Pembroke College Cambridge

University card

Each member of College is issued with a University card. Many of the gates and doors in College are operated by electronic locks and the card is needed to gain entry. The card also functions as a borrowing card for the College Library and also serves as a meals payment card. If you find someone else's card, please hand it immediately to the Tutorial Office (LL3, Ivy Court) or to the Porters. Pembroke is able to programme your card for use in College only. Your card can also be programmed by the University Library for borrowing books, and by some Departments if you need card access there.

On no account should your University card (or any replacement 'white card' you might have been issued with) be loaned to a third party.  

What do I do if I lose my card?
  • To request a replacement card please fill out the form https://forms.office.com/e/U8PLBynJJP. 
  • A temporary plain white card, which performs all of the usual functions within College, can be issued to you at the P'lodge (white cards will only work within College).
  • Lost cards incur a replacement charge of £15 which will be added to your next College bill. You will be notified by email when the new card arrives. Once it is programmed, your white temporary card will no longer work.
What if my card has been stolen?
  • To request a replacement card please fill out the form https://forms.office.com/e/U8PLBynJJP. 
  • A temporary plain white card, which performs all of the usual functions within College, can be issued to you at the P'lodge (white cards will only work within College).
  • If you have reported the crime to the police station, here or abroad, you should have a crime number. Please provide this to the Tutorial Office and there will be no card replacement fee, otherwise you will be charged as above.
The print has faded on my card
  • If the print has faded so that your face and name are unrecognisable you can request a replacement card by filling out the form https://forms.office.com/e/U8PLBynJJP. 
  • Do not throw your card away.  It must be returned to the Tutorial office once your new one has been collected.
My card is cracked / bent / damaged
  • To request a replacement card please fill out the form https://forms.office.com/e/U8PLBynJJP. 
  • A temporary plain white card, which performs all of the usual functions within College, can be issued to you at the P'lodge (white cards will only work within College).
  • A crack or hairline fracture, however small, will prevent the card from working - Have you been careless with your card? Have you been keeping your card in your back pocket? Sitting on it could cause the card to bend or crack (The card readers will scan through a wallet or card holder so there is no need to keep it in your pocket).
  • The University Card Office charge for "Careless Damage" of cards. If your card has been damaged through carelessness, then you will be charged the replacement cost as for lost cards.
  • Do not throw your card away.  It must be returned to the Tutorial office once your new one has been collected.
My card isn't working properly
  • Are you holding your card still when showing it to the card reader? The card reader requires patience and you should hold the card still until the light turns green.
  • My card activates some doors but not others. Your permissions will need to be checked
  • Is the card old and faded? It might have just given up - please visit the Tutorial Office.
  • My card is quite new but doesn't work anymore. The card may be from a faulty batch. Please contact the Tutorial Office.
I haven't used my card for a while, and now I can't pay for my meal.

The Buttery payment system is separate from the door system. Try 'updating' your card at a door, eg. JP or Library. This may reactivate it. If not, please go to the Tutorial Office.

I want to use the gym but can't get in.

Gym access is allowed on completion of the gym permission request form found on the gym webpage.

My card expires next month

If your course is longer than life of your card, this should be picked up on the Card Office system and a new card automatically issued. You will be notified by the Tutorial Office once the card arrives. Please tell the Tutorial Office if this does not happen - a new one will be ordered for you and takes only a day or two to arrive.

Leaving Pembroke

When you have finished your course of studies and leave Pembroke College please hand in your University card (the Porters will ask you for it).

You must return your card even if it has expired or is damaged. If you are unable to hand your card in and have not reported it as lost or stolen we will fine you £30 for the lost card.

The University requires us to collect the cards as University cards are 'issued by and remain the property of the ‘University of Cambridge'.

You must still hand in your card even if you are returning for a postgraduate course (you will be issued with a new one in Sept/Oct). If you are working for IP, bedmaking or working on a research project then you will be issued with a temporary card.