“As a maths student with a keen interest in sport and fitness, Churchill ticked all the boxes.”
About Me
I am a PhD student working in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP) and have been at Churchill for 2 and a bit years now. I came to Churchill to do a master’s degree in the same department after completing my undergraduate degree in my home country. Since arriving at Churchill I have quickly come to realise how choosing the right college when applying to Cambridge can offer you so much both academically and socially alongside your degree. I am involved with a few sports teams in the college and enjoy attending some of the many college events available to students and recently even trained as a bartender in the College’s own graduate student bar – the Vicious Penguin!
Why Churchill?
Before applying to Cambridge for my postgraduate degree I was unaware of the collegiate system, so I was slightly overwhelmed with information when trying to pick out one of the many Cambridge colleges to apply to. Quickly though I homed in on Churchill. As a maths student with a keen interest in sport and fitness, Churchill ticked all the boxes – it is across the road from the CMS (Centre for Mathematical Sciences) and huge sports playing pitches on site as well as a free college gym. Furthermore, the guarantee of on-site accommodation in my first was really reassuring, knowing there is a trustable housing option reserved for me relieved a huge amount of pressure.
College Community
With so many of the graduate student populace living in the college, there is a real sense of community in Churchill. The MCR (think informal graduate student union) has its own bar and common room in the college and there is always people there / events going on for you to join in on during the evenings. There is also a huge number of sporting clubs and societies in the college ranging from mainly social sports teams to really committed teams aiming to do well in competition. There are also academic events and talks organised by the MCR for students to give / attend so there really is something for everyone to get involved with while at Churchill.
Would I recommend Churchill?
Absolutely. Having been here for a few years now and spoken to other students in other colleges I really do think Churchill can offer one of the best holistic student experiences in Cambridge. And as a final word, all the people at Churchill are ever so friendly and helpful in answering any questions I have about all things Churchill.
