Information for Undergraduate and Foundation Year Freshers 2023

Student Registration

All students must complete the Student Registration exercise every year in order to make sure that the information held on their student records is correct.  For Freshers, this is also the way that you can get your CamSIS log-in details, access to your @cam email address and your Desktop Services).  The Student Registration Exercise is not a way of registering for, or applying for, a course of study.

You will receive an email from the University (not the College) which will give you instructions about how to log into your Self-Service account and complete the registration.  Please do not try to register until you get the email from the University but you are advised to do it as soon as possible after receipt of the email.  Registration is a simple process and will only take you a few minutes.  Further information is available on the Student Registry website.

Freshers get access to their university email accounts after they have completed the Student Registration exercise.  This is important because it is the email address that the College and University offices will use to contact you. You might also hear this email address referred to as your "CRSID" email address, because it is your CRSID at the start:

'crsid'@cam.ac.uk

If you haven't received your registration email by 10th September, please see the UIS pages: Getting Started with IT at Cambridge  and Frequently asked questions.

If you are attending a Presessional*, your arrival day – called Travel Day – is Sunday, 24th September. 

For all other students, your Travel Day is Wednesday, 27th September.

*Students in Mathematics, Computer Sciences, Economics, Chemical Engineering via Natural Sciences, and those taking Maths for Physical Sciences (Course A&B option in Natural Sciences) are required to attend a pre-term mathematics course. All presessional students will receive further details via email.

All new first-year students will have an en-suite room in West House on site. We have tried to allocate these with regard to the preferences you outlined on the earlier accommodation questionnaire. You will soon receive another questionnaire that will ask you to accept the residency agreements and schedules.

You will be provided with full bed linen, including a duvet cover, and a towel.

Please note that there will be an additional charge for accommodation for any extra nights that you stay in the college before Wednesday 27th September (£21.00 per night, room only), and payment for these extra nights will be added to your invoice. Students who are not attending pre-term courses may only arrive early in exceptional circumstances and must email the Tutorial Office to request permission.

Our Accommodation pages give more precise information about the content of the rooms and kitchen areas. You can find a list of useful items to bring with you in the Cambridge Students’ Union Freshers’ Guide. Please note however, that rooms are compact and have limited storage space. You will be required to take away all of your belongings during the vacations.

Please note that it is the policy of Homerton College that all of our buildings and communal areas are smoke-free and vape-free.

Have you heard the phrase "Keeping Nights", or "Keeping Term"?  All undergraduates have to ‘keep term’, by residing, i.e. sleeping, for the required number of nights of Full Term, and may not leave the College without permission until the final Friday of Full Term. More information about your terms of residence is available in the latest Student Handbook (coming soon). 

The College has a comprehensive security system on-site equipped with CCTV, which covers all of the grounds, building entrances and common areas of the College. Access control doors are in all residential buildings and key areas of the College. A Porter is on duty 24 hours a day.

You are urged to keep your room locked and not to leave bags or other valuables unattended anywhere in the College. Your contents are covered by the insurance the College has taken out for you while you live in College but you should confirm the cover now and check that it is sufficient for your needs.

We strongly recommend that all international students read the International Student Guide and pre-arrival information which includes advice on healthcare, banking, transport, immigration, your Tier 4 responsibilities, how to collect your BRP and tips to help you settle into life in Cambridge.

CamSIS and the Cambridge University Skills Portal

CamSIS is the University’s system for handling information relating to your student record. You will need to use CamSIS to make any changes to your contact details and to validate your personal data. You will need to use your Raven password to log in to the system and further information will be provided at the start of your course.

The University’s online Skills Portal is a good way to find out about developing your skills and learning about making the most of your time in Cambridge.

The UIS and your computing accounts 

The University Information Services (UIS) department has further information about Getting Started with IT at Cambridge.

You will receive an email before starting your course from the UIS providing a link for you to complete Student Registration in CamSIS, before continuing on to collect your password for the three UIS accounts (Raven, Exchange Online email and Desktop Services). See the UIS pages if you haven't received your registration email by 10th September.

If you are already registered as a NHS patient in the UK, you can now register with a Cambridge GP online. It is also useful for all students to bring any medical history information and up to date immunisation records. You will be directed to complete an online student health form by our Student Health Advisor, Sandy Chambers, before term begins. Please ensure you complete all questions when registering online.

You can find more information about medical care and our Student Health Advisor on the Wellbeing page, and a list of local GP practices on our local services page.

Please check your protection against vaccine-preventable diseases before you come to Cambridge:

If you don't already have a UK bank account, is a good idea to open one as soon as possible as it can take some time. You will find branches of the major banks in the city centre. Students are advised to begin the process of opening an account online and in advance of arrival. You can then request a bank letter online to take with you as proof of your student status (we are not able to issue these until you are resident in Cambridge).

For those not taking a UK tuition loan, fees are payable at registration; you do however have a 14 day grace period to make the payment but you may wish to consider having arrangements in place in case your bank account takes over 2-3 weeks to set up, i.e. transfer of funds.  For those overseas, you could see if any banks allow you to open a bank account online before you come to the UK or check with your bank in your home country to see if they have any special arrangements with any UK banks, as this may help you to open an account or transfer money. Please be aware that international bank transfers incur bank charges. You must therefore ensure that the amount the College actually receives covers your fees in full, or you will still be liable for any shortfall arising from the deduction of bank charges.

The International Students website also has useful information on opening a bank account.

The College Accountant and their department deal with all College finances including raising of College bills for registration, accommodation fees, deposit payments, membership fees, tuition fees etc. Homerton College operates the BACS First System with the Student Loan Company (SLC).

Financial documentation

Home students must remember to email a copy of their financial documentation from Student Finance to the College's Finance Office (studentfinance@homerton.cam.ac.uk). For most students this will be a copy of your ‘University or College Payment Advice’. Students in Scotland may receive an Award Letter or Financial Notification letter in place of these. We must have a copy of your documentation in order to re-invoice your Tuition and College Fees to Student Finance.

If you have applied for a student loan and/or a grant from Student Finance, the funds should be paid directly into your bank account within 5 working days of the College Finance Office registering your attendance with the SLC, . Please note that the Finance Office is unable to register your attendance if you fail to provide your SLC paperwork, and therefore this will delay receipt of your maintenance funds.

If you are a Home student who did not apply for Student Support, then you must complete a Fee Status Assessment Questionnaire, which is available from the Admissions Office, along with provision of supporting evidence of your Home fee status. If you have not provided satisfactory evidence of your status a College Fee will be applied, and your Tuition Fee may be charged at the higher overseas rate.

Paying your fees

Students should not withdraw cash to pay their fees. Cash is not a recommended method of payment, and all overseas students are advised to set up a UK bank account as soon as possible to avoid carrying large amounts of cash. For security and safety students should not keep large sums of cash unsecured in luggage or bedrooms at any time. Students must consult the College Accountant in advance if cash is the only payment method available to settle their account before the due date.

A College invoice will be emailed to you by Wednesday 28th September – payment is due within 14 days unless otherwise agreed with the college accountant. Payment can be made by credit or debit card over the telephone by calling 01223 747125, by bank transfer or via Paypal (details of which will be included with your invoice). Please put your USN in the reference for any bank transfer made to the college to allow us to easily allocate payment to student accounts. For Home students payments can be made prior to the start of the term by telephone (01223 747125), whereby the finance office can take payment or provide you with bank/Paypal details if required. International students who require a visa are advised not to make any fee payments to the College until their visa has been obtained.

Cambridge Bursary Scheme

UK students who wish to find out more about the Cambridge Bursary Scheme are advised to visit the Cambridge Bursary Scheme website. There is not a separate application process for the Cambridge Bursary; the Student Loans Company will automatically assess any student applying for an income-assessed maintenance grant/loan. The college will then write to you to inform you if you are awarded a bursary, which is usually paid in three instalments throughout the year.

There is also an Educational Premium payment of £1000 per annum for UK students who have been eligible for free school meals.  

Scholarships

Click on the link for more information and the application forms (available from 17 August).

The Stormzy Scholarships for Black Students

Formula 1 Scholarships

Geography Scholarship

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:59 on 3 September 2023

A message from the Black Advisory Hub for incoming students who identify as Black:

The Black Advisory Hub would love to welcome you on Thursday 21 September 2023, from 1pm to 5pm, at the Black Students' Induction Programme.  The event will involve information sharing, meeting some current students and staff, as well as opportunities for discussion.  The programme for the afternoon will involve a range of sessions demystifying Cambridge and giving practical tips on how to navigate the University process and practices.  In addition, current Black students and alumni will host break-out sessions covering a range of topics from societies and leadership through to post-study career advancement.

Register for the induction event here.

The induction will take place on Zoom on Thursday 21 September from 1pm until 5pm (BST).  The Zoom invitation will be circulated 24 hours beforehand to registered attendees, so please make sure that you register early to be included in the email with the link.  We ask that you try to be logged in at 12:55pm in order for us to start promptly at 1pm.

Following this online induction meeting, we are planning some follow-up in-person events for undergraduates and postgraduates, after term starts and you have settled into Cambridge.  More details of these events will be shared at the Zoom induction and we will circulate an invitation to those who have registered as well as post further information about signing up on the Black Advisory Hub.

In order to empower incoming Black students to share their hopes, anxieties and questions for their upcoming degree, this virtual induction day is for Black-identifying Cambridge University students exclusively; if you have any questions at all about your potential participation or eligibility, please do not hesitate to be in touch with the BAH team at contact@blackadvisory.hub.cam.ac.uk.

The Black Advisory Hub pursues values of equity and non-discrimination, and seeks to ensure that the day is fully accessible to all disabled participants.  If you are interested in any alternative formats for presentations or would like to make us aware of any reasonable adjustment necessary for your full participation, please do be in touch with Zeena Elhassan (she/her) at contact@blackadvisory.hub.cam.ac.uk.

If you wish to buy a gown, you can get them from Ryder and Aimes and Ede & Ravenscroft.  If you choose to get a gown, please bear in mind that all colleges do not have the same gown so you must get one for Homerton.  The undergraduate gown that you would wear during your course is the same gown that you will wear for your graduation.

Safer Cycling

Many students choose to cycle around Cambridge - it is quick and convenient but please make yourself aware of the rules of the road for cyclists.  Camcycle has produced some useful leaflets with further information about responsible cycling and keeping your bike safe.

Welcome to Cycling in Cambridge (includes a map)
Cycle Lighting
Save Your Cycle from Theft

Around the world in August and September, University Alumni Groups will be hosting online and in-person freshers events for new undergraduate and postgraduate students starting a course at Cambridge this autumn.  The optional events are a great opportunity to hear from current and former students about their experiences of Cambridge and to meet other new starters before the beginning of term.

View the schedule of events.

Download musical opportunities in cambridge - homerton

For ways that you can get involved with making music in Cambridge

From the 24th August 2023 you will be able to get started on the STEMbridge preparation programme for first year.

Please go to:

Engineering - https://www.vle.cam.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=221632 and click on "Getting Started".

Chem Eng & Biotech - https://www.vle.cam.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=252252 and click on "Getting Started".

The workbook can be found here: http://www.maths.cam.ac.uk/undergrad/admissions/other-useful-information

Guide to Courses in Part IA here: http://www.maths.cam.ac.uk/undergrad/course

Handbook for Medical Students - to be added

Please do not buy calculators or textbooks without consulting with the relevant Director of Studies.  The College Library will often have multiple copies of important texts and the University has tight restrictions on the models of calculators which may be used in the exams.  The NatSci (Physical) DoS, Bob Dillon, will give you more information shortly but he is happy for you to email him now if you wish to.

STEMbridge

From the 24th August 2023 you will be able to get started on the STEMbridge preparation programme for first year.

Please go to https://www.vle.cam.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=252261 and click on “Getting Started”.

Handbook for Veterinary Medicine Students - to be added