A day in the life of a Cambridge student
Jenny and Olivia share their experiences of life at the University of Cambridge.
Meet Jenny, a History and Politics graduate, as she takes us through her typical day at Cambridge.
8.30am – "It’s Monday morning so I wake up at 8.30am and get ready for the day. As it’s October, Cambridge can get a little cold, so I wrap up warm! I have breakfast in the kitchen which I share with 8 other people who live in my corridor. I have a large, shared kitchen, so it’s nice to bump into my flatmates in the morning before the day ahead. College accommodation can vary considerably: from big kitchens to basic self catering facilities, and old traditional rooms to modern accommodation with an en suite, but there’s generally a range to choose from."
9.30am – "I set off from my College in the centre of Cambridge, to my lecture on the Sidgwick Site, the campus where the majority of the humanities lectures are based. The walk from College to my lectures is very scenic and takes about 20 minutes. I get to walk past many of the old Colleges, and over the River Cam."
10am – "I have two lectures this morning. As I study joint honours History and Politics, I have one lecture for my British Political History paper, and one lecture for a Politics paper. My lectures aren’t always directly relevant to the essay I am writing each week, but they still provide a useful overview for the course as a whole, and examination material is often based on the lectures delivered."
12pm – "After lectures, I grab a coffee and go to the Seeley Library (the History Faculty Library) to start some reading for my current essay. I usually write two essays per week. At the moment, I’m writing an essay about the concept of sovereignty in international relations and its interaction with colonialism. Some of the books I need to read are available at the History library, and I enjoy looking round the library to find the right books."
1pm – "I walk back to College and have some lunch with my friends. The nice thing about living in College is that you get to live with people who study completely different subjects, and I can catch up with my friends who study Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Linguistics who have also had lectures that morning."
2pm – "After lunch, I head to the College library to continue my reading. Every College has a library which has plenty of comfortable places to work, and our College librarian is very helpful. He’s always happy to help us find books if we need them. In Easter Term, when most exams in Cambridge are held, the librarian organises ‘squash and biscuits’ every afternoon outside the library. It’s a nice way to take a break from studying and see some friends. I break up the afternoon by taking a walk around Jesus Green, a local park. One of my favourite things about Cambridge is the number of parks and green spaces. Some of the parks have cows roaming around!"
5.30pm – "I go to have dinner in hall with my College friends. Many Colleges have a canteen which is known as hall, they are often very old, picturesque dining halls, serving a variety of affordable meals. You can either sit in to eat or get a takeaway. In the summer, it’s very popular to sit in the College gardens."
7pm– "I am a member of a local orchestra in Cambridge, so this evening I go to rehearsal. It’s a nice way to meet people from different Colleges who study different subjects, and I find it relaxing to play music for a few hours in an informal setting."
9pm – "I spend the evening in the College bar with some friends. The bar’s a really welcoming space and there’s always lots of options for later on, whether you want to go out to a club or just have a relaxing evening. Whatever your interests, there is always plenty to do in Cambridge."
Say hello to Olivia, a Modern and Medieval languages (MML) student, as she takes you through her typical day as a Cambridge undergraduate.
"I wake up around 9am on a normal day of classes. If I have rowing in the morning, then it’s a 6.30am start! My College, Selwyn, is really close to the Sidgwick Site, where most of the humanities classes are – including Modern and Medieval Languages. I have breakfast in the 'gyp' (a small kitchen in College accommodation) and head to Sidgwick for my first class. Usually this is a language class with people from different Colleges at the University.
Next, I have a lecture on a topic from one of the papers I study. These are a great way to get an overview of the content ready for writing supervision essays. Sidgwick Site is a few minutes from the city centre so you can get something to eat on the way, but there's a café on site too. I have lunch with friends from class, or head back to Selwyn if I have time.
After lunch, I go to the College library to do some studying. In Cambridge you’ll never be short on study spaces, so use whichever works for you – that might be the College, department, or main university library, or your room which will have a desk and space to work. Sometimes it can be helpful to study with a friend, in a library or in their room!"
"Once a week, I have a supervision for each of my papers. This is the main teaching method at Cambridge, where we discuss our essays and ideas with an academic. While they seem intimidating at first, they’re a great way to practice defending and developing your ideas.
When my supervision finishes, I like to go and meet some friends to relax after a long day. We go to the College bar or the JCR – the Junior Common Room, a place in College to hang out with the rest of your year group. There might be society events on as well; there are hundreds of societies to choose from and you can fit them around your schedule, so you only commit as much time as you have."
"Dinner can be in hall, for a reasonably priced meal, or in the kitchen, where I like to cook with my flatmates. Every week there's the option to go to ‘Formal Hall’, where you get dressed up in your gown and have a three course meal. It’s a great chance to take some nice pictures and feel like you’re at Hogwarts!
After dinner, I study some more or go out with friends, or take a night off to relax. Cambridge terms can be intense, and it’s important to look after yourself and make sure you're enjoying your time at university!"
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Article originally published: 2021
Last reviewed: March 2025
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