BOARDING GUIDE 2020/21
WELCOME TO CAMBRIDGE Studying in the UK is an exciting prospect, but it might also make you a little nervous. You will be leaving your family to start a new life in an unfamiliar country, and doing so whilst learning in perhaps your second or third language. As experts in supporting international students, we know that the first thing we have to build is a strong and supportive college community. To succeed in your studies you first need to feel welcome, comfortable and safe. Our boarding facilities and support have been consistently rated as outstanding, and we are recognised as one of the
best places in the UK for international students to live, learn and thrive. With more than 430 rooms available, we have a range of boarding houses and host families, all providing a welcoming place to call home for more than 430 students. This guide is designed to help you understand which house is right for you. Stephanie Stafford Head of Accommodation
All of our boarding houses and host family lodgings provide, modern, clean and safe accommodation, and they all share the following features. • Live-in, first aid trained house parents (or host families) to support you, offer advice and the chance to talk • Wi-Fi • Weekly room clean, bed linen and towel change • Full board meal plans (half board in Orchard House) • Onsite laundry facilities in boarding houses, laundry service provided by host family • Weekend and evening activities • Student’s health needs supported by our college matron, with all students registered with the local GP • Regular ‘huddle’ meetings in boarding houses and regular discussion with host families • Secure access and bicycle storage • In room safes for personal items provided in boarding houses. Lockable spaces provided in host families • Dedicated male and female floors/blocks in all boarding houses/dedicated male and female host families.
APPLYING FOR ACCOMMODATION Students can only apply for accommodation once they have been offered and have accepted a place to study at Abbey College Cambridge. Enrolments take place every year in January and September. Once you have accepted your place to study with us, our accommodation team will make contact to support and advise you on your options. The admissions team will provide you with the accommodation application form for your year of entry, to be completed and returned to the accommodation team indicating your accommodation preferences. Upon receipt of your accommodation booking form our accommodation team will allocate you a room for your first year studies in the boarding house that best meets your needs. Rooms are allocated on a first come, first served basis. The full boarding fee is payable before the start of your first term. NB. Students studying for a subsequent year can apply for their accommodation in February of their first year.
DINING AT ABBEY All students living in college boarding houses will be accommodated on a full board basis excluding Orchard House, which is half board. Full board means that breakfast, lunch and dinner is provided for students in our college dining room 7
days a week. Students living with host families will be accommodated on a full board basis, with breakfast and dinner being served by their host parents (and lunch at the weekends and at half term). Host family students will be invoiced for lunch in college during term time (served in the college dining room) for the duration of the academic year. Our college dining team provide our students with fresh, nutritious meals and a range of healthy snack options. We regularly consult with students and tailor our menus to suit their tastes.
ABBEY HOUSE
Located on campus, we offer 111 single rooms and 20 twin spaces at Abbey House. Booking Priority for Abbey House is given to our younger students (aged 13 – 16 years on arrival). Room features and services
• • • • • • •
Single bed Ensuite bathroom (with basin, toilet and shower) Study desk Clothes wardrobe Safe for personal items Over and under bed storage Coat rack
Room Types
ON CAMPUS BOARDING
• • • • • • • •
13-16 YEARS
FULL BOARD
Weekly linen change Weekly fresh towels Lamp and over bed reading light Wi-Fi Weekly room clean Common rooms Social/Study spaces Laundry facilities
City Centre 2.7km Train Station 1.2km Supermarket 0.3km Restaurants 0.3km
PURBECK HOUSE
Located immediately opposite college. We offer 121 single rooms and 18 twin spaces at Purbeck House. Purbeck House is available to students aged 16 – 21 years on arrival.
Room features and services
• • • • • •
Double beds (singles in twin rooms) Ensuite bathroom (with basin, toilet and shower) Study desk Clothes wardrobe Safe for personal items Over and under bed storage
Room Types
OFF CAMPUS BOARDING
• • • • • • • •
16+ YEARS
Weekly linen change Weekly fresh towels Bedside light Wi-Fi Weekly room clean Common room (shared use) Social/Study space Laundry facilities (shared use)
FULL BOARD
City Centre 2.7km Train Station 1.2km Supermarket 0.3km Restaurants 0.3km
TRIPOS COURT
Located off campus, we offer 136 single ensuite rooms. Tripos Court is available to students aged 16 – 21 years on arrival.
Room features and services
• • • • • • •
Single bed Ensuite bathroom (with basin, toilet and shower) Study desk Clothes wardrobe Safe for personal items Over and under bed storage Weekly linen change
Room Types
OFF CAMPUS BOARDING
• • • • • • • •
16+ YEARS
FULL BOARD
Weekly fresh towels Lamp and over bed reading light Wi-Fi Weekly room clean Common room (shared use) Communal kitchens (in blocks) Social/Study space Laundry facilities (shared)
City Centre 2.4km Train Station 0.8km Supermarket 0.2km Restaurants 0.2km
ORCHARD HOUSE
Located off campus, we offer 42 single rooms at Orchard House. Orchard House is available to students aged 17 – 21 years on arrival.
Room features and services
• • • • • • •
Single bed Weekly linen change Study desk Wi-Fi Clothes wardrobe Safe for personal items Over and under bed storage
Room Types
OFF CAMPUS BOARDING
• • • • • • •
17 YEARS
Shared bathroom Weekly room clean Weekly fresh towels Two large common rooms Outdoor recreation space Basketball court Laundry facilities (shared use)
HALF BOARD
City Centre 3.5km Train Station 1.9km Supermarket on-site Restaurants 0.5km
HOST FAMILY
Our dedicated and experienced host families are located within the city of Cambridge, are fully DBS police checked and personally vetted by our Head of Accommodation. Room features and services
• • • • •
Single bed Weekly linen change Study desk Wi-Fi Clothes wardrobe
Room Type
OFF CAMPUS
• • • •
16+ YEARS
HALF BOARD
Reading lamp Weekly room clean Weekly fresh towels Lunch provided at college Mon - Fri during term time (invoiced separately)
BOARDING FEES 2020/21 Academic Year
ABBEY HOUSE Standard Single Room, Full Board
£22,500 per year
Superior Single Room, Full Board
£24,000 per year
Standard Twin Room, Full Board
£17,500 per year
Larger Twin Room, Full Board
£18,500 per year
PURBECK HOUSE Studio Apartment, Full Board
£24,500 per year
Split Apartment, Full Board
£26,000 per year
Twin Room, Full Board
£19,000 per year
TRIPOS COURT Standard Single Room, Full Board
£20,000 per year
Larger Single Room, Full Board
£21,500 per year
ORCHARD HOUSE Standard Single Room, Full Board
£16,500 per year
HOST FAMILY Range of room types, Half Board
£10,000 - £15,000 per year
BOARDING HOUSE LOCATIONS
Abbey College Cambridge Homerton Gardens Cambridge CB2 8EB Tel: +44 (0)1223 578280 abbeycambridge.co.uk/accommodation