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The Pembroke Summer Experience

We’re sure you want to make the most of your study abroad experience, and you’re probably looking at different Colleges in Cambridge and Oxford as well as other universities in the UK.

The amount of choice can seem overwhelming and it can be hard to work out which one is best for you.

So why do we think you should choose the Pembroke Cambridge Summer Programme?

Here are a few reasons to help you decide:

The most authentic College experience

Pembroke College has had its own in-house International Programmes Department for nearly 50 years. We were among the first to provide study abroad programmes and the Pembroke Cambridge Summer Programme is run by the College entirely in-house, not by any external companies.

This means you’ll be part of Pembroke College, founded 1347, with access to our impressive library and dining hall as well as the same kind of academic and welfare support offered to full-time undergraduate students.

We genuinely care about our students and we want you to make the most of your summer with us, both academically and socially. On the Pembroke Cambridge Summer Programme, you will live as a student of Pembroke College, who will really get to know the Porters, Catering, Housekeeping and International Programmes staff, as well as your lecturers of course!

Listening to and engaging with students and gathering feedback is central to our programmes and we want to ensure you have the best possible experience when studying with us.

Don’t just take our word for it! Have a look below at what students from previous years have said about the Pembroke Cambridge Summer Programme.

Your choice of historic on-site or townhouse accommodation

At Pembroke College, our historic on-site accommodation is reserved for our summer students. You will be able to stay in rooms with centuries of history overlooking the beautiful lawns and gardens of Pembroke College for the truly authentic Cambridge student experience.

Just like Pembroke students during the year, you'll also eat your meals in Pembroke's historic dining hall each day, as do the Fellows at High Table, so you'll really feel like a part of the College community.

We also have accommodation in traditional Cambridge townhouses in the city centre, which are usually a more affordable option and are only between 2 and 10 minutes’ walk away from the College. 

Rooms vary in size, location and views so we have six different price bands to make it fair for everyone and give you more choice. All our rooms are single-occupancy, so you won't have to worry about sharing your room with another student.

You can also choose which accommodation location suits you best. Take a look at our accommodation page for more information on bands and locations and be sure to check out the locations on the Google Street View links too.

World-class teaching in small numbers

You’ll be taught by Cambridge academics who are experts in their fields and you won’t just be one of hundreds of students in a huge lecture theatre. 

As we are a Cambridge College and not just an external company, we have unique access to academics at the University of Cambridge and you may even recognise some of our lecturers.

This means we have a broad range of courses across many subject areas for students to choose. The vast majority of courses are open to all so you can branch out and explore subjects you may not be able to at home. 

This unique access also allows us to offer a series of plenary lectures given by eminent figures of University of Cambridge and public life on a diverse range of topics.

For many of our students this is one of the highlights of the programme and they are always followed by a Q&A session and a drinks reception.

The diversity of our students is one of our strengths and you’ll be able to exchange ideas with students from all over the world with all kinds of different academic backgrounds.

The Cambridge style of teaching means small classes with plenty of interaction between the lecturer and students.

We cap student numbers in lectures at 30 and seminars at 15 so you’ll have the chance to discuss ideas in a lively but intimate academic setting, develop your thinking and engage with other students from all over the world.

Students on the programme also have the opportunity to replace one of their courses with the Independent Supervision, an essential part of the Cambridge undergraduate experience.

You will work on your own choice of independent research project under the guidance of a Cambridge supervisor who’s an expert in that field. For many of our students it’s the most rewarding part of their summer experience.

A Cambridge social life, run by Cambridge students

While studying is an important aspect of the Pembroke Cambridge Summer Programme, our team of Programme Assistants (PAs) will organise an exciting and varied weekly schedule of activities for you to enjoy. As University of Cambridge students themselves, they're well placed to help you navigate the city and take advantage of the wonderful things it has to offer.

They will introduce you to Cambridge classics such as croquet, cream teas and punting on the River Cam as well as a whole host of other activities. Whether you're into sports, museums, sightseeing, arts, theatre, you name it, we'll have an activity planned to suit you.

We're sure one of the highlights of your summer will be the two Formal Halls held in our historic dining hall. With a drinks reception in the evening sun on Library Lawn followed by a three-course candlelit dinner, the Formal Halls epitomise the Cambridge student experience so be sure to pack something nice to wear! You will be able to experience the Formal Hall with all its Cambridge traditions, coordinated waiter service, the gong to announce dinner, grace in Latin and maybe even a chance to dine with the Fellows.

The PAs will send you a bulletin each week with all of the free and subsidised events they are organising for you. Feel free to come along to whatever interests you! They are also a great source of information about studying at Cambridge and how to make the most of your summer and studies.

Outside of PA-led activities, Cambridge is bursting with excellent restaurants, cafes and centuries-old pubs so it’s no surprise there’s a rich and varied social scene. The many museums and art galleries are definitely worth a visit, and don’t miss settling down with a picnic hamper to watch the outdoor Cambridge Shakespeare Festival or the Jazz Festival in the Botanic Gardens.

Outside of Cambridge you can explore Grantchester and Ely nearby, and there’s a quick 50-minute train to London and a 30 minute train to Stansted Airport so Cambridge is well located to allow you to explore the UK and Europe.

Comprehensive welfare support to ensure you're looked after

Student welfare and a robust support system is at the heart of our programme and the Pembroke ethos. We understand that for many of you this may be the first time you’ve spent as long as six weeks abroad or maybe even the first time you’ve been abroad or to the United Kingdom at all.
We have a number of staff members and resources in place to ensure you are looked after and feel you can talk to us about anything at all during your time here.

Our team of Programme Assistants are well-placed as regular undergraduates at the University of Cambridge to help with adapting to Cambridge city life, homesickness or just for a friendly chat. We even have a Programme Assistant dedicated to welfare if you feel more comfortable talking to them in the first instance.

Our programme team in the International Programmes Department are on hand and very happy to help with a range of support. You can email or visit the programme office to arrange a chat. We will always want to hear from you and help you so you should never feel like you’re wasting anyone’s time. We’re here to help.

If you have any academic concerns we have daily drop-in academic advisory hours and you can also arrange appointments with the academic team to talk through any questions or issues you may have with your studies. Our academic team has plenty of experience as term-time Tutors and Directors of Studies so are very well-placed to advise you.

As a student on the Pembroke Cambridge Summer Programme you will also have access to the College Wellbeing and Disabilities Nurse. She can attend to many minor physical ailments as well as give mental health advice and signpost to the relevant health services. She has regular confidential drop-in sessions during the summer.

Finally, the Pembroke College Porters’ Lodge is open 24/7 and the Porters are always happy to help and have a chat. They are all qualified first aiders and are the best place to go out of hours, so you’re always covered.

We really want all students to feel looked after and a part of the College community and our welfare support system is essential to achieving that. 

A life long connection to Cambridge

We’re sure you’ll have such a wonderful summer with us that it’ll be over before you know it, but fortunately you will still be part of the College after you leave as all students on the programme will be invited to join the Pembroke College Circle.

The Pembroke College Circle is an alumni society of over 3000 students from all over the world. Membership is free and members will receive regular College updates and enjoy special opportunities to attend events in Cambridge and overseas.

Some perks include the right to take meals in the main Dining Hall and a 20% discount at the Cambridge University Press bookshop when you’re next in town.

It’s a great way to keep Pembroke College and Cambridge in your life and shows that you’ll always be part of the College community.

Passport at the ready?

Or why not check out our Fall and Spring Semester Programmes?

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