and have a consultation under the NHS at no cost

Useful Information

If you are studying at Cambridge

for not less than 6 months and are

under 24 you are eligible for NHS

coverage and can enjoy free

immunisation from your GP in the

UK


Checklist 2 Application for Entry Clearance aka Visa It is a prerequisite for holders of a Singaporean or Malaysian passport to apply for an Entry Clearance if enrolled in a programme of study of more than 6 months This can be applied for at (SINGAPORE) (MALAYSIA) 138 Robinson Road Suite 1906 19th Floor 07-09 Wisma MCA The Corporate Office 163 Jalan Ampang 50450 Singapore 068906 Kuala Lumpur Telephone 62277828 Telephone (03) 21649323 Email infosingvfshelplinecom Email infoukmyvfshelplinecom There is now a stream-lined process as Singapore and Malaysia are low-risk countries so not all documents listed below will be requested or checked but it is definitely best to have them on hand to provide evidence if questioned Note that due to new biometrics requirements you will have to apply for your visa in person to provide a ten-finger scan and a digital photograph as part of the UK visa application process Documents needed (as of 26th July 2013)

1 Application form VAF9 completed online and signed by you (from the VFS website)

2 Completed copy of the self-assessment form Appendix 8

3 Two recent good quality passport-sized photographs (check httpwwwukbahomeofficegovuksitecontentapplicationformsflrphotoguidance0409pdf for specifications)

4 Current passport valid for at least 6 months and any previous passports

5 Singapore employmentdependentstudent passblue identity card

6 Letter of unconditional acceptance from the UniversityCollegeSchool in the UK including CAS reference number It should show the course of study the course starting date its duration and costs (This letter will usually be from your college but you may need to request for them to add in all the information required)

7 Previous educational qualificationscertificates

Pre-departure checklist 8 Evidence of funds (eg bank statements for the last three months) to show that you can pay for your stay and your course of studies in the UK AS quoted from the website

ldquoYou must show that you have held the required money for a consecutive 28-day period (finishing on the date of the closing balance) ending no more than one month before your application

hellip

You can use the following documents to show money that is available to you

personal bank or building society statements covering a consecutive 28-day period ending no more than one month before the date of your application

a building society pass book covering a consecutive 28-day period ending no more than one month before the date of your application

a letter from a bank confirming that funds have been held for a consecutive 28-day period ending no more than one month before the date of your application

a letter from a financial institution confirming that funds have been held for a consecutive 28-day period ending no more than one month before the date of your application

a letter from a financial institution confirming a loan dated no more than six months before the date of your applicationrdquo httpwwwukbahomeofficegovukvisas-immigrationstudyingadult-studentsevidencemoney

If the bank account you are intending to use is held under your parentrsquos name additional documents are required

ldquoIf a student is relying on money held by your parents(s) or legal guardian you must show that you are related to your parent(s) or legal guardian You must provide

your birth certificate showing the names of your parent(s) or

your certificate of adoption showing names of both parent(s) or legal guardian or

a court document naming your legal guardian

Pre-departure checklist You must also show that your parent(s) or legal guardian have given their permission for you to use this money To do this you must provide a letter from your parent(s) or legal guardian confirming

your relationship with your parent(s) or legal guardian and

their permission for you to use their funds to study in the UKrdquo httpwwwukbahomeofficegovukvisas-immigrationstudyingadult-studentsevidencemoney

If your studies are sponsored you will need a letter from your sponsor following the guidelines stated by the UKBA website

ldquoIn any other circumstances where you are being given official financial sponsorship you must provide send us a letter of confirmation from your official financial sponsor The letter must be on the organisations official letter-headed paper or stationery and must bear the organisations official stamp It must show

your name

the official financial sponsors name and contact details

the date of the letter

the length of the sponsorship and

the amount of money that the official financial sponsor is giving to you or a statement that it will cover all of your course fees and living costsrdquo httpwwwukbahomeofficegovukvisas-immigrationstudyingadult-studentsevidencemoney

9 Application fee (~S$59300 for Tier 4 correct as of 26th July) Payment is by debit or credit card (Visa or Mastercard) httpwwwukbahomeofficegovukcountriessingaporefees

Other reminders

Visa Application Submission ndash Monday to Friday 800 - 1400 by appointment only You need to make an appointment on the website before showing up at the visa office This can only be done after submitting your application online

Document Collection - Monday to Friday 1400 - 1600


There are strict security measures that prohibit bringing of items such as food handphones and bags in They will be kept at the door

Your passport will be collected and sent to the office for processing with your documents for a few days

Most students apply for their visa through Tier 4 (General Student) but do check which tier applies to you

For all documents submitted bring a photocopy just in case

For the guys remember to apply for your exit permit For more information refer to httpwwwvfs-uk-sgcom httpwwwvfs-uk-mycom

Useful Information

Do note that your applications will

require a CAS number from your

College will all the accompanying

information This should come in a

document sent out to you by your

College or Tutorial Office Do keep

an eye out for it as you wonrsquot be

able to submit your application

without it


Checklist 3 Application for Certificate of No Criminal Conviction (CNCC) (Also known as Certificate of Clearance) Note This is only required for those reading Medicine and those intending to embark on local community service

programmes in the UK For non-medicine students you can only apply for a CNCC when you are back in Singapore after at least your first term You will then need a letter from the society in Cambridge stating that you need the certificate to embark on community projects There is also an option of applying for it in Cambridge (though it involves having your fingerprints taken at a police station and mailing them and all your documents back to Singapore) If you are currently residing in Singapore you will have to apply in person at CNCC Office Blk D Police Cantonment Complex 02-0708 391 New Bridge Road Singapore 088762 Telephone 64358275 64358277 Opening times 830am ndash 1230 Mondays to Fridays You will need to bring the following

1 Completed application form (available from the link below or at the application centre itself)

2 Photocopies of your current passport 3 Documentary proof of previous stay in Singapore for non-

Singaporeans 4 Documentary proof from the immigration authority requiring the

certificate (in this case the universityCollege acceptance letter and the CRB records check form that you should have received)

5 Two passport-sized photographs (though note that there is an instant photo machine outside the CNCC office)

6 A fee of S$4500 to be paid via NETS cash card or credit card 7 A full set of fingerprint impressions will be taken by the qualified

fingerprint officer at the CNCC office Note that you will have to exchange some form of ID for a security pass to enter the CNCC office and that it will take at least 10 days to process the application For more information refer to

Pre-departure checklist httpwwwspfgovsgepccert_issuedhtm The form is available at the office or can be downloaded here

httpwwwspfgovsgfaqsdoccoc_appformpdf

Checklist 4 Plane tickets baggage allowances and shipping When booking your plane tickets let the agent or airline know that you are a new student and will be in residence in

the UK for the next 3-4 years and request for additional baggage allowance This is particularly important as the usual baggage allowance is just 20kg and an additional 5 or 10kg can make quite a lot of difference Usual airline baggage allowances - SIA 20kg - BA 2x23kg - Emirates 30kg Check with different airlines to find one that meets your budget travel and baggage allowance needs (eg Emirates and Qatar can be really cheap but require a stopover which can be a bit of a hassle and sometimes stressful) Booking with STA Travels may give you better luggage allowance (with BA its 2x23kg for students through STA but 1x23kg for normal folks) Excess baggage However even if you do manage to get additional baggage allowance it can still be rather difficult to stay within the baggage allowance You may manage to check-in more than your allowance without incurring excess baggage charges and for this checking in your baggage early is recommended Another tip is to tell them yoursquore a student leaving for your studies If you do incur excess baggage charges they can be rather pricey even if you will normally not be charged for the full amount of excess baggage that you have If you wish to avoid the hassle of having excess baggage you can ship your less-essential items over to Cambridge You may do so through Speedpost (httpwwwspeedpostcomsg) or DHL (~$230+ for a 20kg box) (httpwwwdhlcomsg) Do check ask your College for your address in Cambridge and find out from them if theyrsquoll be accepting items for you before the start of term) Your address should look something like this (Example for Fitzwilliam College)

Pre-departure checklist Le Qin CHOO (Note surname conventionally comes after your first name) Fitzwilliam College Cambridge CB3 0DG (Note postal code varies depending on College) Cambridge England UK

Checklist 5 What should I be packing Or not ISICNUS cards

The International Studentsrsquo Identity Card (ISIC) is sometimes useful because itrsquos a widely accepted student ID Itrsquos not really recognised in Cambridge but accepted throughout London and many parts of Europe if yoursquore looking for student discounts It entitles you to various discounts and concessions throughout the world and also allows you to apply for a student coach card at Heathrow Central Bus Station for use on National Express coaches (You will not have your university card then and you might want to get a coach card as soon as possible to maximise the discounts when travelling on National Express coaches) You can obtain an ISIC card either on its own in Singapore or Malaysia or as part of a National Union of Students (NUS) extra card which is more expensive but also gives you additional UK-specific discounts Visit httpwwwistcorg for more details including what documents yoursquoll need to apply for one It costs $15 if you apply in Singapore and pound10 in the UK ISIC cards are available at STA Travel

LaptopWebcam It will probably be worth buying a laptop in Singapore especially at the various PC fairs held throughout the year A webcam will also come in useful though do check with your college if they allow you to use one (some may not due to the heavy internet usage)

Rice cookers Rice cookers can be essential for making cooking easier but some colleges may not allow their use Yoursquoll find a far greater selection of rice cookers in Singapore than in the UK but they do take up a huge amount of luggage space


Clothing (Winter Wear)

Winter clothing is best bought in the UK as there is definitely a wider range to choose from and prices are often cheaper A light coat and a couple of sweaters from home should be enough until November when it starts getting colder and a proper winter coat will be needed It probably will not get cold enough to warrant long johns or thermal wear but if you are extremely sensitive to cold they might be a good idea There are massive sales at the end of the year (post-Christmas) where prices of virtually everything are slashed by up to 70 - an ideal time to shop if you happen to be in the UK over the Christmas holidays These sales can stretch till mid-January (start of Lent term) though many items would have been sold by then If yoursquore back home instead during December stores like Zara and Mango in SingaporeMalaysia may also have end-of-season sales during December and January where you can usually buy some winter wear

Clothing (Formal Wear)

For ladies this means a set of smart-casual wear like a smart blouse and black skirttrousers complemented by court shoes for matriculation Do note however that this differs between colleges ndash some matriculations only require a semi-formalsmart dress with the college gown (donrsquot worry about the gown as yoursquoll be sold one during freshers week) If yoursquod like to find out specifically regarding your College matriculation speak to seniors or a committee member Evening-wear like cocktail dresses are often needed for balls and society dinners which may be black-tie Other semi-formal dresses can be worn for formal halls Men should bring a dark suit with tie and dress shoes for formal occasions ndash an absolute ldquomust-bringrdquo A


dinner-jacket (the kind you wear with a bow-tie) will also come in useful if you plan to attend black-tie events though you may not necessarily need it and you can afford to acquire it later on

Books Although textbooks are sometimes cheaper in Singapore and Malaysia than in the UK theyrsquore heavy and will take up a lot of your baggage allowance so it would be best to check with a senior doing your subject to make sure that they are really essential Other options for getting books include - Libraries Every college has a well-stocked library and each department also has huge collections of books relevant to your subject - Bookstores Blackwells Heffers and WHSmith in the centre of town often hold textbook sales at the start of the acdemic year and there are sections with second-hand books There are also ongoing promotions throughout the year so this is a definite option - Online You can also look to amazoncouk for a cheaper option although do take the shipping fees into consideration when browsing - Seniors Within your College or course there may be second-hand book sales as well (eg university-level MedSoc holds a second-hand book sale outside the lecture site at the start of term but you have to be quick because they get snapped up fast) Alternatively speak to seniors you know doing your subject and they may have books they would like to sell off - Shipping If yoursquod rather buy your books at home you may want to consider shipping your books over ndash but do note that surface mail usually takes about four to six weeks to arrive so yoursquoll have to send your box at least a month before departure (Alternatively you could try begging a senior with extra luggage spacehellip)

Stationery Most stationery is considerably more expensive in the UK ndash a Pilot G-TEC pen for example can cost around


pound250 Useful items to bring along would be mechanical pencils with refills correction fluidtape highlighters and your favourite brand of pens with refills Be warned that your favourite brand of pens may not be available in the UK (many Uniball pens arenrsquot) Depending on your course you may also need graph paper and mathematical sets Check if your calculator is allowed for use in exams

Toiletries Contact lenses and solutions are expensive so you could consider bringing enough to last until you return home to restock (though keep your baggage allowance in mind) Most brands of toiletries (Dove Colgate etc) are available in the UK ndash check out the following websites for an idea of what is available Boots httpwwwbootscouk Sainsburyrsquos httpwwwsainsburyscouk Tesco httpwwwtescocouk Superdrug wwwsuperdrugcom As the weather in the UK is dry and windy lip balm and moisturiser (even for the guys) will come in handy and prevent your lipsskin from cracking or peeling You can either bring them from home or buy them in the UK You might find that the moisturisers you buy in UK are more suited for the climate there

Foodstuff If there is any particular food that you feel you cannot spend a term (or more) without it may be good to bring some to chase away the homesick blues Do check if it can be brought into the UK though However there are also provision shops in Cambridge that sell familiar brands at an affordable price albeit still higher than in Singapore including a Chinese and Korean supermarket that sell premixes sauces and many other things Even Tesco sells Yeorsquos bee hoon If you canrsquot find it in Cambridge you probably can in Chinatown in Leicester Square London


Gadgetselectronics 1 Check with your college parents or your friendly welfare officer whether your college allows the gadgets you are thinking of bringing

2 As some rooms may not have enough power points a multi-plug with switches may come in handy although these are available in the UK On this note though some colleges come with excessive number of power points

3 Do check with your airline if they cover your expensive appliances should they become damaged in transit

4 If you are unsure if that gadget you have your eye on is available in the UK or are debating if it is worth buying here and bringing it over check out httpwwwargoscouk for a rough gauge of what items you can buy from Argos and their approximate price

5 Do bring a LAN cable along as most colleges do not provide them


Miscellaneous items to consider

1 It would be good to bring about half a dozen passport-sized photos which are essential for library cards college cards society membership cards and a railcard

2 An alarm clock would be good for those early morning lectures Or the one on your handphone will do as well

3 Rubber flip-flops are not easily found in the UK in autumnwinter and are very useful for padding around or going to the shower in so do bring along a pair

4 Photos of your friends and family 5 Chopsticks if you are intending to cook

Driving licences if you intend to drive in the UK ndash though if not driving licences can still come in handy as proof of your age when you enter pubs or purchase knives (yes they check ID for knives) or alcohol For Malaysians an International Driversrsquo Licence is required Do note however that undergraduate students are not allowed to own cars in Cambridge in order to control the car population size Driving into town will probably take you more time than walking or biking there anywayhellip


Checklist 6 Setting up a bank account from home It can be more convenient to set up a UK student bank account from home as if your bank account is ready when you reach the UK you will save the hassle of living for a week or two without a bank account (banks in the UK can take about 3 weeks or more to give you a fully functioning bank account ndash but this depends very much on the bank and when you sign up) The only UK bank that allows you to set up a bank account from home is HSBC ndash which is widely used (amongst other banks such as Barclays LLoyds and Natwest) in the UK Do check with your local HSBC branch for more details if you wish to set up a bank account from home There are two accounts that allow you to do so ndash these are HSBC Advance (httpwwwhsbccomsg12hsbc-advancehsbc-advance) and HSBC Premier (httpwwwhsbccomsg12hsbcpremier) In Singapore the only HSBC branch that allows you to set up a bank account in the UK is at Claymore Premier Centre Herersquos the address Claymore Premier Centre 6 Claymore Hill 02-01 Claymore Plaza Singapore 229571 Do call 1800-227-8886 to find out more More links to look at before you fly off

1 httpwwwcamacuk - Cambridge Universityrsquos official website 2 httpwwwcumsaorg - CUMSArsquos website 3 httpwwwinternationalcusucamacuk - iCUSUrsquos website 4 httpwwwcolccouk - A very comprehensive site which gives you

a good introduction to Cambridge 5 httpwwwthestudentroomcouk - A UK studentsrsquo forum with a

Cambridge sub-forum where you can ask questions and interact with other Cambridge students

Arriving at Cambridge

Register your flight details with CUMSA You might want to update your flight details with CUMSA on the Facebook Group so that you can locate other freshers and seniors who are travelling on the same flight as you are It is definitely less daunting to find the Central Bus Station in Heathrow and getting to Cambridge with a companion

Baggage issues As mentioned previously it is ideal to check in your luggage early particularly if your baggage happens to be overweight Do note however that under airport safety regulations no one piece of your baggage can exceed 32kg Do also check out the hand luggage restrictions of any airports you may be transiting in

Immigration After disembarking join the queue for foreigners entering the UK (usually the longest queue) There may be a special queue opened for students so do watch out for that Have at hand the following

1 Letter of unconditional acceptance from your college 2 Letter of financial guarantee 3 Health reports 4 X-ray plate 5 Exit permit for Singaporean males 6 Passport containing your UK Entry Clearance (Visa) 7 CAS

Yoursquoll probably be asked a few routine questions before your visa will be finalised at the immigration counter itself (as an entry stamp in your Entry Clearance)


Health Check-up At the sides of the immigration section there are health clinics where you can go for your check-up ndash if you havenrsquot taken the necessary immunisation jabs or chest x-ray you can take them here However this is troublesome and tiring and itrsquos easier to just have had your chest x-ray and medical check-up etc in Singapore or Malaysia

Customs After collecting your baggage walk through the Green Channel if you have nothing to declare If an official stops you explain that you are a student and that all the items in your luggage are for your own use only

Getting to Cambridge from Heathrow

By coach This is by far the most convenient way though not the cheapest (It is well worth the extra few pounds for the convenience though) The ride will take just below 3 hours

Follow the signs in Heathrow to the Central Bus Station (it is quite a long walk) where you can purchase your ticket along with a coach card if you feel that itrsquos worth the money Make sure that yoursquore alighting at Parkside along Parkersrsquo Piece (Just select Cambridge as the destination) A one-way ticket would cost you below pound30 Alternatively purchase the tickets online at nationalexpresscom choosing the journey from Heathrow T1and T3 to CAMBRIDGE Locate the bus bay from which the coach to Cambridge is departing Coach drivers may help you with your luggage ndash remember to say thank you or cheers Be aware that the coach might make more than one stop (most coaches from Heathrow to Cambridge will at least stop by Stansted Airport) people alighting at different places will have their luggage put into different storage compartments in the coach so check with the coach driver to make sure that your luggage goes into the right compartment


By Tube and coach Possibly the cheapest way of getting to Cambridge particularly if you manage to purchase a fun-fare ticket from London Victoria (central) to Cambridge Normal tickets cost below pound12 one-way However this route is not recommended especially if you happen to be travelling with heavy luggage You could travel by the Underground (Piccadilly Line) from Heathrow to Victoria Station From there ask for directions to the Victoria Coach Station or follow the signs ndash itrsquos about a 10 minute walk from the Tube station The National Express London-Cambridge coach services leave every hour ndash check httpwwwnationalexpresscom for exact prices and confirmed schedules

By Tube and train This is possibly the fastest route but can also be rather inconvenient particularly with heavy luggage Frequent train services run from London Kingrsquos Cross station to Cambridge It is easiest to get to these stations by the Underground from Heathrow Buy a ticket for about pound2120 one-way before boarding and be on the train 10 minutes before boarding time Check out httpwwwnationalrailcouk for details Do be warned however that the train station in Cambridge is not very near the city centre where most of the colleges are located (the only college closer to the train station than the coach station is Homerton) and you will probably need to take a bus or a taxi from the train station to your college


Arrival in Cambridge

If you arrive at Parkside by National Express you will be on the East side of Parkerrsquos Piece opposite the fire station (refer to map) If you are heading for nearby colleges like Emmanuel Hughes Hall Christrsquos or Downing you can get to your college on foot otherwise you might want to hire a cab to your college depending on how far away it is There will be a nearby taxi stand Ask a senior or your CUMSA parent If yoursquore coming by train taking a cab is the wisest choice as the train station is some distance away from most colleges and it can be difficult travelling on buses with your luggage (in addition to the fact that your college may not be near the bus stops) Remember for cab trips it is always more worthwhile to go by the meter rather than the price recommended by the driver If you are finding it difficult to get a cab at the taxi ranks (there is one outside the train station and slightly down the road from where the coach will stop) you can call for a Panther Taxi - 01223 715 715 Just tell them where you are (ldquoCambridge Rail Stationrdquo or ldquoCambridge Parkside Parkerrsquos Piecerdquo) and where you will be going (eg ldquoFitzwilliam College Storeyrsquos Way entrance)


Finding your college It may be difficult to navigate around Cambridge to find your college ndash so do arrange to be met by seniors if possible possibly by getting in touch with them when you know what time your bustrain will arrive in Cambridge If you donrsquot know who to approach do contact CUMSA for help Otherwise make sure you have a map of Cambridge handy and just ask around for directions to your collegersquos Portersrsquo Lodge (Main entrance)

College administration Upon arriving at your college proceed to the Portersrsquo Lodge to register yourself and collect your keys (Despite what their job title implies the porters ndash refer to Glossary ndash are not obliged to help you with your luggage and in fact they seldom do They are however very nice and very friendly people Also if you intend to arrive before Full Term or your room lease starts do make sure to have contacted your college Tutor Tutorial Office or Admissions Office in advance to obtain permission to stay in your allocated room before your lease starts) Obtain passwords for Cambridge accounts such as Hermes (your email) and Raven (widely used for various restricted sites) Do check your email regularly as notices and most emails will be sent to your camacuk account Your username will be your initials followed by a number eg abc12 and your email will then be abc12camacuk You will need to make an appointment to see your Tutor and Director of Studies (DoS) to settle college administration and receive lecture schedules for the term Theyrsquoll usually email you at your new Cambridge email address or leave a message for you in your pigeonholes which are usually found at the Porters Lodge (this is also where all your snail mail goes) Your collegersquos JCR (Junior Combination Room ndash refer to Glossary) will have organised many freshersrsquo activities ndash do take part in them to meet up with your college mates Also do take college matriculation photos and get oriented around your college particularly with the JCR and post-room

Getting around in Cambridge

The NHS

As a student on a course of 6 months or longer yoursquoll be covered under the NHS Yoursquoll need to register with a GP in Cambridge Obtain from your college tutor seniors or porters a list of GPs near your college that you can register with You

can also register with a dentist if you wish though it is unlikely that yoursquoll be covered under the NHS with dentists If you havenrsquot already had your meningitis vaccination you can make an appointment with your GP clinic to get your vaccination ndash for free if you happen to be in the eligible age group (which will usually be the case) If you want to see a doctor or a nurse yoursquoll usually have to make an appointment for later in the day or for another day Remember to be on time because they are very strict with appointments While consultations are free prescriptions will cost around pound650 to fill at a pharmacy And lastly do remember to keep the NHS letter which tells you that yoursquore qualified for NHS


Things to buy Gowns Yoursquoll have to get a college gown for matriculation though some colleges such as Homerton Hughes Hall only require a formal suit (Do check with your seniors on what is needed) Each college has a unique gown and you can buy a new one for around pound40-50 from shops such as Ryder amp Amies Ede amp Ravenscroft and AE Clothier or from your collegersquos Portersrsquo Lodge Alternatively you can buy one second hand from seniors (make sure itrsquos the correct college) or from the Portersrsquo Lodge Itrsquos not a bad investment given that most colleges will require this for matriculation and formal halls

Home improvement items Most items that yoursquoll need can be obtained from Argos at Fitzroy Street (near Grafton Centre ndash refer to map) Check out httpwwwargoscouk for an idea of what is available Alternatively some items will be available around the city centre in places such as Boots and Sainsburyrsquos Also although the nearest Tesco is some distance away (along Newmarket Road) itrsquos an excellent place to get some really cheap items You should get them early before they get snatched off the shelves Note Keep the boxes that your appliances come in as you will need them again when you pack up your room for the holidays or move to another room in your second year Kitchen items As the water in Cambridge is hard water (with too much calcium) water filter jugs are almost essential to improve the clarity of the tap water you drink ndash though tap water is drinkable unless stated Kettles are also very useful You can get them at places like Argos or Boots Cutlery and crockery sold singly are quite expensive and they usually come in sets of four eight or sixteen Splitting a set amongst many people may be a good idea Prices at Argos are competitive though you can usually get some from Sainsburyrsquos as well

Getting around in Cambridge If yoursquore intending to cook frequently over the long run we recommend investing in reasonable quality cookware ldquoArgos valuerdquo range of pots pans and knives have been tested to be fit-for-the-dump after several uses so it may be wiser to go for quality cooking equipment Bedding Some colleges will provide bedding ndash check with your college or a college senior If your college doesnrsquot make sure that you buy a duvet to get you through the winter months Donrsquot stinge on this as a good duvet will last you through your length of study here and keep you nice happy and warm during winter Bed sheets may also be needed for your first night in Cambridge ndash check with your college college parent You can get bed sheets amp pillow cases at really low prices in Primark

Room insurance This can be easily obtained from Endsleigh Insurance (St Maryrsquos Street ndash next to the Cambridge University Press bookshop near Market Square) This is advisable if you plan to keep expensive items like hi-fi sets computers cameras etc in your room though not essential

Bikes Many people manage without a bike but bikes can come in handy particularly if your college happens to be far away from the city centre (like Homerton and Girton) or from lecture sites Cambridge is a particularly cycle-friendly city with bike lanes along some roads Prices are variable but a new bike will cost over pound100 and a second hand one for half the price Some bike shops nearer the city centre Halfords ndash 1 Bridge St 01223 350808 Ben Hayward Cycles ndash 69 Trumpington St 01223 352294 Cambridge Cycle Centre ndash 8 Botolph Lane 01223 307114 Howes Cycles ndash 104 Regent St Some bike shops further away from the city centre (but which may have cheaper bikes)

Getting around in Cambridge Mikersquos Bikes ndash 26-28 Mill Rd 01223 312591 Cambridge Station Cycles ndash Station Building Station Rd 01223 307125 Cycle King - 195-197 Mill Rd 01223 214999 If yoursquore not in a hurry wait for offers and compare prices Alternatively you could try approaching seniors who are sometimes looking to sell off their bikes Make sure you also have a helmet bikelights and mudguards It is advisable to bring bike lights and batteries from home or online as those in UK are expensive You can get fined for cycling at night without both the front amp back lights If yoursquore getting a bike lock in Cambridge do ask the shop owner to grease it to prevent the lock from rusting


Money matters Yoursquoll probably need to bring about pound500 in cash or travellersrsquo cheques with you when you come to Cambridge as it can take as long as three weeks or more for your bank to organise your new bank account unless yoursquove already set up a bank account from home Yoursquoll need to have enough money to cover your meals your gown freshersrsquo activities books and home improvement items and a bike (if you need one) Also most colleges will ask for payment of your college bill (including rent for Michaelmas) at the start of the term ndash check with your collegersquos finance office if you can defer payment until your bank account is ready You will probably be able to withdraw money from ATMs using an overseas ATM card (eg if it has a lsquoCirrusrsquo logo) ndash check with your bank about using ATM cards in the UK Do note however that most banks will impose a surcharge for withdrawals from overseas ATMs (POSB charges a SGD 5 surcharge per transaction) The exchange counter in HSBC in Market Square cashes travellersrsquo cheques with a commission of 2-3 unless the travellersrsquo cheques are HSBC ones in which case there is no commission Alternatively instead of cashing travellersrsquo cheques you could bank them in like any other cheque without needing to pay commission but this requires a functioning bank account and some processing time When it comes to setting up your bank account there are a number of banks with branches here in Cambridge so you are spoiled for choice Proximity to your college debit services such as Maestro Visa and Mastercard monthly fee (if any) and availability of a cheque book should be key considerations when choosing your bank ndash especially as cheques and debit cards are common forms of payment in the UK (Note that if you have a Maestro card yoursquoll usually be able to use the card in the rest of Europe however if you have a Solo card its use will be limited to the UK) Tip Other factors to consider include the amount of tax-free overdrafts allowed and any other additional benefits When you actually apply for a new account (or two usually a current account which is linked to your debit card and a savings account for larger sums of money) yoursquoll usually need to bring your passport and unconditional offer letter from your college You may also be required to bring a letter

Getting around in Cambridge from your college addressed specifically to the bank providing proof of your admittance to the college and confirming your address in Cambridge Check what documents yoursquoll need with the bank yoursquore intending to open an account with Unlike in Singapore most ATMs with any of the banks are Link enabled (look out for the Link sign) meaning that yoursquoll be able to withdraw money from an ATM other than your bankrsquos without incurring any surcharges As an overseas student you are entitled to tax-free interest on your accounts ndash obtain the relevant declaration forms from any bank Banks are usually open until 5pm on weekdays and 1pm on Saturdays They donrsquot open on Sundays but cash machines can still be used to withdraw money Internet banking can be a very good friend for dealing with transfers of money and for checking on your spending Some banks in Cambridge HSBC ndash32 Market Hill Cambridge CB2 3NU Natwest ndash 37 Fitzroy St Cambridge CB1 1EU56 St Andrewrsquos St Cambridge CB2 2DA Barclays ndash Market Square Lloyds ndashSidney Street (main branch) or Regent Street or Mill Road


Staying in touch With home High commissions As soon as you can register yourself with your respective High Commissions Malaysia Studentsrsquo Department 45-46 Belgrave Square London SW1X 8QT OR Singapore High Commission (Studentsrsquo Section) 9 Wilton Crescent Belgravia London SW1X 8SP (Alternatively log on to the MFA website at httpwwwmfagovsg and register yourself online) Posting letters The postal rates for normal airmail letters overseas start from 56p You can get a set of 56p stamps if yoursquore going to send light letters of postcards home often For heavier letters just ask at the post offices the rates for the letter you want to send To send letters you can mail them at any red mailbox in town ndash there are quite a few of them in the area Alternatively some Colleges have a mail service in the Portersrsquo Lodge where you can speak to the porters pay for postage and get them to send letters out in the daily mail collection Airmail theoretically takes 4-6 working days to arrive in Malaysia or Singapore but realistically itrsquos usually about a week either way Each of you will be assigned a pigeonhole in your college into which your mail is put ndash parcels and registered mail are usually kept at the Portersrsquo Lodge and the porters will tell you to collect them Useful websites httpwwwroyalmailcom httpwwwsingpostcomsg

Getting around in Cambridge Phone cards etc Itrsquos cheaper to call home using the international calling cards here in the UK They usually come in denominations of pound5 pound10 pound20 or pound50 and are available at almost all post offices and newsagents Check to see that calling rates stated include tax Some popular choices include SwiftCall and SAVERS However as Mobileworld (a handphone network) charges just 4p a minute to call home many people use Mobileworld rather than phone cards to call home if they need to It is not cheap for general daily use within the UK though (Another similar network is Lyca Mobile) The Malaysian IDD is 00-60 followed by your area code (omit the 0) and your Malaysian home number There is a Malaysia Direct International Collect Operator Service and the toll-free number is 0800-89-0060 You will be connected to a local Malaysian operator who will then connect the call for you The Singapore IDD is 00-65 followed by your Singapore phone number Direct International Call Collect is also available for holders of the International Calling Card from Singapore Webcams Webcams can be very useful to use with Skype or MSN particularly as the internet service in Cambridge is blazing fast However some colleges have internet bandwidth limits so you may need to monitor your usage

In the UK Mobile phones There are many service providers here that you can obtain a line with The most common ones include O2 (and giffgaff which is under O2) Vodafone T-mobile Three and Orange Things to consider in choosing a network provider 1) Price ndash some networks are definitely much cheaper for example giffgaff has a 10 pound goodybag deal where you pay 10 pounds to buy a goodybag

Getting around in Cambridge each month and that gives you unlimited SMSes 1GB data on top of a certain number of minutes 2) Reception ndash some networks have better reception than others Vodafone tends to have good reception even in Sainsburyrsquos and on the hill while giffgaff has pretty shaky reception in some parts of Cambridge 3) Roaming ndash Vodafone and Orange are multinational and will allow you to roam within most of Europe and some other parts of the world) 4) Which networks your friends are on ndash this may sound silly without context but some networks give you deals when you make calls or send texts to friends on the same network as you so if all your friends are on a certain network the calls and texts may even be free The websites to some of the more widely used mobile phone networks are listed below You can check out their price plans first before buying or you can ask the friendly staff of mobile phone shops in Cambridge such as Phones4U or Carphone Warehouse (one Carphone Warehouse outlet is located in Lion Yard) O2 ndash httpwwwo2couk Giffgaff - httpgiffgaffcom T-mobile ndash httpwwwt-mobilecouk Orange ndash httpwwworangecouk Virgin mobile ndash httpwwwvirginmobilecom Vodafone ndash httpwwwvodafonecouk Three ndash httpwwwthreecouk Mobileworld ndash httpwwwmobileworldcouk Lyca Mobile - httpwwwlycamobilecoukhomeen Handsets usually come free or at a discounted price but the catch is that yoursquoll have to commit to a contract and you may not be able to suspend your line for the months that you spend out of the UK Note that if itrsquos your first year in the UK the mobile phone companies will require a copy of a valid bank statement sent to you by mail or a credit card and some form of identification (your university card should suffice) when you first subscribe to a plan

Getting around in Cambridge Otherwise you may consider buying a Pay-as-you-talk prepaid SIM card instead and adding on voice or text packs if you need them monitoring your phone usage to see if it is more sensible to have a contract or to continue using a prepaid sim card Many prepaid cards offer free text internet etc depending on the amount you top up monthly Should you wish to change to a contract you will usually be able to port your number over but do check with the service providers or the friendly folk at the mobile phone shops first The general format for a UK mobile number is (+44)-XXXX-XXXXXX if yoursquore dialing from overseas In the UK you can simply type in 0-XXXX-XXXXXX Therefore sometimes you may see the mobile numbers listed as +44-(0)- XXXX-XXXXXX Landlines The university (with the exception of some colleges) used to be wired on the NTL network but many colleges have pulled out last academic year So do check with your college porters if your college still provides landline connections A few colleges like Homerton and Fitzwilliam however have their own landline system where you can make intra-college phone calls for free Do note that the charge for dialling the 0845hellip number of your landline is the same as a mobile phone call Ask your college if there is an alternative line to call ndash there is usually a 01223hellip number which has the same charge as a normal landline Letters You can send letters for free to different colleges using the CUSU Mail Service (CUSU-MS) Each college will have a box for this and there is a stipulated collection datetime Indicate the name of the recipient the college and ldquoCUSU-MSrdquo on the envelope to indicate that yoursquore using it Again note the different naming convention which is to put the first name before your last name (surname) You may also underline the last name This help the porters sort out the mail to the correct pigeon hole


Navigating around Cambridge It can be difficult trying to find your way around Cambridge when you first arrive particularly as roads may not quite look like what yoursquod expect (main roads such as St Andrewrsquos and Downing Streets often are one or two lane roads) Google maps (httpmapsgooglecouk) is your friend here ndash itrsquos particularly good for finding locations just with a postcode A map of Cambridge would probably be a good idea to have around in the first couple of weeks as well ndash print it out from httpwwwcamacukmap obtain one from tourist information or purchase the official university map from the Cambridge University Press bookshop near Great St Maryrsquos Church Or just remember to pick up your free map during freshersrsquo week Meanwhile herersquos a short guide to navigating around the city centre This yearrsquos guide around Cambridge has been marked out on Google Maps and will be updated from time to time with new locations especially those that we are asked about httpbitlyJJxYke Do note that some locations were not available in stored locations on Google Maps so they have been arbitrarily marked out based on personal memory of the area


Transport Within Cambridge Cycling Cycling is a quick and efficient way of getting around Cambridge particularly if your lecture sites or college are far away They do wonders for widening the area that you travel around and for getting you to your lectures on time when yoursquore in a hurry Do read up on the cycling rules (such as not cycling on pavements and the need for bike lights at night helmets etc ndash httpwwwcamcycleorguk for more details) and register your bicycle with your college as bicycles are stolen often Stagecoach bus services The bus services within Cambridge can be fairly efficient though the wait for the bus can sometimes be rather long (refer to timetables to minimise your wait) Taking the buses make getting to Addenbrookersquos the train station or Tescorsquos at Newmarket Road much easier If there is a copy of a bus map available at Freshersrsquo Fair be sure to pick up one The City1 bus costs around pound115 from the train station to the city centre If you are traveling around often it might be more worthwhile to get a day ride pass at pound370 or even weekly and monthly passes Cambridge University students get to travel on the Uni4 for 70p upon presentation of the University Card and it is useful for getting to the train station for weekend trips out of Cambridge Useful websites httpwwwstagecoachbuscom httpwwwstagecoachbuscomcambridgetimetablesphp


Within the UK Coachbus Two coachbus companies that are widely used are National Express and Megabus National Express is particularly useful for getting to airports and to London Look out for the funfares on National Express where you can get cheaper one-way tickets between Cambridge and London (the catch is that if you miss the bus there would be no refund) Otherwise a Young Personsrsquo Coach Card will allow you to get significant discounts on National Express fares For more details httpwwwnationalexpresscom httpwwwmegabuscouk Train Taking a train is usually the quickest means of getting to your destination ndash it only takes 46 minutes to get from Cambridge to London by train compared to 2 hours by coach Unfortunately not only is the Cambridge train station located far away from the city centre itrsquos also almost always more expensive to take a train than to take a coachbus A Young Personsrsquo 16- 25 Railcard will however allow you to get a significant third off your train fares Check out httpwwwnationalrailcom for more details on train services


Various cards University Card ndash your college would probably have asked you to send them a photograph This photo is for the University Card possibly one of the most useful cards around ndash it identifies you as a student of Cambridge University (allowing you free entrance into places such as Kingrsquos College Chapel) and entitles you to lots of perks at the shops around town Some colleges also use the University Card as a meal card library card and as an access card into various places Do note that the top corner of your card next to your photo has your College colours to indicate which College yoursquore from in identifying some College-specific benefits For example Scudamorersquos Punting Company has different discounts for different Colleges depending on the agreement between the College and the company College swipe card ndash Some colleges may use a college swipe card instead of the University Card around college for meals borrowing books and obtaining access into various places NUSCUSU card ndash This is optional and serves mainly to identify you as a student and to obtain discounts Nectar card ndash This can be used at Sainsburyrsquos and various other shops Itrsquos free and yoursquoll definitely be visiting Sainsrsquo a lot during your course of study here The idea is that you collect points as you spend and points can be redeemed as rebates once yoursquove reached the qualifying mark Boots Advantage card ndash Similar to the Nectar card but only usable at Boots Get this if you tend to buy lots of things (such as Meal Deals) from Boots Coach card ndash With a National Express coach card you can save up to 30 on many normal adult fares on many coach services This is especially useful for the trips to the airports You can buy the card from the ticketing counter at Heathrow from the ticketing booth at Drummer Street bus station or online Rail card ndash You will qualify for the Young Personsrsquo Railcard It saves you 13 of the price of your train tickets useful if you tend to take the train often You can sign up for this online and they will mail you the card for free CUMSA membership card ndash just pound15 for a lifetime Where is there a better bargain See the membership privileges at the back of the booklet

Life in Cambridge

Academics in Cambridge

Lectures

Lectures are conducted in one of the many lecture theatres around the university teaching sites You will receive more information on where and when your lectures are from your college or from your department websites ndash look out for the information Most timetables are available on your department websites or speak to a senior if yoursquod like to find out what your schedule will be like once term starts Lectures are (usually) very important so do attend them Although some seniors may say otherwisehellip Some people find them useful while others donrsquot so find something that suits your learning style

Supervisions Supervisions are not unlike tutorials or seminars in Singapore JCs except that instead of having a class of some 20-odd people yoursquoll experience learning in a small group of usually 2-3 people This makes supervisions the hallmark of the Cambridge teaching system giving you ample opportunity to clarify any questions or problems that you may have and allows you to explore any particular area of study that you wish to find out more about Do take time to prepare for supervisions so that you can make full use of the supervision time Your Director of Studies is in charge of hiring and assigning you supervisors But you will liaise with the supervisors directly regarding supervision timings

Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge

CUMSA CUMSA organises activities regularly for its members especially for freshers Some of the events that we will be organising in the coming academic year include Freshersrsquo Squash Oxbridge Games CUMSA Games Night CUMSA Annual Ball and more So do look out for more details about these events CUMSA also organises weekly sports activities such as Floorball Badminton and Tennis so look out for details about these as well These are all great platforms to meet your fellow Singaporeans and Malaysians from other Colleges hang out and have a good time On top of this CUMSA hopes to provide support as a community and if you ever need someone to talk to or a feeling of home speak to any of us your CUMSA parents or seniors around you

Other Singaporean and Malaysian societies There are other Singaporean and Malaysian societies in Cambridge which organise various activities for Singaporeans and Malaysians throughout the year These societies include the Temasek Society and the Cambridge University Malaysia Society (CUMaS)

Life in Cambridge

College activities in Cambridge Do make it a point to take part in the various freshers events organised especially for you by your collegersquos JCR in freshersrsquo week These events are a great opportunity for you to mix and mingle with other freshers from your college helping you to make friends and settle down with greater ease Each college also has many activities throughout the year and there are college societies to fulfil almost every need (if not therersquos always the university societies) Do join them just to have fun ndash and you donrsquot always have to be particularly good to join a sport and many people who join them have never played it before so do take the opportunity to pick up a new sport or activity Examples of College-level activities include ndash acapella groups music society badminton hockey netball rugby rowing and many more

University activities in Cambridge If there are any activities you canrsquot find in your college yoursquoll usually find them in the university societies With a vast list of societies yoursquoll almost always find something that deals with your interests from tennis to lace-making Do go for the Freshersrsquo Societiesrsquo Fair at Kelsey Kerridge Sports hall before the start of term and sign up for any societies that may seem interesting to you ndash you can always back out from them later on though you may find your email being flooded with notices from clubs you donrsquot remember signing up for If that doesnrsquot provide a good enough reason for you to go for the fair there are always loads of freebies to be collected as you walk around ndash note pads thumb drives mugs pizza and more The Cambridge University Societiesrsquo Fair is one of the largest in the country ndash over 315 stalls were set up at the fair in 2011 Check out httpwwwcusucamacuksocietiesdirectory for a list of University societies

Glossary of useful terms

ldquoAre you all rightrdquo

The British equivalent of the cheery lsquojia ba bueyrsquo (lsquohave you eatenrsquo in hokkien) or the snazzy American lsquowhassuprsquo You donrsquot have to be visibly distressed for someone to ask you this ndash itrsquos just their way of saying hello You could just say ldquoIrsquom good thanks howrsquore yourdquo and keep walking (while theyrsquoll probably return with a ldquoIrsquom goodrdquo These are just pleasantries so donrsquot feel like you should explain how you are in fact ldquoalrightrdquo or not

Backs The back of colleges along the river (including Kingrsquos College) with superb views of the River Cam Especially beautiful when flowers blossom in summer Ideal for picnics

Bedder Cleaner at Cambridge colleges from the era when students had beds made for them Now she empties your bin every morning (and perhaps changes your sheets or cleans your room depending on your college) Be nice to your bedder because heshe is a force to be reckoned with They can be your friends

Bicycle The most common mode of transport in Cambridge Ask a senior where they got their bikes and theyrsquoll often be happy to advice you on where to go for the best deal

Blue Sporting award for people who play in University (Varsity) matches against Oxford

Bop After-party usually with loud music dancing drinks and a crowded warm room Cambridge University slang

Boatie Bow-tee Person whose waking hours revolve around boats rowing andhellip more rowing Known for waking up at insane hours to train Conversationally topic-limited to you guessed it rowing

Bumps Bi-annual thrilling event where all College boat crews line up in accordance with the rankings and chase each other up the river attempting to bump (overtake) each other

Buttery See Hall

Cam-___ Many university resources are pre-fixed with a ldquoCam-ldquo Eg CamTools (teaching material) CamCORS (supervision reports) CamSIS (exam results) Needs a Raven password for access


Cheers They donrsquot just use this to sign off letters lsquoCheersrsquo is an expression of appreciation ndash the British substitute for the polite lsquothanksrsquo

Cho Mee Singaporean-owned chinese supermarket The place to go for oyster sauce chilli Yeorsquos chrysanthemum tea etc 108ndash110 Mill Road CB1 2BD (many other Asian supermarkets along Mill Road)

Compsci Kowm-skee Computer Science student Connotations social life depends on email

Cook-out A get-together to try your hand at cooking or simply eat amazing food someone else has whipped up (you may be expected to return the favour some other time) Highly enjoyable if there is no burnt disaster in the kitchenhellip

Courts Manicured grass patch(es) in college Not to be trampled on by students At least donrsquot get caught To be caught is to risk the wrath of the porters

DoS Director of Studies A fellow from your college who is responsible for overseeing your academic progress You will usually have a meeting with himher once a term Best to be avoided if you do not want any nagging or pep-talk to work harder though some can be lovely

Doss Confusingly the British also use the term lsquodossrsquo colloquially A lsquodossrsquo subject is one that doesnrsquot require very much effort and is hardly intellectually rigorous To doss around means to faff around (See below ndash lsquoFaffrsquo) Funny how your DoS is the last person who will want you dossing around though

Faff [Verb] If someone tells you to stop faffing around they want you to stop clowning around [Noun] An unnecessary over-complicated or troublesome task especially one perceived as a waste of time ldquoI hate doing the dishes every night itrsquos such a faffrdquo

Fellows Academics who work and in some cases live in a college They are a notch above the student in the college social ladder and enjoy the right to walk on the grass They also get to sit at the high table at hall and are served better food Some Fellows are also supervisors (See Supervisor)


Formal Hall Dressed up dinner with good food and wine (usually) held in Hall sometimes requiring gowns (although highly variable ndash some colleges only require college members to wear gowns)

Freshersrsquo Week Your first weekend of the Michaelmas term in Cambridge Arguably the most enjoyable time of the year (before the workload hits) and also possibly the rowdiest

Full Term The length of time for each term for which you have to be resident in Cambridge for ndash you need to spend a minimum number of nights in Cambridge each term to ldquokeep termrdquo

Gyp Room Kitchen Sometimes with odd rules like ldquono cooking after 10pmrdquo and ldquono fryingrdquo

Hall Dining hall Place where food is served at meal times Also known as buttery in some colleges

Hermes Email server used in Cambridge giving you a camacuk address Requires a separate password (not your Raven password) for access

Hobs Stoves Unfortunately some gyp rooms donrsquot have hobshellip

JCR Junior CommonCombination Room 1 Undergraduate section of the college studentsrsquo union 2 Student leisure area where you and your friends can watch footballrugby matches or lounge in armchairsbean-bags

KFC 1 Kitchen Fixed Charge resented college canteen subsidy paid by student members of Cambridge colleges Unfortunately almost impossible to get out of paying even if you never eat in Hall 2 Kentucky Fried Chicken Available only at faraway Grafton

Knackered As in ldquocompletely knackeredrdquo meaning very tired

MasterMistress The person who nominally heads the college (aka position for eminent figures to end their careers in the twilight retirement home of a Cambridge college) Have a Masterrsquos Lodge which is often beautifully decorated and one of the nicest parts of college

Mathmo Math-mow Mathematics student Connotations slightly weird


May Ball June Event

When a college is converted into a huge party venue during May Week Vast amounts of drink food ents performances and things to do usually running between 10pm to 6am the next day Prices for tickets range between pound80 (June Event) to pound100-250 (May Ball) Also some colleges host Spring Balls and Winter Balls in Lent and Michaelmas respectively

May Week Cambridge tradition circa ten days in June after the end of the exams Drink garden parties balls Recognized use something for students to look forward to in order to see them through Tripos

MCR Middle CommonCombination room Graduate equivalent of JCR

Medic Doctors-to-be or medicine students

NatSci Nat-skee Natural science students Sometimes used to conjure up image of stereotypical nerd

Parkerrsquos Piece The Wembly of Cambridge The place to go on Sunday if you feel like kicking a ball Also the place you first see when you reach Cambridge (if yoursquore taking National Express)

Pissed Drunk The American version of which we are used to mdashangry mdash is not used So when you say you are pissedhellip

Plodge Porterrsquos Lodge where you can find a Porter 247 in every single college

Porter One of the many peculiar Cambridge institutions Donrsquot expect them to help you with your bags though Warden on duty in college In charge of some areas of discipline especially during bops and sorts your post Duties include talking at great length about past students breaking up parties and evicting mad axe-murders from college Are often very nice friendly people with a sense of humour who will help you out if you are lost or confused

Punts Long boats unique to Oxbridge manned by poles Can be rented out by students for a spin on the River Cam for under pound20hour Remember to present your student card

Raven A username and password used for authenticating yourself to various Cambridge website resources (see Cam-___)


Also used for accessing certain university websites outside of the Cambridge network

Sainsburyrsquos Also known as Sains The place to go if you are running low on groceries Also the place to go if you want to see familiar faces Where Singaporeans congregate

Senate House Probably the best looking exam venue Also the dreaded place to go where Tripos results are put up for public viewing in late June (your Tripos results are available online on CamSIS as well) Also the place for convocation

Senior Tutor Holds overall responsibility for student welfare in the college Usually a stern-looking elderly person who speaks to you during Freshersrsquo week about behaving yourself

Sent Down Expelled from college rusticated ndash returned to the country

Go Down To leave Cambridge (According to the archaic statutes this is allowed only after 8 weeks of full-term)

Supervisor A teacher Someone holding a doctorate or a PhD student overseeing your work in a particular subject Usually very nice and helpful unless you havenrsquot done your workhellip

Supervision The session with the supervisor (see above) Hour-long sessions usually in small groups of 1-5 students Can be fun if you did your work Otherwise may be bewildering or painful

Time Half-ten = 1030 five-to-ten = 955 Always with reference to the hour so ldquotwenty pastrdquo would be twenty minutes past whichever hour it is

Tripos Try-poss otherwise appropriately named as lsquotry passrsquo The exam system Cambridge students try to pass it each year Some say itrsquos the hardest exam yoursquoll ever have to take The name derives from the archaic practice involving the presentation of a leg of a lsquothree-legged stoolrsquo in each yearrsquos exam Not done anymore

Trousers Not Pants Pants = underwear You do not want to tell your college mate ldquoHey yoursquove got a nice pair of pants onrdquo Remember that itrsquos trousers and say trousers

Tutor A fellow from your college ndash similar to your DoS but takes care of your pastoral well-being rather than your


academics Usually has a meeting at the beginning and end of term with you to chat about your welfare how yoursquore coping with everything what you do outside of your academics and if you have any other concerns or worries Your first port-of-call for any non-academic concerns

Wicked Not lsquovindictiversquo but lsquocoolrsquo Practise saying lsquothat CUMSA bop was wickedrsquo with gleehellip

xx People sign off with lsquoxxrsquo ndash it means lsquokiss-kissrsquo and used to express affection or just a way of signing off And it is not just the girls who do this eg Dear Rob Seeya at quarter-past-seven (aka 715) Emma xx

xoxo You guessed it hugs and kisses


Last remindershellip

1 Dates you might want to notehellip

30th August to 1st September Freshersrsquo Camp

8th October Start of Michaelmas 201314 Full Term

2 Things you might want to do (if you have yet to)

Register your personal details on the CUMSA website (httpcumsaorg) under the Freshersrsquo registration

Join the CUMSA Freshers Facebook group (Cambridge University Singaporean and Malaysian Freshers 201314)

If you have any other questions please do drop by our Formspring page (httpwwwformspringmeCUMSA) Alternatively you may email Greg (presidentcumsaorg) or Le Qin (welfarecumsaorg)

Privileges for joining CUMSAhellip As a CUMSA member you will receive a membership card that entitles you to discounts at some of Cambridgersquos Asian eateries by simply presenting your card HK Fusion 10 discount for CUMSA members St Johns Street Branch 12 St Johns Street Cambridge CB2 1TW (Opposite St Johnrsquos College) Burleigh Street Branch 21 Burleigh St Cambridge CB1 1DG (Near Grafton)


Seven Days 5 discount for CUMSA members Valid only on agrave la carte items with cash payment from Mondays to Thursdays 66 Regent Street Cambridge CB2 1DP (Near Downing College) Jinling Noodle Bar 10 discount for CUMSA members 11 Peas Hill Cambridge CB2 3PP (Near Market Square) Dojo Noodle Bar 10 discount for CUMSA members (Please present your card prior to ordering) 1-2 Millers Yard Mill Lane Cambridge CB2 1RQ (Off Trumpington Street) Ichiro 15 discount for CUMSA members 13 King Street Cambridge CB1 1LH For more information please refer to our website where you may sign up as a member

This CUMSA Freshersrsquo Guide was created in 2013 and is based on and expands upon the CUMSA

Freshersrsquo Guide 2010 2011and 2012 If you have any comments or questions on this

guide please email Le Qin your CUMSA Welfare Officer at welfarecumsaorg

About CUMSA

Presidentrsquos Foreword Dear Fresher Coming to Cambridge can be an intimidating prospect for anyone ndash it is an ocean compared to the half-filled swimming pool from which we so recently come (whether that is national service or the endless days of gaping nothingness after graduating from school) In fact CUMSA can also at a passing glance seem similarly daunting Founded by Mr Lee Kwan Yew in the fall of 1948 it was initially a gathering place for South-east Asian intellectualism with all the energy of their formative years However CUMSA is now a very different beast from what it once was (after all itrsquos now being run by a fool like me) From that initial pool of 12 students (I like to think of them as a rather serious bunch) CUMSA has grown into an organization comprising over 300 and entirely different in terms of how we serve the student body - more hugs and hi-fives than heated regional debate (though therersquos plenty of that too) As you will see over your first year our somewhat serious sounding history has translated into something rather more colourful Similarly you may find that Cambridge doesnrsquot quite adhere to whatever impression you may have formed I wish to argue that this is a good thing To those reading this when yoursquore supposed to (ie before your arrival rather than digging this out of your closet later when you have nothing better to do as I admittedly did) many of your apprehensions will be entirely unfounded You will be hard pressed to feel lonely as you not only have your course mates but also the closely knit communities of the colleges and naturally CUMSA Yes the work will be hard but you will have the weight of your tutors and friends behind you in support As for those things you are most looking forward to you may find they only get better The colleges become even more stunning as season changes to season and the sort of


About CUMSA


About CUMSA




About CUMSA



General Pointers

Weather and Climate






Sunshine Joy




Hours of sunshine





General Pointers

British Summer Time





Useful Information






UK












hellip

















your name






Other reminders









Useful Information









without it









































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event














































About CUMSA


About CUMSA




About CUMSA



General Pointers

Weather and Climate






Sunshine Joy




Hours of sunshine





General Pointers

British Summer Time





Useful Information






UK












hellip

















your name






Other reminders









Useful Information









without it









































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event













































About CUMSA


About CUMSA




About CUMSA



General Pointers

Weather and Climate






Sunshine Joy




Hours of sunshine





General Pointers

British Summer Time





Useful Information






UK












hellip

















your name






Other reminders









Useful Information









without it









































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event













































About CUMSA




About CUMSA



General Pointers

Weather and Climate






Sunshine Joy




Hours of sunshine





General Pointers

British Summer Time





Useful Information






UK












hellip

















your name






Other reminders









Useful Information









without it









































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event













































About CUMSA



General Pointers

Weather and Climate






Sunshine Joy




Hours of sunshine





General Pointers

British Summer Time





Useful Information






UK












hellip

















your name






Other reminders









Useful Information









without it









































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event













































General Pointers

Weather and Climate






Sunshine Joy




Hours of sunshine





General Pointers

British Summer Time





Useful Information






UK












hellip

















your name






Other reminders









Useful Information









without it









































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event

















































Sunshine Joy




Hours of sunshine





General Pointers

British Summer Time





Useful Information






UK












hellip

















your name






Other reminders









Useful Information









without it









































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event













































General Pointers

British Summer Time





Useful Information






UK












hellip

















your name






Other reminders









Useful Information









without it









































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event















































Useful Information






UK












hellip

















your name






Other reminders









Useful Information









without it









































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event
























































hellip

















your name






Other reminders









Useful Information









without it









































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event















































hellip

















your name






Other reminders









Useful Information









without it









































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event


















































your name






Other reminders









Useful Information









without it









































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event



















































Useful Information









without it









































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event





















































































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event











































































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event







































































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event


































































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event





























































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event

























































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event





















































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event















































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event








































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event



































































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event





























































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event























































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event




















































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event

















































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event














































The NHS



























Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event





































































Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event


































































Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event































































Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event






























































Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event




























































Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event



























































Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event

























































Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event























































Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event






















































Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event





















































Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event



















































Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event

















































Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event















































Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event













































Life in Cambridge


Lectures



Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event













































Life in Cambridge

Fun in Cambridge



Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event













































Life in Cambridge













Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event























































Buttery See Hall


























May Ball June Event





































































May Ball June Event



























































May Ball June Event














































May Ball June Event























































































































