Freshers Handbook 2014 v5

8/12/2019 Freshers Handbook 2014 v5

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CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITYMALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE ASSOCIATION(CUMSA)FreshersGuide 2014Contents:

1. About CUMSA2. General Points about Cambridge3. Pre-departure Checklist4. Flying Off5. Settling in6. Life in Cambridge7. Glossary of Terms


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About CUMSA

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Presidents Foreword

Dear Freshers,

Welcome to Cambridge.

For many of you, this will be the start of the end; the last 3 years of proper,full-time education (albeit without uniform) beckons. It is hard to imaginehow fast time will fly but take it from me, a person who was in your shoesexactly a year ago. Time will fly no matter what you do. Spend your timewisely.

In fact, this is the main message of the entire foreword. I have gone straightto the point without beating around the bush and bringing you around thetown or even telling you a long story only to have a moral-of-the-story at theend. Okay, I jest! But this is the main piece of advice any senior will tell you.There is so much you can do in Cambridge that you really should make gooduse of your time.

Lets start with thebasics. Before you even fly to Cambridge, you can start

reading up on the various administrative details and nifty tips that have beencollated by seniors throughout the years in the entire Freshers Guide. If youcrave more information, start reading your college website, the Wikipediaentry for Cambridge or even Timeouts guide for London! There is a wealthof information, relevant or otherwise, and its probably best to use thesefew weeks of peace leading up to October, when you matriculate. Trust me,your days in Cambridge will be so jam-packed!

October arrives. You have arrived. Now what? Youll soon realise that the

fundamental workload will begin to come in through your pigeon holes. Youwill have a couple of lectures, supervisions and even practicals (for thosewho study science-related subjects) a week very, very exciting stuff.Learning from the best in their fields who are practising cutting-edgeresearch or discussing novel, mind-blowing perspectives. It certainlycaptivates your attention.

Perhaps the biggest decisions are made each year during the Societies Fair,a massive event hosting hundreds of interest groups and sports clubs. There


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About CUMSA

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is literally everything you would want to do, from blind wine tasting to cross-country rambling, from dancing to rowing. Time is now a scarce resource.

At times, though, you might want to find a little solace, a little bit of homeaway from home. I really should not be cheesy but CUMSA has been a bigpart of my life here. I, like many of you now, thought that since Im goingoverseas, I might as well try to minimise my interaction with Singaporeans orMalaysians. On the contrary, being alone in a new country will onlystrengthen the bonds between you and your fellow friends. This is the CUMSAcommunity that supports and takes care of one another.

From the onset, we organise Freshers Tea and Camp in the summer which

will be followed by our annual events like the Asian Food Festival, AnnualBall and Garden Party. In the year ahead, were also beefing up ourSpeakers Series, encouraging the formation of more Interest Groups andlooking to revive our CUMSA Production, which would see freshers andseniors come together to put on a fantastic performance.

Remember, this is a journey that well walk together. Imsure you willsoon be meeting your CUMSA parents, who are probably as excited to meetyou. Your seniors, wholl have studied the same subject as you will be

studying, are always happy to share their notes. Lastly, but mostimportantly, the current committee, with special thanks to Anira, ourWelfare Officer, will also always be willing to help.

On behalf of everyone, we look forward to meeting you very soon. Messageme if you ever fancy a chat or are just unsure about something. Then again,we can never be sure about everything, can we?

Best regards,

Baifeng Quek

PresidentCambridge University Malaysia and Singapore Association (CUMSA)[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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About CUMSA

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Sponsors

CUMSA would like to thank our sponsors for their great support!

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors


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About CUMSA

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CUMSA Committee 2014-15

PresidentBaifeng Quek

Natural Sciences

Trinity Hall

[email protected]

Secretary

Tanvi Ahuja

Natural Sciences

Trinity Hall

[email protected]

Treasurer

Peisu Zou

Engineering

St. Edmunds College

[email protected]

Sponsorship Officer

Shaun Ng

Economics

St. Edmunds College

[email protected]

Sports Secretary

Joel Koh

LawGirton College

[email protected]

Publicity Secretary

Vince Tan

Engineering

Magdalene College

[email protected]

Events OfficerGlendon Kok

Law

Hughes Hall

[email protected]

Welfare Officer

Anira Perera

Natural Sciences

Fitzwilliam College

[email protected]

Logistics Officer

Yan Ping Tham

Economics

Pembroke College

[email protected]

Database Officer

Nicolas Capel

Engineering

Queens College

[email protected]

Graduate Representative

Weixun Goh

Computer ScienceRobinson College

[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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About CUMSA

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A Short History of CUMSA

The Cambridge University Malaysia and Singapore Association (CUMSA) wasfounded in Michaelmas term of 1948 as the Cambridge University MalayanAssociation (CUMA), with Lee Kuan Yew as its first President, and Yong PungHow as its first Secretary. Back then, CUMA had only 12 members.

In 1960, CUMA formally became CUMSA, and even when Malaysia andSingapore 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 andwelfare of Malaysian and Singaporean students in Cambridge. Though themeans and methods may have evolved over time, our resolve to serveremains unchanged.

CUMSA now boasts a membership of close to 300, and we take pride in thefact that CUMSA is one of the most vibrant and active student societies inCambridge. Our activities include formal halls, bops, the annual CUMSA Ball,talks, weekly sports, among many others! We also participate in events suchas 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 existwithin the Malaysian and Singaporean community in Cambridge and the UK.

Do remember to come down for the exciting upcoming Freshers Tea andCamp in Singapore. Also, do join us at the CUMSA booth at the UniversitySocieties Fair on 7thand 8thOctober 2014, held near Parkers Piece! At ourbooth, you can sign up to be a CUMSA member, and enjoy all the benefitsthat come with being a part of this historic society!


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General Pointers

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Weather and Climate

The weather and climate in Cambridge is very different from the tropicalclimate back home and this can be a very interesting and refreshing changefrom 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 25

degrees with sunshine, and the next it could be 10 degrees and raining, withstrong winds. Do note that Cambridge is in one of the driest regions ofBritain, so moisturisers and lip balm will be very helpful in preventing yourskin and lips from cracking. Of course, this also means that we usually getnice blue skies!


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General Pointers

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Term Michaelmas Lent Easter

Weather A little rain

throughout theterm. Theremay be hail.

Some rain, some

hail, and a fewepisodes of snow.This can be asmuch as 10 inches,as in Lent 2011, oras little as none atall.

Sunshine! Joy!

Temperature 5-20 C at thestart of term,becomingprogressivelycolder beforereaching 5-15 Cat the end ofterm.

0-10 C throughoutmost of the term,sometimes dippingto -5 - -10Cduring the night.Around 5-15 C atthe end of term.

Around 10-20 Cthroughout theentire term butbe warned thattemperature isparticularlyvariable in Easterterm, with coldspells! (Rarely

exceeds 25 C,even in June)

Hours ofsunshine

The sun willinitially setaround 7pm,andprogressivelyearlier until it

sets around 4pmby the end ofterm. (So ifyoure biking,bring your bikelights!)

The sun setsaround 3-4pm atthe start of term,and progressivelylater every day,until it sets around

6pm by the end ofterm.

The sun setsaround 8pm atthe start of term,and progressivelylater until thereare still traces of

daylight around10pm by the endof term!

Disclaimer: These are generalisations of the weather, and are by no means an accurate forecast of what willbe in store for you. A more accurate gauge would be the BBC weather forecast!

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2653941)


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General Pointers

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British Summer Time

The UK will switch from British Summer Time (+01:00 GMT) to GMT at 1 AMon Sunday, 26th October 2014, signalling the end of Daylight Saving time asthe clocks are set back by an hour. Daylight Saving will recommence onSunday, 29th March 2015, with the clocks adjusted forward by an hour.

Term dates

You will usually only be required to physically be inCambridge for the whole of Full Term, not Term.

However, it is best to check with your college if there is any need to be incollege outside of Full Term before booking any flights! For example, somecolleges and some courses have mock examinations just before the start ofLent Full Term.

Also, most colleges require you to keep term which means fulfilling aminimum number of days of staying on campus.

A last peculiarity to note is that the Cambridge week starts on Thursdays andends on Wednesdays.

The Full Term dates for the academic year 2014/15 are:Michaelmas Term Tue 7 Oct 2014 - Fri 5 Dec 2014Lent Term Tue 13 Jan 2015 - Fri 13 Mar 2015Easter Term Tue 21 April 2015 - Fri 12 Jun 2015

For more information, refer tohttp://www.cam.ac.uk/about-the-

university/term-dates-and-calendars

As you can see, term breaks are pretty long and people usually travel a lotthen. Before you plan any trips during Easter break (break before Easterterm, also known as study break), do remember to allocate some time toprepare for the Tripos Exams in May/June!
http://www.cam.ac.uk/about-the-university/term-dates-and-calendarshttp://www.cam.ac.uk/about-the-university/term-dates-and-calendarshttp://www.cam.ac.uk/about-the-university/term-dates-and-calendarshttp://www.cam.ac.uk/about-the-university/term-dates-and-calendarshttp://www.cam.ac.uk/about-the-university/term-dates-and-calendarshttp://www.cam.ac.uk/about-the-university/term-dates-and-calendars


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Pre-Departure Checklist

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Checklist #1: Medical Clearance

Get a check-up before coming, to avoid having to have one at HeathrowAirport. You will need to have a chest X-Ray with its report, and a medicalexamination report. As you will need to take your X-Ray with you in yourhand luggage for your initial visa clearance at Heathrow, you could tryrequesting for an A4 size X-Ray plate (or smaller) for easier handling or toroll up your X-Ray into a certificate tube (though this may cause somedamage to the X-Ray if done improperly). Do note that the X-Ray is notalways asked for at immigration, but it is good to have it on hand if you can!

If you are on a scholarship and have had a check-up as part of yourscholarship requirements, ask your scholarship board for a copy of the chestX-Ray and medical examination report from that check-up this will usuallysuffice.

Immunisation against meningitis is strongly advised before coming. You canget immunisation jabs for meningitis and MMR at Tan Tock Seng TravellersHealth and Vaccination Centre or most other clinics. Different colleges willhave different immunisation policies check the specifics with your college!

Whichever college you are in, you will need to register with a GP soon afteryou arrive at Cambridge - your college will provide you with more detailsabout this. After registration with your GP, you will be able to makeappointments with the clinic whenever you are ill and have a consultationunder the NHS at no cost.

Useful Information:

If you are studying at Cambridge fornot less than 6 months and are under24, you are eligible for NHS coverage,and can enjoy free immunisation fromyour GP in the UK.


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Checklist #2:Application for Entry Clearance aka Visa

Please read the comprehensive document:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/303848/T4_Guidance_06-04-14.pdf

It is a prerequisite for holders of a Singaporean or Malaysian passport toapply for an Entry Clearance if enrolled in a programme of study of morethan 6 months. This can be applied for at the UK Border Agency VisaApplication Centre, which is located at:

(SINGAPORE)

20 Cecil Street

#11-02 to 05 Equity Plaza

Singapore 049705

Tel: 800 101 3230

Email:[email protected]

(MALAYSIA)

Suite 19.06 19 Floor,

Wisma MCA

163 Jalan Ampang, 50450

Kuala Lumpur

Telephone: (03) 21649323Email:[email protected]

There is now a stream-lined process as Singapore and Malaysia are low-riskcountries, so not all documents listed below will be requested or checked,but it is definitely best to have them ready to provide evidence ifquestioned.

Note that due to new biometrics requirements, you will have to apply foryour visa in person to provide a ten-finger scan and a digital photograph aspart of the UK visa application process. Documents needed:

1. Your appointment confirmation and visa fees receipt

2. A valid passport or travel document with at least 1 page that is blank onboth sides

3. 2 recent passport-sized (45mm x 35mm) colour photograph of your face,which meets the requirements in UK visas and immigrations photograph

guidance
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/303848/T4_Guidance_06-04-14.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/303848/T4_Guidance_06-04-14.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/303848/T4_Guidance_06-04-14.pdfmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/303848/T4_Guidance_06-04-14.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/303848/T4_Guidance_06-04-14.pdf


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4. A printout of your online application form, signed and dated

5. A completed self-assessment form, signed and dated (found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/261462/vaf9-app81.pdf)

6. Letter of unconditional acceptance from the University/College/School inthe UK including CAS reference number. It should show the course of study,the course starting date, its duration, and costs (This letter will usually befrom your college, but you may need to request for them to add in all theinformation required.)

7. Any extra evidence that your University/College/School has included on

your CAS8. ATAS Clearance (applicable only to some. Seewww.fco.gov.uk/atasformore information)

9. Educational qualifications/certificates. Each document must be an original(not a copy).

10. Evidence of funds (e.g. bank statements for the last three months) toshow that you can pay for your stay and your course of studies in the UK. Asquoted from the website:

You 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 thanone month before your application.

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

personal bank or building society statements, covering a consecutive28-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 aconsecutive 28-day period ending no more than one month beforethe date of your application;

a letter from a financial institution confirming that funds have beenheld for a consecutive 28-day period ending no more than one month

before the date of your application;
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/261462/vaf9-app81.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/261462/vaf9-app81.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/261462/vaf9-app81.pdfhttp://www.fco.gov.uk/atashttp://www.fco.gov.uk/atashttp://www.fco.gov.uk/atashttp://www.fco.gov.uk/atashttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/261462/vaf9-app81.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/261462/vaf9-app81.pdf


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a letter from a financial institution confirming a loan, dated no morethan six months before the date of your application.

If the bank account you are intending to use is held under your parentsname, additional documents are required.

If 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. Youmust provide:

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

your certificate of adoption showing names of both parent(s) or legalguardian; or

a court document naming your legal guardian.You must also show that your parent(s) or legal guardian have given theirpermission for you to use this money. To do this, you mustprovide a letterfrom 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 UK.

If your studies are sponsored, you will need a letter from your sponsorfollowing the guidelines stated by the UKBA website.

In any other circumstances where you are being given official financialsponsorship, you must provide send us a letter of confirmationfrom yourofficial financial sponsor. The letter must be on the organisation's officialletter-headed paper or stationery, and must bear the organisation's official

stamp. It must show: your name; the official financial sponsor's 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 andliving costs.


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11. Application fee (S$685.00 for Tier 4 correct as of 11thJuly 2014).Payment is by debit or credit card (Visa or Mastercard).

For more details on these supporting documents, checkhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/320815/documents-t4-gen.pdf.

Other reminders: Visa Application Submission Monday to Friday 8:00 14:00 by

appointment onlyYou need to make an appointment on the website before showing up

at the visa office. This can only be done after submitting yourapplication online. Document Collection - Monday to Friday 14:00 16:00 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:http://www.vfs-uk-sg.com/http://www.vfs-uk-my.com/https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa

Useful Information:

Do note that your applications willrequire a CAS number from yourCollege will all the accompanyinginformation. This should come in adocument sent out to you by yourCollege or Tutorial Office. Do keep aneye out for it as you wont be able to

submit your application without it!
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/320815/documents-t4-gen.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/320815/documents-t4-gen.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/320815/documents-t4-gen.pdfhttp://www.vfs-uk-sg.com/http://www.vfs-uk-sg.com/http://www.vfs-uk-sg.com/http://www.vfs-uk-my.com/https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visahttps://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visahttps://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visahttp://www.vfs-uk-my.com/http://www.vfs-uk-sg.com/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/320815/documents-t4-gen.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/320815/documents-t4-gen.pdf


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Checklist #3: Application for Certificateof No Criminal Conviction (CNCC)(Also known as Certificate of Clearance)

Note: This is only required for those reading Medicine andthose intending to embark on local community service

programmes in the UK. For non-medicine students, you can only apply for aCNCC when you are back in Singapore after at least your first term. You willthen need a letter from the society in Cambridge stating that you need thecertificate to embark on community projects. There is also an option ofapplying for it in Cambridge (though it involves having your fingerprints

taken at a police station and mailing them and all your documents back toSingapore).

If you are currently residing in Singapore, you will have to apply in person at:

CNCC OfficeBlk D Police Cantonment Complex, #02-07/08, 391 New Bridge Road,Singapore 088762Telephone: 64358275 / 64358277

Opening times: 8.30am 12.30, 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 passport3. Documentary proof of previous stay in Singapore for non-

Singaporeans4. Documentary proof from the immigration authority requiring the

certificate (in this case, the university/College acceptance letter,and the CRB records check form that you should have received)

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

6. A fee of S$55.00 to be paid via NETS, cash card, or credit card7. A full set of fingerprint impressions will be taken by the qualified

fingerprint officer at the CNCC office.


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Note that you will have to exchange some form of ID for a security pass toenter the CNCC office, and that it will take at least 10 days to process theapplication. For more information, refer to:http://www.spf.gov.sg/epc/cert_issued.htm

The form is available at the office or can be downloaded here:http://www.spf.gov.sg/faqs/doc/coc_appform.pdf

Checklist #4: Plane tickets, baggageallowances, and shipping

When booking your plane tickets, let the agent or airlineknow 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.An additional 5 or 10kg can make quite a lot of difference!

Usual airline baggage allowances- SIA: 30kg- BA: 2x23kg

- Emirates: 30kgCheck with different airlines to find one that meets your budget, travel andbaggage allowance needs. Additionally, booking with STA Travels may giveyou better luggage allowance.

Excess baggageHowever, even if you do manage to get additional baggage allowance, it canstill be rather difficult to stay within the baggage allowance. You maymanage to check-in more than your allowance without incurring excessbaggage charges, and for this, checking in your baggage early isrecommended. Another tip is to tell them youre a student leaving for yourstudies. 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 excessbaggage that you have.

If you wish to avoid the hassle of having excess baggage, you can ship yourless-essential items over to Cambridge. You may do so through Speedpost(http://www.speedpost.com.sg)or DHL (~$230+ for a 20kg box)(http://www.dhl.com.sg). Do check ask your College for your address in
http://www.spf.gov.sg/epc/cert_issued.htmhttp://www.spf.gov.sg/faqs/doc/coc_appform.pdfhttp://www.spf.gov.sg/faqs/doc/coc_appform.pdfhttp://www.speedpost.com.sg/http://www.speedpost.com.sg/http://www.speedpost.com.sg/http://www.dhl.com.sg/http://www.dhl.com.sg/http://www.dhl.com.sg/http://www.dhl.com.sg/http://www.speedpost.com.sg/http://www.spf.gov.sg/faqs/doc/coc_appform.pdfhttp://www.spf.gov.sg/epc/cert_issued.htm


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Clothing(Winter Wear)

Winter clothing is best bought in the UK as there isdefinitely a wider range to choose from, and prices

are often cheaper. A light coat and a couple ofsweaters from home should be enough untilNovember, when it starts getting colder and aproper winter coat will be needed. It probably willnot get cold enough to warrant long johns orthermal wear, but if you are extremely sensitive tocold, they might be a good idea.

There are massive sales at the end of the year

(post-Christmas) where prices of virtuallyeverything are slashed by up to 70% - an ideal timeto shop if you happen to be in the UK over theChristmas holidays! These sales can stretch till mid-January (start of Lent term), though many itemswould have been sold by then.

If youre back home instead during December,stores like Zara, Mango and UNIQLO in

Singapore/Malaysia may also have end-of-seasonsales during December and January, where you canusually buy some winter wear.

Clothing (FormalWear)

For ladies, this means a set of smart-casual wearlike a smart blouse and black skirt/trouserscomplemented by court shoes for matriculation. Donote, however, that this differs between colleges some matriculations only require a semi-formal/smart dress with the college gown (dont

worry about the gown as youll be sold one duringfreshers week). If youd like to find out specificallyregarding your College matriculation, speak toseniors or a committee member!

Evening-wear like cocktail dresses are often neededfor balls and society dinners, which may be black-tie. Other semi-formal dresses can be worn forformal halls.


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Men should bring a dark suit, with tie and dressshoes, for formal occasions an absolute must-

bring! A dinner-jacket (the kind with shiny lapelsthat you wear with a bow-tie) will also come inuseful if you plan to attend black-tie events, thoughyou may not necessarily need it, and you can affordto acquire it later on.

Books Although textbooks are sometimes cheaper inSingapore and Malaysia than in the UK, theyreheavy and take up a lot of your baggage allowance.It would be best to check with a senior doing your

subject to make sure that they are essential in thefirst place.

Other options for getting books include :

- Libraries: Every college has a well-stocked libraryand each department also has huge collections ofbooks relevant to your subject.- Bookstores: Blackwells, Heffers and WHSmith in

the centre of town often hold textbook sales at thestart of the academic year and there are sectionswith second-hand books.- Online: You can consider amazon but do take theshipping fees into consideration when browsing.- Seniors: Within your College or course, there maybe second-hand book sales as well (e.g. university-level MedSoc holds a second-hand book sale outsidethe lecture site at the start of term but you have to

be quick because they get snapped up fast). Speakalso to CUMSA seniors you know doing your subjectand they may have books they would like to sell off!- Shipping: If youd rather buy your books at home,you may want to consider shipping your books over but do note that surface mail usually takes aboutfour to six weeks to arrive, so youll have to sendyour box at least a month before departure!(Alternatively, you could try begging a senior with

extra luggage space)


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Stationery Most stationery is considerably more expensive inthe UK a Pilot G-TEC pen, for example, can cost

around 2.50! Useful items to bring along would bemechanical pencils with refills, correctionfluid/tape, highlighters and your favourite brand ofpens with refills. Be warned that your favouritebrand of pens may not be available in the UK (manyUniball pens, in particular, arent). Depending onyour course you may also need 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 youreturn home to restock (though keep your baggageallowance in mind!). Most brands of toiletries(Dove, Colgate, etc) are available in the UK checkout the following websites for an idea of what isavailable!Boots:http://www.boots.co.ukSainsburys:http://www.sainsburys.co.uk Tesco:http://www.tesco.co.uk

Superdrug:www.superdrug.com/As the weather in the UK is dry and windy, lip balmand moisturiser (even for the guys!) will come inhandy, and prevent your lips/skin from cracking orpeeling. You can either bring them from home, orbuy them in the UK. You might find that themoisturisers you buy in UK are more suited for theclimate there.

Foodstuff If there is any particular food that you feel youcannot spend a term (or more!) without, it may begood to bring some to chase away the homesickblues. Do check if it can be brought into the UKthough!

However, there are also provision shops inCambridge that sell familiar brands at an affordableprice, albeit still higher than in Singapore, including

a Chinese and Korean supermarket that sell
http://www.boots.co.uk/http://www.boots.co.uk/http://www.boots.co.uk/http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/http://www.tesco.co.uk/http://www.tesco.co.uk/http://www.tesco.co.uk/http://www.superdrug.com/http://www.superdrug.com/http://www.superdrug.com/http://www.superdrug.com/http://www.tesco.co.uk/http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/http://www.boots.co.uk/


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premixes, sauces, and many other things. EvenTesco sells Yeos Bee Hoon! And if you cant find it

in Cambridge, theres alwaysChinatown inLeicester Square, London.

Gadgets/electronics 1. Check with your college parents or your friendlywelfare officer whether your college allows thegadgets you are thinking of bringing.

2. As some rooms may not have enough powerpoints, a multi-plug with switches may come inhandy, 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 becomedamaged in transit!

4. If you are unsure if that gadget you have youreye on is available in the UK, or are debating ifit is worth buying here and bringing it over,check outhttp://www.argos.co.ukfor a roughgauge of what items you can buy from Argos,

and their approximate price.5. Check with your college if you would require a

LAN cable.
http://www.argos.co.uk/http://www.argos.co.uk/http://www.argos.co.uk/http://www.argos.co.uk/


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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, societymembership cards, and a railcard.

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

3. Rubber flip-flops are not easily found in the UK in autumn/winter,and are very useful for padding around or going to the shower in, sodo 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 though if not, drivinglicences can still come in handy as proof of your age when you enter pubs orpurchase knives (yes they check ID for knives) or alcohol. For Malaysians, anInternational Drivers Licence is required. Do note, however, thatundergraduate students are not allowed to own cars in Cambridge in order tocontrol the car population size. Driving into town will probably take youmore time than walking or biking there anyway


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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 thehassle of living for a week or two without a bank account (banks in the UKcan take about 3 weeks or more to give you a fully functioning bank accountbut 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 isHSBC which is widely used (amongst other banks such as Barclays, LLoydsand 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 these are HSBC Advance(http://www.hsbc.com.sg/1/2/hsbc-advance/hsbc-advance )and HSBCPremier (http://www.hsbc.com.sg/1/2/hsbcpremier ).

In Singapore, the only HSBC branch that allows you to set up a bank accountin the UK is at Claymore Premier Centre. Heres the address:

Claymore Premier Centre

6 Claymore Hill #02-01Claymore Plaza, Singapore 229571

Do call 1800-227-8886 to find out more!

More links to look at before you fly off

1. http://www.cam.ac.uk- Cambridge Universitys official website2. http://www.cumsa.org- CUMSAs website3. http://www.international.cusu.cam.ac.uk/ - iCUSUs website4. http://www.colc.co.uk- A very comprehensive site which gives you

a good introduction to Cambridge.5. http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk - A UK students forum with a

Cambridge sub-forum, where you can ask questions and interact withother Cambridge students.
http://www.hsbc.com.sg/1/2/hsbc-advance/hsbc-advancehttp://www.hsbc.com.sg/1/2/hsbc-advance/hsbc-advancehttp://www.hsbc.com.sg/1/2/hsbc-advance/hsbc-advancehttp://www.hsbc.com.sg/1/2/hsbcpremierhttp://www.hsbc.com.sg/1/2/hsbcpremierhttp://www.hsbc.com.sg/1/2/hsbcpremierhttp://www.cam.ac.uk/http://www.cam.ac.uk/http://www.cumsa.org/http://www.cumsa.org/http://www.international.cusu.cam.ac.uk/http://www.international.cusu.cam.ac.uk/http://www.colc.co.uk/http://www.colc.co.uk/http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/http://www.colc.co.uk/http://www.international.cusu.cam.ac.uk/http://www.cumsa.org/http://www.cam.ac.uk/http://www.hsbc.com.sg/1/2/hsbcpremierhttp://www.hsbc.com.sg/1/2/hsbc-advance/hsbc-advance


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Arriving in Cambridge

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Register your flight details with CUMSA

You might want to update your flight details with CUMSA on the FacebookGroup, so that you can locate other freshers and seniors who are travellingon the same flight as you are! It is definitely less daunting to find the CentralBus 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 canexceed 32kg. Do also check out the hand luggage restrictions of any airportsyou may be transiting in.

Immigration

After disembarking, join the queue for foreigners entering the UK (usuallythe 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 college2. Letter of financial guarantee3. Health reports4. X-Ray plate5. Exit permit, for Singaporean males6. Passport containing your UK Entry Clearance (Visa)7. CAS

Youll probably be asked a few routine questions before your visa will befinalised at the immigration counter itself (as an entry stamp in your EntryClearance).


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Health Check-up

At the sides of the immigration section, there are health clinics where youcan go for your check-up if you havent taken the necessary immunisationjabs or chest X-Ray, you can take them here. However, this is troublesomeand tiring, and its easier to just have had your chest X-Ray and medicalcheck-up 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 studentand 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 notthe cheapest. (It is well worth the extra fewpounds for the convenience, though!). The ride willtake just below 3 hours.

Follow the signs in Heathrow to the Central Bus Station (it is quite a longwalk!), where you can purchase your ticket, along with a coach card if youfeel that its worth the money. Make sure that youre alighting at Parksidealong Parkers Piece. (Just select Cambridge as the destination.) A one-wayticket will cost you below 30. Alternatively, purchase the tickets online atnationalexpress.com, choosing the journey from Heathrow T1 and T3toCAMBRIDGE.

Locate the bus bay from which the coach to Cambridge is departing. Coachdrivers may help you with your luggage remember to say thank you orcheers! Be aware that the coach might make more than one stop (mostcoaches from Heathrow to Cambridge will at least stop by Stansted Airport),people alighting at different places will have their luggage put into differentstorage compartments in the coach, so check with the coach driver to makesure that your luggage goes into the right compartment!
http://images.google.com.sg/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/National_Express_route_561.jpg/800px-National_Express_route_561.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.flightline.co.uk/travelnews/national-express-launches-door-to-door-service/&usg=__xwHL5HDa1W7BE7N91TmkjDa4zwU=&h=600&w=800&sz=102&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=0Y-PoCUJreDXxM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images?q=national+express&hl=en&sa=N&um=1


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By Tube and coach

Possibly the cheapest way of getting to Cambridge, particularly if youmanage to purchase a fun-fare ticket from London Victoria (central) toCambridge. Normal tickets cost below 12 one-way. However, this route isnot recommended, especially if you happen to be travelling with heavyluggage!

You could travel by the Underground (Piccadilly Line) from Heathrow toVictoria Station. From there, ask for directions to the Victoria Coach Station

or follow the signs its about a 10 minute walk from the Tube station. TheNational Express London-Cambridge coach services leave every hour checkhttp://www.nationalexpress.comfor 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 Kings Cross station to Cambridge. Itis easiest to get to these stations by the Underground from Heathrow. Buy aticket for about 21.20 one-way before boarding, and be on the train 10minutes before boarding time. Check outhttp://www.nationalrail.co.ukfordetails. You might want to apply for a railcard at the same time because thediscount is quite substantial, and rail journeys are a convenient way toexplore the country.

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 collegecloser to the train station than the coach station is Homerton), and you willprobably want to take a bus or a taxi from the train station to your college.
http://www.nationalexpress.com/http://www.nationalexpress.com/http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/http://www.nationalexpress.com/


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Arrival in Cambridge

If you arrive at Parkside by National Express, you will be on the East side ofParkers Piece, opposite the fire station (refer to red dot on map). If you areheading for nearby colleges like Emmanuel, Hughes Hall, Christs or

Downing, you can get to your college on foot; otherwise, you might want tohire a cab to your college, depending on how far away it is. There will be anearby taxi stand. Ask a senior or your CUMSA parent!

If youre coming by train, taking a cab is the wisest choice, as the trainstation is some distance away from most colleges, and it can be difficulttravelling on buses with your luggage (in addition to the fact that yourcollege may not be near the bus stops). Remember for cab trips, it is alwaysmore 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


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is one outside the train station and slightly down the road from where thecoach will stop), you can call for a Panther Taxi - 01223 715 715. Just tellthem where you are (Cambridge Rail Station or Cambridge ParksideParkers Piece) and where you will be going (e.g. Fitzwilliam CollegeStoreys Way entrance)

Finding your college

It may be difficult to navigate around Cambridge to find your college so doarrange to be met by seniors if possible, possibly by getting in touch withthem when you know what time your bus/train will arrive in Cambridge. If

you dont know who to approach, do contact CUMSA for help.

Otherwise, make sure you have a map of Cambridge handy, and just askaround for directions to your colleges Porters Lodge (Main entrance).

College administration

Upon arriving at your college, proceed to the Porters Lodge to register

yourself and collect your keys.

(Despite what their job title implies, the porters refer to Glossary are notobliged 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 arrivebefore Full Term or your room lease starts, do make sure to have contactedyour college Tutor, Tutorial Office, or Admissions Office in advance to obtainpermission to stay in your allocated room before your lease starts.)

Obtain passwords for Cambridge accounts such as Hermes (your email) andRaven (widely used for various restricted sites). Do check your emailregularly as notices and most emails will be sent to your cam.ac.uk account.Your username will be your initials followed by a number, e.g. abc12, andyour email will then [email protected].

You will need to make an appointment to see your Tutor and Director ofStudies (DoS) to settle college administration and receive lecture schedulesfor the term. Theyll usually email you at your new Cambridge email

address, or leave a message for you in your pigeonholes, which are usuallyfound at the Porters Lodge (this is also where all your snail mail goes).
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Your colleges JCR (Junior Combination Room refer to Glossary) will haveorganised many freshers activities do take part in them to meet up withyour college mates! Also, do take college matriculation photos, and getoriented around your college, particularly with the JCR and post-room.

The NHS

As a student on a course of 6 months or longer, youllbe covered under the NHS.

Youll need to register with a GP in Cambridge. Obtainfrom your college tutor, seniors, or porters a list ofGPs near your college that you can register with. You

can also register with a dentist if you wish, though it is unlikely that youllbe covered under the NHS with dentists.

If you havent already had your meningitis vaccination, you can make anappointment with your GP clinic to get your vaccination for free if youhappen to be in the eligible age group (which will usually be the case).

If you want to see a doctor or a nurse, youll usually have to make anappointment for later in the day or for another day. Remember to be ontime because they are very strict with appointments. While consultations arefree, prescriptions will cost around 6.50 to fill at a pharmacy. And lastly, doremember to keep the NHS letter which tells you that youre qualified forNHS.
http://images.google.com.sg/imgres?imgurl=http://www.hants-iow-ldc.info/companyData/2209/images/nhs_415x275[1].jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.hants-iow-ldc.info/OrthodonticCare.htm&usg=__iv1KVQo-d-he5A7NAyZJT9AqMsQ=&h=275&w=415&sz=17&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=lQ3EkelWbWDUqM:&tbnh=83&tbnw=125&prev=/images?q=NHS&ndsp=20&hl=en&um=1


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Things to buy!

Gowns

Youll have to get a college gown for matriculation, though some collegessuch as Homerton, Hughes Hall only require a formal suit (Do check with yourseniors on what is needed!). Each college has a unique gown, and you canbuy a new one for around 40-50 from shops such as Ryder & Amies, Ede &Ravenscroft, and A.E. Clothier or from your colleges Porters Lodge.Alternatively, you can buy one second hand from seniors (make sure its thecorrect college!) or from the Porters Lodge. Its not a bad investment, given

that most colleges will require this for matriculation and formal halls.

Home improvement items

Most items that youll need can be obtained from Argos at Fitzroy Street(near Grafton Centre refer to map). Check outhttp://www.argos.co.ukforan idea of what is available. Alternatively, some items will be availablearound the city centre in places such as Boots and Sainsburys. Also, although

the nearest Tesco is some distance away (along Newmarket Road), its anexcellent place to get some really cheap items! You should get them earlybefore they get snatched off the shelves!

Note: Keep the boxes that your appliances come in, as you will need themagain when you pack up your room for the holidays or move to another roomin your second year.

Kitchen items

As the water in Cambridge is hard water (with too much calcium), waterfilter jugs are almost essential to improve the clarity of the tap water youdrink though tap water is drinkable unless stated! Kettles are also veryuseful. You can get them at places like Argos or Boots.

Cutlery and crockery sold singly are quite expensive, and they usually comein sets of four, eight, or sixteen. Splitting a set amongst many people may bea good idea! Prices at Argos are competitive, though you can usually getsome from Sainsburys as well.
http://www.argos.co.uk/http://www.argos.co.uk/http://www.argos.co.uk/http://www.argos.co.uk/


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If youre intending to cook frequently over the long run, we recommendinvesting in reasonable quality cookware. Argos value range of pots, pans and knives have been tested to be fit-for-the-dump after several uses, so itmay be wiser to go for quality cooking equipment!

Bedding

Some colleges will provide bedding check with your college or a collegesenior. If your college doesnt, make sure that you buy a duvet to get youthrough the winter months. Dont save on this, as a good duvet will last youthrough your length of study here and keep you nice, happy, and warmduring winter! Bed sheets may also be needed for your first night inCambridge check with your college/ college parent. You can get bed sheets& pillow cases at really low prices in Primark at Grafton.

Room insurance

Some colleges provide room insurance, however, if they dont, itcan beeasily obtained from Endsleigh Insurance (St Marys Street next to theCambridge 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

Some people manage without a bike, but bikes can come in handy,particularly if your college happens to be far away from the city centre (likeHomerton and Girton) or from lecture sites. Cambridge is a particularlycycle-friendly city with bike lanes along some roads. Prices are variable, but

a new bike will cost over 100 and a second hand one for half the price.

Some bike shops nearer the city centre:Halfords 1 Bridge St, 01223 350808Ben Hayward Cycles 69 Trumpington St, 01223 352294Cambridge Cycle Centre 8 Botolph Lane, 01223 307114


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Some bike shops further away from the city centre (but which may havecheaper bikes):

Mikes Bikes 26-28 Mill Rd, 01223 312591Cambridge Station Cycles Station Building, Station Rd, 01223 307125Cycle King - 195-197 Mill Rd, 01223 214999

If youre not in a hurry, wait for offers and compare prices! Alternatively,you could try approaching seniors who are sometimes looking to sell off theirbikes.

Make sure you also have a helmet, bikelights, and mudguards. It is advisableto bring bike lights and batteries from home or online as those in UK areexpensive. You can get fined for cycling at night without both the front &back lights. If youre getting a bike lock in Cambridge, do ask the shop ownerto grease it to prevent the lock from rusting.


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Money matters

Youll probably need to bring about 500 in cash or travellers cheques withyou when you come to Cambridge, as it can take as long as three weeks ormore for your bank to organise your new bank account, unless youve alreadyset up a bank account from home. Youll need to have enough money tocover your meals, your gown, freshers activities, books, home improvementitems, and a bike (if you need one). Also, most colleges will ask for paymentof your college bill (including rent for Michaelmas) at the start of the term check with your colleges finance office if you can defer payment until yourbank account is ready!

You will probably be able to withdraw money from ATMs using an overseasATM card (e.g. if it has a Cirrus logo)check with your bank about usingATM cards in the UK. Do note however that most banks will impose asurcharge for withdrawals from overseas ATMs. (POSB charges a SGD 5surcharge per transaction.)

The exchange counter in HSBC in Market Square cashes travellers chequeswith a commission of 2-3%, unless the travellers cheques are HSBC ones in

which case there is no commission. Alternatively, instead of cashingtravellers cheques, you could bank them in like any other cheque withoutneeding to pay commission, but this requires a functioning bank account andsome processing time.

When it comes to setting up your bank account, there are a number of bankswith branches here in Cambridge, so you are spoiled for choice! Proximity toyour college, debit services such as Maestro, Visa, and Mastercard, monthlyfee (if any) and availability of a cheque book, should be key considerations

when choosing your bank especially as cheques and debit cards arecommon forms of payment in the UK. (Note that if you have a Maestro card,youll usually be able to use the card in the rest of Europe; however if youhave a Solo card, its use will be limited to the UK.) Tip: Other factors toconsider include the amount of tax-free overdrafts allowed, and any otheradditional benefits.

When you actually apply for a new account (or two, usually a currentaccount which is linked to your debit card, and a savings account for larger

sums of money), youll usually need to bring your passport and unconditionaloffer letter from your college. You may also be required to bring a letter


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from your college, addressed specifically to the bank, providing proof of youradmittance to the college and confirming your address in Cambridge. Checkwhat documents youll need with the bank youre intending to open anaccount with.

Unlike in Singapore, most ATMs with any of the banks are Link enabled (lookout for the Link sign), meaning that youll be able to withdraw money froman ATM other than your banks without incurring any surcharges.

As an overseas student, you are entitled to tax-free interest on youraccounts obtain the relevant declaration forms from any bank.

Banks are usually open until 5pm on weekdays and 1pm on Saturdays. Theydont open on Sundays, but cash machines can still be used to w ithdrawmoney. Internet banking can be a very good friend for dealing with transfersof money and for checking on your spending!

Some banks in Cambridge:HSBC 32 Market Hill, Cambridge CB2 3NUNatwest 37 Fitzroy St, Cambridge CB1 1EU56 St Andrews St,CambridgeCB2 2DA

Barclays Market SquareLloyds Sidney Street (main branch) or Regent Street or Mill Road


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Staying in touch

With home

High commissions

As soon as you can, register yourself with your respective High Commissions:

Malaysia Students Department45-46 Belgrave SquareLondon SW1X 8QT

OR

Singapore High Commission (Students Section)9 Wilton CrescentBelgraviaLondon SW1X 8SP(Alternatively, log on to the MFA website athttp://www.mfa.gov.sgandregister yourself online)

Posting letters

The postal rates for normal airmail letters overseas start from 56p. You canget a set of 56p stamps if youre going to send light letters of postcardshome often. For heavier letters, just ask at the post offices the rates for theletter you want to send. To send letters, you can mail them at any redmailbox in town there are quite a few of them in the area. Alternatively,some Colleges have a mail service in the Porters Lodge where you can speak

to the porters, pay for postage and get them to send letters out in the dailymail collection.

Airmail theoretically takes 4-6 working days to arrive in Malaysia orSingapore, but realistically its usually about a week either way. Each of youwill be assigned a pigeonhole in your college into which your mail is put parcels and registered mail are usually kept at the Porters Lodge, and theporters will tell you to collect them. Useful websites:http://www.royalmail.com

http://www.singpost.com.sg
http://www.mfa.gov.sg/http://www.mfa.gov.sg/http://www.mfa.gov.sg/http://www.royalmail.com/http://www.royalmail.com/http://www.singpost.com.sg/http://www.singpost.com.sg/http://www.singpost.com.sg/http://www.royalmail.com/http://www.mfa.gov.sg/


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Phone cards, etc

Its cheaper to call home using the international calling cards here in the UK.

They usually come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, or 50 and are availableat almost all post offices and newsagents. Check to see that calling ratesstated include tax. Some popular choices include SwiftCall and SAVERS.

However, as Mobileworld (a handphone network) charges just 4p a minute tocall home, many people use Mobileworld rather than phone cards to callhome if they need to. It is not cheap for general daily use within the UKthough. (Another similar network is Lyca Mobile!)

The Malaysian IDD is 00-60 followed by your area code (omit the 0) and yourMalaysian home number. There is a Malaysia Direct International CollectOperator Service and the toll-free number is 0800-89-0060. You will beconnected to a local Malaysian operator who will then connect the call foryou.

The Singapore IDD is 00-65 followed by your Singapore phone number. DirectInternational Call Collect is also available for holders of the InternationalCalling Card from Singapore

Webcams

Webcams can be very useful to use with Skype or MSN, particularly as theinternet service in Cambridge is rather fast. However, some colleges haveinternet 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, Three and EE.

Things to consider in choosing a network provider1) Price some networks are definitely much cheaper, for example, giffgaffhas a 10 pound goodybag deal where you pay 10 pounds to get unlimitedSMSes, 1GB data, on top of a decent number of minutes!


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2) Reception some networks have better reception than others. Vodafonetends to have good reception even in Sainsburys and on the hill, while

giffgaff has pretty shaky reception in some parts of Cambridge.

3) Roaming Vodafone and Orange are multinational and will allow you toroam within most of Europe and some other parts of the world).

4) Which networks your friends are on this may sound silly without context,but some networks give you deals when you make calls or send texts tofriends on the same network as you, so if all your friends are on a certainnetwork, the calls and texts may even be free!

The websites to some of the more widely used mobile phone networks arelisted below. You can check out their price plans first before buying, or youcan ask the friendly staff of mobile phone shops in Cambridge such asPhones4U or Carphone Warehouse (one Carphone Warehouse outlet islocated in Lion Yard):

O2 http://www.o2.co.ukGiffgaff -http://giffgaff.com/

EE -http://ee.co.uk/Virgin mobile http://www.virginmobile.comVodafone http://www.vodafone.co.ukThree http://www.three.co.ukMobileworld http://www.mobileworld.co.uk Lyca Mobile -http://www.lycamobile.co.uk/home/en

Handsets usually come free or at a discounted price, but the catch is thatyoull 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 its your first yearin the UK, the mobile phone companies willrequire a copy of a valid bank statement sent to you by mail, or a creditcard, and some form of identification (your university card should suffice)when you first subscribe to a plan.

Otherwise, you may consider buying a Pay-as-you-talk prepaid SIM cardinstead, 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
http://www.o2.co.uk/http://www.o2.co.uk/http://www.o2.co.uk/http://giffgaff.com/http://giffgaff.com/http://giffgaff.com/http://ee.co.uk/http://ee.co.uk/http://ee.co.uk/http://www.virginmobile.com/http://www.virginmobile.com/http://www.virginmobile.com/http://www.vodafone.co.uk/http://www.vodafone.co.uk/http://www.vodafone.co.uk/http://www.three.co.uk/http://www.three.co.uk/http://www.three.co.uk/http://www.mobileworld.co.uk/http://www.mobileworld.co.uk/http://www.mobileworld.co.uk/http://www.lycamobile.co.uk/home/enhttp://www.lycamobile.co.uk/home/enhttp://www.lycamobile.co.uk/home/enhttp://www.lycamobile.co.uk/home/enhttp://www.mobileworld.co.uk/http://www.three.co.uk/http://www.vodafone.co.uk/http://www.virginmobile.com/http://ee.co.uk/http://giffgaff.com/http://www.o2.co.uk/


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using a prepaid sim card. Many prepaid cards offer free text, internet etcdepending on the amount you top up monthly. Should you wish to change toa contract, you will usually be able to port your number over, but do checkwith the service providers or the friendly folk at the mobile phone shopsfirst!

The general format for a UK mobile number is (+44)-XXXX-XXXXXX if youredialing 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 theNTL network but many colleges have pulled out last academic year. So docheck with your college porters if your college still provides landlineconnections. A few colleges like Homerton and Fitzwilliam, however, havetheir own landline system where you can make intra-college phone calls forfree.

Do note that the charge for dialling the 0845 number of your landline is thesame as a mobile phone call. Ask your college if there is an alternative lineto call there is usually a 01223 number which has the same charge as anormal landline.

Letters

You can send letters for free to students different colleges using the CUSUMail Service (CUSU-MS) during academic term. Each college will have a box

for this and there is a stipulated collection date/time. Indicate the name ofthe recipient, the college and CUSU-MS on the envelope to indicate thatyoure using it. Again, note the different naming convention, which is to putthe first name before your last name (surname). You may also underline thelast name. This help the porters sort out the mail to the correct pigeon hole.

During term time and holidays, mail may be sent to Fellows residing in othercolleges via the internal University Mail Service (UMS).


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Transport

Within Cambridge

Cycling

Cycling is a quick and efficient way of getting around Cambridge, particularlyif your lecture sites or college are far away. They do wonders for wideningthe area that you travel around, and for getting you to your lectures on timewhen youre in a hurry!

Do read up on the cycling rules (such as not cycling on pavements, and theneed for bike lights at night, helmets etc. http://www.camcycle.org.ukformore details), and register your bicycle with your college as bicycles arestolen often!

Stagecoach bus services

The bus services within Cambridge can be fairly efficient, though the waitfor the bus can sometimes be rather long (refer to timetables to minimise

your wait!). Taking the buses make getting to Addenbrookes, the trainstation, or Tescos at Newmarket Road much easier. If there is a copy of abus map available at Freshers Fair, be sure to pick up one!

The City1 bus costs around 1.15 from the train station to the city centre. Ifyou are traveling around often, it might be more worthwhile to get a dayride pass at 3.70, or even weekly and monthly passes. Cambridge Universitystudents get to travel on the Uni4 for 70p upon presentation of theUniversity Card, and it is useful for getting to the train station for weekend

trips out of Cambridge.

Useful websites:http://www.stagecoachbus.comhttp://www.stagecoachbus.com/cambridge/timetables.php
http://www.camcycle.org.uk/http://www.camcycle.org.uk/http://www.camcycle.org.uk/http://www.stagecoachbus.com/http://www.stagecoachbus.com/http://www.stagecoachbus.com/cambridge/timetables.phphttp://www.stagecoachbus.com/cambridge/timetables.phphttp://www.stagecoachbus.com/cambridge/timetables.phphttp://www.stagecoachbus.com/http://www.camcycle.org.uk/


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Within the UK

Coach/bus

Two coach/bus companies that are widely used are National Express andMegabus.

National Express is particularly useful for getting to airports and to London.Look out for the funfares on National Express where you can get cheaperone-way tickets between Cambridge and London (the catch is that if you

miss the bus, there would be no refund)! Otherwise, a Young Persons CoachCard will allow you to get significant discounts on National Express fares.

For more details:http://www.nationalexpress.comhttp://www.megabus.co.uk

Train

Taking a train is usually the quickest means of getting to your destination itonly takes 46 minutes to get from Cambridge to London by train, comparedto 2 hours by coach. Unfortunately, not only is the Cambridge train stationlocated far away from the city centre, its also almost always moreexpensive to take a train than to take a coach/bus. A Young Persons 16 -25Railcard will, however, allow you to get a significant third off your trainfares.

Note that you can get trains to London Kings Cross and London Liverpool St

stations. The former is more expensive and sold at a fixed price regardless ofwhen you buy it but is generally faster. The latter is less expensive (priceincreases as date of departure nears) and generally takes a longer time(1h15min).

Check outhttp://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ for more details on train services.
http://www.nationalexpress.com/http://www.nationalexpress.com/http://www.megabus.co.uk/http://www.megabus.co.uk/http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/http://www.megabus.co.uk/http://www.nationalexpress.com/


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Various cards

University Cardyour college would probably have asked you to send thema photograph. This photo is for the University Card, possibly one of the mostuseful cards around it identifies you as a student of Cambridge University(allowing you free entrance into places such as Kings College Chapel) andentitles you to lots of perks at the shops around town. Some colleges alsouse the University Card as a meal card, library card, and as an access cardinto various places. Do note that the top corner of your card next to yourphoto has your College colours to indicate which College youre from inidentifying some College-specific benefits. For example, Scudamores

Punting Company has different discounts for different Colleges depending onthe agreement between the College and the company!

College swipe cardSome colleges may use a college swipe card instead ofthe University Card around college for meals, borrowing books, and obtainingaccess into various places.

NUS/CUSU cardThis is optional, and serves mainly to identify you as astudent and to obtain discounts!

Nectar cardThis can be used at Sainsburys and various other shops. Itsfree, and youll definitely be visiting Sains a lot during your course of studyhere. The idea is that you collect points as you spend, and points can beredeemed as rebates once youve reached the qualifying mark.

Boots Advantage cardSimilar 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 cardWith a National Express coach card, you can save up to 30% onmany normal adult fares on many coach services. This is especially useful forthe trips to the airports! You can buy the card from the ticketing counter atHeathrow, from the ticketing booth at Drummer Street bus station or online.

Rail cardYou will qualify for the Young Persons Railcard. It saves you 1/3of 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 cardjust 15 for a lifetime! Where is there a betterbargain? See the membership privileges at the back of the booklet!


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Academics in Cambridge

Lectures

Lectures are conducted in one of themany lecture theatres around theuniversity teaching sites. You willreceive more information on whereand when your lectures are from yourcollege, or from your departmentwebsites look out for the

information! Most timetables areavailable on your departmentwebsites or speak to a senior if youdlike to find out what your schedulewill be like once term starts!Lectures are (usually) very important, so do attend them! Although someseniors may say otherwise Some people find them useful while othersdont, so find something that suits your learning style.

Supervisions

Supervisions are not unlike tutorials or seminars in Singapore JCs, exceptthat instead of having a class of some 20-odd people, youll experiencelearning in a small group of usually 2-3 people. This makes supervisions thehallmark of the Cambridge teaching system, giving you ample opportunity toclarify any questions or problems that you may have, and allows you toexplore any particular area of study that you wish to find out more about. Dotake time to prepare forsupervisions, so that you canmake full use of thesupervision time! Your Directorof Studies is in charge of hiringand assigning you supervisors.But you will liaise with thesupervisors directly regardingsupervision timings.


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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 yearinclude Freshers Squash, Oxbridge Games, Speakers Series, CUMSA AnnualBall and more! So do look out for more details about these events!

CUMSA also supports weekly sports activities such as Floorball, Badminton,and Tennis via our interest groups, so look out for details about these aswell! These are all great platforms to meet your fellow Singaporeans andMalaysians from other Colleges, hang out, and have a good time.

On top of this, CUMSA hopes to provide support as a community, and if youever need someone to talk to or a feeling of home, speak to any of us, yourCUMSA parents or seniors around you!

Other Singaporean and Malaysian societies

There are other Singaporean and Malaysian societies in Cambridge whichorganise various activities for Singaporeans and Malaysians throughout theyear. These societies include the Temasek Society and the CambridgeUniversity Malaysia Society (CUMaS).


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College activities in Cambridge

Do make it a point to take part in the various freshers events organisedespecially for you by your colleges JCR in freshers week! These events area great opportunity for you to mix and mingle with other freshers from yourcollege, helping you to make friends and settle down with greater ease.

Each college also has many activities throughout the year, and there arecollege societies to fulfil almost every need (if not, theres always theuniversity societies!). Do join them just to have fun and you dont alwayshave 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 newsport or activity! Examples of College-level activities include acapellagroups, music society, badminton, hockey, netball, rugby, rowing and manymore!

University activities in Cambridge

If there are any activities you cant find in your college, youll usually find

them in the university societies. With a vast list of societies, youll almostalways find something that deals with your interests, from tennis to lace-making!

Do go for the CUSU FreshersSocietiesFair at Parkers Piece on 7thand 8thOctober 2014 before the start of term and sign up for any societies that mayseem interesting to you you can always back out from them later on,though you may find your email being flooded with notices from clubs youdont remember signing up for.

If that doesnt provide a good enough reason for you to go for the fair, thereare always loads of freebies to be collected as you walk around note pads,thumb drives, mugs, pizza and more! The Cambridge University SocietiesFair is one of the largest in the country over 315 stalls were set up at thefair in 2011! Remember that pizza vouchers can often be used in February ofthe following year too!

Check outhttp://www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/societies/directory/ for a list of

University societies.
http://www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/societies/directory/http://www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/societies/directory/http://www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/societies/directory/http://www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/societies/directory/


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Glossary of useful terms

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(supervision reports), CamSIS (exam results). Needs aRaven password for access.

Cheers They dont just use this to sign off letters. Cheers isan expression of appreciation the British substitute forthe polite thanks.

Cho Mee Singaporean-owned chinese supermarket. The place togo for oyster sauce, chilli, Yeos chrysanthemum teaetc.108110 Mill Road, CB1 2BD (many other Asiansupermarkets 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 eatamazing food someone else has whipped up (you may beexpected to return the favour some other time). Highlyenjoyable if there is no burnt disaster in the kitchen

Courts Manicured grass patch(es) in college. Not to betrampled on by students. At least dont get caught. Tobe caught is to risk the wrath of the porters.

DoS Director of Studies. A fellow from your college who isresponsible for overseeing your academic progress. Youwill usually have a meeting with him/her once a term.Best to be avoided if you do not want any nagging orpep-talk to work harder, though some can be lovely.

Doss Confusingly, the British also use the term dosscolloquially. A doss subject is one that doesnt requirevery much effort and is hardly intellectually rigorous. Todoss around means to faff around (See below Faff.)Funny how your DoS is the last person who will want youdossing around though.

Faff [Verb]If someone tells you to stop faffing around, theywant you to stop clowning around.[Noun]An unnecessary, over-complicated ortroublesome task, especially one perceived as a wasteof time. I hate doing the dishes every night, its such afaff.


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Fellows Academics who work, and in some cases, live in acollege. They are a notch above the student in the

college social ladder and enjoy the right to walk on thegrass. They also get to sit at the high table at hall andare served better food. Some Fellows are alsosupervisors (See Supervisor).

Formal Hall Dressed up dinner with good food and wine (usually)held in Hall, sometimes requiring gowns (although highlyvariable some colleges only require college membersto wear gowns).

Freshers Week Your first weekend of the Michaelmas term in

Cambridge. Arguably the most enjoyable time of theyear (before the workload hits), and also possibly therowdiest.

Full Term The length of time for each term for which you have tobe resident in Cambridge for you need to spend aminimum number of nights in Cambridge each term tokeep term

Gyp Room Kitchen. Sometimes with odd rules like no cooking

after 10pm and no frying.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 cam.ac.ukaddress. Requires a separate password (not your Ravenpassword) for access.

Hobs Stoves. Unfortunately some gyp rooms dont have hobs

JCR Junior Common/Combination Room. 1. Undergraduate

section of the college students union. 2. Studentleisure area where you and your friends can watchfootball/rugby matches or lounge in armchairs/bean-bags.

KFC 1. Kitchen Fixed Charge: resented college canteensubsidy 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.


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Knackered As in completely knackered, meaning very tired.

Master/Mistress The person who nominally heads the college (aka

position for eminent figures to end their careers in thetwilight retirement home of a Cambridge college). Havea Masters Lodge which is often beautifully decoratedand one of the nicest parts of college.

Mathmo Math-mow. Mathematics student. Connotations: slightlyweird.

May Ball/June Event/

When a college is converted into a huge party venueduring May Week! Vast amounts of drink, food, ents,performances and things to do usually running between10pm to 6am the next day. Prices for tickets rangebetween 80 (June Event) to 100-250 (May Ball).Also, some colleges host Spring Balls and Winter Balls inLent and Michaelmas respectively.

May Week Cambridge tradition circa ten days in June after the endof the exams. Drink, garden parties, balls. Recognizeduse: something for students to look forward to in orderto see them through Tripos.

MCR Middle Common/Combination room.Graduate equivalent of JCR.

Medic Doctors-to-be or medicine students.

NatSci Nat-skee. Natural science students. Sometimes used toconjure up image of stereotypical nerd.

Parkers Piece The Wembly of Cambridge. The place to go on Sunday ifyou feel like kicking a ball. Also the place you first seewhen you reach Cambridge (if youre taking National

Express).Pissed Drunk. The American version of which we are used to

angry is not used. So when you say you are pissed

Plodge Porters Lodge, where you can find a Porter 24/7 inevery single college.

Porter One of the many peculiar Cambridge institutions. Dontexpect them to help you with your bags though! Wardenon duty in college. In charge of some areas of discipline

especially during bops and sorts your post. Duties


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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 senseof humour who will help you out if you are lost orconfused.

Punts Long boats unique to Oxbridge, manned by poles. Canbe rented out by students for a spin on the River Camfor under 20/hour. Remember to present your studentcard!

Raven A username and password used for authenticatingyourself to various Cambridge website resources (see

Cam-___). Also used for accessing certain universitywebsites outside of the Cambridge network.

Sainsburys Also known as Sains. The place to go if you are runninglow on groceries. Also the place to go if you want to seefamiliar faces. Where Singaporeans congregate.

Senate House Probably the best looking exam venue. Also the dreadedplace to go where Tripos results are put up for publicviewing in late June (your Tripos results are available

online on CamSIS as well). Also the place forconvocation.

Senior Tutor Holds overall responsibility for student welfare in thecollege. Usually a stern-looking elderly person whospeaks to you during Freshers week aboutbehavingyourself.

Sent Down Expelled from college: rusticated returned to thecountry

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 PhDstudent overseeing your work in a particular subject.Usually very nice and helpful, unless you havent doneyour work

Supervision The session with the supervisor (see above). Hour-longsessions, usually in small groups of 1-5 students. Can befun if you did your work. Otherwise, may be bewildering

or painful.


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Last reminders1.Dates you might want to note

12 July: UK Pre Departure Talk @ SP Convention Centre 3 August: Freshers Tea 29-31 August: Freshers Camp 7 October: Start of Cambridge Term

2. Things you might want to do (if you have yet to!) Register your personal details on the CUMSA website

(http://cumsa.org)under the Freshers registration Join the CUMSA Freshers Facebook group! (Cambridge University

Singaporean and Malaysian Freshers 2014/15 -https://www.facebook.com/groups/cumsa2014/ )

Sign up to be a UKSSC member athttp://eepurl.com/JRzB1 If you have any other questions, please do drop an email to Baifeng

([email protected])or Anira ([email protected])!

Privileges for joining CUMSA

As a CUMSA member, you will receive a membership card that entitles you todiscounts at some of Cambridges Asian eateries by simply presenting yourcard!

HK Fusion10% discount for CUMSA membersSt Johns Street Branch12 St Johns StreetCambridge

CB2 1TW(Opposite St Johns College)

Burleigh Street Branch21 Burleigh StCambridgeCB1 1DG(Near Grafton)
http://cumsa.org/http://cumsa.org/http://cumsa.org/https://www.facebook.com/groups/cumsa2014/https://www.facebook.com/groups/cumsa2014/http://eepurl.com/JRzB1http://eepurl.com/JRzB1http://eepurl.com/JRzB1mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://eepurl.com/JRzB1https://www.facebook.com/groups/cumsa2014/http://cumsa.org/


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Seven Days5% discount for CUMSA membersValid only on la carte items, with cash payment, from Mondays toThursdays.66 Regent StreetCambridgeCB2 1DP(Near Downing College)

Ichiro15% discount for CUMSA members13 King StreetCambridgeCB1 1LH

Chinese Canteen15% discount for CUMSA membersValid only on la carte items, with cash payment.30 Bridge StreetCambridgeCB2 1UJ

For more information, please refer to our website where you may sign up asa member!


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This CUMSA Freshers Guide was created in 2014,and is based on and expands upon the CUMSAFreshers Guide 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

If you have any comments or questions on thisguide, please email Anira Perera, your CUMSA

Welfare Officer at [email protected]