Page updated: 26 August 2025
JCR Freshers Guide
Coming Soon: Our JCR Freshers Committee will be creating a Freshers Guide to help you navigate the start of term here at Girton College.
Photography in College
Please note photography and filming will be taken for the duration of your studies and will be used for College-use publicity. If you wish to opt-out of this, please complete this online form. For further information please contact comms@girton.cam.ac.uk.
At the start of your academic course, you will be invited to be part of the group photograph, the Matriculation Photo. Please complete this form to consent to the photo being taken and the publication of the photo.
IT and Data Protection
Getting started with IT at Cambridge
You will receive an email from Student Registry in September giving you instructions on how to access your University Information Services (UIS) accounts with your Common Registration Scheme identifier (CRS ID) and password. This will allow you to access authenticated University services in advance of your arrival.
Further information on setting up your University account can be found on the University Information Services (UIS) page on the University website.
Student IT services
University Information Services (UIS) provides many University-wide IT services, in addition to those offered by Girton.
The IT services for students page on the University's website contains lots of useful information.
All students are required to complete a Data Protection and IT Regulations Declaration Form prior to their arrival at College and a Student Archive Consent form.
The form is to inform you of the College’s responsibility with regards to Data Protection and how your personal information will be processed. Furthermore, it sets out the rules and regulations that you must adhere to when using the University and College’s IT systems.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding Data Protection please email data.protection@girton.cam.ac.uk
Events
University of Cambridge Freshers’ Events
Around the world in August and September, University Alumni Groups will be hosting online and in-person freshers’ events for new undergraduate and postgraduate students starting a course at Cambridge this autumn. These optional events are a great opportunity to hear from current and former students about their experiences of Cambridge and meet other new starters before the beginning of term.
- View the schedule of events.
First Year Induction Programme 2025, Black Advisory Hub
All new Black undergraduate, foundation year and postgraduate students are warmly welcome to register for an online induction session coordinated by a student team from Cambridge’s Black Advisory Hub. This pre-term online induction event is an opportunity for new students to learn how to confidently navigate relevant student services, ask questions of current Black students about their experiences, as well as meet other Black students from a range of colleges, courses and societies. It will be followed by a programme of in-person activities during term time. The first online event is scheduled for Friday19 September. If you are commencing your studies in 2024-25, are a self-identifying Black student and would like to attend the initial online event, please find the registration link here. For more information, please look for updates on the Black Advisory Hub website, or email contact@blackadvisory.hub.cam.ac.uk
Sports, Music & Theatre
The University Sports Service, Centre for Music Performance and ADC Theatre have collaborated to produce information leaflet for incoming students.
Devon Cambridge Society
The Devon Cambridge Society is hosting a (free) Welcome to Cambridge tea party for undergraduates and postgraduate students who are about to start at Cambridge University this October. Current undergraduates at Cambridge are also invited to come and meet the new undergraduates.
We will also be telling Devon and Cornwall students about the opportunity to apply for long vacation project grants from us.
You can book your place here (home address postcodes EX, PL, TQ and TR).
The event will be held at Exeter Community Centre, 17 St David's Hill, Exeter EX4 3RG (https://www.eccentre.org/)
Wednesday 17th September 3.15-5.30 pm
Tea, coffee and light refreshments will be provided
Cambridge University Association Football Club (CUAFC)
CUAFC are excited to welcome applications to both our men's and women's pre-season from students who have a confirmed place for next year. Women’s pre-season training will start on the 23rd September, and Men’s pre-season training will start on the 15th September.
Pre applications have closed, but for any further questions, please get in touch with the women's Blues captain Lara Branston (womens.bluescaptain.cuafc@gmail.com) or the men’s Blues captain Deniz Ozer (bluescaptain.cuafc@gmail.com).
Other
All undergraduate students need to wear a gown for certain events in College, such as formal meals in Hall and in the College Chapel. Please read the following Academic Dress notes from the College Praelectors regarding gowns and what should be worn with them.
Churchill Gowns will be selling undergraduate gowns in the Stanley Library on Friday 4 October from 1.30pm. You do not need to purchase a Churchill gown if you do not wish to, but you must have a gown in time for your meeting with the Mistress and the Matriculation photograph.
The prices charged by other robe-makers can vary a great deal, but second-hand gowns can sometimes be obtained from various robe-makers in Cambridge, but they must be of the correct pattern for Girton College. There may be a few second hand gowns available from Student Services. Please email us if you are interested in one (noting that students receiving a Cambridge Bursary will be prioritised).
Cycling is one of the primary modes of transport in Cambridge and cycle safety is very important to us. Do read through the following information and equip yourselves with helmets, good locks and front and back lights.
- Welcome to Cycling in Cambridge - your guide to safe and considerate cycling in Cambridge (PDF)
- Cycle Lighting - when must you use cycle lights and what is required (PDF)
- Save Our Cycles - love your bike - lock it and log it (PDF)
Check out the Camcycle website, they are a local charity which works for more, better and safer cycling in and around Cambridge.
The mission of the Language Centre is to:
"Increase multilingualism amongst students and staff of the University; and to promote, encourage and support the learning of languages for personal, academic and professional purposes." - University of Cambridge Language Centre
To achieve their mission, the Language Centre aims to:
- Ensure access to outstanding language teaching and support for language learning for all current members of the University;
- Support the highest levels of academic achievement by students whose first language is not English;
- Exploit the latest technologies and pedagogies to develop bespoke language teaching and learning materials, for use across the University;
- Foster learner autonomy in language learners, whether studying independently and/or attending courses within the University;
- Provide bespoke professional advisory services to support individual language learners;
- Provide high quality learning resources in multiple media, both physical and virtual, in a wide range of languages;
- Collaborate and share expertise with other language learning providers within the University and in other organisations nationally and internationally;
- Promote language learning and access to university language study to students in schools and colleges.
You can find further information about the Language Centre on their website
Parking permits are restricted due to limited parking available at College. Parking is only available in Mare's Run.
Permits will be granted for the following only:
- Blue Badge holders
- Medical/access needs
All applications will be considered and limited spaces allocated on a termly, priority basis. Should you require a parking space, please email tutorial@girton.cam.ac.uk for further instruction.