Academic life

Academic study and research are the prime focus of life at Pembroke. Our undergraduates read for degrees in all the subjects offered by the University; many of these subjects are represented in the research and teaching strengths of Pembroke's Fellowship. Fellows play a crucial and dedicated role in our annual admissions round, organize teaching to prepare our students for the University's Tripos examinations, and provide much of the supervision themselves.

The College is in excellent academic health. In 2006, after more than a decade of steadily improving results, Pembroke's undergraduates were ranked fourth among the Cambridge Colleges (using the academic ranking system of the Tompkins Table). Our current strengths include History, English, Classics, Modern Languages, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, to list a few out of the many subjects on offer.

The College Library has a central role to play in the College's academic life. A major renovation and extension of Alfred Waterhouse's fine Victorian building was completed at the end of the Michaelmas term 2001; this nearly doubled book and reader spaces, and equipped the Library with state-of-the-art IT resources. All student rooms on the College site (and most of our hostels) are equipped for access to the College's computer network, with College and University Library catalogues and databases available online. There are in addition dedicated central computer facilities for undergraduates and graduates.

Life at Pembroke is, however, not all about work, and there are a number of ways of avoiding the library. Central to student life at Pembroke is the Junior Parlour (for all students) and the Graduate Parlour (for graduate students). From jazz to cheese, green issues and welfare provision - it all happens in the Junior Parlour (JP) and Graduate Parlour (GP).

There are societies and clubs in Pembroke which should suit everyone's taste (we hope). There is a very active Chapel Choir who regularly take part in Chapel services as well as a Pembroke College Music Society which performs concerts and recitals for musicians at all levels. For budding thespians there are the Pembroke Players who stage regular plays and comedy events once graced by Peter Cook, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Bill Oddie. For students with an artistic flair or wishing develop their artistic side can join Pembroke Art and Photographic Society (PAPS) a vibrant student-run society promoting all things artistic in the College. We also have rugby, football, hockey, tennis, squash, netball, pool, cricket and basketball, badminton, athletics, volleyball and skiing teams and, naturally, for the early risers in College a very active Pembroke College Boat Club.

The Stokes Society, named after Sir George Gabriel Stokes, former Master of the College, is our dedicated science society.

Each year a student committee organises a June event, an all night extravaganza in the grounds of the College where great fun is had by all and which nicely concludes the (academic) year.